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Will Novak Thriller #1
Bad Road to Nowhere
BAD MEMORIES
Not many people know their way through the bayous well enough to find Will Novak’s crumbling mansion outside New Orleans. Not that Novak wants to talk to anyone. He keeps his guns close and his guard always up.
BAD SISTER
Mariah Murray is one selfish, reckless, manipulative woman, the kind Novak would never want to get tangled up with. But he can’t say no to his dead’s wife sister.
BAD VIBES
When Mariah tells him she wants to rescue a childhood friend, another Aussie girl gone conveniently missing in north Georgia, Novak can’t turn her down. She’s hiding something. But the pretty little town she’s targeted screams trouble, too. Novak knows there’s a trap waiting. But until he springs it, there’s no telling who to trust . . .
Not many people know their way through the bayous well enough to find Will Novak’s crumbling mansion outside New Orleans. Not that Novak wants to talk to anyone. He keeps his guns close and his guard always up.
BAD SISTER
Mariah Murray is one selfish, reckless, manipulative woman, the kind Novak would never want to get tangled up with. But he can’t say no to his dead’s wife sister.
BAD VIBES
When Mariah tells him she wants to rescue a childhood friend, another Aussie girl gone conveniently missing in north Georgia, Novak can’t turn her down. She’s hiding something. But the pretty little town she’s targeted screams trouble, too. Novak knows there’s a trap waiting. But until he springs it, there’s no telling who to trust . . .
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2016
135 people are currently reading
567 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 1, 2016
After the death of his wife and daughter Will Novak withdrew from everything barely having contact with anyone. When his wife’s sister arrives he just knows trouble is not far behind he’s just not sure what kind of trouble. When she asks for his help finding her missing friend he almost says no but reluctantly agrees. They stumble across the location of where they think she may have been but when they start getting close Will tells Mariah she needs to trust him and let him investigate before they both get hurt. I like Linda Ladd’s Will Novak character that she has developed and he is somebody we would all like to have watching our backs. I look forward to reading the other Will Novak stories. Great read. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
February 23, 2017
Linda Ladd hit this one out of the ball park and I've found a new series to love!
Will Novak is a very troubled man - retired from the NYPD (because of 9/11), retired from the SEALS, and a partner with Detective Claire Morgan. Will lost his wife and 2 kids (twins) when the South Tower fell, he has never gotten over it. He lives alone in Louisiana in a very hard to reach area of the bayou. His wife's sister (who he loathes), Mariah, shows up on his hidden doorstep asking him to help her find a missing person - her BFF from childhood who has presumably been kidnapped along with her son and from a matchbook sent to Mariah a clue as to where she and her son may be located.
You don't want to make Will mad and you don't want to cross him! Great read, fairly fast-paced, and a great story line - plus a yen for more in this series! He kind of reminds me of Jack Reacher - big guy, great respect for women, and don't screw with him!
5 stars and 2 thumbs up!
Will Novak is a very troubled man - retired from the NYPD (because of 9/11), retired from the SEALS, and a partner with Detective Claire Morgan. Will lost his wife and 2 kids (twins) when the South Tower fell, he has never gotten over it. He lives alone in Louisiana in a very hard to reach area of the bayou. His wife's sister (who he loathes), Mariah, shows up on his hidden doorstep asking him to help her find a missing person - her BFF from childhood who has presumably been kidnapped along with her son and from a matchbook sent to Mariah a clue as to where she and her son may be located.
You don't want to make Will mad and you don't want to cross him! Great read, fairly fast-paced, and a great story line - plus a yen for more in this series! He kind of reminds me of Jack Reacher - big guy, great respect for women, and don't screw with him!
5 stars and 2 thumbs up!
December 13, 2016
This is the beginning of a brand new series ... an offshoot of the Claire Morgan series. Having read all the Claire Morgan series, I was so happy to see that she played a cameo role in BAD ROAD TO NOWHERE.
Will Novak is an ex-SEAL, ex-LAPD Detective now working as a Private Investigator along side Claire. Will is an introspective man .. never talking much, but always aware of everything that goes on around him. He lives in a boat, although he owns a crumbling mansion in New Orleans. Doesn't see to matter where he lives ... he's still grieving the loss of his wife and twins who were killed in The Towers 9/11.
Which is why when the blonde woman shows up at his doorstep, he can't take his eyes off her. She is Mariah .... his wife's sister who looks enough like his wife to be her twin. And just for that moment, he hopes that it is his beloved Sarah.
When sanity returns, he remembers why this particular woman is a problem .... he learned the hard way that she is a manipulative liar, a woman who had tried to ruin his marriage.
Mariah is now an Investigative Reporter with a story about a friend who has possibly been kidnapped and held prisoner by her husband. Mariah received a message from her friend and wants Will to help her.
Although Mariah is not to be trusted, it does pique Will's interest. Headed toward Georgia, he knows he's going to be sorry .....
I really like the characters of Will and Mariah. Will was introduced in one of the earlier Claire Morgan books. There was very little of his background which made me only want MORE! I am so happy that Will gets his own series. I love the interaction of these two. Will is so unforgiving and Mariah, although she seems sincere in wanting to make amends, is still so secretive.
There is quite a bit of action, with suspense and twists and turns that change everything. There are gasp-out-loud moments. One of those twists made me double back and re-read ... surely that couldn't be right!
Part crime thriller, part psychological thriller, no matter what you call it .... Highly Recommended!
I wish to thank Linda Ladd for the digital copy of BAD ROAD TO NOWHERE. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
Will Novak is an ex-SEAL, ex-LAPD Detective now working as a Private Investigator along side Claire. Will is an introspective man .. never talking much, but always aware of everything that goes on around him. He lives in a boat, although he owns a crumbling mansion in New Orleans. Doesn't see to matter where he lives ... he's still grieving the loss of his wife and twins who were killed in The Towers 9/11.
Which is why when the blonde woman shows up at his doorstep, he can't take his eyes off her. She is Mariah .... his wife's sister who looks enough like his wife to be her twin. And just for that moment, he hopes that it is his beloved Sarah.
When sanity returns, he remembers why this particular woman is a problem .... he learned the hard way that she is a manipulative liar, a woman who had tried to ruin his marriage.
Mariah is now an Investigative Reporter with a story about a friend who has possibly been kidnapped and held prisoner by her husband. Mariah received a message from her friend and wants Will to help her.
Although Mariah is not to be trusted, it does pique Will's interest. Headed toward Georgia, he knows he's going to be sorry .....
I really like the characters of Will and Mariah. Will was introduced in one of the earlier Claire Morgan books. There was very little of his background which made me only want MORE! I am so happy that Will gets his own series. I love the interaction of these two. Will is so unforgiving and Mariah, although she seems sincere in wanting to make amends, is still so secretive.
There is quite a bit of action, with suspense and twists and turns that change everything. There are gasp-out-loud moments. One of those twists made me double back and re-read ... surely that couldn't be right!
Part crime thriller, part psychological thriller, no matter what you call it .... Highly Recommended!
I wish to thank Linda Ladd for the digital copy of BAD ROAD TO NOWHERE. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
December 11, 2016
Wow. truly an excellent read. Will Novak storyline as good as Claire Black's. Emma was truly a disturbed woman. halfway through I figured something wasn't right with her. I was surprised about Mariah's true identity. I was sad about her. Excellent!
November 1, 2018
**Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.**
The Will Novak series by Linda Ladd is a first for me by this author. At this time there are three books in the series: Bad Road to Nowhere, Say Your Goodbyes and Witness Betrayed. All three books involve the main character Will Novak. Novak has quite the history. He was born in America, raised in Australia and now living in New Orleans. He was in the Army, then the Navy, something I didn’t even know was a possibility and I spent too much time looking online to see if this could actually happen. Not easily was what I learned. He worked for the NYPD. He was married with children, now he’s not. He has lots of trauma in his past that makes him not friendly or sociable. After reading all three books in the series I’m not sure that I understand this character. I will say he’s a bad judge of character, and tends to trust females who come across as sweet and really aren’t and doesn’t trust people he should. That trust puts him and others around him in danger, every time.
In Bad Road to Nowhere, we learn a lot of information about Novak and his history. I didn’t think he was a very likable character and he definitely had trust issues, not that it was a bad thing necessarily but he certain trusted the wrong person. Though the plot moved a little slow in this story because of all the drama between Novak and his sister-in-law, once the action part of the story happened, it was non-stop. It wasn’t believable though, but this is fiction and do we really need to read fiction that’s believable? In this story, Novak is the hero. He’s not perfect, he makes mistakes, he trusts the wrong people, he’s not friendly, but he does have some hidden compassion and he has a need to help the underdog. Unfortunately, Novak tries his hardest but he’s not able to save everyone, every time.
This series seems to be a spin-off from the author’s Claire Morgan series. This made me feel better to find out (after I’d read the series) because I really felt like I was joining the series in the middle. This is probably just something I’d feel because I’m a stickler for reading a series in the appropriate order. I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a series at times, like I should have already known some of these characters. So, if you’re a stickler like I am, you should probably start with the Claire Morgan series and then move onto this one, for the most pleasure in your reading.
Rating: 3.5 stars
The Will Novak series by Linda Ladd is a first for me by this author. At this time there are three books in the series: Bad Road to Nowhere, Say Your Goodbyes and Witness Betrayed. All three books involve the main character Will Novak. Novak has quite the history. He was born in America, raised in Australia and now living in New Orleans. He was in the Army, then the Navy, something I didn’t even know was a possibility and I spent too much time looking online to see if this could actually happen. Not easily was what I learned. He worked for the NYPD. He was married with children, now he’s not. He has lots of trauma in his past that makes him not friendly or sociable. After reading all three books in the series I’m not sure that I understand this character. I will say he’s a bad judge of character, and tends to trust females who come across as sweet and really aren’t and doesn’t trust people he should. That trust puts him and others around him in danger, every time.
In Bad Road to Nowhere, we learn a lot of information about Novak and his history. I didn’t think he was a very likable character and he definitely had trust issues, not that it was a bad thing necessarily but he certain trusted the wrong person. Though the plot moved a little slow in this story because of all the drama between Novak and his sister-in-law, once the action part of the story happened, it was non-stop. It wasn’t believable though, but this is fiction and do we really need to read fiction that’s believable? In this story, Novak is the hero. He’s not perfect, he makes mistakes, he trusts the wrong people, he’s not friendly, but he does have some hidden compassion and he has a need to help the underdog. Unfortunately, Novak tries his hardest but he’s not able to save everyone, every time.
This series seems to be a spin-off from the author’s Claire Morgan series. This made me feel better to find out (after I’d read the series) because I really felt like I was joining the series in the middle. This is probably just something I’d feel because I’m a stickler for reading a series in the appropriate order. I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a series at times, like I should have already known some of these characters. So, if you’re a stickler like I am, you should probably start with the Claire Morgan series and then move onto this one, for the most pleasure in your reading.
Rating: 3.5 stars
September 22, 2018
I wanted to like this book. I really, really did. The writing is okay but the author has no idea how an operative thinks or acts. The premise is that the protagonist's SIL, whom he despises, hasn't seen for many years, and can't trust since she tried to break up his marriage, shows up from out of the country one day and spins a tale with very little substance. He agrees to help her and begins to drive across three states with little on no information about the situation. The SIL perpetually acts in ways that raise continue his suspicions. Does he bail? Nope? The whole set up is preposterous. Made it a quarter of the way through the book and gave up. The author can write but she needs to stick with subject matter she knows.
July 10, 2017
I'll use my stock rhetorical question: how did this shlock get published?? Dull, amateurish writing, tired, stale plot with insipid cardboard characters who were comically cartoonish, except I don't think that was the intention (?). And the totally predictable ending was so rushed. If this were a flick, it would be a TV movie of the week starring a GI Joe/Ken Doll hybrid and a couple of swimsuit models.
August 5, 2017
Another B&N Father's Day Sale Nook Book. Entertaining, though shallow, mystery novel, featuring an ex Navy Seal, his Sister-In-Law Journalist, whom he loathes, and her kidnapped friend from childhood.
February 10, 2018
This is a good book if you like a story with a lot of violence. The hero is big and tough but with a broken heart. He manages to always beat the bad guys no matter how outnumbered he is. The story was good. So if you like action-packed mysteries, you will enjoy it.
December 5, 2018
First Linda Ladd book I’ve read...not thrilled with will Novak....he seems to love himself too much and can’t fathom anyone getting a drop on mr tough guy...but they did ... n he was fooled many times...have a hard time with that.....think I’ll try the Claire Morgan series next...
November 7, 2025
An exciting new author (for me)
Will Novak is an investigator who lost his family to 9/11
His wife’s annoying sister, Mariah, comes to him for help in tracking down an old friend who seems to desperately need her help
Things aren’t always what they seem..
Will Novak is an investigator who lost his family to 9/11
His wife’s annoying sister, Mariah, comes to him for help in tracking down an old friend who seems to desperately need her help
Things aren’t always what they seem..
February 11, 2024
Great read
Fast paced story with just enough surprises to keep you on your toes. I look forward to reading more in this series.
Fast paced story with just enough surprises to keep you on your toes. I look forward to reading more in this series.
February 10, 2017
Who's tall, blond, blue-eyed, muscular, emotionally aloof, intimidating looking and a badass? That would be Will Novak PI, star of the new spin-off series from Linda Ladd. Bad Road to Nowhere is book one in the Will Novak Thriller Series (book 2 already on deck for an early June 2017 release). “Novak first showed up as Claire Morgan's P.I. partner in DEVIL DEAD, which was Claire Morgan, Book 8, and then again in GONE BLACK, Claire Morgan, Book 9.” *
Setting the stage:
• Claire and Black on their honeymoon,
• Will is working on his boat at his secluded home deep in the bayous of Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes.
“Minutes passed, and then the car appeared and proceeded slowly around the circular driveway leading to his front gallery. It was a late model Taurus, apple-red and shiny clean and glinting like a fine ruby under the blinding sunlight. Probably a New Orleans rental. He’d never seen the car before. That meant a stranger, which in Novak’s experience usually meant trouble. Few visitors found their way this far down into the bayou. Ever. That’s why he lived there.” *
The book is well written, filled with action, plot twists and turns, character surprises and enough info on Will that we can understand why he does what he does. Will’s character is a juxtaposition of badass and loner, working hard to keep his demons under control.
I felt the book stands on its own merits, and except for references to Clare & Black, and a cameo towards the end of the book by Claire; I think the Will Novak series will be a success, and I’m eagerly awaiting the 2nd book Say your Goodbyes . The book can be read without reading any of the Claire Morgan series, but having an understanding of who Claire & Black are doesn’t hurt.
I received a copy of the book from Netgalley on behalf of LYRICAL UNDERGROUND BOOKS / Kensington Publishing Corp for an honest review. The book was published Dec 6Th 2016.
For me this was a 4-star read.
* Quotes included in this review from Linda Ladd's website http://www.lindaladd.com/ and chapter one of Bad Road to Nowhere
Setting the stage:
• Claire and Black on their honeymoon,
• Will is working on his boat at his secluded home deep in the bayous of Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes.
“Minutes passed, and then the car appeared and proceeded slowly around the circular driveway leading to his front gallery. It was a late model Taurus, apple-red and shiny clean and glinting like a fine ruby under the blinding sunlight. Probably a New Orleans rental. He’d never seen the car before. That meant a stranger, which in Novak’s experience usually meant trouble. Few visitors found their way this far down into the bayou. Ever. That’s why he lived there.” *
The book is well written, filled with action, plot twists and turns, character surprises and enough info on Will that we can understand why he does what he does. Will’s character is a juxtaposition of badass and loner, working hard to keep his demons under control.
I felt the book stands on its own merits, and except for references to Clare & Black, and a cameo towards the end of the book by Claire; I think the Will Novak series will be a success, and I’m eagerly awaiting the 2nd book Say your Goodbyes . The book can be read without reading any of the Claire Morgan series, but having an understanding of who Claire & Black are doesn’t hurt.
I received a copy of the book from Netgalley on behalf of LYRICAL UNDERGROUND BOOKS / Kensington Publishing Corp for an honest review. The book was published Dec 6Th 2016.
For me this was a 4-star read.
* Quotes included in this review from Linda Ladd's website http://www.lindaladd.com/ and chapter one of Bad Road to Nowhere
February 14, 2017
I had not read Ladd before (thanks Netgalley for the ARC which introduced us) so I didn't have any expectations based on her Clare Morgan series. This was a pleasant surprise. It's suspenseful, twisty, and Will is a good character who I would like to have my back if I'm ever in trouble. This was a fast read because it's a page turner. There were enough surprises in here to keep me going. This was a good read for a cold windy day! Thumbs up- I'm going to look for the next book in the series.
December 30, 2016
The blurb for this novel points to an action packed hunt for a missing woman and childhood friend of Will Novak's sister-in-law. There is lots of action and lots of conflict between Will Novak and his late wife's sister Mariah Murray. While his frequent employer Claire Morgan is off enjoying her honeymoon Novak decides to help Mariah find the missing friend. What happens deep in the woods takes on comical proportions at times.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery than Linda Ladd has written an homage to Lee Child's long running series featuring Jack Reacher. The similarities both physical and temperament-wise between Novak and Reacher kept catching me up and I struggled to take this Reacher wannabe seriously.
There can only be one Jack Reacher. This poser didn't work for me.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery than Linda Ladd has written an homage to Lee Child's long running series featuring Jack Reacher. The similarities both physical and temperament-wise between Novak and Reacher kept catching me up and I struggled to take this Reacher wannabe seriously.
There can only be one Jack Reacher. This poser didn't work for me.
October 12, 2018
Great start to his own series. Love the character. Looking forward to read more. 4 stars
December 28, 2016
I was given Bad Road to Nowhere by Linda Ladd.
She is another author I have never read - but will certainly look for her books again.
Mariah Novaks's wife's sister looks him up to help find a childhood friend and her son-
What he finds is not what he expected - nor are the situations that happen after.
A must read for a thrilling ride to an ending you wouldn't imagine.
She is another author I have never read - but will certainly look for her books again.
Mariah Novaks's wife's sister looks him up to help find a childhood friend and her son-
What he finds is not what he expected - nor are the situations that happen after.
A must read for a thrilling ride to an ending you wouldn't imagine.
January 10, 2017
Was a good read, though not quite up to Ladd's typical novel.
April 29, 2017
Superb start to a new series featuring Will Novak, Claire's new partner in private investigating in the last Claire Morgan book. Will's life fell apart on the tragic day of September 11, and he has been existing since. When the sister in law he despises shows up wanting his help, he is determined not to get involved. Finally, she convinces Will to help and he is soon caught up in a tangled web in which he has no idea where the truth lies.
This thrilling novel has great characters, an intense and captivating storyline, and great settings!
This thrilling novel has great characters, an intense and captivating storyline, and great settings!
April 14, 2017
Linda Ladd never disappoints. Bad Road to Nowhere is the first book in the Will Novak series. Will is a recurring character in the Claire Morgan series and in this story he’s on his own. Just trying to mind his own business, still getting over the loss of his family, but when his estranged sister-in-law shows up on his doorstep the action starts and doesn’t stop until the last page. It’s a good mystery with a lot of twists and turns. The characters draw you in whether you like them or not, and some of the situations they find themselves in are downright terrifying. A book by Linda Ladd is always on my preorder list. I’m happy that a Will Novak series has just started and look forward to many suspenseful reading days in the future.
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September 23, 2018BAD MEMORIES
Not many people know their way through the bayous well enough to find Will Novak’s crumbling mansion outside New Orleans. Not that Novak wants to talk to anyone. He keeps his guns close and his guard always up.
BAD SISTER
Mariah Murray is one selfish, reckless, manipulative woman, the kind Novak would never want to get tangled up with. But he can’t say no to his dead’s wife sister.
BAD VIBES
When Mariah tells him she wants to rescue a childhood friend, another Aussie girl gone conveniently missing in north Georgia, Novak can’t turn her down. She’s hiding something. But the pretty little town she’s targeted screams trouble, too. Novak knows there’s a trap waiting. But until he springs it, there’s no telling who to trust .
Mariah is killed the friend to be rescued is a murderer, but the child is saved.
Didn't finish. Not well written.
Not many people know their way through the bayous well enough to find Will Novak’s crumbling mansion outside New Orleans. Not that Novak wants to talk to anyone. He keeps his guns close and his guard always up.
BAD SISTER
Mariah Murray is one selfish, reckless, manipulative woman, the kind Novak would never want to get tangled up with. But he can’t say no to his dead’s wife sister.
BAD VIBES
When Mariah tells him she wants to rescue a childhood friend, another Aussie girl gone conveniently missing in north Georgia, Novak can’t turn her down. She’s hiding something. But the pretty little town she’s targeted screams trouble, too. Novak knows there’s a trap waiting. But until he springs it, there’s no telling who to trust .
Mariah is killed the friend to be rescued is a murderer, but the child is saved.
Didn't finish. Not well written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2019
Fantastic read
Trying to help his sister in law leads Novak on a wild ride from the hills of Georgia to the tropics of the Bahamas, learning him that looks can be deceiving and not everyone is as they seem.
Trying to help his sister in law leads Novak on a wild ride from the hills of Georgia to the tropics of the Bahamas, learning him that looks can be deceiving and not everyone is as they seem.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews