A killer is using The Northland Chronicle to announce his victims. When Monroe Donovan, former crime reporter busted down to the obit desk by her boss and ex-lover, receives another obituary with a "wrong" future date, she sees a story. Detective Lane Brody sees a suspect in Monroe, accusing her of hiding her connection between her ex-lover and the latest victim, while Monroe can't deny the attraction between herself and the unhappily married Detective. The same kind of attraction that landed her in obits. Then Monroe walks in on her former lover and his girlfriend, half-naked and being held at knifepoint by the killer. Now Monroe can only hope Detective Brody stops suspecting her and starts looking for her--before her name appears in the obits. ..".twists and turns, beautiful character development. The ending took me by surprise!" Book Geeks Unite THE NORTHLAND CRIME CHRONICLES, in series order Death Notice Death Offerings THE ISLE OF FANGS SERIES, in order Liberty Awakened Liberty Divided
I am a suspense and paranormal romance author living in Edmond, Oklahoma. I have three grown children. My passions are reading, writing, wearing pajamas, and watching (or rewatching) my favorite television shows such as The Vampire Diaries, True Blood, Justified, and Dexter. I am a huge MLB and Elvis Presley fan. I usually mention one or both in every novel and short story I write. :-)
This was a surprisingly great read given that it was offered as a freebie from the author via Instafreebie. A totally new author for me, this murder mystery centres around Monroe, an investigative reporter stuck doing the obituaries in one of the city's major newspapers. Cue a rapidly escalating killer announcing his kills prior to the deed by placing false obituary notices. Add in a cheating ex who happens to be your boss, a drug addict best friend, a murder cold case involving your childhood friend and a gaaawjus police detective with an ethical dilemma and you have a drama filled, perplexing murder case that has you glued to the pages, first sentence till last! The sexual tension between Monroe and Lane literally thumps off the pages ..... but there's a big problem, Lane is currently married. There is definitely a theme that runs throughout the novel, but I won't reveal that here, and interestingly a look at a couple of the social problems of our times. Highly recommended reading.
P.S. I think the novel could do with an update of the cover. The one that is used now is quite professional but it threw me a bit using a female holding a gun. Until I started reading I had thought it was about a female detective???
What a pleasant surprise this novel was for me. For one thing I can’t remember how I came across it; and second, it’s an intriguing read that held my interest from beginning to end. “Death Notice” is a well-written story that’s full of mystery, drama, and a bit of romance. But what really made this novel special and more enjoyable were the characters, in particular the two protagonists at the heart of the story, Lane and Monroe, both of whom were very likeable. Unlike so many other heroes and heroines, these two come across as just normal, average people, especially Monroe. She’s not tall and waif-like thin, not absolutely stunning with a perfect face or a drop-dead gorgeous body, not someone every other woman is jealous of, or knows how good looking she is. She’s a beautiful woman inside and out with a heart of gold. Lane is a detective who’s good-looking, a decent guy, a detective who’s smart and full of useless trivia facts. The fact that he’s not a millionaire or billionaire is such a refreshing change. They’re both in-depth and well-written characters that come across as quite genuine. They’re also both flawed and have serious issues going on in their lives that keep them from moving on in their lives. I also have to mention that I really liked the supporting characters, in particular Monroe’s best friend, Asia, and her brother, Gable; and Lane’s partner and friend, Tony. I do have to mention that Monroe’s mother drove me nuts. I really wish Monroe would stand up for herself, or at least shut her up for once. As for the mystery, while suspenseful it wasn’t the kind that kept you on the edge of your seat. I did appreciate how the romance between Monroe and Lane develops slowly. There was none of the “I love you” or “will you marry me” crap after knowing each other only for a couple of days. It’s written with care and intelligence making it a romantic ending that’s different and most refreshing to read.
One issue I have with the novel pertains to the character POVs. Whether it be a new chapter, or a new paragraph, it took reading two or three paragraphs to figure out exactly who’s POV I was reading, be it Lane, Monroe, or the killer. So frustrating at times.
In the end, “Death Notice” is definitely worth the time to read. Now onto book 2, “Death Offerings.”
I really enjoy a good murder mystery and "Death Notice" provide that in spades. The story is steeped in suspense, twists and turns, forbidden love, murder, mayhem and betrayal. The stoy captured my attention from and start and the ending left me surprised (which says a lot for me).
Monroe Donovan writes the obituaries for a small paper. She in under the impression that today will be the day she will be promoted to the crime writing desk by her ex-boyfriend, Adam. Unfortunately, the cheating dog that he is refuses to promote her and announces that he will be marrying the girl he has been cheating with. Monroe does what any self respecting woman would do and quits. Can you believe it, Adan is shocked?
Meanwhile Detective Lane Brody has problems of his own. His wife is lying in a mental institution too ill to stand trial for the murder of her lover and former friend of Lane's. Additionally, he has been called to investigate the murder of a man who was kidnapped and shot. Little does he know but his path is about to collide with Monroe Donovan in more ways than one.
Monroe has received an obituary for a man where the date of death is in the future. She does not catch it and it goes to print. Of course, Adam has to point this mistake out to her in his attempt to feel better about himself. Monroe doesn't have time to worry about this because Detective Brody has come to the paper to ask about one of her close friends, Josie. He wants to talk to her about her criminal boyfriend, Matt. Unfortunately, Josie is a druggie and comes and goes in Monroe's life.
Then bodies begin showing up and Lane and Monroe seem to find themselves continually crossing paths. They are definitely feeling the connection vibe but both are hesitant to cross that imaginary line or propriety. Lane is still married and Monroe is not about to break up what she thinks is a happy home.
In this story we get to see glimpses of both the characters professional and personal problems. I can't decide which I enjoyed more: reading about Monroe's family issues, Lane's wife's story or the ever evolving direction of the murders. Although the POV's were unique they all seems to blend seamlessly in the end. The only thing that left me wanting was that I wanted Monroe to confront her brother Coburn about his infidelity and I wanted to know what ever happened to Josie's boyfriend, Matt. I do not know if these issues will be revealed in future installments or if this was just a one shot story. However, I do believe that it has true potential to become a series. Ms. Dean, any comments on a series?
"Death Notice" was referred to me by a friend and I'm so glad she did. The author has done a superb job in creating suspense and mystery in this story. Monroe Donovan is an obit writer - pretty boring most of the time, but she plods along longing to get back to the crime desk. She's been patiently waiting for the crime writer job for 2 years and her promotion is complicated by the fact that her ex-boyfriend is also her boss, Adam. Anyone who has been in this position knows how these things go - not only does Monroe not get the promotion, but Adam reprimands her for letting an obit go to print with the date of death 2 days in the future.
Monroe is clearly upset about Adam's betrayal, that is, until Detective Lane Brody comes to the paper to interview Monroe about the obit. Seems the obit wasn't wrong after all--the victim was found murdered on the date listed. Sparks are clearly flying between Monroe and Lane, but there's another problem. Lane is married, but it's complicated. When a second obit shows up with the wrong date, Detective Lane realizes that he has a serial killer case on his hands.
Ms. Dean does a great job of letting the reader inside both Monroe's and Lane's head and what they're feeling for each other. They're scenes together sizzle. I could feel their forbidden passion for one another--the writing is that good. The mystery of who the serial killer will definitely surprise you. The clues are there, but Ms. Dean is very clever with them. Fans of mystery and suspense will thoroughly enjoy this book. Highly Recommended.
Today’s the big day. Monroe is getting the promotion at The Northland Chronicle she was promised, and worked her butt off for. Excitement fills her when Adam, her former lover and boss, requests her presence in his office. This is it!
Not so. Actually he reprimands her for placing an obituary with the wrong date, and to inform her that his new girlfriend doesn’t want him to give Monroe the promised promotion because she feels insecure. What the hell?
From there, life continues downhill when it becomes apparent someone is sending death notices to Monroe before the death actually occurs. Enter alpha male, Detective Lane Brody, with his own personal heartache. The chemistry between Lane and Monroe is palatable, but can this go anywhere with his issues? And will they catch the author of the obituaries before he strikes again?
Death Notice is a fun, tense story with a touch of romance woven so well by Alicia Dean. With great characters and a fast moving story, it makes for a great beach (or pool) day book.
Monroe Donovan, the obit reporter and amateur crime solver in this first book in what looks to be a great series, is my kind of protagonist. Sassy, spunky, brave and big-hearted, Roe deals with her bad hand like a world-class poker champ. So her mother downgrades her and her boyfriend cheated on her, so what? She has a job, she has friends, she has goals. She wants to be a crime reporter, and she's working the odds to get there,
Along the way, Roe finds the time to rescue her drug-addicted BFF, donate to homeless guys, and solve a serial killer mystery, all while controlling the overwhelming desire to jump the bones of the sexy cop on the case. He wants her too but, unfortunately, Detective Lane Brody happens to be married.
Death Notice has a clever plot, a great pace, and some terrific lines. I especially liked the protagonist's nickname for the hot cop: "Mr. Dark and Off-limits." She calls strippers "clothing challenged." And says things like, "That will really chap her ass." Funny!
After the satisfying ending to this great read, I still wanted more. Lucky for me, book #2 is available.
Someone is sending journalist Monroe Donovan obits for her newspaper column. Not unusual except the date of the first death is two days hence. Must be a mistake. Another notice arrives, again with the wrong date. Then, Monroe discovers both people died on the date in the notices. In the course of investigating the murders, Detective Lane Brody meets Monroe. While the attraction is mutual, neither can act on it. Separately, they discover clues but only when they work together can they hope to find the killer.
I read this book in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. Alicia Dean weaves a suspenseful story of betrayal and murder with enough humor to make Death Notice an entertaining edge-of-the-seat thriller. The main characters are flawed people with complicated lives, which makes them all the more appealing. Monroe's match-making colleague and her slightly wacky family provide comic relief while her protection of her fragile childhood friend evokes sympathy. Great read. Can't wait to start the next book in the Northland Crime Chronicles.
As soon as I saw that Alicia Dean had a new book out, I grabbed it, which was a wise move on my part! This is a well-crafted fast paced thriller with memorable characters. I immediately liked Monroe and enjoyed living her story to the point that I felt like I met her. Several times during the story, I thought I'd figured out who the killer was. I hate to admit that I was wrong, even though the clues were all in there. But, unpredictability is one of the things I love most in a novel. A complicated romance always piques my interest, and there's a great one in here with plenty of sizzle. The concept and plot were also intriguing with the killer turning in obituaries for the victims before they die. I'm a picky reader and Alicia Dean always amazes me. I'm on the lookout for her next book!
Death Notice Alicia Dean offers tight thrills, intriguing characters, and a serial killer with a wicked sense of timing.
Monroe, the heroine, is having a bad day. Instead of a promotion, she's reprimanded by her boss (and former boyfriend) for getting the date wrong on an obit. Cue the spooky music! There's a serial killer, a police detective with secrets of his own, and thrills and chills galore.
This book was made to read curled up under a blanket on a cold night! Get a cup of tea, a hot toddy, or cup of cocoa, grab this book and settle in for some leave-the-lights-on reading!
This book was great, very well written! A friend gave it to me when I was down with a shoulder injury.......once I started I could not put it down!!!!!! The story flows and the twists and turns will keep you on edge! I am looking forward to reading more from this author, I often find that I get hung up on a writer's word choice or phrases that do not make sense, this book was gripping and I love her style......not only was the plot just unreal-the writing was wonderful.....thank you my friend for an amazing gift :)
I'm glad I stumbled upon this book as it was quite enjoyable. I really liked Monroe and Lane. The narrative style was interesting, switching between first person narrative from Monroe's POV and third person for everyone else. The mystery was interesting though I was surprised that the whole connection to the obituaries didn't come until so late in the book. I expected it to be more upfront given the book synopsis. More than one other mystery was started which I hope are addressed in future books. I look forward to reading more in the series.
I was lucky to be one of the first to read this book and I am glad I did! I loved this story! It was tightly written, suspenseful and romantic without the gush, just the way I would expect a hard core detective to be. The heroine was a strong woman who knew what she wanted and, with a little goading from her bff, seemed to find a way to get it. Including the man. Great job Alicia! More!
I loved this book! Good story, good whodunnit. Good suspense. Even a little bit of romance. I'm going to check out more by Alicia Dean has written. Oh, I would have given it five stars, but I wanted a sex scene (or two, or three!), and there wasn't one. So, if you prefer books without, then this is definitely the book for you!
Beautiful phrasing and a good, tight story that keeps me turning the pages. That's what I look for in a book! (Okay, okay, I wouldn't have minded a bit more romance, but I'm going to recommend to all my friends who don't share my perverted tastes!)
I really enjoyed this mystery. The premise of a killer using the obits to announce who the victims are and where they’ll be found, quite a novel approach. Bit more hardcore than a cozy but still enough lighthearted moments so it’s not too intense. Great characters especially Monroe. She’s a crime reporter who followed her heart and wound up working the obits. Her ex also her boss put her through the ringer and now is withholding the promotion he promised because the new fiancé whom he cheated with doesn’t like the idea. There’s plenty of family drama for Monroe with an overbearing mother and three older brothers. And much of her life is still defined by the tragic murder of her best friend at 12 years old and the enduring fallout. A bit of a developing romance with a detective with interesting complications. All the while we get glimpses into the mind of the killer as they enact revenge. Never saw the end coming, but what a great conclusion! A must read! I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
A suspenseful drama, Death Notice has a light brush of romance over a detective story where the victims keep on popping up in Monroe's Obituary Column. Having been jilted for a Barbie look-alike, Monroe no longer has tender feelings for Adam, but he can still make her life miserable. Detective Brody brings a new element into Monroe's life, but being part of his investigation makes it difficult for them to pursue the attraction that flows between them. After all, he is already married. The story is well written and suspenseful. However, I did find the back and forth between the characters in the book a little confusing, especially as it usually happened mid-chapter. The book does, however, end on a positive note leaving the way forward to a sequel. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
I've had this book on my Kindle for awhile and finally read it. Overall, the story was good.
There was nice suspense, occasional sarcastic humor and no writing errors. Monroe and Lane were described well and overall the story had a good flow.
Unfortunately some parts of the story just didn't fit, for example: The issue with Monroe's brother, Colburn. What was the point of adding his affair with the blonde? And the scenario with Lucinda and Lane in the alley? So what? These two scenes added no value to the story and could have been excluded. Just a lot of extra words with no point.
In any event, it was still a good read. The ending isn't a total cliffhanger, but it does imply reading the next book and continuing the series.
I know some people who dislike books written in a first person perspective, but I don't usually mind. This book, however, jumps between the main character "I" and different characters' perspective, and then I really don't like it. If we are to see things from "my" perspective, most of the book should be likewise. Besides that, the book is well written, with a good plot and great characters. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
Ms. Dean knows how to weave crime, suspense, and romance, which is why this isn't the first book I've read by her. A newspaper columnist, Monroe Donovan, receives obituaries before they happen. Detective Lane Brody sees her as a suspect. While she deals with a boss who used to be more and a detective who is in an unhappy marriage and she’s attracted to, the murderer manages to capture her. The characters have depth and good back stories. The plot is compelling. Recommended.
I enjoyed the book - and will definitely read the next. I felt it took a while to really get going, but once it did, I was caught. There were times I didn't like the language, but that's just me. I really enjoyed Monroe's character - especially how she treated/viewed the homeless. I am very interested to see how things progress in book 2 with all the various characters we met in this book.
Monroe "Roe" Donovan writes obituaries at the Northland Chronicle with aspirations to be a crime reporter. She receives an obit with the wrong date, then she discovers a murderer is leaving clues in her column. Detective Lane Brody is investigating a string of murders and working to connect the dots. He meets Monroe, and attraction happens, but there's one problem: he's married.
This book is a real page turner. It kept me intrigued through its entirety. Most often I can figure out who did it early on, but the author was very clever and kept me guessing right up to the reveal. This is a must read series for crime lovers who like romance thrown in for good measure.
Multi-layered read! Humor, romance, who-dunnit murder, intriguing characters, and lots of twists & turns! Kept me flipping pages straight through till the end!I received this book from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily reviewed this book. This is my honest review.
A killer on the loose! Obituaries get sent in to newspaper in advance of the murders. Extremely good story line with characters that stand out. I shall look forward to the next in series! I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. This is my honest review.
I totally enjoyed this book. Monroe is a character I want to get to know better. She's smart, funny, and resourceful. I loved her friendship with a drug addict - it's a nice change to see a character with an addiction as more than the addiction.
Very good plot. I won't be a spoiler but surprised at the ending. I would recommend this book with no reservations. I plan on reading the next book in the w.
Monroe Donovan thought her life couldn't get any worse. Her best friend Josie hadn't been around in a couple weeks. Her ex was being quiet about the promotion he promised her and now she was getting crazy obituaries for her column. Who would put the wrong date on an obit? Monroe wasn't sure but she would soon find out. Detective Lane Brody had enough to deal with in his personal life. He didn't need all the weirdness his job brought in too. Someone is murdering people at random, or are they? It's hard to tell but clues are stacking up and Lane wants to put an end to it.
This book will keep you spellbound. Twists and turns make this a wonderful mystery you'll love. The story is solid and the characters are terrifically defined. I recommend this book! HIGHLY! Alicia Dean knows how to add just enough to make you wonder, did this person do it? I can't wait to dive into another of her books! Mystery, love and craziness makes for a book to keep you in your seat!
I found no issues in this one.
I gave this one a resounding 5 books out of 5 books because I didn't want it to end!!
~Copy of book provided by author in exchange for a fair review~
Monroe's life is a bit lackluster according to her mother, who is constantly comparing her to her three older, saintly brothers. Her job has hit a brick wall when her boss, and ex-boyfriend, gives her promotion to a co-worker because it would upset his new fiance, the very one he dumped Monroe for. And then there are the two cops who are hoping to locate her friend since childhood. Loyal friend that Monroe is, she hedges round the truth, even though the sexy cop has her thoughts wandering in the wrong direction. Could things get any more complicated? Why, yes they can. Monroe, an obit writer, discovers that the obits she receives by email tell of a death that has yet to happen. As dead bodies pile up, the danger hits very close to home. The investigation brings Monroe and the sexy cop together, but the fact that he is married stands in the way.
Death Notice was engaging and suspenseful from beginning to end. The characters are well developed and the plot was very intriguing. Great balance of suspense and romance. Highly recommend.
I received a free copy from the author via Insta-freebie.
Our heroine thwarted crime reporter Monroe (Roe) is a decent and likable lead. She is a genuinely good person (and I like how this pays off for her in terms of the confrontation with the killer). I do wish she would stand up for herself a little more with her mother and also with her douche ex, Adam and get some pay back for the way he keeps screwing her over - I mean seriously he is still using HER cabin to screw the woman he cheated with, what an utter ahole. She does get mad but then she just kind of moves on. I would want revenge but then Roe is a much nicer person than me. I also liked hero, police detective Lane and how he takes his promises and vows seriously refusing to cheat even though his marriage is over and Catherine doesn't deserve his loyalty. But Roe definitely does and I can't wait to see were all that chemistry and sexual tension go when Lane gets his divorce.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.