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County Vices
Detective Olivia Winston and IRS Special Agent Maureen Jeffries have "tied the knot" and happily settled into married life. But crime in their home county of Goslyn hasn't settled down—in fact, it's at an all-time high. Drugs and corruption have found a foothole in the once small, quiet community, and Olivia and Maureen discover it's a family affair that reaches from the street corner dealer right up to the County Board of Supervisors.
The love-hate drama between Supervisor Cleo Jacobs and her street-wise nephew, Chris Jacobs, has filled their pockets with plenty of cash but caused a dangerous rift between the two as both try to make their mark in the drug game. Driven by greed and ego, the Jacobs do their best to satisfy the growing demand for pills that “make you happy” and “numb the pain.” But their love of money comes with a callous disregard for others, including those close to Detective Winston and Special Agent Jeffries, who find themselves right in the middle of Goslyn’s biggest crime story.
Love, violence, and betrayal combine to make the perfect, poisonous pill.
_______________
A.M. McKnight is also the self-published author of Best Love Ever (2016) and of Goslyn County…“a surprisingly great read…” romancenovelsincolor.com (March 2016)
The love-hate drama between Supervisor Cleo Jacobs and her street-wise nephew, Chris Jacobs, has filled their pockets with plenty of cash but caused a dangerous rift between the two as both try to make their mark in the drug game. Driven by greed and ego, the Jacobs do their best to satisfy the growing demand for pills that “make you happy” and “numb the pain.” But their love of money comes with a callous disregard for others, including those close to Detective Winston and Special Agent Jeffries, who find themselves right in the middle of Goslyn’s biggest crime story.
Love, violence, and betrayal combine to make the perfect, poisonous pill.
_______________
A.M. McKnight is also the self-published author of Best Love Ever (2016) and of Goslyn County…“a surprisingly great read…” romancenovelsincolor.com (March 2016)
- GenresLesbian
290 pages, Paperback
Published August 29, 2017
10 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 18, 2018
Dectivtive Olivia and IRS special agent Maureen are married. Crime in their county is at an all time high. Drugs and corruption are running wild. They get involved when a 75 year old man is getting threatening phone calls. As they look into it they find the county supervisor and her nephew are at the bottom of this. This book was ok but very crude.
October 30, 2017
Having read the first book, I was thrilled to see a follow-up. Although there are some advantages to reading the them in order, this one works fine as a standalone. There aren't really any spoilers in it other than that the two characters who developed a relationship in book one are still together.
This is a crime novel, not a mystery, so all the players and their roles are known right from the start. While Olivia and her network of willing assistants do crack the case, even that is not the sole focus of the story. And that is what sets it apart from other suspense.
One of the key ingredients that I loved in the first book, and which has carried over into the second, is the high degree of empathy. The "big bads" are always the rich and powerful, people taking advantage of the system and using the less privileged to get to the top. There's some great commentary in this story about power dynamics and the apathy of those in control. At the same time, readers are not only invited but encouraged to see the humanity of those who become mixed up in crime as survival. I found myself grieving for the young man who is central to the plot, both for his mistakes and his misfortunes.
There really isn't a romance this time around. Olivia and Maureen are a solid couple, and they are wonderful together. I love that their relationship is their soft landing place when their jobs get tough. It's important to the plot in the sense that they rely on each other in big and small ways. However, it isn't the key focus of the story. They have many friends and family in their community who love and support them, which is always good to see.
Speaking of which, there are a lot of characters in this story. For me, that worked well and I loved it. In particular, I liked that they all have lives and stories to tell. Everyone, from the nursing students to the office workers to the politicians, have a human backstory. This is important in that it's what provides the ingredients to develop reader empathy. It gave me a sense of almost split-screen with the criminals, wishing they'd do right but understanding why they don't. It's very well done.
This is the heart of the series, personified in Detective Olivia. Ultimately, her desire isn't only for justice but for real and lasting change and to make a difference in people's lives. Like most empathetic people, she isn't able to see her own influence, and she struggles a bit with it. I hope that we haven't seen the last of her and the way she wrestles with these big questions.
For well-drawn characters, an absorbing plot, and a lot of heart, this gets 5 stars.
This is a crime novel, not a mystery, so all the players and their roles are known right from the start. While Olivia and her network of willing assistants do crack the case, even that is not the sole focus of the story. And that is what sets it apart from other suspense.
One of the key ingredients that I loved in the first book, and which has carried over into the second, is the high degree of empathy. The "big bads" are always the rich and powerful, people taking advantage of the system and using the less privileged to get to the top. There's some great commentary in this story about power dynamics and the apathy of those in control. At the same time, readers are not only invited but encouraged to see the humanity of those who become mixed up in crime as survival. I found myself grieving for the young man who is central to the plot, both for his mistakes and his misfortunes.
There really isn't a romance this time around. Olivia and Maureen are a solid couple, and they are wonderful together. I love that their relationship is their soft landing place when their jobs get tough. It's important to the plot in the sense that they rely on each other in big and small ways. However, it isn't the key focus of the story. They have many friends and family in their community who love and support them, which is always good to see.
Speaking of which, there are a lot of characters in this story. For me, that worked well and I loved it. In particular, I liked that they all have lives and stories to tell. Everyone, from the nursing students to the office workers to the politicians, have a human backstory. This is important in that it's what provides the ingredients to develop reader empathy. It gave me a sense of almost split-screen with the criminals, wishing they'd do right but understanding why they don't. It's very well done.
This is the heart of the series, personified in Detective Olivia. Ultimately, her desire isn't only for justice but for real and lasting change and to make a difference in people's lives. Like most empathetic people, she isn't able to see her own influence, and she struggles a bit with it. I hope that we haven't seen the last of her and the way she wrestles with these big questions.
For well-drawn characters, an absorbing plot, and a lot of heart, this gets 5 stars.
November 2, 2019
4.5 stars. Thoughts coming soon.
August 2, 2018
This is a lovely follow up to what what a really good slow-burn romance and detective story.
Maureen and Olivia are married now and their relationship still revolves around food and family. They are two favorite characters.
The focus of this book is more about Olivia's work as a detective and it flowed well with just enough tension and mystery to keep it going. But really, it's about family and supportive work relationships.
Maureen and Olivia are married now and their relationship still revolves around food and family. They are two favorite characters.
The focus of this book is more about Olivia's work as a detective and it flowed well with just enough tension and mystery to keep it going. But really, it's about family and supportive work relationships.
May 7, 2018
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
Housed within the pages of County Vices are strong and resourceful female characters.
Maureen and Olivia, a married couple, are on the case of who’s harassing old man Rufus Bennett. As they put their detective skills to work, they discovery Rufus’ drama is only one small piece in a very large puzzle. Drugs, corruption, and greed are running amuck in Goslyn County. Honestly, it’s an epidemic all over the world. Like in real life, it takes a team to combat the distribution of narcotics. It takes many people to stop corruption plaguing the political world and/or cooperations, too.
A.M. McKnight created a dream team to bring justice to most of the guilty parties. However, what about Stuart and Big Smit? Maybe their story will continue on in a future book. It must because there were loose ends that needed cleaned up.
(Find more reviews/ratings at www.superkambrook.com)
Housed within the pages of County Vices are strong and resourceful female characters.
Maureen and Olivia, a married couple, are on the case of who’s harassing old man Rufus Bennett. As they put their detective skills to work, they discovery Rufus’ drama is only one small piece in a very large puzzle. Drugs, corruption, and greed are running amuck in Goslyn County. Honestly, it’s an epidemic all over the world. Like in real life, it takes a team to combat the distribution of narcotics. It takes many people to stop corruption plaguing the political world and/or cooperations, too.
A.M. McKnight created a dream team to bring justice to most of the guilty parties. However, what about Stuart and Big Smit? Maybe their story will continue on in a future book. It must because there were loose ends that needed cleaned up.
(Find more reviews/ratings at www.superkambrook.com)
June 2, 2021
I think I was having withdrawal from the ‘now-cancelled’ procedural cop shows I used to watch that glorify police. This didn’t disappoint and a was a tiny bit more nuanced. There were some scenes I didn’t see coming. Didn’t like the neat wrap up though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2021
Goslyn County
I love visiting Costly County, Virginia. Watching Olivia and Maureen keeping their neighborhood safe. I really enjoy how important community service is to our two lovely ladies. Until the next time I get to go back to Gosyln County, Virginia well done MS McKnighr!
I love visiting Costly County, Virginia. Watching Olivia and Maureen keeping their neighborhood safe. I really enjoy how important community service is to our two lovely ladies. Until the next time I get to go back to Gosyln County, Virginia well done MS McKnighr!
October 16, 2017
Great follow up!
Gosling county finest return with this sequel. Olivia and Maureen return to make their small town safer. Food and friends make crime solving easy for the women. Great follow up.
Gosling county finest return with this sequel. Olivia and Maureen return to make their small town safer. Food and friends make crime solving easy for the women. Great follow up.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews