When the Serpent Strikes

Cimarron/Melbourne Thriller #2

by Vanessa Prelatte

When a gunman walks in and shoots up a local library, Cimarron and Melbourne are called in to investigate the crime and track down the killer. As if that weren't enough, in the middle of their investigation a cold case that has been dormant for a long time suddenly turns hot again when new evidence is found that might help the two detectives solve the mystery of what happened to a woman who disappeared eight years before.

Genres: Ebooks

371 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 18, 2016

About the author

Vanessa Prelatte is the author of the Cimarron/Melbourne mystery series. She has worked in a variety of fields, including hospitality, marketing, and education, before settling into her current career as a writer of fiction. She has a BA in English, which has proved to be an invaluable asset to her as she makes her way through the various stages of the writing process. Vanessa lives in the beautiful Ohio Valley, where she is working on the third novel in the Cimarron/Melbourne series. She has many interests and hobbies, including hiking, swimming, water and snow tubing, crafting, cross stitch, reading about history and archaeology, and putting together jigsaw puzzles.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Serpent Strikes is book 2 of the Cimarron/Melbourne thriller series by new author Vanessa Prelatte. This book attached itself to my hip and I read it in 3 days, fast for me.

I loved several things about this novel. It is a very easy read, flows great, and contains no wasted words. The detectives Rafe Melbourne and Dawn Cimarron are involved in 2 cases, each detective taking the lead on one. The first case involves a mass shooting in a library leaving only one survivor, a 13-year-old girl named Jolene whose character is particularly well drawn. The second case has been cold for 8 years and was originally led by Rafe’s now deceased uncle; it has to do the disappearance and suspected murder of a woman. Both cases really held my interest, but the second case is resolved in a particularly clever manner. As in the first book, When the Tiger Kills, we get not only good crime fiction, but also a good helping of family dynamics and interpersonal relationships, which to me, being a big lover of the personal elements of the characters, is a major plus. Oh, and it is NOT a romance, so no worries there, romance haters. I easily connected with the protagonists as well as with most members of Dawn’s extended family. The last scene of the story, taking place at the ranch where Dawn lived as a child, is very moving and gives us more insight into Dawn’s long-standing pain.

There are things that could be better. I would like to see more introspection on Dawn’s part, especially as she is working on the cases. I think the characters of her husband Tyrell and his best friend Brody are “too perfect” and should have more foibles. A lot of the characters have very unusual names (e.g. Gulkana, Garrone, Grangler, Klutina, Selawik, Davina Templor, Terramanni, Philippa Sorrenten, Innoko, Sokoto) that were sometimes difficult to keep straight. I would love shorter chapters. Actually all this is really minor stuff. My biggest criticism is the same I had for When the Tiger Kills and that is some of the dialog is unrealistic. This is usually in the setting of using dialog to give the reader past information. This would be better relayed in the form of 3rd person narrative in my opinion in order to prevent clunky conversation.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with When the Serpent Strikes. I have become a fan of Ms. Prelatte’s work and will most definitely continue with the series!

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on The Book Nympho

The unimaginable happens when a mysterious man enters the town library and suddenly opens fire on the people inside. Jolene Skornac, the 13-year old daughter of Ty Lewellyn's right-hand man, is caught in the attack. Detectives Dawn Cimarron and Rafe Melbourne investigate the shooting, which seems inexplicable and random. Meanwhile, one of their cold cases warms up at the same time, challenging them to handle both extremely perplexing crimes.

I really enjoyed this story, especially because it featured two cases in play at the same time. That felt realistic as most detectives probably juggle more than one case at a time. And, the older investigation was just as compelling as the current one.

The procedurals were very well done and even though the killer in one of the cases was pretty easy to pinpoint, figuring out the particulars and how it was pulled off was intriguing. The library shooter was a bit tougher and I just tagged along as Dawn and Rafe followed leads. A highlight was the moment in interview where the perps are taken down. Reminded me of another highly popular series and that's a really good thing.

I'm really enjoying this gem of a series. Prelatte is an excellent storyteller and I like how she weaves Dawn and Rafe's personal relationships into the story so seamlessly without overwhelming the investigations. Looking forward to what's next for this duo.

(I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review)

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely police procedural

Having read the first book in the series, and now this one, I'm hooked! Vanessa does an excellent job with character development, and I feel as if I'm slowly but surely learning about each of the principal characters in a very organic manner.

This is a series I know I'll now follow religiously.

[Angie Boyter · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my Amazon review: https://www.amazon.com/review/R33V557...

[Helen O'Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Serpent Strikes

I enjoy her books, but many of the situations are just a little too convenient, a little too coincidental. Sometimes her timeline seems to skip around a bit . Too many things seem to happen between 1 chapter and another, off screen so to say. I will probably read another one.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this series. The characters are likable and you really hope that Ty and Dawn can make it. Dawn has suffered from having her family murdered, her younger sister kidnapped in the first book. In this book she is strong and is a Detective in a small Colorado town. Her partner Rafe is like the brother she lost. Her husband is from one of the wealthiest families in the town and they are very loving and supporting. So, when a killer stalks into a library and shoots everyone inside, including the daughter of her husband's boss, they all spring into action. There are quite a few sub-plots going on while the main event of solving the library shooting is the main theme. It is a good mystery. I was contacted by the author to provide an honest review but I would have read this book on my own since I had already read the first book and liked it. Dawn Cimarron and Rafe Melbourne are a good team.

[Laura Ruetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a very well written and enjoyable thriller. I think this book surpasses the first book in terms of plot and pacing. The pacing is perfect, it draws you in and then you don't want to put the book down. There are twists and turns, and even when there is a reveal about who was behind the attack, it is not the end of the story. The characters are well written and engaging. The dialogue flows naturally and the entire book is a combination of successful elements.

I was given a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Black Butterfly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I DID AGREE WITH DAWN, PEANUT BUTTER AND WAFFLES REALLY ROCK, THEY ARE THE BOMB, WHO NEEDS SYRUP. TWO MURDERS ONE OLD AND COLD AND ONE FRESH AND RED HOT SOMEHOW THEY ARE CONNECTED. HUM? THIS DID KEEP ME INTERESTED IN SPITE OF THE OVERLY DETAILED PARTS AND THE REPETATIVE PARTS. I THINK IT WAS TOO MUCH RECOUNTING OF THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE LAST BOOK. THIS IS A THREE BOOK STANDALONE SERIES. ;O

[bonnie kirchner · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Serpent Strikes

This is book two and the final book in this series. Loved it. Highly recommend it. I hope Vanessa Prelatte writes more books in this series. Great series.