Crescendo

Inola Walela & Steven Hawk #3

by Deborah J. Ledford

ANTHONY AWARD NOMINEE FOR BEST AUDIO BOOK

One dead woman.
A missing child.
The diabolic father who will do anything to get his son back.
The female cop who risks everything to keep the boy safe.
CRESCENDO – Redemption with a bullet

As the only female Native American officer on the Bryson City, North Carolina police force, Inola Walela, must always play her A game. All bets are off when during a routine traffic stop the passenger insists her son has been kidnapped but is struck by a car before Inola can glean any hard facts. An altercation ensues and Inola's partner is felled by a bullet-possibly from her gun.
On administrative leave, fraught with guilt for allegedly killing her partner, and obsessed with the possibility of a missing child out there somewhere, she defies the force and her fiancé, Sheriff Steven Hawk. Inola sets off on her own journey to find the missing boy.

CRESCENDO is Book Three of the Inola Walela/Steven Hawk suspense series.

With her trademark evocative prose, Ledford drew me into the hazy Smoky Mountain world of Native American Police Officer Inola Walela-a world filled with danger, pain, and deep compassion. I kept turning pages long past my bedtime to keep up with Inola on her vivid and explosive adventure. Highly recommended!
Rebecca Cantrell, New York Times bestselling author

“Every time I tried putting CRESCENDO down Ledford hooked me into reading
just a few more chapters. The action in this book is dangerous to sleep cycles.”
~ Jeffrey Siger, author of the Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis Mysteries

“Inola Walela becomes the avenging angel of death, leaving no stone unturned in order to bring justice for one small boy in this knife-edge drama. Walela’s search brings her closer to the truth in a cataclysmic chaos of events. Following in the footsteps of J.A. Jance, the police procedural genre has birthed a new author to follow. In CRESCENDO, Deborah J Ledford raises suspense to a higher level as she intertwines her Cherokee heritage with her writing, exposing all of us to her award winning style.” ~Suspense Magazine

“Since I read the first book in the series, Staccato, I've loved the character Inola, a Native American cop who's constantly having to prove herself to her police department colleagues in the relatively backwoods town of the Bryson City, North Carolina. In spite of her stubborn nature, her inability to communicate with those she truly loves (Steven and her grandmother, Elisi), and her insistence on going out on her own despite obvious dangers that threaten - you can’t help but love her. Tough, focused, and smart, she’s everything you'd want in a heroine.”
~ Midwest Book Review

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense, Crime, Native American, Contemporary

291 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

DEBORAH J LEDFORD is an Agatha Award winner and two-time nominee for the Anthony Award. REDEMPTION and HAVOC are from the Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran Native American suspense series.

Her first series, the Smoky Mountain Intrigue Native American police procedural series, includes the titles CAUSING CHAOS, CRESCENDO, STACCATO, and the Hillerman Sky Award Finalist and New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards Finalist, SNARE.

Three-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize, her award-winning stories appear in numerous print publications as well as literary and mystery anthologies.

She is also a former Arizona State University adjunct professor for The Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing. Ledford is President/Producer for the independent media company, IOF Productions Ltd. She produced the CAUSING CHAOS and CRESCENDO audiobooks as well as The Blind Eye.

Part Eastern Band Cherokee, Ledford spent her summers growing up in the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina, where her Smoky Mountain Inquest book series is set. She lives in the Phoenix, Arizona area with her extremely patient husband and their awesome Ausky.

She is a member of: International Thriller Writers Association (ITW), Sisters in Crime National (SinC), Crime Writers of Color (CWoC), Mystery Writers of America (MWA), Past-President of Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths (AZ) Chapter.

Reviews

[Deborah Ledford · Rating 5 out of 5]

2014 ANTHONY AWARD NOMINEE FOR BEST AUDIOBOOK

CRESCENDO is book three of my Steven Hawk/Inola Walela suspense series set in the Great Smoky Mountains, of western North Carolina.

I hope you enjoy this journey of the only Native American female police officer of a small North Carolina town searching for a child no one but her believes is missing. CRESCENDO - Redemption with a bullet.

Read by TV and film actress Christina Cox (Dexter, NCIS, The Chronicles of Riddick, Elysium, Better Than Chocolate, Nikki & Nora), the audiobook is produced by IOF Productions Ltd.

Deborah J. Ledford

[Malcolm · Rating 5 out of 5]

In music, "crescendo" indicates a gradual increase in force or loudness. If Deborah J. Ledford’s three-book Steven Hawk/Inola Walela Thriller Series (Staccato, 2009, Snare, 2010, Crescendo, 2013) were a concerto, the audience would leave the concert hall at the end of the performance electrified by the force of the third movement and the virtuosity of soloist Inola Walela.

Crescendo (Second Wind Publishing, January 27) begins with great force when antagonists Preston Durand and private investigator Hondo Polk push Billy Carlton to tell them what he knows about the location of Durand’s son and ex-wife. The book’s volume increases when Inola’s partner is killed during a traffic stop by a bullet that might have come from her gun and a female passenger in the stopped car is struck and killed by another vehicle just after she says, “I got you the money. Where is my son?”

Though she’s a decorated Bryson City, North Carolina police officer, Inola is put on administrative leave pending a departmental investigation into the deaths at the scene. She’s told to stay away from the investigation, including trying follow up on her gut feeling that the woman’s son has been kidnapped.

Inola’s fiancé Steven Hawk, now the county sheriff, wants to play everything by the book. He tells Inola that there’s no evidence of a kidnapping and the city police and county sheriff’s departments can’t take action until evidence and leads, if any, materialize—and she is to stay home.

Readers of the Steven Hawk/Inola Walela Series were introduced to Inola in Staccato when Hawk, who was a sheriff’s deputy then, first became aware of her: “Hawk had noticed Inola Walela, the only female cop on the Bryson City police force. She was captivating, beautiful, smart, tough, exactly what he hoped to find in a woman.”

Inola, who played a larger, but secondary, role in Snare, is Ledford’s on-the-hot-seat protagonist in Crescendo. She comes into her own in this tense novel as a three-dimensional, risk-taking police officer who needs to find the young woman’s son and who has kidnapped him even though she may be suspended or terminated regardless of what she learns.

This is a richly told psychological and physical thriller. Ledford, who knows her characters and her settings well, increases the volume of this story until the last shot is fired.

[Pascal Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think what I like most about Deborah J Ledford's writing is her ability to bring the reader right into her story from the first five pages. She paints descriptions of her settings in all of her books, including SNARE & STACCATO, the previous two books in the Inola Walela/Steven Hawk trilogy, that make you feel you're right there. This was especially true in CRESCENDO, taking the reader to a small, and maybe somewhat backward hamlet in the mountains of North Carolina, someplace this reader has never been.
I especially liked that she had her villain(s) hale from Chicago, my birthplace. What better juxtaposition than to throw two heinous, street-smart Chicago thugs into a rustic setting and take them totally out of their "comfort zone" as they take a road trip crime spree.
The tension Ledford ramps up through the final third of the book keeps you guessing as to which side will win, good or evil, her excellent thriller writing style keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very final pages. And it's not often a writer can make you root for a shotgun-toting grandma, wishing (more like begging) for the kind old lady to blast the bad guy to kingdom come.
If you're a fan of classic thriller writing, this book's for you.

[Aaron Lazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crescendo, book three in the Steven Hawk/Inola Walela psychological suspense thriller series, follows in the fast-paced and mesmerizing tradition of Staccato and Snare, the first and second books in the series.

I’m not going to rehash the plot here, because there are already a plethora of summaries in reviews previously posted. What I do enjoy writing about, however, is the reaction I have to novels, and how the characters or plot affected me personally. I know, it’s a bit narcissistic, but those are the types of reviews I like to read, not just plot rehashes. ;o)

Since I read the first book in the series, Staccato, I’ve loved the character Inola, a Native American cop who’s constantly having to prove herself to her police department colleagues in the relatively backwoods town of the Bryson City, North Carolina. In spite of her stubborn nature, her inability to communicate with those she truly loves (Steven and her grandmother, Elisi), and her insistence on going out on her own despite obvious dangers that threaten – you can’t help but love her. Tough, focused, and smart, she’s everything you’d want in a heroine.

I particularly enjoyed her vulnerability in this book re. the evil villain’s charms. When she is told her bullet most likely killed her best friend and partner, Cody, she is understandably traumatized. She’s removed from her job, believes she is responsible for Cody’s death, and is obsessed over the mention of a missing child at the scene of the accident that opens the story. These three items weaken her confidence and resolve, and she’s inexplicably drawn to a fellow sympathetic listener, Preston, who happens to be a delicious villain. Preston—a wonderful actor—charms her into his arms. Problem is, Inola’s currently living with and involved in a relationship with the rugged black Sheriff, Steven Hawk.

There were many memorable scenes, including Inola’s visit to the villain’s hotel room, the shivery cold chase scenes through the woods, and the amusing scenes with the IT jailbird who is released to help out the cops. My favorites, however, were those showcasing Inola’s grandmother Elisi and the young abandoned boy they rescue from a hotel room. Her loving attention to this boy broke my heart, and I felt instantly moved. Although it seems Elisi didn’t connect with Inola when she was delivered to her to be raised, she apparently has grown and changed over time, and has a great deal of love to share.

I have recently learned that Ms. Ledford is planning a fourth book in the series – hurray!

Recommended by Aaron Paul Lazar, www.lazarbooks.com.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Officer Inola Wilela finds herself amidst a tumultuous sea of havoc and uncertainty that begins with what seems like a straightforward traffic stop and turns into a battle to save a young boy. The father of the boy, a manipulative mad-man, begins a relentless pursuit to find his son so he can cash in on his inheritance. Inola vows to keep the boy safe but he is determined to locate the boy at any cost, no matter how much violence and bloodshed ensues.

Inola, being the only female police officer for the Bryson City force in North Carolina, is no stranger to psychological competition, but can her fortitude and strength of mind help her “keep it together “ through the raging chaos in both her professional and personal life? Together, with the help of her fiancé Sheriff Hawk, an ex-con of a computer whiz and a streak of luck or two, Inola vows to bring the mad-man down even if it means costing her the badge she so dearly loves.

This police procedural hits the ground running and keeps the action moving. During the few breaks in the action, readers learn more about Inola, what makes her tick, her thoughts and her dreams. I appreciate the author’s ability to capture that we, as humans, often misjudge what others think of us and that sometimes we must take chances to rectify the mistakes we make.
The story moves along quickly, but even so, I was routing for Inola and her comrades and finding myself getting more and more attached to their personalities and abhorring the “villain” increasingly as the story went on; all signs of a well-written story. The last scene admittedly made me cry indicating I was definitely in tune with the characters.

It was a first read for me by Deborah Ledford and I would definitely read another especially if it meant I could find out how Inola and Steven Hawk’s relationship develops.

I would warn readers that there is some strong language in this one, but violence and crime usually lend themselves to this in general.

Christina Cox narrates and does quite a good job “reading” the story, but if you are expecting much in the way of character voices it is not quite there. I found her tone and pace to be right on the mark, but I had hoped for a bit more when it came to the actual voices. This is my personal preference and I would not discourage anyone from this narration as she does a fine job of relaying the story in a genuine manner.

Overall I would rate this one at 4 stars which for me means …Very good book. I enjoyed it, perhaps even had a hard time "putting it down". I would recommend this book to others.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inola Walela, half Cherokee Native American, and the first Bryson City female officer to be awarded the Medal Of Honor, is highly respected by all. She is training new officer Cody Edwards, and building a life with her companion, Steven Hawk, who happens to be the newly elected Sheriff of Swain County, North Carolina. They are a branded as controversial, with she being part Native American, and he being African American. They bravely forge ahead.
Renowned actress Christina Cox narrates Deborah J Ledford's sensational new police crime novel, Crescendo – the third installment in the Inola Walela and Steven Hawk trilogy – on audio CD. Ms. Cox, well known for portraying police investigators in TV movies, displays another of her formidable talents with a mesmerizing performance.
As the story opens, a very bad man has followed his ex-wife to North Carolina to find and take his young son back to to Chicago . After grabbing he boy and leaving the area, the man and his accomplice are involved in a traffic accident on the expressway..
Inola and Cody arrive to investigate, and the lives of everyone at the scene are changed forever. Some are ended. After a bloody shoot out, Inola's gun is seized and she is ordered to stand down from the force by her chief. But too much has happened, the horror of the incident haunts her, and she disregards his order.
Sheriff Hawk reluctantly aids with her rogue efforts to find the young boy and to solve murders related to the incident.
A page turning, fire brand of a police procedural/crime novel explodes from its launch pad and picks up speed as it streaks ahead. The author has complete control of all aspects of he story – the complexity of police investigations, and the officer's struggle to remain in control. The torture of choosing to proceed despite a lack of clear authority in life and death situations that must be dealt with instantly. The rough and tumble humor cops nonchalantly engage in while blood is being spilled and people are being killed. (It's just part of the job.) As a former police detective, I can attest to the accuracy and reality of Crescendo. As a fan of great writing, I can eagerly recommend this book to all.
The Inola Walela/Steven Hawk trilogy is one worth studying, as well as being read, by crime mystery fans.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

CRESCENDO was quite a find for me. As a North Carolina resident, I always enjoy novels set in the state. The third in a series featuring Inola Walela, half Cherokee officer of The Bryson City Police Department, and Steven Hawk, sheriff of the county and her boy friend. Set in the Great Smokies, Inola and her rookie partner make a stop when they spot a blond haired woman acting frantically pass them by.

A huge man comes out of the driver's seat and her partner takes him back to their unit while she checks on the woman. She seems dazed, possibly drugged, as she piles out of the car muttering about her son and carrying a bag full of cash. When the driver starts up, Inola gets distracted, especially after a shot is fired and puts one into the driver. The woman wanders out into traffic and is hit by a car, dying instantly.

In just a couple of minutes, two are dead, her partner may be dying, and Inola is under suspicion of actually hitting her partner. She didn't remember, but two shots had been fired from her gun and she's worried she might be the one who'd hit her partner.

On administrative leave while the investigation is on, no one believes there is a missing child. Inola can't leave it alone though and keeps sticking herself into the investigation, trying to find the child and wanting to know if her bullet was the one that hit her partner.

Author Deborah J. Ledford keeps the suspense ramped up as the case moves along and some disturbing things come to light. I liked this one and definitely need to get the first two.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crescendo plunges the reader into a plot propelled by two obsessed characters. Inola, the heroine, is the only Native American officer on the Bryson City, North Carolina police force. She feels she constantly has to prove herself, especially after a particularly traumatic traffic stop in which her partner is shot. Put on administrative leave, Inola can’t rest until she avenges her partner. She also has to rescue a child who seems to be missing but whose identity or even existence can’t be confirmed. Pitted against Inola is Preston, who is fanatically determined to find the child for his own purposes. Chapters alternate between Inola and Preston, tension building as the characters progress toward their clashing goals. These driven personalities are contrasted with the calmer, more logical Sheriff Steven Hawk, Inola’s lover, who is trying to help her yet solve the crimes within the system.

This suspense novel will satisfy readers who want a plot fueled by the characters’ wants and needs, not simply by outside forces. Set in the mountains of North Carolina, the story relies on strong individuals who thrive in a rugged yet beautiful environment. Ledford uses the conflicts of different law enforcement branches to show how people in rural communities work together even when they disagree.

[Tim Jin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that I have an new female author that I want to follow more. Deborah J Ledford writes "Crescendo" to be a fast pace, suspense, murder, thriller. I don't have that many female authors in my library, because I find most of them focus on the characters' emotions a bit too much, where the plot becomes muddle after a while. "Crescendo" comes out firing from the gate and cut through the chase and gets through the good parts.

Unlike other authors, Ledford builds the female character too be strong and reliance. Just because the main character is a cop, working in a male dominated workforce, Inola plays her role accordingly as a veteran officer. There is very little touchy feelings in her role, but she doesn't come off a typical cop either. It's just a good balance of being feminine and harsh at the same time.

Outstanding character development for a murder mystery and detective genre. The first two books aren't in audio yet. I really hope that they publish the those early books in the series because I want to know more about Inola's romantic relationship and how the bathroom renovation came about.

[Sam Barone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a gripping psychological thriller from Ledford. She knows how to make you turn the page. This time Inola must protect a boy from his father, who is willing to murder anyone who gets in the way of his attempt to kidnap the boy from his terrified mother. And this time Inola is in the way. Good page turner.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deb Ledford has done it again. The third installment of the series, she has presented the reader with a tight plot that reeks with tension and suspense--a mother fears for the safety of her child from a crazed madman bent of harming her and childnapping. All located in the hills of modern day Great Smokey Mountains. Another excellent read from this author.

[Adrienne Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crescendo, the third book in the Steven Hawk/Inola Walela Thriller Series is another winner. I so enjoy reading a well thought out, tension filled, edge of your seat thriller and Deborah Ledford has delivered once again. Go get it now!

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense!! This title had me on pins & needles and reeled me in like a fish from the beginning. The scenes were full of suspense, thrills, action, and all the emotions that come with being a police officer. This was the third book of Ledford's that I've read and I haven't been let down yet.

[Sharon R A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading about the Hawk and Walela characters. Lots of suspense. You are THERE - in the Great Smoky Mountains.

[Trudie Barreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this third book of her “Smoky Mountain” series pairing Sheriff Steven Hawk and police woman Inola Walela, Ledford really develops the psychic gifts which enrich Inola’s Cherokee heritage and enhance her abilities as a police officer. The basic plot line involves the attempts of a thoroughly unworthy and irresponsible heir to a fortune to assure his inheritance by kidnapping his own son. In the process he kills the child’s mother, his ex-wife, in the mayhem of a traffic stop in which Cody, Inola’s partner on the police force, is also killed. Although suspended from active duty with the police, Inola continues to investigate the case, and with the assistance of her Cherokee grandmother, manages to find and rescue the child. To try to avoid unnecessary repercussions with her ongoing investigative efforts while off active duty, Sheriff Hawk deputizes Walela, and thus gives her the necessary cover as well as assistance in resolving the situation. He also cements their personal relationship and earns his place in the trust and affection of her grandmother.

As with the other two books in this series, this one is tightly written, culturally and psychologically sensitive, and narrative is gripping and intense.

[Sharikae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crescendo

I couldn't put this book down. I loved it. I recommend it. I really liked Inola in this book. Can't wait to read the next one.

[J C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the amount of the story was dedicated to the female characters especially Inola. I also liked the NC setting and the flow of the story. It did not end exactly as I thought it would, but hopefuly the next book in the series will tie everything together nicely.

[Cheryl Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

one geographic mistake

The Tuckasegee River goes through Bryson City, not the Nantahala. I enjoyed this book. I’ll have to find books 1-2.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: Even though this is Book 3 in the series, it worked just fine as a stand alone.

Bryson City, NC isn’t known for its diversity. But that hasn’t stopped Cherokee Inola Walela from excelling at her chosen career – city police officer. In fact, she and her partner are running late to an awards ceremony where they will both receive commendations. Yet a tense traffic stop sends Inola chasing after a missing child and a dangerous man. Unfortunately, there is very little info to go on, and Inola has been placed on administrative leave after a shooting that left her partner dangerously wounded. Meanwhile, Sheriff Steven Hawk tries to maintain his objectivity while also supporting Inola. They relationship faces several challenges in this book.

There was quite a bit to enjoy in this modern-day mystery. Inola and Steven make a fascinating couple. She is stand-offish and not a cuddly type person. Steven is goal oriented and steadfast. She has worked very hard to prove herself worthy and yet still feels that she isn’t good enough. Steven knows he is good enough but also sees the worth in those around him. I really loved watching the interactions between these two. They are so human, with faults and worries and joys and triumphs. I am really hoping to see the other books in this series make it to audio.

The mystery had several points to pull together and, for the most part, it was done well. We meet the main antagonist, Preston, right away. He has a side kick, Hondo, who is the more experienced and competent of the two. Preston’s father is dying and isn’t willing to leave Preston an inheritance unless Preston has reproduced. Now Preston is trying to track down his ex-wife and son in order to take his son to the lawyers and have them run a paternity test and set the will. Pretty soon, a traffic stop eliminates Hondo from the mystery and Preston has to muddle through on his own. Meanwhile, the police are left with too many questions and too many bodies. Inola believes there is a missing child out there and she can’t stop looking.

There are several side characters that I enjoyed. Inola’s mom, Elise (spelling?), was a quiet, steady character that gave enticing clues as to Inola’s childhood. Edgar, who recently finished his prison sentence, has been assigned a stint of community service with the Sheriff’s department. Lorie Krager (spelling?) is a rookie city police officer who doesn’t hesitate to flaunt her assets (even though she has a brain and is mostly competent). There’s several others, of course, but these especially stood out to me.

I really only have one issue with the storyline. A chunk of the mystery hinges on determining the identity of a woman involved in the traffic stop (which occurs near the beginning of the story). She had just withdrawn a large amount of money ($20, 0000 or $25, 0000). Bryson City is a small town with few banks. Yet the cops don’t think to look into bank surveillance records and info until nearly the end of the book, days later. To me, this seemed like a really obvious and pretty quick way to determine her identity. Hondo, who was with the woman, is a very distinct man. Plus, there are only 2 banks (the exact number is revealed late in the story) so it would not take the cops long to question the bankers and figure out who the woman was, etc. Of course, if they had, this book would have been a bit shorter and I would have had less time with Inola and Steven, who I grew found of.

Narration: Christina Cox did a great job with this book. She was the perfect voice for Inola Walela bringing to life her strength and determination, and her insecurity in personal relationships. Cox had distinct male & female voices, including accents (when needed). She also had an adorable little boy voice. Excellent narration!

What I Liked: The lead characters were great!; interesting mystery; great side characters; very satisfying ending; Inola’s insecurities in personal relationships made her real.

What I Disliked: There was one very obvious line of inquiry that would have speeded up the mystery yet the cops didn’t pursue it until near the end of the book. This is a small criticism and didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A traffic stop that should have been nothing more than routine has gone terribly bad for Inola Walela and her partner, Cody Sheehan. The two are members of the Bryson City, North Carolina police force. The driver of the vehicle is known as Hondo and has been hired by Preston Durand to locate his son. Preston's ex-wife has disappeared with the boy and Preston is determined that the child must be found although he has no affection for the child and never has had. Preston's father is dying and unless Preston can produce a heir immediately he will be cut out of his father's will. The traffic stop, due to a busted tail light, winds up to be a death scene when Hondo attacks Cody. When the air clears, Hondo is dead, Cody is dead, and the woman passenger in Hondo's vehicle is dead.

The woman in Hondo's vehicle was trying to tell Inola that her son had been kidnapped and she frantically leaped from the vehicle spilling money all over. As the woman stumbled around, she was hit by another vehicle and killed.

Inola is put on administrative leave awaiting the outcome of the investigation into the incident. There is a rumor that one of the shots she fired could have possibly been the one that hit Cody. To think that she might have had a part in the death of her partner and friend is devastating to Inola. Inola is Native American on her mother's side and grew up on the reservation after her mother's death. Inola lives with Steven Hawk who is African American and is the Sheriff of the county. Steven wants to get married but Inola puts off giving him an answer. Because of her heritage, Inola is always on edge that someone else will take her place in the police department.

Inola is sure that the woman was telling the truth about the child being missing but no one seems to listen to her so she begins an investigation of her own.

This is a tense, complicated book and a good read. The author has two previous books in this series called Snare and Staccato. Although Crescendo is referred to as the last book in the trilogy there is a secret between Steven and Inola that I wish had been revealed rather than left hanging.

[VNerdbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: Crescendo

Genre: Thriller

Type: Audiobook.

Book rating: ☆☆☆▪5

Narration rating: ☆☆☆▪5

Review


Firstly let me thank Audiojukebox for gifting me this copy for an honest review.

So, secondly, I requested this book after reading the bumpf and thinking hmm this looks good !
I didn't know however that it was #3 in a series !!

I'm assuming that all of the characters were already established in the 1st 2 books so it was a little difficult to relate to them at first.

I did however enjoy the book and the story isn't one that carried over from the last book.....phew!

On what seems to be a relatively normal police traffic incident Inola and her partner Cody arrive in their squad car to find themselves in trouble.
A shootout occurs and her partner is shot dead, a woman tells her that someone has taken her son and then promptly walks in front of a car , and the driver of the car??? Well he just happens to be the sick SOB who has kidnapped the kid, oh and also is the woman's ex husband!

After the gun shoot out and dead bodies everywhere Inolas gun is seized and she is told that she must stand down from the force pending an investigation!

While this is going on the ex husband (unbeknown to Inola as he is using a false name) is also involved in the police investigation, and as Inola can not use her badge anymore, she goes it alone to avenge her partners death.

Inolas boyfriend Hawk who is the county sheriff, and it seems everyone else refuses to believe that there is a missing child involved in the case, and it is up to Inola to prove that there is, and to rescue the child.

This was an on the edge of your seat read by the end of the book, how everything blended together was very clever.

This was a good read, however the narrator for me was a little too monotone and I found myself drifting off a little and having to rewind some parts, although her character voices were very good.

[Holly Booms Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the cast of characters: native American cop with intimacy issues and a chip on her shoulder, her Wise Woman Cherokee grandmother, black Sheriff that acts as voice of reason, eager young cub of a rookie that rides with the cop, and even a reformed computer hacker. Nice details about the North Carolina setting and good setup for the mystery with a mother on the run with her young son from a dangerous father trying to grab the kid. The book opens with a bang - big action.

Then, inexplicably, the lady cop that won many commendations for service and bravery completely loses all sense. She goes against her commanding officer's orders, jeopardizes the investigation, steals evidence from the crime scene, endangers her grandmother, bonds with a obviously untrustworthy ladykiller, and even urges her friend to violate his parole. She completely stops communicating with the few people she trusts, one of my biggest pet peeves in mysteries. I got very exasperated with Inola midway through the book, as her actions made me doubt all the good things the writer had previously intimated about her. Luckily, once the plot gets back on track and it is about catching the bad guy, the action is tight and the ending satisfactory. I just wish that the writer hadn't cheapened a potentially great character by turning her into the cliche of a hysterical woman for most of the book. There was great potential in the setting and characters, and a well written mystery at its core, but the book fell flat for me.

Well narrated by Christina Cox. 2.5 stars.

NOTE: I received this as a free Audible review copy from the author.

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sarah L
Book provided by author
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

Being the final book in the series I worried that I wouldn’t be able to jump in and understand what was going on. My worries were unfounded however as this book stands completely alone. Of course I would still love to read books one and two because I suspect that is where the majority of the romance between our two main characters falls. Book three is more suspense thriller than romance.

If you enjoy a story with a lot of edge of your seat action, Crescendo is the book for you. I was hooked from the first chapter and Ms. Ledford did not let go until I was finished. Even though it was no big secret as to who the bad guy was (and yes I was able to guess it right from the start), the characters do not figure it out right away which eventually leads to a very intense ending.

My one wish for the story however would be that there would have been more romance between Steven and Inola. Having not read the first two books in the series, I can only conclude that their romance heats up sometime prior to the setting of this story. There was some romance in this novel but it really took a back seat in comparison to the mystery and suspense of the story.

This was an incredible action packed adventure that I read very quickly. If you are looking for a story that will run your emotions ragged and keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further. Ms. Ledford has certainly gained a new fan and I eagerly look forward to reading the first two books in this series.

[Craig Dube · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had thought I had written a review for this weeks ago when I finished it but GoodReads is showing this on my Reading list so I must have forgotten; which in hindsight isn't that surprising as this book is largely forgettable. I'll keep this brief.

The book started out with a lot of promise both as a story and as an audiobook. The story is about a mother and child on the run from their estranged and demented father, the father's hunt for his child and the story of a police officer and sheriff who get involved with the case. The characters that get introduced early on (both antagonists and protagonists) start off both interesting and seemingly well developed. The story is told in a way that is descriptive and does a good job setting the mood. The audio performance was also well done with the narrator providing a clear voice and sense of multiple characters.

However after the first few chapters, the book goes downhill quickly primarily because all of the main characters seemingly abandon their well-developed characters and act in ways that seem unrealistic and frankly uninteresting. Straight laced cops who always do the right thing now hide evidence and make routinely bad decisions, relationships that are portrayed as the deep loving unions are suddenly easily thrown off kilter, and almost every action the antagonist makes continues to make less and less sense. By the end of the book, none of the characters are behaving in a way that really benefits any of them and the story devolves to something easily forgotten.

[✨Susan✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good fast paced crime thriller. I was afraid I would not know what was happening because this is the third book in the series, but it can definitely stand alone. Inola is a outstanding officer in the Bryson City, NC police dept. and has very good instincts, however, she never expected a traffic stop to turn into a murder/kidnapping mystery. The unfolding of the case was exciting and revealed itself with good timing to keep the story interesting. There is also a bit of romance that has its share of ups and downs. The characters are rich, evolved and easy to connect to. This was my first book by this author and I was not disappointed.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit this is the first book of the series I've read (heard). What an exciting experience. The action keeps building until the heart stopping climax. I will definitely go back to the first two books. Christina Cox is an amazing voice and knows just how to keep the listener riveted. I'd meant to listen to this later, but started it to get a feel for the book and couldn't stop. What's not to love about the flawed but brave heroine, Inola. Read this or listen to it. You won't be disappointed.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this book on audio and it was fabulous. It was not only well written but one of the best narrations I've heard in a long time. If you like a good mystery with a strong female character, this is a must!

[Perviz Walji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Deborah Ledford is a shining star. One of the best suspense novelists. Looking forward to her next book.

[Rhonda McCormack]

Final book of three.
A strong female lead takes us
to a thrilling end.