Death Toll Rising

Hidden Guilt #4

by Terry Keys

US President Jackie Wilson fresh off her election victory wasted no time pushing for the change her campaign promised. World leaders descended to her hometown of Houston, Texas to attend the first World-Wide Religious Summit. As the eve of the summit approached Japan’s Prime Minister, Akio Yoshida, suddenly falls dead… murdered in Houston’s Chinatown. His final moments had been broadcast live for the entire world to see. During the stream a chilling death threat was made to the remaining world leaders and America was named as the mastermind behind the terror sending shockwaves across the globe. Leaping into action the FBI, CIA and Homeland Security attempt to pursue the real murderers but are left with no clues, no leads and ultimately no direction. As promised the following day at noon another world leader suddenly dies. In a desperate attempt to restore order to chaos, HPD Detective David Porter and his team are summoned to help with the case. As global panic sets in and the world begins to lose patience as the possibility of nuclear Armageddon lurks in the shadows.
With everyone paralyzed by fear and time quickly running out, the fate of earth as we know it hangs delicately in the balance. The world could be coming to an end... no one wanted to watch… but no one could look away…

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

233 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2017

About the author

Terry Keys is an award-winning novelist, songwriter, and poet. He writes for Examiner.com and works as a project manager in the oil and gas industry. A native of Rosharon, Texas, Keys spends his free time hunting, fishing, and working out. He lives in Dickinson, Texas, with his wife and two children. Please visit his website at http://www.terrykeysbooks.com

2017 NIEA award winner for Chained Guilt.

Reviews

[Todd Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous novel from start to finish. Terry Keys has done a great job with this very clever story. I also enjoyed that the story is based in a couple of different countries, with a very diverse range of characters. Probably the stand out for me is that there is always something happening, and the story moves along at a good pace. Abu Yallah has his heart set on turning the rest of the world against the Unites States of America. Killing off world leaders from other countries is certainly a good way of alienating the US from the rest of the world. With quite a few of the world’s leaders in America for a Religious summit, there are plenty of targets for him to choice from. Detective David Porter wished he could spend more quality time with his family, especially with his girls growing up so quickly. However when Abu starts to succeed in his mission, David is quickly called into investigate, and especially since he has that uncanny ability to solve the unsolvable crimes. This is not your normal investigation as David has the US President hounding him for answers, and the CIA, FBI, and Homeland Security all adding their weight to finding those responsible. This is a thoroughly entertaining novel, and well worth a read.

[Chessy The Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Porter, Houston Police Department’s finest detective, is finally on a long-promised family vacation along with his best friend, Paul Lafitte, and Elena DeLuca, both also detectives with HPD. While the group spends a day tubing on the Guadalupe River, world leaders are gathering for a religious summit being held in Houston at the invitation of President Jackie Wilson. When they arrive back at their campground David is alerted to the fact that the Prime Minister of Japan was murdered and the USA named as the culprit.  

The FBI, CIA, and Homeland Security along with the Secret Service have all gathered to increase protection of the remaining leaders and attempt to determine who are the real killers. David’s chief requests their return immediately as unofficial members of the team. Once David and Paul start gathering evidence they are quickly made official team members, and David is summoned to meet with the president.

As promised by those who had broadcast Prime Minister Akio Yoshida’s last moments, another world leader is murdered. Iraqi President Sivan Awad is dead. Both Yoshida and Awad appear to have died of heart attacks. The medical examiner, after conferring with David, begins looking for ways to induce a heart attack that is almost undetectable.

Meanwhile, the major players at the religious summit are threatening the US with war if their leaders are not returned unharmed. Troops are being readied to swoop in and take their leaders by force, if necessary. The US has sequestered the remaining world leaders with their whereabouts on a need to know basis only.

Keys’ fourth novel in the David Porter Mystery series, Death Toll Rising, is a hard hitting, non-stop, action packed conspiracy thriller. Porter’s character is level headed and methodical. He barely gets any sleep when he is working a case and neither will you as you will want to read this book straight through to the end. This is one of the most well written and most engaging political mysteries that I have ever read.

Now that I have read book four, I am going to go back and read the first three. It is with pleasure that I recommend this novel for your enjoyment.

5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book for free from the author for review consideration. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Jeff Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided a free copy for an honest review.
This is supposed to be a thriller of types. What type, I couldn’t say. Why.? Because the sanity of the world is in the hands of a Houston Detective. That's right, this is about as far-fetched as it gets.
Problems arise when the US is hosting the first World-Wide Religious conference. When the Japanese Prime Minister dies of unknown causes, the world suddenly is on the brink of World War. You have got to be kidding me. One minister dies and the world is going to come unglued. Oh, but it gets better. As the story progresses we find out the US has a female President and her sister is trying to be an up and coming writer. She manages to fall victim to an Al Queda plot. They train this girl in like two days and turn her into a raving lunatic. Really? Two days? Maybe three. She is taken to the White House wearing a back pack. Our heroines are so engrossed with her past that they will not let the Secret Service inspect the pack. Well what do you think is in it? That’s right a bomb and it blows everyone to kingdom come.
To be honest, after this frivolous charade, I really didn’t care what happened or if those responsible for trying to sabotage the world were brought to justice.
My real problem with the story is how the author rushes everything. Never lets the plot develop.
Three star push

[Robert Enzenauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Terry Keyes is quickly becoming an author for whom I plan to read EVERYTHING that he writes. This is the second David Porter and Miranda book for me. Mr. Keyes writes exciting suspense/thriller/adventure fiction, with very plausible plots with terrorists planning to attack America and kill the leader of Japan while visitng for a peace conference of world leaders. Keyes has created an incredible plot with the "bad guys" making it look like it is the United States' fault. The terrorist remain a step ahead most all of the time, successfully assassinating the US president also. The terrorists are truly evil, involving brain-washed children soldiers as trained killers. And David Porter is everything that a reader wants from it's hero - tall, handsome, former Army Ranger, who is loyal to his family and frends, and fearless when confronting the evil terrorists. The action moves very quickly. And the combat with Islamic jihadists is well scripted and choreographed. I read this book at my beside over the past couple weeks. But very quickly I had to spend most of a weekend-day to finish it. The plot moves very quickly, and it is scary to think that this scenario could be next month's newspaper headlines. Great book and a great read.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This one stuck with me for days. A well-written mystery/thriller that pulls no punches. Author holds the suspense all the way through to the last chapter. And the plot.... far too believable, which is why it's good. I received this book from eBook Discovery. This is my honest review.

[Read Ng · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won a Kindle ebook copy of book #5. It's a sequel, so I figure I need to at least read book #4 to give my reading of my giveaway win a proper chance. Correction, books #4, #5, and #6 are intended to be a trilogy.

I am at the three quarters point of the story. I am questioning if I will continue reading. ALL of the supporting characters are just a bit too stupid. I cringe at the missteps taken in writing this tale.

I want to like this story but from the start I questioned the credibility. High ranking foreign diplomats are targeted. The Japanese Prime Minister arrives in Houston Texas and goes to dinner at a Chinese restaurant? Why? They are both Asian cultures, but nothing alike. Why even go to a restaurant? Security is a joke. Nothing about the story scenarios make any sense to me. And EVERYONE visiting the White House is Always photographed. Why call in a sketch artist?

There are some good points made about the clashes between US and Middle Eastern cultures, but the presentation via conversation exchange between the stereotypical American Law Enforcement and the witness just don't work for me. Again, they are being stupid.

I have been doing my best to ignore the oversights and just enjoy the story as it unfolds. I am not sure how much more of this I can take. This might have to go into my DNF pile.

Okay, I managed to finish this book. Overall, it was not my favorite. There have been a lot of great reviews for this book on GoodReads. You might like it. I did not hate it, but I did not enjoy it. I have to think about continuing onto the next book.

Have a GoodReads.

[Charles Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Houston Police Detective David Porter, head of a special unit of officers, has long planned a vacation with his family. But, the excursion is cut short when one of the country leaders attending a conference in Houston mysteriously dies in a restaurant in Houston’s Chinatown, and a shadowy Middle Eastern group goes on the Internet with a video of the death, and accuses the Americans of being behind it.

Federal law enforcement agencies jump to alert as international tensions and ill feelings toward the US begin to rise, but, hitting nothing but dead ends, are forced to call on Porter and his team for assistance. When another leader has a sudden ‘heart attack,’ and the group, Allah’s Warriors, again lays the blame on the US, Porter finds himself in a life or death race against the clock—and, things only get worse when the group succeeds in assassinating the American president.

Death Toll Rising, by Terry Keys is a story of international intrigue that will get your pulse racing and keep you on the edge of your chair throughout. The author gets inside the minds of his characters in a way that makes you feel you know them, and his descriptions of action—whether terrorist or US military—are extremely credible without going into mind-numbing details.

In a world that is currently beset with almost unimaginable tensions, this story reads as if it was cribbed from highly-sensitive intelligence reports. A thriller that will, in a word, thrill you.

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death Toll Rising - David Porter Myst Bk 4 - Written by Terry Keys
What would you do if you knew the world would be coming to an end?

US President Jackie Wilson fresh off her election victory wasted no time pushing for the change her campaign promised. World leaders descended to her hometown of Houston, Texas to attend the first World-Wide Religious Summit. With everyone paralyzed by fear and time quickly running out, the fate of earth as we know it hangs delicately in the balance. The world could be coming to an end... no one wanted to watch… but no one could look away… The war on terror has reached home...

What did I like? This author has a talent for a very high-octane thrill ride that will take you over the edge with breathtaking events that will make you wonder how real this is. Could this be in the works for anything in your own future? Guess we will have to wait and see and hope like heck that it would never happen to us!!!

What will you like? A psychological thriller, intense suspense, hair-raising action, breathtaking events, thrilling characters, terrorism with a Capital T, Nuclear threats, murder, and political corruption with a fuse. Panic for the world and only a few can make this go away. Take a trip down the Houston pipeline and watch how HPD Detective David Porter works this case with the support of the President! You won’t be able to stop until the end. I received this from the author for an honest review with no other compensation.

[Todd Kinsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death Toll Rising is an average thriller with an interesting premise. I wanted to like this book more since I live in the Houston area just like its author but the dialogue and flow just aren’t there. Some professional editing would be a big benefit in my opinion to clean some of these issues up. All in all I enjoyed the book, it’s way better than the garbage on television and would make an interesting movie.

In my opinion it’s very difficult for a thriller to hit four-stars which for me are the likes of Mark Greaney, Brad Thor and Vince Flynn. Five-stars (which for me is literature that stands the test of time) are reserved for Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton.

[Jacob Peled · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is more like a 1 star book, but since I read 75% and leafed through the next 25% I gave it a 2 star.
A terror story with a childish level. Suitable for Comics lovers. The story is ridiculous. Not reliable. Doesn’t make much sense.
The hero of the story is a Houston police detective described as a shallow one-dimensional figure.
Despite all this our low level detective has a direct connection to the US President. There are daily phone calls between them. Sound ridicules’ and even childish.
It even get to a point where our detective asks the president of the USA, for a Delta Team to attack a target in Afghanistan and, miraculously, immediately accepts his request.
Sorry but our author doesn’t know how to write a proper ending to the book.. The last three chapters are unnecessary and superfluous to say the least. It seems that there were not enough pages on the original book, and the editor asked the writer to inflate pages to get through at least 200 pages. So we have a book full of “Info Dump”
In short, junk for book lovers looking for a book with a reasonable level. A treasure trove of comic book lovers with its super hero.
For the love of me , I can't understand how it was getting an average of 4.4

[Vivienne Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Edge-on-Your-Seat Thriller

A political thriller that slowly builds up to an explosive international incident, where Detective David Porter and his team are called in, off the record, to find out who is responsible for the assassination of the Prime Minister of Japan. This well-written narrative is loaded with complicated, authentic, and wide-ranging characters bringing into play lots of twists and blows, deceit, terrorism, secrets, lies, and leaks. With so much criminal activities and government corruption, money, greed, suspicion, and betrayal seem to rule, where the media would rather rush to put out a story without doing an in-depth investigation and where nothing is quite as it seems. The author weaves into the narrative a blend of factual events that exposes xenophobia, and unawareness but what makes this story a page-turning read is the merging of suspense, mystery, revenge, intrigue, and mind altering tactics, creating an explosive ending that will shock you to the core. If you are a fan of Alex Cross, you will enjoy reading this book because there are so many similarities between Cross and Porter in the way they handle their affairs.

[Lillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although thriller is not my favorite genre, it is something I enjoy from time to time. And this book offers a real roller-coaster ride. Some things are over the top, such as a Houston detective leading a federal case involving the safety of the leaders of many countries and the Secret Service not checking the backpack of a young girl dining with the president. However, the author wrote the story so convincingly that the reader is able to suspend disbelief. Other aspects of the story seem all too real, such as jihadists brainwashing children to become suicide bombers.

I appreciate that the detective is an honorable man who is a loving husband and father. I also liked that, while the story itself wasn't faith-based, the conclusion was.

At first, I didn't realize this was Book 4 in a series. Fortunately, however, it is a standalone. There were a couple of references to previous events, but not knowing the details of those incidents did not take anything away from this story.

I received a copy of the book from the author, but I voluntarily wrote the review, which expresses my honest opinion.

[Colin Rochford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death Toll Rising by Terry Keys
Another great story from Terry keys. There is a very fine point between too much plot data/information/intrigue and not enough. Mr keys gets it right. Nailed it actually. Although I did think there was a little bit too much politico religious teaching in the story. 

Character development was enough to keep us interested in the characters and more than enough to make us want to continue to spend time with them.

Three minor grammatical errors I picked up. Different than me, should be different from me; and lay with them at night .... and we were not talking about chickens and eggs, it should be lie which is what we do in bed; and tell me your close, which should be tell me you’re close. Now they could be transcription to eBook errors so let’s not be too hard on him.

I have quite a number of books on my kindle waiting to be read, and I always look for books by Terry keys first.

[Jennifer Manley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a polite email from Terry Keys asking me to read Death Toll Rising. So this was a free copy, and this review is my opinion alone.

On the day all the world leaders showing up to the Religious World Summit the leader of Japan is murdered and it is made to look like America has had a hand in it. All the alphabet agencies are in charge of the protection of these leaders and even with their protection the next day another one dies. Detective David Porter is called in to investigate. And he reminds me of the character of Alex Cross to a certain extent.

In this story you will find religious zealotry, intrigue, murder, and a very fast paced environment. The characters are believable. The writing is great. I was hooked from the word go.

I look forward to seeing more work from Terry Keys. He's talented and knows his genre. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes this type of read. Thanks Terry you have won me over. And thank you for sharing your talent and heart.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"An Amazing And Intense Thriller"

This is a psychological thriller which incorporates the belief of many countries to think America is behind terror strikes throughout the world. Newly elected, President Jackie Wilson, wastes no time in having world leaders attend the first World-Wide Religious Summit in Houston, Texas. The evening before the summit starts, Japan's Prime Minister falls to the ground dead in a Chinatown restaurant. Shock waves are raging around the globe ... will this be the end of the world? Will it become World War III? This well-written, exciting novel is very thoughtful and engrossing. The characters are well defined. It's an easy read with a great story-line and very fast paced. I'm glad I read this as it makes one think about where terrorism in our world today may lead the United States.

[Stephen Booth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nonsense

what a load of nonsense
S. The main protagonist is supposed to be some hot shot detective, I'm surprised he can dress himself. It stretches credibility to accept that a detective in HPD leads on what should be the remit of the FBI at the very least. There is so much farcical nonsense, as if world leaders could go off piste dining and entertaining prostitutes . As if an unknown would be allowed to sit down with POTUS carrying a rucksack that hadn't been secured. So many inconsistencies and ridiculous scenarios. Then there is the writer's home spun philosophy and political world view subversion is just padding, along with the last two chapters. Someone should editorial control of this meandering, pointless book. I rarely write reviews and even rarerer to be negative but this book just annoyed me.

[Joseph R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real good story that held my attention from start to finish. There was a lot of action and suspense that made this book one to be enjoyed by those that like that venue. I thought the book was a good topic of interest in todays times, and with all that is happening in Ukraine it blended in perfectly with the world today. It always amazes me how one country can try to make another submit to their wishes and the rest of the world just doesn't want to take them on. The subterfuge of reasons is just like the world is today with nations blaming each other and trying to gain some sort of upper hand on others. The characters seemed like real people and their circumstances seem real as if this could really happen today. I recommend this book to all who are looking for an easy to read book that makes you think and root for the good guys.

[JO GIBBS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Destroy America, Let Islam Rule

This is a thrilling read with fast action that makes you hold your breath many times. Islamic terrorists plan to attack National Leaders from all over the world who are meeting in America for a religious conference. The blame will go to America. It is well planned and starts succeeding as two leaders are murdered.
David Porter 's skills are needed now more than ever. Is it possible to stop this terrorist group before it is too late and the world is at war with America. Read and find out!

[John Podlaski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm disappointed with DEATH TOLL RISING by Terry Keys. This fictional account between the U.S. alphabet agencies and a militant Muslim group hell-bent on destroying the Leaders of the World who have come to the U.S. for a religious meeting leaves little credibility to what might actually happen. The story lags in spots and then typos and formatting issues plagued it from the very beginning to the end interrupting the flow and expected anxiety. The ending also left it wide open for the next installment as all that took place was not resolved and left readers hanging.

[David Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terry Keys proves a very good action thriller that takes off from the start and doesn't let up until the end. With the current world situation Death Toll Rising provides the reader with multiple questions related to "could that actually happen " or "how close to reality is the portrayal of the terrorist organization."

Well worth the time and lost sleep to read. I received a free copy of this book from an author promotion and voluntarily chose to review

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reason I am giving the book a 4 is that I was disappointed when the book ended. My true rating would be a 3.5.

What makes the book is its characters. I liked the people and was able to become involved with them. The thriller part of the story I liked less. It took me a while to warm up to the story; For the suspense to build, it needed more to happen much sooner than it did.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mimi Davis Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attempt as World Domination

Now this is an extremely well written book, the reader is thrown right in the thick of it from the beginning. There is betrayal of the nations, the mention of the lack of proper attention given to veterans of war, and a detective set on protecting our nation. I could not put this book down until I had read the very last word. Great Read.

[Laura Ruetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced thriller once the story gets going. It took me awhile to get into this but once it got going, it was a solid thriller. I felt that the dialogue was a little clunky at times, and it pulled away slightly from the story and there are typos here and there but overall this was one that I had trouble putting down.

I received a free copy of this book

[linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what can I say. This is a fast paced pollical thriller and well worth the read. My only regret is I should have read it sooner. This is a great author who brings, sometimes disturbing facts, to the readings attention. His books leave you thinking about just how the dynamic's of the world is changing. A must read.

[Jane Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Death Toll Rising has a tight story and great characters, especially detective David Porter. World leaders are being murdered and the race is on to find the culprits before the deaths cause a world war.

You don't want to miss this

[lura huckabone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to putdown how we

This was a very exciting book. But it also took a look at the faults of American interactions with the mid east, as well as how we could view our religious differences in a better way.

[Beth McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining drama

Entertaining and quick moving, this book will hold you spellbound as you soar through the pages of a major worldwide storm that gets averted. Some of the scenarios are a little unrealistic, but the entertainment factor stays intact.

[kathleen m novotny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scarry

I have read some very scary books in my life but the reality in this one is terrifying. The main reason is that it could happen.

[barbara letchworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Fast paced...intense...touching on today's issues..loved every minute
And very much looking forward to additional books by this author. I do love this particular genre

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fighting Terrorism

Houston Detective David Porter is fighting terrorists set on destroying America. It ain't easy but he prevails eventually (for now)