Prime Target

by Ellis Vidler

Suspense with a love story. Madeleine Schier heeds her husband's panicked call and runs home, only to witness his brutal murder by a crime boss and become a target herself. Under police security, she vows to testify. But when the police protecting her are killed, the last of her NYC life disintegrates, leaving her no place to hide. She flees, relying on her wits and imagination to survive on a dangerous journey to become someone else. Who can she trust? The helpful widower who advises her on farming? The damaged recluse who's always near? The neighbor who brings cherry pie? With the murderer still searching, one wrong move could be her last.

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Romantic Suspense

310 pages, Paperback

First published September 18, 2014

About the author

South Carolina author: PRIME TARGET, suspense with a love story; TIME OF DEATH, suspense with a hint of romance; COLD COMFORT, romantic suspense; HAUNTING REFRAIN, suspense with a little romance; THE PEEPER, with Jim Christopher, suspense. Ellis's novels contain adult language and situations.
3 short stories, TEA IN THE AFTERNOON, Southern fiction.
Some favorites: To Kill a Mockingbird, Prince of Tides, Tarzan of the Apes, Anne of Green Gables, The Lord of the Rings, Beach Music--those are on my shelf of favorites. So many books, so little time!

Reviews

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is Ellis Vidler outdid herself with this awesome story filled with suspense, thrills and romance. What do a stray dog, a severely damaged veteran and a wanted woman have in common?

It all started with, “Maddie, come home right now. I’m in trouble.”

It was the end of life as she knew it. Now she is on the run and even WitSec is not safe. She is the Prime Target and they come at her like the Mafia of old, determined to take her out. Imagine looking over your shoulder, unable to sleep, jumping at the slightest noise, forgetting to answer to your name and looking at everyone you meet with suspicion.

Who would you be if you could reinvent yourself?

I love stories with strong women in difficult situations. Ellis Vidler took me into a world that I can believe is real with her creative writing and ability to keep me guessing as to what comes next. The story was predictable, but the journey, not so much. She adds those extra flourishes that touch my emotions and keep the pacing of the book at a high level of sorrow, romance, danger, terror and…I do love a happy ever after.

I would highly recommend Prime Target by Ellis Vidler.

It even contains a bit of humor along with a lot of suspense:

“They shot Frank again.” I couldn’t help but bust out laughing. I mean, how many times can you kill a guy?

To see more visit http://www.fundinmental.com

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellis Vidler consumed me from page one of Prime Target! Prime Target starts with a good mix of mystery, suspense and fear that only increases as the plot progresses.

When Madeline witnesses her husbands murder and not even the police can keep her safe, she escapes from big city to New York and ends up on an apple orchard in a small town. With a new identity and a new beginning, Madeline is cautiously living her life in anticipation of having to return for the trial of her husband's murderer. Little does Madeline know that her small town, and not even her property is safe from danger. Has she gone from one evil to the next? Charlie Dance is seemingly a recluse living on the mountain near her property. A cautious friendship is formed, even though they both surprisingly feel so much more. There is much more to Charlie than what meets the eye...as suspicious as he is about everything and everyone, he feels protective towards Madeline...and a lot more. Madeline likes who she sees and who she knows Charlie is under his layers of protection. And as the two are drawn together, danger is drawing close too. A danger that is putting them both in danger.

I loved the strong hero and heroine in Prime Target. Madeline is cautious and scared but oh so brave! She seems to have an innate ability to feel good or wary about certain people she comes into contact with, and this will definitely work in her favor. I liked how accepting she was of Charlie...she at times relates them to Beauty and the Beast which really says it all. Charlie is a man to love, scars and all! I liked getting to know him as the layer's that make up Charlie are peeled away. He is very protective of Madeline, often going way outside of his comfort zone to help her. Together I could feel the connection between them and I liked the slow build of trust, friendship and then more between them. They felt so right together, and I liked how they came together. It felt real and good. But I was as worried as they were about what would happen when/if the danger was stopped. Madeline misses her life in New York, and Charlie is not meant for New York. But are they meant for each other?

The suspenseful part of the plot is intricate but easy to follow and builds quickly very well. At times it was unexpected and at other times parts of it was heartbreaking. Real life issues are dealt with in Prime Target, and I liked how attention was brought to this issue in Prime Target.

There are good, bad, interesting, and I want to know more type secondary characters in Prime Target who blend in well with the plot. Some of them could take on a life of their own I felt like, and I hope to see more of them.

Very well written, I had a hard time putting Prime Target down, wondering what would happen next! I'd highly recommend Prime Target to any romantic suspense reader!

[Wendy Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! I looked forward to any extra time I could spare to get back to reading it!

[John W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Kurtze Review of “Prime Target” by Ellis Vidler

Pages 312
Publisher: Parkwood Press release October 15, 2014


Ellis Vidler’s, “Prime Target,” is unpredictable at the turn of the first page. Vidler’s female protagonist, Madeleine is being protected by NYPD and the FBI. Madeleine learns the crime boss has put a price on her head.

The FBI assures her they can keep her safe and she lets them set her up in a safe house. After two brushes with death, Madeleine is sure she can’t trust the NYPD, the FBI, or the US Marshall service. She decides to take matters into her own hands. Before the NYPD or the FBI is aware that she is about to run she makes it to her bank and withdraws funds and leaves town.

Creating a new identity was easy thanks to her love of reading old mystery novels. Once she had chosen a name and ordered a new birth certificate, she can begin creating her new identity With her new identity in hand, she proceeds towards setting herself up so she could be safe. Madeleine hopes to return to testify against the crime boss but she has to make sure no one could find her. Madeleine knows the mobster won’t stop looking for her. Madeleine takes steps to cover her tracks and she knows she has to be careful. She knows she needs create a new person the total opposite of Madeleine Sheir.

Having left New York City behind, readers quickly learn about Madeleine Sheir’s sense of survival. Vidler continues building the suspense and intrigue adding twists and turns and misdirection. She never fails to increase the story’s momentum. There are several supportive characters coming into the mystery and Vidler supplies their back stories as the plot unfolds.

Madeleine settles into her new life establishing her new identity in a small rural community. She is still cautious of the crime boss wanting her dead. Vidler takes her readers on a great side trip that has lots of surprises and changes to the plot. She introduces her readers to the story’s male protagonist, Charlie Dance, giving readers his history. Madeline knows he is a war veteran who lives as a recluse in the woods on the edge of her property. The two of them keep their distance each suspicious of each other as they both may have something to hide.

The antagonists in Vidler’s story are the crime boss and his henchmen and maybe a few law enforcement people. Vidler begins bringing events together for the unpredictable change of direction and the amazing ending. These actions will give readers goose bumps and as the story comes to a head, readers hold on to their seats so hard their knuckles turn white.

“Prime Target” doesn’t disappoint Ellis Vidler’s readers. Vidler’s story has plenty of action, a little romance, and good writing makes “Prime Target” worthy of five stars and a must read recommendation.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You Can Run, But You Can't Hide"

This story is one of the most suspenseful, compelling novels I've read this year. Madeleine Schier is a big city girl working for an advertising agency in New York. Her husband, Frank, is an accountant, and their lives are very comfortable living on the Upper West Side. That is until one day, Frank calls Maddie at work, screaming, "I'm in trouble!" He sounds terrified, and Maddie rushes home. When she arrives, he's frantically packing clothes and is hysterically telling Maddie they have to get out of town. Frank's secret is out ... he's been an informant for the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding one of his clients, Gerry Buhler. It's too late to run, Gerry is knocking hard on their door. Gerry is not alone having two large men beside him. Maddie rushes to the bedroom, crawls under the bed, tight up against the wall. She has her cell phone and calls 911 as Gerry shoots and kills Frank. The other two men search for Maddie, but sirens are heard and they have to run. One of the investigators on the scene is FBI agent Adam Sole who informs Maddie that Buhler has been a suspect of human trafficking, but they don't have any solid evidence yet. The investigators feel Maddie is in severe danger and will place her in the Witness Protection Program managed by the U.S. Marshals. She'll be giving up her job, her family, friends, and Frank will no longer be in her life after the wonderful nine years they had together. Though she is advised not to attend Frank's funeral, she insists. It ends tragically with several officers and her look-alikes are shot. Maddie knows there will be no protection of her by others, so she runs... and runs more, changing her name, getting new ID, and finally finding some peace on a small apple farm in North Carolina. It's secluded enough where she feels safe. But it doesn't last long. Her life swings into chaos again, but she'll not be alone. The story line is potent, with non-stop action. It hits the reader hard, right from the beginning to the end. This compelling story is easy to read, well written, and draws you right into every scene. There is really no time to stop and smell the roses. Highly recommend.

[Roy Murry · Rating 5 out of 5]

PRIME TARGET
Disappear or Die

ELLIS VIDLER

Review by Roy Murry, Author

The WITSEC, better known as the Witness Protection Program was waiting for Madeleine to become a member after she saw her husband gunned down by a gangster. That event continued with another murderous one, targeting her.

Leaving the police and the FBI in search of her in New York City, she takes control of her life without government protection. The suspense begins - on the run from the mob and the government is nerve-racking which comes through in Ms. Vidler’s writing.

The reader feels Madeleine’s conflicts. She wants to live to put the SOB away for what he had done to her husband. However, how can she do this "on the run"?

All the events after she leaves NYC and finds her way looking for an apple farm can only be described as somewhat thrilling, melodramatic, and sensational. She acquires many new loves on this journey from her mental and physical prison to knowing who she is and what she wants.

With the help of new and old friends, her journey comes to an end to the reader’s satisfaction, but not in the way one would think - more suspense. Many twists and turns keep the reader’s attention.

It did mine

[Denise Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Impressive Novel!

Ellis Vidler is a new author to me. The novel surprised me with rich characters and detailed settings. This book brought human trafficking to life and showed it for what it is. The main character, Madelaine, sees her husband, Frank, killed a few feet from where she is hiding in their New York City apartment from the ruthless boss of a human trafficking ring. The people charged with protecting her are killed or wounded leaving her scared. She disappears and changes her appearance. She creates a new persona with a new name on a farm near Henderson, North Carolina. She becomes Grace Hibbett from Kentucky. She meets Charlie Dance, a scarred veteran of Afghanistan. They help each other fight their demons and become very close. Human trafficking turns up on her farm property and Grace is appalled. She fights back but in doing so alerts the New York boss who is also head of the problem on her farm. With help from her dog, Pike, they save a young girl, catch the bad guys, temporarily stop the ring but not without complications. People die and are hurt in this novel but it makes it real. If you like action and honest writing, read this book!

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madeline received a frantic call to come home at once. To find her husband was throwing clothes in a suitcase, telling her to hurry, he cashed out what he could. He was an accountant a client dealings have discrepancies and he was going to the FBI. With no chance, she sees her husband murdered and there is leak somewhere and she is not safe even inWITSEC. When the police protecting her are killed she flees. Living on her own wits of what to do. The tension, her fear seemed real, who could she trust, would she have a life again. Very well done, and readers will definitely enjoy.

[Harriet Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too often books described as page-turners disappoint, but Prime Target kept me reading and reading and reading wanting to know how the clever, resourceful, strong female main character would keep herself safe from those who wanted her dead. The love interest with a flawed veteran who was not what he seemed added to the intrigue. I loved this book and recommend it to those who enjoy getting lost in a story.

[Ann Aldrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your very life was suddenly at risk what would you do?

Without any warning Madeline was forced to become a completely different person or be murdered by the men who without mercy took the life of her husband. Who to trust, how to outwit and disappear leaving no trace ... this book kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page., great plot, well written and thought out.

[Polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Prime Target's pulse-throbbing first chapter, Madeleine Shier sees the murder of her husband by a major crime boss. Once the killer finds out she's a witness, Madeleine becomes a target---a prime target, and every move she makes to protect herself could be her last. Where can she go that's beyond the tentacles of the killer's reach? Who can she trust when she arrives? The police? The FBI? The war-damaged vet who's as suspicious of her as she is of him? I couldn't turn the pages fast enough as those questions were answered. Plenty of action, a little romance, and good writing makes Prime Target worthy of five stars.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a suspenseful story, and I was engaged from the beginning. I felt that the main characters were well fleshed out, and I especially liked the resourcefulness of the heroine, Madeleine. I also liked the hero of the story. I don't want to give anything away, but I appreciated that the story addressed an important topic of today, human trafficking. But I felt it was too much of a coincidence that Madeleine's random choice of a location ended up connecting to the crimes of the beginning of the story.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved thebook

A great book ! Page turning suspense. Sweet love story. Two completely different storylines are melded into one--the author did an excellent job. Look forward to reading more by this author.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great book

This book was really good, at first it started off slow. But then it got really good. I loved this book. I hope Will Porter, Angel and Jesse get their own book. I love this series. I hope we see more of Maleantes & More Security Consultants.

[Tressan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excitement

This story really kept my interest. I loved the 2 main characters. A woman hiding from gangsters and the FBI and a veteran with a badly scared body. It was clean, exciting and had some romance.

[Libby Barland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prime

What an easy, enjoyable read. Being targeted as a crime family victim, our heroine learned quickly how to redo her life. Everyone who tried to help her got shot. A great book.

[Sandy Wolters · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book! Heart-pounding to the end. I'm off to read another Ellis Vidler book! Couldn't put it down!

[Glenda Bettin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one more as the ending is way better

[angela yargus · Rating 5 out of 5]

quickening heartbeat...Fear but also Love!

There are a very few weak spots that are a distraction here. BUT, I loved it! Don't underestimate Ellis Vidler!

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Compelling tale, plenty of suspense and emotional content. Enjoyed it a lot.

[Sheila Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and will definitely be checking out the others. Well written, easy to read. Loved the story line, Madeline is the key witness in a murder investigation against a dangerous crime lord. She goes into hiding, changes her identification and hides out in a cottage with an apple orchard in a remote place. This brings it's own set of problems as terrible things are going on out there as well. Luckily she has her guardian angel, Charlie, ex army living in the woods and watching over her.
Beautifully played out, loved the characters and the book setting, it all works. Highly recommend.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two lonely people SPOILER ALERT

A woman running from organized crime that murdered her husband.
A man, scarred physically and emotionally is haunted by his time in Afghanistan.
She buys an apple farm, hoping to hide there.
He lives nearby, hiding from life.
They meet and save each other.
Amazing story. I counted one ... one typo.