On the heels of her runaway hits The Fixer and The Red Hot Fix, T. E. Woods ratchets up the tension with her newest explosive thriller in the fast-paced Justice series.
The killer won’t come for you, you fool. He’ll come for me.
Detective Mort Grant of the Seattle PD has finally decided to sell. The home where he and his late wife raised two kids feels too large and too full of old memories. His son is married and raising a family of his own, and despite desperate efforts to find her, Mort has lost touch with his wayward daughter. That is, until the day she walks back into her childhood home and begs for his help.
For the last four years, Allie Grant has been the lover—and confidante, confessor, and counselor—of one of the world’s most powerful and deadly men. But a sudden, rash move has put Allie in the crosshairs of a ruthless Russian crime lord. Mort knows of only one place where Allie will be safe: with The Fixer.
As a hired desperado, The Fixer has killed twenty-three people—and Mort was complicit in her escape from the law. She has built an impregnable house, stocked it with state-of-the-art gear, armed it to the teeth, and locked herself away from the world. But even The Fixer may not be able to get justice for Allie when real evil comes knocking.
T.E. Woods is a clinical psychologist and author living in Bayfield, WI. She is author of two series: The Justice Series (starring Lydia Corriger and Mort Grant) and The Hush Money Series (Starring Sydney Richardson). Her stand alone novel, The Wrong Sister, will be released on February 27, 2018.
I was given a copy of "The Unforgivable Fix" by T.E.Woods, through Random House Publishing Group-Alibi, via Net Galley. I wish to thank both the publishing company and the author for providing me with a Kindle copy to read.
This is the third book in the “Justice” series and Ms. Woods third novel. This is a fast-paced thriller and a must read for those that enjoy crime fiction. I read the previous novels "The Fixer" and "The Red Hot Fix", and now here, the reader gets to reconnect with the main characters and follow the saga.
The novel is written in the third person and is set in and around Seattle, Washington. The primary characters are Mort Grant, Lydia Corriger and Allie Grant.
Mort Grant is a Seattle, Washington Police Detective. He is still dealing with the loss of his wife and his long missing daughter,Allie.
She disappeared years ago, but suddenly has reappeared on the run from her boyfriend and others in the drug business. Allie is the target of a very dangerous Russian crime lord and Mort hides her with “The Fixer”, Lydia.
Lydia Corriger (The Fixer) is a psychologist recovering from a gunshot wound to the head (from the first novel “The Fixer”), who now has finally reopened her practice. Lydia has taken on a part time job mentoring a young man about to enter into the field. She is also sheltering Allie for Mort. The story switches back and forth between these two story lines.
I have really enjoyed this series and I have to say this was the best one so far. This suspenseful thriller, will have you guessing who is lying and who is telling the truth! I can only hope that this author has another novel coming out shortly.
A real psychological thriller, written by and about a psychologist. The characters are mostly criminals who harm society through drugs, murder or child abuse. The pace is swift but the malevolence spoils the story.
I am so excited to have read the third book in The Fixer book series. I didn't think it could get any better but by golly it did! The Fixer is BACK ladies and gentlemen, oh yes! These books have been some of my most favourite read books of 2014 and I have read a LOT of books this year.
Liddy is back and opening up her Psychology practice again in this book. Detective Mort Grant is settling down on a houseboat he has bought to live in. All seems calm...but it's the calm before the storm.
Mort Grant's daughter, Allie Grant turns up out of the blue, leaving her years of being the lover and confidante of one of the world's largest, most wanted and most dangerous drug cartels.
For the last four years, Allie Grant has been the lover—and confidante, confessor, and counselor—of one of the world’s most powerful and deadly men. But a sudden, rash move has put Allie in the crosshairs of a ruthless Russian crime lord. Mort knows of only one place where Allie will be safe: with The Fixer.
As a hired desperado, The Fixer has killed twenty-three people—and Mort was complicit in her escape from the law. She has built an impregnable house, stocked it with state-of-the-art gear, armed it to the teeth, and locked herself away from the world. But even The Fixer may not be able to get justice for Allie when real evil comes knocking.
This book has so much going for it. The characters have developed beautifully, Liddy is as fantastic as ever, but stronger, more refined, better, just better. Loved her in this book. I loved the psychological dance that went on between the two women - Allie and Liddy, could Liddy have met her match in Mort's daughter?. I tell you this, there is more than meets the eye and this book throws out some fantastic twists as you read along. Really, really good.
Liddy takes on a student to supervise in her psychology practice, there is plenty of cases to be shared by both as Liddy's reputation for being a top psychologist opens up the doors to business again nicely for her. But again all is not what it seems. I love the way T.E. Woods weaves in the dark with the light, the twists and turns that sneak up on you.
The book has a few story lines interweaving with each other and I have to say it's done flawlessly without missing a beat. This book is readable from the first word to the last, I did not put it down. There is everything you would expect from another installment of The Fixer and more, this was a fantastic third book in this series I now love so much. Why are more people not hearing of these books? They should be. I think they offer so much to the reader.
The book has action, some intrigue, secrets, danger - in a nutshell it's truly entertaining fiction that grabs on and does not let go.
There is action, plots to thwart, psychological analysis of people, Liddy, Mort - what more could you want?! It's got a fantastic plot, is really well paced and very well written. The characters just shine, I related to every single one of them. I particularly liked Mort's daughter in this book, she was intriguing and I hope she pops up if there is further books in the series.
To understand The Fixer, go back and read the first book in this series, heck read them all, this one included, you won't regret it. It's crime fiction with a strong female lead and a lot of twists, it's not the same as everything else out there on the shelves. I love the psychological elements to these books, Liddy's amazing insights and ability to read people, situations and threats. She's bloody fantastic!
I loved this, knew I would but it gave me more than I expected. Five easy stars for The Unforgiveable Fix. Brilliant. T.E. Woods has brought yet another fantastic book to the table. This is an outstanding series to read. Go to it!
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Unforgivable Fix by T. E. Woods is a 2014 Alibi publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
We touch base with Mort and Lydia again, Mort has finally made contact with his daughter, Allie. However, this is not a warm and fuzzy family reunion. Allie is the target of a very dangerous Russian crime lord and Mort hides her with “The Fixer”, Lydia.
Lydia who has been very reluctant to slide back into her life as a therapist, has now taken on a part time job mentoring a young man about to enter into the field. She is also sheltering Allie for Mort. Lydia's cases are very interesting and so is the plot involving Allie. The story switches back and forth between these two story lines and I couldn't decide which one was the most compelling. I have really enjoyed this series and I have to say this was the best one so far. Riveting, psychological, tense, with several hairpin turns. You can try to figure out what is going to happen, who you can trust, who is telling the truth and who is lying, but you won't be able to do it. For one thing you won't have time to digest one thing before you are stunned by another one. This is a very fast paced thriller but that doesn't stymie the character development or the suspense build up in the process. There were some truly chilling moments in this one. The hair will stand up on your neck. Once you are finished with the book give yourself some time to absorb all that happened. The more I thought about it, the more impressed I was with the insight into these characters minds. There is a little bit of a downer in this one, but I don't think it will last forever. We will just have to see how it all plays out. I hope this author is at home right now working furiously on the next book in this series!! 4.5 rounded to 5
This is the first in this terrific series I have "only" given 4*. It was almost a hat-trick BUT there were some dumb mistakes in this that really ought to have been noticed. The writing in this was also a little odd in that Mort was off doing his own thing throughout and we weren't party to anything he was really doing. Don't get me wrong, still a tremendous series and one I'm definitely sticking with but in a paid-for book the proofreading should be up to snuff. I preferred this one to number 2, actually, but that was presented with more care and for this reader it matters. I greatly enjoyed the scenes with Lydia and the owl. Mort's daughter is a piece of work, I have to say. The introduction of the new (possible) love interest Paul was intriguing although I still prefer Oliver, who still waits patiently but surely won't wait forever....it was also interesting to sit in on quite a few of Lydia's cases. Now mistakes.....Rusian and not Russian should've stood out to somebody apart from this reader, words missing in sentences like to/dish then gastic and not gastric (!!) and til and not till or until. At one point Lydia was impressed at how her colleague took criticism when we'd already been told on a prior page that he was fuming !! I am guessing this is an Americanism but I don't understand what "What's your win for being such a hard-ass" means......perhaps what's the prize ?? Again with "We went out to celebrate and you came with"....which I've seen written in this fashion before. Why does the us get omitted ? To sum up, still a very, very good set of books indeed and I look forward to the number 4.
a most excellent 5 star read as usual with this series, I do have one complaint however...I wonder about the cover!! Why, why did you, the publishers, the editor or whoever change the theme of the covers??!!?? I love Lydia, Mort and now detective Bauer and I love that I never know what's going on and I mean that in a good way! I was wondering how you were going to tie up the loose ends.
There are always a few stories going on in "T's" books. this time we have some nasty perverts preying on young children, will Lydia be able to figure it out in time? Another storyline is Mort's daughter coming back to town and the thugs that are right on her tail. I don't want to give to much away. Start your journey into the mind and world of T.E. Wood's first brilliant and twisty book "The Fixer" (awesome cover!) Then jump into the next thrilling, page turning read with "The Red Hot Fix" (awesome cover!) and then as fast as you can read this book "The Unforgivable Fix" (icky cover) I am on pins and needles waiting for my next "Fix" from this author... what happens now with Lydia and her one true friend?
T E Woods just gets better and better. I enjoyed the last book and was expecting this to be a kind of winding up of the series but so pleased that is not how it turned out. This, the 3rd book in the series is a fast paced, exciting novel full of mysteries and moral dilemmas. I like hearing more of the psychologist side of the story, the cases, protocols and the client/doctor discussions.
In this novel we learn more about The Fixer, her relationships and her fears. She is far more personable, we see more of her perspective, what shaped her choices and her weakness and strengths in this book which I think engages the reader more in this novel than any of the others. And we have Mort a character that I really enjoy reading more about.
There are moral dilemmas, mob hits, drug lords, manipulation, abuse and thuggery. There are great characters; I liked the back stories of Ali Grant and Zach which add depth and a few great twists to the plot. The discussion surrounding memory and false memories is captivating. In all this is a great read, the best of this series thus far. I look forward to the next book.
Another solid instalment in the Fixer series. I didn't like this one quite as much as the first two (some of the situations seemed too contrived for me), but it was thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless. As usual, narrator Christina Delaine brought her best with many unique voices for the characters. Looking forward to reading the next in series soon.
Wow, wow, wow! This series just gets better and better. Lydia and Mort may not be partners but they sure do work well together when it’s necessary. This was all about Lydia working at her psychology offices again and hiring a young man to work for her, only to find out he was really working against her and then tried to blackmail her in the end.
And it was also about Mort’s daughter, who was the lover to a man who was known throughout the world as the leader of a drug cartel and when he screwed up she took off and went back to her father’s house. Allie was an absolute piece of shit but Mort couldn’t see it. He was blind when it came to Allie’s faults. He remained blind until the end when he turned on Lydia when she let Allie leave.
OK, so one thing I didn’t like about this book was that I really, really like Oliver and Oliver likes Lydia but she thinks he deserves better than her, even though she really likes him. THEN she meets the detective name Paul and starts fantasizing about him. If she’s not going to be with Oliver then she shouldn’t have thoughts about anyone else! That’s my feelings about that.
There is NO SEX in this book and the F-bomb was used 14 times.
As to the narration: Same narrator for all the books, Christina Delaine, and she gets better with each one. Voices are great and her emotions are awesome.
I am loving this series, they seem to start out a bit slow but pick up and get really good. Fantastic narration (audible review)
There are some really great lead characters.
I really enjoy the psychological mystery and suspense in these books. I love Lydia! She is awesome. This is the third book in the series and they are NOT cliffhanger books. I am happy about that. There is a lot of dialogue throughout the entire book. Strong characters and a great story lines and plot. There is more than one story going on at the same time so I like that a lot. Its better than one long drawn out story with a bunch of fillers. So this is great for me.
As for the narration, its super. Chrisina Delaine does a great job! The men sound like men, everyone gets a voice and she has a very nice reading voice.
I hope the next book comes out on audible soon, I will totally be buying it.
This book blew my expectations out of the water. I figured it would just be one huge "every character has drama" book. Amazingly, it was like some rated M for mature Superman book. The female lead, Lydia, is successful psychiatrist by day; The Fixer by night (dun dun duunnn).
Story is pretty fast paced- maybe not with action, but the story itself is engrossing. I had a hard time putting the book down (thankfully) as I was really interested on how "The Fixer" was going to teach the baddies a lesson in who's the MAN..ahem, WOMAN!
This was a good thriller full of unpredictable twists and turns and some serious revelations. The characters grew on me, especially the ones I had taken an immediate disliking to in the beginning. I liked learning about what makes Lydia "tick" so to speak; and I don't mean the clock in her office at work! (Okay maybe that wasn't that funny).
At first Lydia seems cold and rigid, but you then see she has been hurt badly before psychologically, mentally and emotionally. I love the cool mask of indifference she often displays; it's so fetch! Detective Mort is a major fool, I concluded. Not only is he blind to his daughter's trickery and manipulation, he has the nerve to be upset with Lydia- which pissed me off. Detective Bauer is positively sizzling with his charm and rugged looks. Lydia better watch out before she becomes a chocolate chomper (someone who only dates black men).
P.S: It's a shame about that stepfather allegedly abusing his stepdaughter. It reminds me of a certain wealthy man (cough cough S.C Johnson III).
The Unforgivable Fix by T. E. Woods is a not-to-be-missed, very highly recommended third installment of the Justice series, which features The Fixer.
Wowza! I unabashedly love the Fixer. The series by T. E. Woods begins with The Fixer followed by The Red Hot Fix, and now the latest, The Unforgivable Fix. The synopsis tells followers a modicum about what's happening with this third book of the series (Mort trying to move on and his wayward daughter, Allie, returning), but let me just clue you in that there is a bit more happening that will throw you for a loop, twist things up, and send every nerve in your body longing for The Fixer to get to work again.
It is good to see Lydia Corriger, a clinical psychologist, returning to work. While opening her practice again, she is asked by a friend to take on the task of providing a Ph.D. student some clinical experience. While her relationship/friendship with Mort is shaky, at least it's still there. Mort surprises her by introducing her to his long-lost and up-to-no-good daughter, Allie.
Allie will likely annoy every fiber of your being, but just go with it because Lydia is experienced enough to read her like a book. In the end, though, even Lydia can't anticipate every move Allie is planning to make, especially when Lydia's distracted by the outcome of the therapy sessions her grad student is holding.
Now that I've declared my love of the series, I have to add the disclaimer that my feelings are based on reading all three novels in order. I'm not sure if I'd just jump into this third novel without having at least read the first novel for background information. My advanced reading copy didn't have a synopsis of the first two books, so I don't know if the final version will include that, but it will be worth your time to read the previous books. Woods is an excellent writer who propels her storylines forward by keeping the pace swift and the action moving. And, yes, there are some nice plot twists added into the mix.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Random House for review purposes.
Another fascinating read from T.E. Woods. I had enjoyed the The Red Hot Fix very much so I looked forward to this next in the series. I was not disappointed. I found this novel even better than the previous one.
Lydia comes out of seclusion and resumes her practice part-time. She takes on a Ph.D. affiliated with her friend at the university to provide him with some experience in the clinical setting. Mort has sold the family home and is in the process of moving to a houseboat. Mort's son Robbie has a best-selling book about The Fixer but he figures in this story only in passing.
It is Mort's daughter Allie who is the star (or more appropriately the bitch) of this novel. Allie has become involved in the big-time international drug business as the mistress of a big-time player. But she is not only his mistress; she is the brains behind the expansion of his organization. However, when he crosses over the line by killing the lover of a Russian competitor, Allie realizes it is time to take her leave. She grabs her passport and makes her way home to Daddy. Mort asks Lydia to shelter her while he works out a deal with the DEA to trap her lover. Allie plays Daddy like a violin. She vamps the role of sweet needy daughter while meanwhile she is orchestrating some vicious games behind the scenes. Allie and Lydia have taken each other's measure but even Lydia doesn't figure out Allie's game plan until it is too late.
Back at her practice Lydia is thrown into a crisis when she discovers that the Ph.D. chap she is supposedly supervising is up to no good.
The author plays a clever trick on us with her opening chapter. We are left with the impression that a certain major character is dead. This is a very clever setup for the novel.
My copy of this novel was an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
The Unforgivable Fix by T. E. Woods is the third book in A Justice Novel series and it is every bit as good as the other two.
This book is a book about changes and moving on with your life. Detective Mort Grant has decided to sell his house because it is too full of memories of his prior life. He realizes he needs to let go and move on with his life. He talks his good friend Lyia into re-opening her psychology practice. And the biggest change of all is the return of Mort’s daughter, who he has not seen for a long time. When she returns she is in a lot of trouble and is in desperate need of her father’s help. I do not want to give away any more of the story because I do not want to ruin the suspense and drama. Just know that there is plenty of both in this book.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. There are many twists and turns thrown in throughout the book that helps to keep the reader guessing until the very end. There is a lot of tension and suspense and the author is very good at creating these with the written word. The characters are well developed and three dimensional and after reading the other two book, I feel like I know them pretty good.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted psychological thriller. I would definitely recommend reading the three books in order, it will help to watch the characters growth and give you a better understanding of the relationships.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Alibi for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This is book three of the Mort Grant series and if you haven't read the others you must read them first. Mort is a Seatle Policeman and he knows who The Fixer (a female assassin) is but he has chose to keep it secret because she saved his life..back in another book.
She is also a psychologist and in this book she goes back to being a psychologist and is supervising a new guy. Mort's daughter is in trouble and calls on her to help protect her from drug lords.
So there are several different stories running in this novel just like the other books so it always starts off a bit slow and then picks up about half way and then boom the big reveal. I sort of had this one figured out but there was still some things that really surprised me in the end.
If you a fan of crime novels then you might find this series appealing. I have had a lot of fun with it and this one sort of left me hanging at the end a bit so now I really need to dig into book #4!
I like this series because it's about a female assassin who even though she is bad she does it for good reasons and even though she is trying to put her skills at rest she always seems to have to use them. Though in this one she was more psychologist than assassin. :)
I really like Lydia because she is damaged because of her past, but she is an assassin and can take care of herself, but at the same time she offers advice to those who need in as a psychologist..lol.
Can't really talk about must of the plot without giving away goodies but just trust me you will like it. :)
The 3rd book in the Mort Grant series by TE Woods. I had already read the first book and inadvertently read the 2nd and 3rd out of order but it didn't spoil my enjoyment. In fact I enjoyed the book so much I started the 2nd book the instant I had finished the 3rd book. A little bit slow at the start and I did wonder if I was going to enjoy it but then for me it suddenly came to life and I was hooked. Great characters and plenty of thrills and spills to keep the pages turning fast. I will certainly continue to read this series and also look out for more books by this author.
The third in T.E. Woods’ Mort Grant series, The Unforgivable Fix returns us to Seattle and Mort and Lydia. We find them recovering from the events related in The Red Hot Fix. There is a general air of moving on and letting go, as Mort finally sells the house he shared with his beloved wife and Lydia is trying to leave The Fixer behind and to forget Oliver, her sort-of-ex-boyfriend. Yet however much we might want to forget our past, the past often doesn’t want to let us go, as Mort finds out when the day he leaves his house his prodigal daughter returns. And when Lydia decides to return to her practice, she learns that with The Fixer gone, it’s far harder to deal with cases that hit too close to home than it was before.
As in the previous books, we get additional viewpoints beyond Mort and Lydia, with Lydia once again taking a far more central role in the narrative than in The Red Hot Fix. In The Unforgivable Fix we get the additional viewpoints of Allie, Patrick, and a mysterious person who is involved in a conspiracy to murder. Who we don’t see as much of in this book are Mort’s colleagues Jimmy DaVilla and Micki Petty and his son Robbie. I missed seeing them around, because I really enjoy the interactions between Mort, Jimmy and Micki a lot and I missed them. Then again, their absence only underlines how much of an off-the-books operation Mort’s protection of Allie has to be, so that she isn’t traced by the drug lords that are out to get her.
The Unforgivable Fix contains two main plots, one centred on Mort and his daughter Allie and one that centres on Lydia and the case of a sexually abused girl she is asked to evaluate. Yet, where in The Red Hot Fix Lydia’s timeline seemed almost tacked on, in The Unforgivable Fix the stories are far closer intertwined, especially since Mort uses Lydia’s house as a safe place to shelter Allie while he works on extricating Allie from the situation she’s gotten into. And she finds herself in quite the predicament, because Allie has become the lover and emotional anchor for one of the world’s most powerful drug lords, a drug lord who has pissed off the wrong people. Yet even if she manages to get free from the cartels, there is a large chance of her having to do time in prison in the States, something that Mort desperately wants to prevent. Because Mort? Mort just wants his little girl back, the one he loved to pieces and who reminds him so much of his late wife. A fact that blinds him to the person Allie has become, something Lydia can’t help but see, which will put her friendship with Mort to the test.
Lydia’s own storyline and the case she gets drawn into is far more complex. After some prodding by Mort and the request of a friend and colleague to mentor one of her students, Lydia decides to rebuild her practice, which had been flourishing before she was injured in the previous book. I found this process fascinating and the cases she was assigned were interesting as well. Lydia's mentoring of Zach gave Woods some leeway in explaining some of the processes of therapy and the responsibilities of a therapist to the reader. In Zach we have a likeable foil for Lydia's experience and professionalism, but one who isn't exactly ignorant of the theory and practice of psychology, which works really well.
Woods incorporates some of the history of Lydia’s home town of Olympia to construct her plot, not only lending more depth to the setting, but also creating a host of additional connotations and motives to the cases she works on. In the end the sexual abuse case turns out to be far more convoluted than it seemed at first blush, being connected to far more cases than just that of the initial report. Through the case Lydia meets Detective Paul Bauer, of the Olympia Police Department, and while she is instantly on guard, she’s also very much attracted to this imposing and capable figure. I’ll be interesting to see where this connection will go and whether Lydia will be able to let down the barriers she’s built around herself.
The Unforgivable Fix ends on a bomb shell and though the cases are resolved and questions are answered, we end on a cliffhanger as far as what will happen next. The final pages of the book left me shocked and hurting for both Lydia and Mort and I hope we’ll be able to find out what happens next soon. The Unforgivable Fix is another strong entry in a compelling series. While the book can be read as a standalone, I’d suggest reading the previous books to get the most from the story. Plus, it’ll only save you the time of going back to them after you’ve finished The Unforgivable Fix, because Lydia and Mort are characters you can’t help but fall in love with.
This book was provided for review by the publisher as part of a blog tour.
I recently finished The Unforgivable Fix by T. E. Woods, which is the third book in the Fixer series. I had read the second one, and was a bit confused about the characters and background (I still need to read the first one). But with the knowledge of The Red Hot Fix in hand, this one made much more sense and I really enjoyed it. I like the secret lives that many of the characters are hiding, and Lydia (the Fixer) is excellent in her role.
In this installment, Mort Grant has decided to sell his house after his wife's death and daughter's departure for places unknown. He hopes to start a new life and put it all behind him, but life has a way of messing with your plans. His daughter Allie, thought to be a mistress to a major international drug lord, shows up unexpectedly and Mort has to stash her someplace before the police or rival gangs find her. He chooses to impose on Lydia, who he knows from "previous investigations". Lydia's not fond of this invasion of her privacy and her need to restart her life ("it's complicated"). Allie's not as dumb as she might seem, and quickly figures out the details of Lydia's past life, her relationship with Mort, and what it might mean if she tells all this to the police. Lydia has to figure out whether more killings are necessary (both in Allie's case and in a different case where she's a therapist), or whether she needs to disappear yet again and establish a new life elsewhere.
Everyone hides secrets in The Unforgivable Fix. Mort is hiding what he knows about Lydia from the police and everyone else. Lydia is hiding her past life as a "fixer" so as to remain a free woman. Allie is hiding her role in the drug empire of her lover, also to stay out of jail and alive. These situations all mix well and drive the overall plot of the novel, as well as the subplot of Lydia trying to re-establish her counseling practice to bring back a level of normalcy to her life... but good luck with that.
I wouldn't hop into the series at this book, as you'd likely miss a lot of back story which helps to understand the motivations of the characters. It'd be best to go back to the first one the series (which I still need to do) and work your way here. I think if you like the mix of characters in the first two, you should like this installment.
"The Unforgivable Fix" by T. E. Woods was a really good book. It was a little different than I thought it would be after reading the synopsis. This is the third book in the series of "Fixer" books and after reading this one, I'd recommend reading them in order, which I didn't do! I think the story would be even more improved if I'd known the back history of the character called "The Fixer".
The series is based around the main character called "The Fixer". When you cannot get justice anywhere else and you have nowhere else to turn, you contact the fixer and she will analyze your situation and decide if you deserve help. The Fixer's brand of help is murder. "Never a doubt. Never a mistake. Always for justice. Never for revenge." The Fixer only does one job a year and always only once in each Country. There are never any traces of what happened or any police investigations.
In this, the third installation, I learned early that long time police detective Mort Grant figured out who The Fixer was and let her go in the interest of his own personally held beliefs in justice. But now, Detective Grant's daughter is in mortal danger and the only person Grant knows who can keep his daughter safe is The Fixer. Allie Grant has gotten herself into a real pickle. For the last four years she's been the girlfriend of a notorious drug lord and now his enemies are coming for Allie.
As the above synopsis suggests, I thought this would be a very fast paced book. I was surprised to find it not so much a head long run for answers but instead a psychological cat and mouse game. The tension built at a good pace but this book didn't have the chases I thought it would. As I said, it was a psychological thriller, which was a lovely relief from the many books that are overwhelmingly fast paced. DOn't get me wrong, T.E. Woods built fantastic tension because your really wanted everything to work out for all involved. I have to give this a high four out of five stars. I wish I could use half stars as this is really an eighty five percenter. It was well worth the time and was actually a very fast read. I found that I could, in fact, put it down when I should go to bed but I also picked it up the moment I had a second to read another chapter. I think anyone would love this book, I just suggest starting with the first in the series ("The Fixer: A Justice Novel"). If I had, I think I would be giving this a five star!
For 4 years Mort Grant’s daughter has been incommunicado with her family and friends. No one knows where she is or what she is doing. Then one day she shows up on her father’s doorstep begging for his help.
Allie has found herself on the run from one of the world deadliest drug leaders, the Russian crime lord, Tokarev. There’s only one safe place Mort can hide her away from the authorities – with The Fixer. But can even The Fixer get justice for Allie?
This exciting novel captures the reader from the first page. The book assumes that you know who the main characters are so it’s best if you have read the previous two books first.
The Unforgiveable Fix continues to expand on the main characters of Mort and Lydia and introduces us to Mort’s daughter Allie. Lydia reopens her psychologist practice and Mort sells and moves from his long-time home that he shared with his now-deceased wife and grown children.
The pain that Lydia feels because of her past growing up years and the harm she has done others is very palpable and in some ways ironic as that is what she does for a living – help people to deal with those kinds of feelings about themselves, yet she cannot help herself to deal with those feelings about herself.
There are some excellent twists and turns in this novel that will keep you guessing right to the end. Expect to want to stay up to finish the book. I gave this book 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the publishers via NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts were my own.
This was an excellently crafted story with tight plot lines, suspense filled action and well developed characters that are complex and multilayered. T.E. Woods brings us back to the world of The Fixer. Lydia has let two years pass in which she recovered from a grave injury that could have ended her life. Instead here she is trying to set up her practice again despite retiring her other persona, known as The Fixer, a vengeance assassin that has killed with no remorse. Now she is at a crux trying to build her life again but not being able to forget what she has done before. Soon, she is caught again in a world where good and innocent people get hurt and the villains seems destined to get away again. It doesn't seem like her past is ready to let her go. I have been a fan of T.E. Woods since reading The Fixer. She has crafted one of the most complex, poignant at the same time, strong female character with real life dilemmas. I loved the character of Lydia, despite the almost super hero/dark knight persona, her yearnings for a very normal life is strong its palpable in each page that Lydia is in. This in turn doesn't get in the way of the story line, in fact the story remains strong because of the main character. The ever twisting plot continually keeps readers on their toes just trying to keep track of what really is going on. There are two story lines, one ends with complete resolution, the other is an overarching theme that involves Mort and Lydia's ever complex relationship. Simply riveting till the very end.
*ARC provided by the publisher thru NetGalley in return for an honest review*
Allie took off years ago and has been living with Patrick, a drug kingpin. Patrick does something stupid and, scared of the retaliation against her, Allie returns home to seek protection from her father, Mort, who is a police detective. Mort asks Lydia, a therapist, to let Allie stay with her. Lydia was once "The Fixer" ... you could hire her to fix situations. Against her better judgement and her dislike of Allie, Lydia lets her move into her home.
In the meantime, Lydia returns to her practice and starts taking on new clients. She also agrees to taken on an intern named Zack to help him get the practice he needs. Things get complicated when a cop starts investigating the treatment of some of their patients.
This is the third book I've read by this author and the third in the Mort Grant series (I've read all three) ... I liked it. Though it is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone as there is enough information provided. It's written in third person perspective and had more of a focus on Lydia. As a head's up, there is swearing.
I've like Mort in all three books. He's a good cop and despite that fact Allie knew what she was doing by hooking up with Patrick, he still welcomed her back as if nothing had happened. I didn't find Allie likeable at all ... she was extremely manipulative and definitely a survivor. I found Lydia to be less cold in this book and liked her more than in the last one.
Lydia Corriger had some rough years but she decided it was time to reopen her consult again. So after just a few hours at work, she had one case of child abuse and a PhD student to supervise, Zach Edward. But that's not all, her old friend Mort Grant needed her help with his long gone daughter Allie; she escaped from the rival of his lover, a boss cartel. Lydia had an amazing return to work, don't you think? It seems that when I start reading a book saga, I can never do it from the first book! This is the third book of the Mort Grant series, but other than a few references to previous situations, I haven't had any problem following the book. I am always interested in a book that talks about real problems, a father in law who allegedly abuses his daughter and how the rest of the family have to face this problem. Normally you read the perspective of the victim, this time it is the psychiatrist view, more objective but maybe more painful because you can feel the agony of the victim and the helplessness of the psychiatrist to aid her. Could the money buy a get out of jail card? The other story of this book is about Ally, a young and beauty woman that love to use men in her own benefice, she utilise all her power to make any men to succumb to her will. I can just flatter this book, it has some gripping moments and a few unexpected twists that a thriller lover will bewitch. I will read the first two books of this series and I will be expecting anxiously for the next book! Are you ready for "The Fixer"? (Thanks to Netgalley)
I was a fan of the first two books and was excited to get a copy of The Unforgiveable Fix from Netgalley (in exchange for my honest review). TUF did not let me down. One of the reasons I enjoy this series so much is that I think I know where they're going and they always manage to surprise me. When I started this book, I kept thinking about the title and thought I figured out early on what was ultimately going to happen and I was kinda sorta of right (maybe 20%).
It's two years after the last book and Mort and Lydia have become friends. Mort has sold his house and is moving to a houseboat as the story begins. He talks Lydia into going back into practice, at least part time. The blurb tells you that Mort's daughter is coming home and Mort is going to protect her by having her stay with Lydia. (I foresaw a train wreck about to happen.) I see why Mort thought it was a good idea, understand why Lydia reluctantly said yes. Besides this story line, Lydia gets back into practice and mentors a post doc and meets up again with Oliver and a new police detective, Paul. Could there be a love triangle forming? Yet another cop in The Fixer's life, would that be a good thing?
The story lines come to unexpected ends and all make sense when you learn the details. I debated with myself after the book ended as to what The Unforgivable Fix was, who really was the Fixer this time, and that a fix can be both positive or negative. Normally when I read a fiction book and it ends, that's it for me, but this one had me thinking afterwards. Definitely looking forward to #4.
My recommendation this week is the third and final in the Justice series, called The Unforgivable Fix. In this book, our lovable Mort Grant of the Seattle PD is finally going to retire and move away from the home where he and his late wife raised their two children. While he's still in touch with his son, his wayward daughter Allie has been the lover of a Russian crime lord for years, and Mort constantly wonders where he went wrong. And just as he's making some big decisions to get on with his life, his terrified daughter shows up on his doorstep, looking for help and protection.
Enter The Fixer.
Mort knows there's only one place his daughter will be safe, but the two women aren't exactly a match made in heaven, one a spoiled princess and the other a troubled assassin. While The Fixer has some issues going on at her "real job", she finds herself simultaneously stuck babysitting Mort's pampered daughter and fending off international criminals. All in a day's work. What she can't predict is how the final showdown will change her and Mort's relationship forever.
I was really bummed to see the conclusion of this series because I loved the fast pace and twists and turns. Without giving away the finale, the ending wasn't wrapped up in a tidy little bow like most of us expect. So give this book--and the entire series--a read and let me know what you think. 'Til next week, happy reading! :-)
Mort Grant has sold his house and is moving to a house boat. While Lydia, the Fixer, helps him pack, he suggests that she's been out of circulation too long. It's time to get back into the world, perhaps reopen her practice. At first Lydia is against the idea but when an old friend and colleague asks her to take on her research assistant so that he can get his certification, she agrees.
Lydia's life is changing, but so is Mort's daughter, Allie's. She is the mistress of an international drug smuggler, but when the feud between him and a Russian drug lord heats up, she runs home to daddy. The question is whether she wants to change, or whether she's plotting her next move.
This is another excellent installment in the Fixer's adventures. The two plots, one with Lydia, one with Allie, dovetail nicely. Moving back and forth between the two, instead of disrupting the story, adds suspense.
If you haven't read the two previous Fixer books, you can read this one as a standalone, but once you meet Lydia, Mort and the others, you'll want more time with the Fixer. I highly recommend this book for mystery and suspense fans.
This is the third book in the "Fixer" series. I really enjoy the first one, The Fixer. I didn't have the chance to read the second book, Red Hot Fix, but I never felt like I was missing anything while reading The Unforgivable Fix. There are two cases going on at the same time in this book. One involving Lydia and her therapy practice and the other involving Mort's daughter Allie who is on the run from the drug world.
As far as story-lines go, I liked one involving Lydia's practice more. I kind of wish the book was more about that whole scenario. Without giving too much away, I thought it was the more interesting of the two. The wrap up included a twist I didn't expect. I also had more sympathy for Lydia's patients and their families that I did for Mort's daughter Allie. I don't have much sympathy in general for anyone who purposefully put themselves into a situation like hers. I was a bit disappointed that Mort was so naive about his own daughter.
So, in the end, it was a pretty good addition to the series. I didn't love it as much as the first, but I still found it a good and quick read. I will have to go back and try Red Hot Fix before the next book comes out.
THE UNFORGIVABLE FIX is the second in a series involving Lydia Corriger, a brilliant psychologist with a secret past recently discovered by her friend Mort, who just happens to be a policeman. After being shot, Lydia has been off work for the past couple years and has decided to return to work after talking with an old friend, who has a student looking to get in some clinical hours. Lydia decides to take on the student and reopen her practice. About the same time Mort's daughter needs a safe place to hide while waiting for witness protection. What better place than with Lydia, who just happens to be suicidal on top of everything else. From the opening scene until the end you become involved with the characters attempting to figure out just who is who and what is going to happen to them. All the people in the story catch your attention and the ending is sort of a shock as we see that Allison is not who she appears to be. It keeps you guessing until the end when Mort turns his back on Lydia after deciding he cannot be her friend anymore. I had not read the first story, but had no problems following along with this installment. If you like mystery, action stories you should like this one. (
This is the third story in a series involving the Fixer (Lydia Corriger) and Detective Mort Grant. Mort is the only one who knows Lydia’s true indemnity. Although, now she is resume her therapy practice and take sin new patients and an intern. Mort’s long-lost daughter Allie has come back home to hid from her drug lord boyfriend and/or the Russian mobster who is out for revenge. Mort feels that Lydia is the only one who can protect Allie and wants her to hide out with her. Neither Lydia nor Allie like one another and are soon butting heads while Mort is trying to apprehend her lover. Meanwhile Lydia’s intern has an agenda all his own.
Yes, you should read the first two novels to get to know more about Mort and Lydia I read the second one), and as with that one, this is a fast paced, though provoking, action packed thriller that I could put down. I like Mort, his daughter Allie not so much and we see a somewhat tender side of Lydia. Very enjoyable read for a long train ride home.
I thought this was the first book in the series - a debut novel and thought that that the way that the background material was added was sneaky and interesting. so I was really looking forward to reading the remainder of the series - when it became available. so I looked up her website, and imagine my surprise to find the next 2 books already featured and that I could already buy them! Oops - I read the 3rd first.. never mind. I bought the 2 first ones and hope that the story has not been spoilt for me... The heroine is a complex and conflicted character with a very murky past indeed and yet not as good at telling lies as she should be, considering her profession. As the story progresses you learn more about those who are amoral rather than immoral or moral and yes, I did guess the double-cross as soon as it started. Nonetheless, a good read and worth recommending.