Trick Play

by Tonya Sharp Hyche, Virtual Voice (Narrator)

The women of Norfolk, Virginia, live in terror one winter when a serial killer, known as the River Strangler, murders three victims in a matter of weeks. When the fourth victim, a woman named Laura Stone, turns up, police arrest Alec Deluca for the murder and the whole city takes a sigh of relief. Deluca’s arrest and conviction put an end to the murders—for a while. But when Deluca is executed for Stone’s murder five years later—on Halloween night—another victim of the River Strangler shows up, leaving police to wonder if they had the wrong man all along. Norfolk police call the big guns down from DC—Jemma Rhodes, an FBI profiler, and FBI agent Simon Nichols, who worked the case five years earlier. As Rhodes and Nichols work together to uncover the truth, another body turns up. And this time it’s Deluca’s very own defense attorney, Joy Sutton, which seems like too much of a coincidence. Rhodes and Nichols must untangle the web of lies and figure out whether the River Strangler is back in town—or if there is a copycat killer on the loose.

Genres: Fiction, Serial Killer, Mystery

Audible Audio

First published June 19, 2015

About the author

　Tonya Sharp Hyche earned her BA in secondary education from the University of Alabama and began her first career as a high school history teacher and coach in Texas. After taking some time off from teaching to live in Australia for three years, she added a new career, writing novels. Tonya is now retired after 18 years in education, lives in Texas with her husband, enjoys writing and golfing, and playing with her 4 grandchildren. Tonya's mystery and suspense novels are fast paced, unpredictable with twist and turns along the way.
Tonya has 8 stand-alone novels: Faded Memories, In Plain Sight, Data Bank, Intersection of Lies, Swept Away, Glass Shadow, and the Play novels: Trick Play and Death Play both starring FBI Agent Jemma Rhodes

Tonya has one Trilogy- The Just for You Trilogy
Just for You book 1, Fearless book 2, Painted Fear book 3

Last, Tonya has a series that will take you to Australia where she enjoyed living for 3 years. Broken Promises Series: Breathless book 1 and Till Death, Love book 2

Tonya is currently working on Southern Gentlemen Don't Lie- (Late 2025)

Follow me on Facebook at Tonya Sharp Hyche

Watch Data Bank, my top seller to book clubs, book trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47N3H...

Find my episode of House Hunters International: Season 54 Episode 10 A Crime Novelist in Caloundra
Episode filmed while living in Queensland, Australia

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so fortunate to win a copy of “Trick Play” by Tonya Sharp Hyche, American crime fiction author, through the Goodreads Giveaway Contest. I have to admit this is the first novel I have read by this author…and I really enjoyed it.

This was a fast-paced crime fiction with well- developed characters, an easy read full of suspense that kept the pages turning quickly. Once I started I couldn't put it down! What I love about Tonya's book was the twists and turns just kept coming and when you thought you had it figured out, you didn’t - so back to square one! The author keeps you guessing to the end and this what is what I like, I was totally involved.

Norfolk Virginia’s Serial Killer Strikes Again.

The “River Strangler” had killed four women in the city of Norfolk, Virginia. Alec Deluca, was convicted of murdering Laura Stone, one of the four women killed, and was believed to be the River Strangler. Now five years later, Deluca was on death row, sentenced to die in two days on Halloween, by lethal injection for the murder of Laura Stone-a murder he vowed he did not commit.

But while Alec was awaiting his death sentence…there was another murder-a woman found dead along the river.

“They are going to kill an innocent man.”

But when Deluca is executed for Stone’s murder, soon after, another victim shows up. Could the police have been wrong about Deluca …did they have the wrong man?

Jemma Rhodes, an FBI profiler, and FBI agent Simon Nichols, who worked the case five years earlier were brought in to assist with the case. And soon after, another body turns up…Deluca’s defense attorney, Joy Sutton. What was going on?

Rhodes and Nichols must work together, to solve this mystery, and determine if the River Strangler is back in town…or is there a copycat working in the background. I'm not telling!

You won't want to put this book down. I loved it!

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a signed copy of Tonya Sharp Hyche's "Trick Play" compliments of Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway and appreciated the opportunity.

I will begin by stating that this is a fast-paced crime thriller that grabbed my attention from the very start and kept me intrigued straight to the end. I devoured the story in two sittings, simply couldn't put it down!

The story follows FBI agents, Rhodes and Nichols along with local Sheriff Kennedy and detective Ashmore on a desperate search for a serial killer whose victims deserve truth and justice. The local community is terrorized after a convicted killer meets the death penalty, yet the viscous crimes, to which he was assumed responsible, continue... As the victim count increases, so does the urgency in trying to discover the murderer at large. Or is there more than one?The story unfolds with politics and cover-ups that create further mystery and challenge. Ample twists and turns to pique the reader's curiosities.

I share my 4/5 start rating, definitely recommended for anyone who enjoys crime novels. I look forward to reading more by this author!

[Kimberly Vanderbloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a Goodreads First Read Giveaway.

I enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged from the beginning to the end. The characters were likeable and you wanted them to succeed. The story was fast paced and flowed nicely. The only thing that kept it from a 5 star rating is at times I got confused on the point of view I was reading. This is the first book I have read from this author. I plan on reading more of her work because I enjoyed her writing style.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads for sending me this novel that was signed by the author, as well as a couple of book markers. Felt a bit special with the treats.

I enjoyed this book from start to finish and I was not sure who was the bad guys until the end. It was very fast pace and easy to keep all the different characters in line. I just could not put it down. I now will be looking for other books of Tonya Sharp Hyche. I really liked her story telling. Excellent book!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads. I have never read a book by this author before so didn't know what to expect. I really enjoyed it, it was fast pacing and gripping from the start.