Dead Blow

by Gina Marie Barlean

A woman's doorbell rings. She's alone and frightened. Can she trust the man at the door? She lets him in, but something...a memory...troubles her.


The next morning, a shed is on fire, a man is bludgeoned to death, and a dead blow hammer stained with blood lies at the dead man's side. The woman is missing. The question is not who done it...it's what will the killer do next, and can small town sheriff Dewey Truet stop him in time?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

ebook

First published February 1, 2013

About the author

G. M. Barlean is a Nebraska author who calls both Omaha and David City her home; city mouse and country mouse, in turn. She is a member of The Nebraska Writers Guild since 2009. She is also a member of The Nebraska Pen Women. The author of cozy mysteries, suspense fiction, collections of essays and even a love story, her latest book is non-fiction and about the people of her heritage and the land from which they came: Czech & Slavic Epic History.
Barlean has a website at ginambarlean.com, and a Facebook page where she shares her life stories with friends and readers.

Reviews

[Faith Colburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Blow, Gina Barlean’s newest psycho-thriller left me wide awake, still reading, at midnight. What I found most impressive about this novel is Barlean’s grasp of how one horrifying, violent act by a stranger can destroy and entire family and members of the larger community who stray too close. Violence done to the wife and baby lead to dysfunction and disassociation that, in turn, leaves the husband bereft, sinking deeper and deeper into his own morass, and makes a daughter invisible.
Barlean’s aware and sympathetic portrayals of characters torn apart by grief places blame where it belongs—on the perpetrator of the original, triggering act—while refusing to shrink from the evil to which the victims sink in response. One is left wondering about his or her own reaction to the horror that triggers the story.
I highly recommend Gina Barlean’s novel, Dead Blow.

[Charissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my 3rd Barlean book I’ve read, and I’ve been captivated by each. Dead Blow did not disappoint. This book, like her others, has dark and sinister undertones, with an antagonist that makes your skin crawl. One of the things I like best about her books is that she really delves into the villain’s thoughts and past, making it easy to connect with them and understand what led them to their evil present. With Jackson Samuels, she mastered this technique. I found myself wanting to cry for the man one minute, and then wanting someone to blow his brains out the next. Yes, beware going into this book—it is the Goliath of roller coasters for your emotions. It was a treat to meet and get to know each of the characters in this book, although I’ll give you another warning—hard things happen to them, which is why you’ll experience a lot of highs and lows. There is sweet, petite Elaine, do-gooder Sheriff Duey Truett and his feisty wife, Lisa; there is the talented Dr. Gordon Fletcher, slinky Suzanne, and doughnut-eating Deputy Redley. From Page 1, I was hooked into the mystery of Elaine’s state of mind...and the author kept my heart pounding clear to the end, either cringing for her characters, or wondering what I or others I love would do in the same circumstances. Dead Blow is literally a smashing hit. It will blow you away and hold your mind hostage long after you finish reading it.

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author, G.M. Barlean's descriptive and powerful writing had me making sure all of my doors were locked. As much as I didn't want to put the book down, I had to, I couldn't read it late at night for fear of bad dreams. Call me soft, but this thriller does what it is supposed to! Barlean mixes in the right amount of trauma, violence, revenge and mystery to keep me wondering how it was going to end. Quick but great read!

[Delores · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent read. Once you start reading you won't put it down until you're finished. The tension builds until you think it won't get any worse and then it does. Great job Gina! I'm proud to be in the critique group and to have had a tiny part in helping with Dead Blow.

Note -- I hadn't rated the book with stars previously because I was very new to Good Reads and didn't understand what all needed to be done. Definitely a 5-star read.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

A small town Nebraska Sheriff is bored and wishing for something to happen. It does. Murder and mayhem with a woman from a mental hospital and her Psychiatrist (the victim). The novel goes into the back story and her reasons for becoming so lost in herself. But that doesn't help her. Telling you more would be a spoiler, but the novel is well done and will hold your interest.

[C. Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having met G.M. Barlean, I was expecting something light. Oh my goodness, this dark, twisty tale was so different than I expected. I love dark mystery and this one did not disappoint. You're constantly wondering what's happening, and what aren't you seeing.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Blow shows what a horrible tragedy can do to a person. Some may withdraw; others may seek revenge. It's difficult to say too much without giving away plot twists in this psychological thriller, but suffice it to say a man has been wronged, and he's determined to make sure others know his pain, much to the dismay of the local sheriff, who normally sees minimal crime in his peaceful, rural community. The author builds the tension throughout the novel so that by the last quarter of the book, there was no way I could put it down. It's a quick read that can easily be finished in a couple days. The author has a clean writing style without a lot of fluff. She also packs an emotional intensity into some of the more climactic scenes, making the reader think about what he or she might do in a similar situation. Another enjoyable read by G. M. Barlean.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad little novella, another Kindle freebie. I always like a sick twisted psychopath. Descent story, alright characters, not a lot if room for development in 250 pages, but it is enough.

Quick entertaining read, traumatic scene in the book has a big shock factor, I can see where people won't like it, but it works.

Multiple points if view in this story, not told from just one person's perspective, a good concept, but I feel the author could have done more with it. Some of it is a bit far fetched, but not a bad read.

[Sue Ayers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good psycho-thriller. Just what I was in the mood for, and it did not disappoint. I think I got it free or at least cheap from Amazon, and glad I did. Not a long book, just a fun read.

[Nina Derr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally read books like this but I thought it was pretty good. Quite a few surprise moments throughout the book but the ending was kind of predictable. It also kind of ended abruptly and was slightly disappointing.