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Sydney Rose Parnell #3
Ambush
The gripping third book in the bestselling Sydney Rose Parnell series.
Railway cop and former Marine Sydney Parnell is on the hunt. So is a killer she knows only as the Alpha. They’re in a race to find Malik, an eleven-year-old Iraqi boy with secrets to guard. Sydney wants to help him. The Alpha wants him dead.
From the dark alleys of Mexico City to the mean streets of Denver, Sydney and her K9 partner, Clyde, use their wits and determination to chase down the ruthless killer. But when their path collides with his, Sydney realizes just how far-reaching and sinister the Alpha’s past is. And how far he’s willing to go to save his secrets.
Railway cop and former Marine Sydney Parnell is on the hunt. So is a killer she knows only as the Alpha. They’re in a race to find Malik, an eleven-year-old Iraqi boy with secrets to guard. Sydney wants to help him. The Alpha wants him dead.
From the dark alleys of Mexico City to the mean streets of Denver, Sydney and her K9 partner, Clyde, use their wits and determination to chase down the ruthless killer. But when their path collides with his, Sydney realizes just how far-reaching and sinister the Alpha’s past is. And how far he’s willing to go to save his secrets.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2019
2070 people are currently reading
1768 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Nickless
13 books1,002 followersBarbara Nickless is the Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of two award-winning crime series. Her first series has been optioned for television. A teacher and activist, she uses the healing power of writing to support combat veterans and civilians in the U.S. and Ukraine. She’s a three-time winner of the Colorado Book Award and a six-time winner of the CAL awards. A former fencer and falconer, Barbara lives in Colorado where she loves to hike, cave, snowshoe, and drink single malt Scotch. Not at the same time. Her most recent research travel involved taking cover from rocket fire and being grilled at military checkpoints. Her latest novel—The Drowning Game—is a spy thriller. It dropped January 1, 2025.
Sign up for Barbara’s newsletter at www.barbaranickless.com.
Sign up for Barbara’s newsletter at www.barbaranickless.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews
May 2, 2019
I really enjoyed the first two novels in this series featuring former Marine and now-railway cop Sydney Parnell. This had the same great characters, but now Sydney is in Mexico trying to rescue the orphaned boy of the women who was an interpreter for the Marines in Iraq. (Her home base is Denver, Colorado.)
I love the characters of Sydney and her canine partner, Clyde. The characters who both help and her the protagonists along the way are also well drawn and believable. There is a lot of action. Nickless is a hugely talented author.
Because this is so different than the first two books in the series, it’s fine to read as a stand alone if you haven’t read those yet.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
I love the characters of Sydney and her canine partner, Clyde. The characters who both help and her the protagonists along the way are also well drawn and believable. There is a lot of action. Nickless is a hugely talented author.
Because this is so different than the first two books in the series, it’s fine to read as a stand alone if you haven’t read those yet.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
April 2, 2019
Short and sweet with this one. Life has gotten in the way.
In this third book featuring Sydney Rose Parnell, we finally get the backstory of her time in Afghanistan and just what the hell happened that is making someone want to kill her. And there is a big surprise in Sydney’s future as well. And some shocks.
I’m loving this series and especially Clyde. What a great dog!
In this third book featuring Sydney Rose Parnell, we finally get the backstory of her time in Afghanistan and just what the hell happened that is making someone want to kill her. And there is a big surprise in Sydney’s future as well. And some shocks.
I’m loving this series and especially Clyde. What a great dog!
April 24, 2019
3.75 stars
I really did like this book; I'm especially happy with the choices Sidney made in the end. That said, I'm deducting some points because there was a twist in this book that I've seen done before and I'm not a fan. It smacks too much of a plot line lifted straight out of a daytime soap opera...but the author went there so, fine. What's done is done...but because it was done, the very nature of the twist demands a certain amount of attention. It necessitates that some very serious conversations happen between Sidney and other crucial parties. My biggest issue with this book is that these conversations either don't happen on the page at all, in one instance, or else are so quickly skimmed over that they might as well not have happened. On an emotional level I found that aspect of the plot unsatisfying. As far as the actual case goes, this book closed out the loop on the mysterious Alpha and the events from Iraq that have plagued Sidney since the first book. There were some tense moments for both Sidney and Clyde but they both prove the worth of their partnership. I definitely plan to read the fourth book when it comes out next year.
I really did like this book; I'm especially happy with the choices Sidney made in the end. That said, I'm deducting some points because there was a twist in this book that I've seen done before and I'm not a fan. It smacks too much of a plot line lifted straight out of a daytime soap opera...but the author went there so, fine. What's done is done...but because it was done, the very nature of the twist demands a certain amount of attention. It necessitates that some very serious conversations happen between Sidney and other crucial parties. My biggest issue with this book is that these conversations either don't happen on the page at all, in one instance, or else are so quickly skimmed over that they might as well not have happened. On an emotional level I found that aspect of the plot unsatisfying. As far as the actual case goes, this book closed out the loop on the mysterious Alpha and the events from Iraq that have plagued Sidney since the first book. There were some tense moments for both Sidney and Clyde but they both prove the worth of their partnership. I definitely plan to read the fourth book when it comes out next year.
August 5, 2022
This is book three in the Sydney Rose Parnell series. Sydney being an ex-marine along with her partner a Belgian Malinois called Clyde (also an ex-marine). In this third installation the ghosts of the past revisit and Sydney finds herself trying to resolve an issue that happened back in Iraq that saw a lot of her fellow crew executed in an ambush and a young boy called Malik left orphaned.
These events are resurfacing back in Denver and when a fellow ex-marine is killed in a seemingly random attack by a hobo, Sydney goes onto full alert. Confessing to Cohen, her boyfriend, she risks losing him, either in his disgust for her past acts or to whoever is slowly killing off the remainder of the marine crew who survived the ambush.
Fast paced and carrying a lot of threat and violence, this book does answer a lot of questions that have been left hanging to date in the prior books.
These events are resurfacing back in Denver and when a fellow ex-marine is killed in a seemingly random attack by a hobo, Sydney goes onto full alert. Confessing to Cohen, her boyfriend, she risks losing him, either in his disgust for her past acts or to whoever is slowly killing off the remainder of the marine crew who survived the ambush.
Fast paced and carrying a lot of threat and violence, this book does answer a lot of questions that have been left hanging to date in the prior books.
March 18, 2023
I make no pretense of impartiality. I love Barbara Nickless's writing. Her simple but elegant style, the flow, engagement and twists of her plots, the depth, uniqueness and believability of her characters all contribute to wonderfully enjoyable and entertaining books. Of course, it is necessary to suspend reality from time to time, as it is in most books about contemporary heroes but that doesn't detract a nanoscopic spec from the quality of the books.
Sydney Rose Parnell finds herself in Mexico looking for the youngster, Malik, whom she feels she abandoned in Iraq. But evil people are also after him as it seems that he has a piece of evidence that could bring down a major criminal organization operating within the US industrial/Military complex.
Those who have helped Parnell have sometimes been killed while others have had their causes damaged. Numerous attempts have been made on Parnel's life and her usual partner, Clyde, a military-trained Malinois, has not been able to come to Mexico with her. Just as it seems that she might have located someone who can provide her with support and a link to Malik. She is incapacitated, blindfolded and taken to an unknown location. Is her search or perhaps her very life over?
If you've read and enjoyed the first two books in the Sydney Rose Parnell series, you will, almost certainly, enjoy this well-written addition to the series. If you haven't read the first two books, and are interested in reading this one, due to my compelling if somewhat inelegant review, I strongly suggest that you start with the first book in the series as there is a great deal of backstory in the first two books that will significantly enhance your enjoyment of the third. Capisce?
If you do not enjoy books about those who have suffered significant PTSD as a result of their military or other service, give the series a pass.
finito
Sydney Rose Parnell finds herself in Mexico looking for the youngster, Malik, whom she feels she abandoned in Iraq. But evil people are also after him as it seems that he has a piece of evidence that could bring down a major criminal organization operating within the US industrial/Military complex.
Those who have helped Parnell have sometimes been killed while others have had their causes damaged. Numerous attempts have been made on Parnel's life and her usual partner, Clyde, a military-trained Malinois, has not been able to come to Mexico with her. Just as it seems that she might have located someone who can provide her with support and a link to Malik. She is incapacitated, blindfolded and taken to an unknown location. Is her search or perhaps her very life over?
If you've read and enjoyed the first two books in the Sydney Rose Parnell series, you will, almost certainly, enjoy this well-written addition to the series. If you haven't read the first two books, and are interested in reading this one, due to my compelling if somewhat inelegant review, I strongly suggest that you start with the first book in the series as there is a great deal of backstory in the first two books that will significantly enhance your enjoyment of the third. Capisce?
If you do not enjoy books about those who have suffered significant PTSD as a result of their military or other service, give the series a pass.
finito
July 3, 2020
Another excellent installment in the Sydney Parnell series: an ex-Marine, with her K-9 partner Clyde, who now works as a railway cop. She follows a lead to Mexico to try to find Malik, a young Iraqi boy, whose mother and GI boyfriend were killed there while he watched. Sydney is drugged and carried off, but is reunited with Malik by a mysterious man living in a mountain retreat. She returns to the States only to find that the members of her unit are being killed off by the mysterious person she calls Alpha to keep a secret buried. Sydney manages to find an anomaly in the video of one of the killings, which helps her identify Alpha. As she gets closer, someone returns from the dead to help in her quest to expose Alpha and rescue her Denver cop boyfriend, who is kidnapped for leverage to find/return damaging evidence of treason. Clyde rules. Fast-paced and engaging like the first two books. Recommended.
March 31, 2019
{Video review at http://bit.ly/_Ambush_ "The Most Dangerous Book Review on the Internet"}
I’m not much for gushing over a book, but I do get a little excited when I find one that is firing on all cylinders. That is the case with “Ambush,” the new Sydney Rose Parnell thriller from author Barbara Nickless.
This is the third book in the series, though that shouldn’t stop you from reading it. Although Ms. Nickless references some of the past events, new readers should have little trouble understanding what is happening. The only hiccup might come from the issues Sydney has brought back with her from time spent as a Marine in Iraq, but there should be enough explanation to help a new reader understand.
This is not another railroad mystery, but a fast-paced story that begins with Sydney working on a private mission in Mexico. Before mid-book, the tale has involved every part of Sydney’s life, from her current job to her time as a Marine, and spilling over into her personal life (both past and present). There is plenty of action that continually propels the plot forward, and since Sydney is telling the story, we solve the mystery with her, clue by clue.
Ms. Nickless is at the top of her game with this story. Meticulous research adds an element of realism missing from so many books today, breathing plenty of life into both the plot and the characters. Sydney tells the story with a level-headed cynicism, seasoned with the self-doubt of one who is grappling with the memories of a past that refuses to leave her be. I was extremely impressed with the author’s first two books in this series, but there is no doubt in my mind that “Ambush” is her best offering so far. Five stars.
I’m not much for gushing over a book, but I do get a little excited when I find one that is firing on all cylinders. That is the case with “Ambush,” the new Sydney Rose Parnell thriller from author Barbara Nickless.
This is the third book in the series, though that shouldn’t stop you from reading it. Although Ms. Nickless references some of the past events, new readers should have little trouble understanding what is happening. The only hiccup might come from the issues Sydney has brought back with her from time spent as a Marine in Iraq, but there should be enough explanation to help a new reader understand.
This is not another railroad mystery, but a fast-paced story that begins with Sydney working on a private mission in Mexico. Before mid-book, the tale has involved every part of Sydney’s life, from her current job to her time as a Marine, and spilling over into her personal life (both past and present). There is plenty of action that continually propels the plot forward, and since Sydney is telling the story, we solve the mystery with her, clue by clue.
Ms. Nickless is at the top of her game with this story. Meticulous research adds an element of realism missing from so many books today, breathing plenty of life into both the plot and the characters. Sydney tells the story with a level-headed cynicism, seasoned with the self-doubt of one who is grappling with the memories of a past that refuses to leave her be. I was extremely impressed with the author’s first two books in this series, but there is no doubt in my mind that “Ambush” is her best offering so far. Five stars.
January 13, 2024
We were the Marines the other Marines avoided. The pariahs, the bad luck charms. The ones no one wanted to risk being near. As if we didn’t just process death. As if we brought it.
Sydney Parnell
Personal Journal
In this third installment, former Marines and current Denver Railway cops, Sydney and Clyde (K9 partner) are back and as fierce as ever. Syd is still getting therapy for her PTSD, but she’s still seeing ghost/manifestations (that she has full on conversations with) of Marine friends and colleagues that were KIA. She’s making some small strides in her battles with drugs and alcohol by slowly weaning herself off of them. Her relationship with Denver PD Det, Cohen, still seems as shaky as ever. However, she is still determined as ever in finding Malik, an Iraqi boy she left behind during the war. She finally does locate him down in Mexico where he is being hidden and taken care of by a Muslim security guard (supposedly). This is not a spoiler since it’s basically how the story starts.
Most of us – maybe all of us – are broken in some way. Depending on who we are, those cracks can either let in the darkness or the light.
Sydney Parnell
Personal Journal
The book summary introduces the primary storyline of finding out who the Alpha is and what the Alpha wants with this particular team of former Marines. There is another storyline of an ambush in Iraq that Syd and a bunch of other Marines were in (revealed in previous installments) that led to why they believe the Alpha has been searching for them for a couple of years now. Then, of course, there is the storyline around Syd’s and Cohen’s fragile relationship.
There are good and bad people on both sides of a conflict. The trick is in figuring out which is which. And who is working for whom.
Sydney Parnell
Personal Journal
Most of the story revolves around finding out who the Alpha is, where the Alpha is now and how to end the Alpha’s reign of terror, once and for all. Syd and Clyde and the surviving members of the team from the ambush in Iraq team up to hunt down the Alpha. Deep into the second half, it’s shock and awe and a death-defying attack of military proportions that the Alpha is revealed.
Sooner or later, we all come to the ultimate contest, when it’s just us and the devil. And the devil hates to lose.
Sydney Parnell
Personal Journal
This was a Kindle Unlimited book. The nice thing about a lot of KU books is that you can flip back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook, which I love. This third installment was another fast-paced, action-packed, intense story that seemed to be the end of the Malik arc. It will be interesting to see what direction Nickless takes Syd and Clyde and Cohen too. I look forward to the next installment to see what kind of chaos and mayhem they all get themselves into.
War was the longest period of my life. I was twenty when I enlisted. But by the time I mustered out three years later, I felt ninety.
Sydney Parnell
ENGL 0208
Psychology of Combat
Sydney Parnell
Personal Journal
In this third installment, former Marines and current Denver Railway cops, Sydney and Clyde (K9 partner) are back and as fierce as ever. Syd is still getting therapy for her PTSD, but she’s still seeing ghost/manifestations (that she has full on conversations with) of Marine friends and colleagues that were KIA. She’s making some small strides in her battles with drugs and alcohol by slowly weaning herself off of them. Her relationship with Denver PD Det, Cohen, still seems as shaky as ever. However, she is still determined as ever in finding Malik, an Iraqi boy she left behind during the war. She finally does locate him down in Mexico where he is being hidden and taken care of by a Muslim security guard (supposedly). This is not a spoiler since it’s basically how the story starts.
Most of us – maybe all of us – are broken in some way. Depending on who we are, those cracks can either let in the darkness or the light.
Sydney Parnell
Personal Journal
The book summary introduces the primary storyline of finding out who the Alpha is and what the Alpha wants with this particular team of former Marines. There is another storyline of an ambush in Iraq that Syd and a bunch of other Marines were in (revealed in previous installments) that led to why they believe the Alpha has been searching for them for a couple of years now. Then, of course, there is the storyline around Syd’s and Cohen’s fragile relationship.
There are good and bad people on both sides of a conflict. The trick is in figuring out which is which. And who is working for whom.
Sydney Parnell
Personal Journal
Most of the story revolves around finding out who the Alpha is, where the Alpha is now and how to end the Alpha’s reign of terror, once and for all. Syd and Clyde and the surviving members of the team from the ambush in Iraq team up to hunt down the Alpha. Deep into the second half, it’s shock and awe and a death-defying attack of military proportions that the Alpha is revealed.
Sooner or later, we all come to the ultimate contest, when it’s just us and the devil. And the devil hates to lose.
Sydney Parnell
Personal Journal
This was a Kindle Unlimited book. The nice thing about a lot of KU books is that you can flip back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook, which I love. This third installment was another fast-paced, action-packed, intense story that seemed to be the end of the Malik arc. It will be interesting to see what direction Nickless takes Syd and Clyde and Cohen too. I look forward to the next installment to see what kind of chaos and mayhem they all get themselves into.
War was the longest period of my life. I was twenty when I enlisted. But by the time I mustered out three years later, I felt ninety.
Sydney Parnell
ENGL 0208
Psychology of Combat
May 14, 2019
This series just gets better and better. So realistic.
March 14, 2019
You can find this review in English below.
Antes que nada, una advertencia: Este es el tercer libro de la serie y NO se puede leer como un stand-alone. Esta historia es la culminación (o eso espero) del suspense secundario que veníamos arrastrando desde la primera entrega. Así que mejor no empezar por aquí.
De todas formas, las dos primeras entregas han sido fabulosas. Merece la pena leerlas.
Dicho esto, me temo que esta historia ha perdido fuelle a lo largo del camino.
La prosa sigue siendo muy buena. Buenísima. Está escrita en primera persona, un tipo de narración muy peligroso, pero que esta autora maneja con auténtica maestría. El suspense sigue siendo muy emocionante. Te mantiene atrapada a la trama con una intensidad brutal. La acción es abundante y trepidante y parece que las páginas vuelan mientras lees.
Pero (y para mí es un gran pero) esta historia tiene mis dos grandes fobias:
Y situaciones que se le han ido de las manos, o lo que es lo mismo, OTT.
Son las únicas pegas que le pongo a la historia, y son manías personales, no puedo con ellas, me han hecho desconectar de la historia y no la he disfrutado como las anteriores. Lo que quiero decir con esto es que, si no tienes problema alguno con los puntos que he señalado anteriormente, esta historia es igual de buena que sus predecesoras. Por desgracia, para mí no ha sido así.
En esta ocasión, la historia se sustenta demasiado en melodramas personales. El suspense no es tan limpio. La protagonista ha perdido parte de su carisma y roza peligrosamente algunos clichés del género. Mucha acción y poco sentido común. Parte de esa sagacidad que tiene el personaje y que tanto me atrajo en los libros anteriores aquí es sustituida por buena suerte y coincidencias. No es una mezcla muy sugerente.
Hemos pasado de no tener apenas romance a tener . Me ha decepcionado. Ha sido empalagoso, superficial, previsible y sobre todo, totalmente innecesario. Reconozco que me ha descolgado completamente de la historia. Incluso la autora se atreve a reconocer a través de sus personajes que todo estaba siendo más bien cursi. Y Sidney y cursi no pueden ir en la misma frase.
Hubiese sido muchísimo más interesante ver cómo Sidney lidia con su actual relación (que la autora continuamente desarrolla fuera de escena) que todo el melodrama que me he tenido que tragar.
A pesar de todo, quiero pensar que este capítulo ha sido un punto de inflexión, y que, a partir de aquí, el melodrama del pasado quedará enterrado y podremos seguir viendo a la mejor Sidney Rose Parnell en acción. Junto con sus maravillosos compañeros.
¡Lo estoy deseando!
***
First of all, a warning: This is the third book in the series and CAN NOT be read as a stand-alone. This story is the culmination (or so I hope) of the secondary suspense which begun in the first installment. So better not start here.
Anyway, the first two installments have been fabulous. It is worth reading them.
That said, I'm afraid this story has lost steam along the way.
The prose is still so good. It is written in first person, a tricky form of narrative, but that this author manages with absolute mastery. The suspense, as always, is exciting and addictive. It keeps you glued to the story with brutal intensity. The action is abundant and fast-paced and it seems that the pages fly by while you read.
But (and for me it's a big but) this story has two of my most feared pet-peeves:
And situations that have gotten (a bit) out of hand, in other words, OTT.
They are the only faults I found in this story, and they are personal mania, I can not stand them, they made me disconnect from the story so I didn´t enjoyed it as much as the previous ones. What I want to say with this is that if you have no problem with the two things I indicated above, this story is just as good as its predecessors. Unfortunately, it has not been like that for me.
On this occasion, the personal melodrama had too much weight in the story. The suspense is not so clean, not so efficient. The heroine has lost part of her charisma and rubs dangerously some clichés of the genre. There are lots of action but less common sense. Part of her sagacity, that attracted me so much in the previous books, here is replaced by good luck and coincidences. It is not a very suggestive mix.
The story has gone from having a tiny bit of romance to have . It has disappointed me. It has been cloying, superficial, predictable and above all, totally unnecessary. Even the author dares to recognize through her characters that everything was being rather corny. And Sidney and corny can not go in the same sentence. Definitely, the story lost me at this point.
It would have been much more interesting to see how Sidney deals with her current relationship (which the author continually develops off page) that all the melodrama that I had to go through.
In spite of everything, I want to think that this instalment has been a point of inflection, and that from here, the melodrama of the past will be left behind for good and we will continue seeing the best Sidney Rose Parnell in action. Together with her awesome partners.
I´m looking forward to it!
Antes que nada, una advertencia: Este es el tercer libro de la serie y NO se puede leer como un stand-alone. Esta historia es la culminación (o eso espero) del suspense secundario que veníamos arrastrando desde la primera entrega. Así que mejor no empezar por aquí.
De todas formas, las dos primeras entregas han sido fabulosas. Merece la pena leerlas.
Dicho esto, me temo que esta historia ha perdido fuelle a lo largo del camino.
La prosa sigue siendo muy buena. Buenísima. Está escrita en primera persona, un tipo de narración muy peligroso, pero que esta autora maneja con auténtica maestría. El suspense sigue siendo muy emocionante. Te mantiene atrapada a la trama con una intensidad brutal. La acción es abundante y trepidante y parece que las páginas vuelan mientras lees.
Pero (y para mí es un gran pero) esta historia tiene mis dos grandes fobias:
Y situaciones que se le han ido de las manos, o lo que es lo mismo, OTT.
Son las únicas pegas que le pongo a la historia, y son manías personales, no puedo con ellas, me han hecho desconectar de la historia y no la he disfrutado como las anteriores. Lo que quiero decir con esto es que, si no tienes problema alguno con los puntos que he señalado anteriormente, esta historia es igual de buena que sus predecesoras. Por desgracia, para mí no ha sido así.
En esta ocasión, la historia se sustenta demasiado en melodramas personales. El suspense no es tan limpio. La protagonista ha perdido parte de su carisma y roza peligrosamente algunos clichés del género. Mucha acción y poco sentido común. Parte de esa sagacidad que tiene el personaje y que tanto me atrajo en los libros anteriores aquí es sustituida por buena suerte y coincidencias. No es una mezcla muy sugerente.
Hemos pasado de no tener apenas romance a tener . Me ha decepcionado. Ha sido empalagoso, superficial, previsible y sobre todo, totalmente innecesario. Reconozco que me ha descolgado completamente de la historia. Incluso la autora se atreve a reconocer a través de sus personajes que todo estaba siendo más bien cursi. Y Sidney y cursi no pueden ir en la misma frase.
Hubiese sido muchísimo más interesante ver cómo Sidney lidia con su actual relación (que la autora continuamente desarrolla fuera de escena) que todo el melodrama que me he tenido que tragar.
A pesar de todo, quiero pensar que este capítulo ha sido un punto de inflexión, y que, a partir de aquí, el melodrama del pasado quedará enterrado y podremos seguir viendo a la mejor Sidney Rose Parnell en acción. Junto con sus maravillosos compañeros.
¡Lo estoy deseando!
***
First of all, a warning: This is the third book in the series and CAN NOT be read as a stand-alone. This story is the culmination (or so I hope) of the secondary suspense which begun in the first installment. So better not start here.
Anyway, the first two installments have been fabulous. It is worth reading them.
That said, I'm afraid this story has lost steam along the way.
The prose is still so good. It is written in first person, a tricky form of narrative, but that this author manages with absolute mastery. The suspense, as always, is exciting and addictive. It keeps you glued to the story with brutal intensity. The action is abundant and fast-paced and it seems that the pages fly by while you read.
But (and for me it's a big but) this story has two of my most feared pet-peeves:
And situations that have gotten (a bit) out of hand, in other words, OTT.
They are the only faults I found in this story, and they are personal mania, I can not stand them, they made me disconnect from the story so I didn´t enjoyed it as much as the previous ones. What I want to say with this is that if you have no problem with the two things I indicated above, this story is just as good as its predecessors. Unfortunately, it has not been like that for me.
On this occasion, the personal melodrama had too much weight in the story. The suspense is not so clean, not so efficient. The heroine has lost part of her charisma and rubs dangerously some clichés of the genre. There are lots of action but less common sense. Part of her sagacity, that attracted me so much in the previous books, here is replaced by good luck and coincidences. It is not a very suggestive mix.
The story has gone from having a tiny bit of romance to have . It has disappointed me. It has been cloying, superficial, predictable and above all, totally unnecessary. Even the author dares to recognize through her characters that everything was being rather corny. And Sidney and corny can not go in the same sentence. Definitely, the story lost me at this point.
It would have been much more interesting to see how Sidney deals with her current relationship (which the author continually develops off page) that all the melodrama that I had to go through.
In spite of everything, I want to think that this instalment has been a point of inflection, and that from here, the melodrama of the past will be left behind for good and we will continue seeing the best Sidney Rose Parnell in action. Together with her awesome partners.
I´m looking forward to it!
March 25, 2019
Wow - was not expecting such an edge-of-my-seat Sydney Parnell a la Jason Bourne thriller from beginning to end!! One of the story arcs, that's been unfolding from the first book, comes to a high-octane conclusion with lots of unexpected twists along the way. I could not put this book down!! Looking forward to more adventures with Sydney, Clyde and Mike - love these characters! Oorah!
September 18, 2019
This book addresses many of the issues that arose for Sydney Rose Parnell in Iraq. Finally we get the backstory. It was very well done. Clyde (the dog) is a star! I'm hoping there are more books to come.
August 20, 2020
Ambush
3 Stars
Railway detective Sydney Rose Parnell and her K-9 partner, Clyde, join in the investigation into the murder of a railway security guard by a homeless man. Sydney soon realizes that the case is connected to the conspiracy revolving around the deaths of a Marine and interpreter in Iraq as well as the actions of the mysterious Alpha who is determined to keep the events secret.
While it is good to finally have an explanation and closure surrounding Sydney's past in Iraq during the 2nd Gulf War, the plot feels more like a Cold War thriller than a murder investigation. This shift in tone is disappointing as the conspiracy elements seem cobbled together rather than a natural development based on the hints provided in previous books.
The pacing is also rather slow at first, but the twists soon start coming and the tension increases as the story progresses. There are some very surprising and interesting revelations along the way although one or two developments require more than a little suspension of disbelief. Thankfully, Nickless avoids the annoying , and Sydney makes the right choices for herself.
Overall, this is not the best installment in the series, and I hope that the next book returns to the more appealing police procedural style of the first couple of books.
3 Stars
Railway detective Sydney Rose Parnell and her K-9 partner, Clyde, join in the investigation into the murder of a railway security guard by a homeless man. Sydney soon realizes that the case is connected to the conspiracy revolving around the deaths of a Marine and interpreter in Iraq as well as the actions of the mysterious Alpha who is determined to keep the events secret.
While it is good to finally have an explanation and closure surrounding Sydney's past in Iraq during the 2nd Gulf War, the plot feels more like a Cold War thriller than a murder investigation. This shift in tone is disappointing as the conspiracy elements seem cobbled together rather than a natural development based on the hints provided in previous books.
The pacing is also rather slow at first, but the twists soon start coming and the tension increases as the story progresses. There are some very surprising and interesting revelations along the way although one or two developments require more than a little suspension of disbelief. Thankfully, Nickless avoids the annoying , and Sydney makes the right choices for herself.
Overall, this is not the best installment in the series, and I hope that the next book returns to the more appealing police procedural style of the first couple of books.
April 13, 2019
I'd give Barbara Nickless all the stars in the world if I could. I think she's fantastic. Her writing is that perfect blend of smart and original, gritty and authentic, without ever being a distraction or making it sound like she's trying too hard. I've loved every book in this series, and I admit I was nervous coming into this one because what if something TERRIBLE happened to the characters (and dog) I'd grown to really care for? I'm not going to spoil anything, and lots of fairly gruesome things do happen in this story, but the resolution of what had really happened in Iraq, and Sydney and Cohen (and Clyde), and a HUGE reveal I did not see coming but which was perfectly set up, had me staying awake until 2am to finish because I wasn't going to be able to sleep without closure.
I think it's fantastic when female writers write strong female characters because they understand that doesn't just mean they have to carry guns and swear a lot. Sydney does carry guns--and her share of baggage--but she's smart and brave and flawed and caring (three dimensional!), the kind of person you're rooting for even as you peer between your fingers at the pages, worried about what she might do next and secretly thrilled at the same time.
If you're not reading this series, you should. Start with book 1 because the main storyline in this book is the resolution of the subplot in the first two books, and it's an immensely wonderful conclusion. I see that a listing for book #4 has been created, and I already can't wait.
I think it's fantastic when female writers write strong female characters because they understand that doesn't just mean they have to carry guns and swear a lot. Sydney does carry guns--and her share of baggage--but she's smart and brave and flawed and caring (three dimensional!), the kind of person you're rooting for even as you peer between your fingers at the pages, worried about what she might do next and secretly thrilled at the same time.
If you're not reading this series, you should. Start with book 1 because the main storyline in this book is the resolution of the subplot in the first two books, and it's an immensely wonderful conclusion. I see that a listing for book #4 has been created, and I already can't wait.
March 22, 2020
Action-packed ~ Entertaining ~ Original ~ Easy-To-Read ~ Great World Building ~ Inspirational ~ Realistic ~ Unpredictable ~ Page-Turner ~ Wonderful Characters ~ Haunting
This series just gets better and better with each entry. I love the whole series but at the heart of it is one of the best female characters in not just today's literature but of all time. She is so wonderfully nuanced and developed and her partnership with Clyde is the heartbeat. I just have to believe that Hollywood is going to come calling at some point to put these characters on the screen somewhere.
Nickless to me is one of the best new authors of the last 10 years or so to come along. She fills the books with great plot, great characters and takes you into the world they live in. She is so good.
After following Sydney Rose Parnell through to this 3rd installment of her story this one seemed so much more personal to her story than the cases she was working on in the 1st two books. This one was the conclusion of the military past that has been haunting her and with it came great emotional conflict for her at times. It was so satisfying to see her finally get some answers. It was truly gripping and emotional. It is one of those books that haunts you long after you stop reading.
I can't wait to see what the series holds for Sydney and Clyde in the coming installments. I highly recommend this one. Very well done.
This series just gets better and better with each entry. I love the whole series but at the heart of it is one of the best female characters in not just today's literature but of all time. She is so wonderfully nuanced and developed and her partnership with Clyde is the heartbeat. I just have to believe that Hollywood is going to come calling at some point to put these characters on the screen somewhere.
Nickless to me is one of the best new authors of the last 10 years or so to come along. She fills the books with great plot, great characters and takes you into the world they live in. She is so good.
After following Sydney Rose Parnell through to this 3rd installment of her story this one seemed so much more personal to her story than the cases she was working on in the 1st two books. This one was the conclusion of the military past that has been haunting her and with it came great emotional conflict for her at times. It was so satisfying to see her finally get some answers. It was truly gripping and emotional. It is one of those books that haunts you long after you stop reading.
I can't wait to see what the series holds for Sydney and Clyde in the coming installments. I highly recommend this one. Very well done.
May 30, 2020
"...sometimes the monsters were real."
Railroad cop and former Marine Sydney Parnell and her K9 partner Clyde are back again in this third book in an excellent series - after BLOOD ON THE TRACKS and DEAD STOP.
This time Sydney starts out in Mexico City searching for an Iraqi boy that she came to know in the Marines who is in danger.
This was an excellent story but I missed what makes this series unique - the railroad. This story focuses on Sydney's time in the military and the danger that has followed her and her fellow Marines back stateside.
Sydney has suffered in previous books with the aftereffects of the war and in this book we find out much more about her time in the Marines.
There are some seriously bad people in this story and they are after not only Sydney but those she cares about. She ends up back in Denver (which I enjoy since I grew up there) and she works closely with the Denver Police and other former Marines to try to take down a deadly conspiracy.
I highly recommend this whole series.
Railroad cop and former Marine Sydney Parnell and her K9 partner Clyde are back again in this third book in an excellent series - after BLOOD ON THE TRACKS and DEAD STOP.
This time Sydney starts out in Mexico City searching for an Iraqi boy that she came to know in the Marines who is in danger.
This was an excellent story but I missed what makes this series unique - the railroad. This story focuses on Sydney's time in the military and the danger that has followed her and her fellow Marines back stateside.
Sydney has suffered in previous books with the aftereffects of the war and in this book we find out much more about her time in the Marines.
There are some seriously bad people in this story and they are after not only Sydney but those she cares about. She ends up back in Denver (which I enjoy since I grew up there) and she works closely with the Denver Police and other former Marines to try to take down a deadly conspiracy.
I highly recommend this whole series.
April 1, 2020
I wasn't looking forward to this one because I knew that it dealt with the conspiracy over Iraq. I am not a fan of long running conspiracies. But it was better than I expected it to be and had a fast pace. There was a twist in this that wasn't much of a surprise if you had been paying close attention. I had been expecting it and was at least satisfied with how it was resolved. This one was the hardest to put down. I'm glad I finally read this series and am looking forward to the next book later this year.
June 16, 2019
GNAB . This is the third Sydney Rose Parnell novel I have read, and I only grow fonder of this former Marine lady cop as time goes by. Centered in the Denver, Colorado area, with flashbacks to Iraq and starring war dog Clyde, this mystery is complex and deeply hidden, the characters are wholesome and empathetic except for the bad guys, and the backgrounds are picturesque and compelling. Barbara Nickless is an author I am following, one I am happy to refer to friends and family. She mixes together the dangers of living in our country today with the necessity for policing and the psychological damage that must be overcome after serving in a war zone.
I received a free electronic copy of this railroad police procedural from Netgalley, Barbara Nickless, and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date March 19, 2019
Thomas & Mercer
READ or Listen to Dead Stop before you read Ambush
I received a free electronic copy of this railroad police procedural from Netgalley, Barbara Nickless, and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date March 19, 2019
Thomas & Mercer
READ or Listen to Dead Stop before you read Ambush
April 15, 2019
What a powerhouse finale to a fantastic series!
The scope of this story was impressive with Sydney traveling from Mexico to Denver, while also revisiting memories from wartime in Iraq. I loved the way the mystery first introduced in book 1 became the focus of Ambush, with plenty of shocking twists and turns along the way.
At the heart of it all was the relationship between Sydney and her canine partner, Clyde. How they continued to grow and help each other was so sweet.
I'll miss Sydney Rose's character--her wisdoms and insights about life--but was glad to see her go out with such a bang. Can't wait to read what Nickless writes next!
The scope of this story was impressive with Sydney traveling from Mexico to Denver, while also revisiting memories from wartime in Iraq. I loved the way the mystery first introduced in book 1 became the focus of Ambush, with plenty of shocking twists and turns along the way.
At the heart of it all was the relationship between Sydney and her canine partner, Clyde. How they continued to grow and help each other was so sweet.
I'll miss Sydney Rose's character--her wisdoms and insights about life--but was glad to see her go out with such a bang. Can't wait to read what Nickless writes next!
June 17, 2020
Publicist Wiley Saichek gifted me with the mystery/thriller Ambush by Barbara Nickless via Amazon. I had not read the previous two books in this series, but I read a Goodreads review that assured me that this book can stand alone. It resolves a major ongoing issue in the female protagonist's life that relates to her military service in the Iraq War, and contains all the background necessary for understanding it.
I was interested in the fact that protagonist Sydney Rose Parnell is a Marine. I'm pretty sure that I'd never previously read a novel about a female Marine. I believed that she would definitely be a strong female protagonist.
When I first started reading Ambush, I questioned the risks that Sydney took. Yet over the course of the narrative, I recognized that she was smart, resourceful and very well trained. I particularly liked her alternate version of the Marine by-word, Semper Gumby , which Sydney translated as "always flexible". Flexibility allows for quick improvisation of a new plan when the old one isn't working. It increases the odds of surviving dangerous situations.
Sydney is no longer in the Marines. She is now a railroad detective. Yet she has a K9 partner in her investigations who is military trained. His name is Clyde, and he is a very good dog. Sydney and Clyde work well together, and have a great bond of affection between them. I enjoyed this aspect of the book.
The case that began with a traumatic experience for Sydney that took place in Iraq was difficult to resolve, and involved a great many murders perpetrated in Iraq, Mexico and the U.S. All the characters were well developed including the individual who was behind all the killings. I was impressed by the characterization, and thought that the resolution was satisfying. I recommend Ambush and its author to fans of mysteries and thrillers.
For my complete review see https://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2020...
I was interested in the fact that protagonist Sydney Rose Parnell is a Marine. I'm pretty sure that I'd never previously read a novel about a female Marine. I believed that she would definitely be a strong female protagonist.
When I first started reading Ambush, I questioned the risks that Sydney took. Yet over the course of the narrative, I recognized that she was smart, resourceful and very well trained. I particularly liked her alternate version of the Marine by-word, Semper Gumby , which Sydney translated as "always flexible". Flexibility allows for quick improvisation of a new plan when the old one isn't working. It increases the odds of surviving dangerous situations.
Sydney is no longer in the Marines. She is now a railroad detective. Yet she has a K9 partner in her investigations who is military trained. His name is Clyde, and he is a very good dog. Sydney and Clyde work well together, and have a great bond of affection between them. I enjoyed this aspect of the book.
The case that began with a traumatic experience for Sydney that took place in Iraq was difficult to resolve, and involved a great many murders perpetrated in Iraq, Mexico and the U.S. All the characters were well developed including the individual who was behind all the killings. I was impressed by the characterization, and thought that the resolution was satisfying. I recommend Ambush and its author to fans of mysteries and thrillers.
For my complete review see https://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2020...
December 29, 2019
Ambush, the third book in author Barbara Nickless's Sydney Rose Parnell series is a great mystery tale and an enjoyable read. In this novel, Sydney Rose leaves Denver to finally address a mystery that has haunted her since her days as a Marine in Iraq.
Maybe it's the disengagement from her role as a railroad cop and the absence of Clyde, her brilliant ex-Marine Belgian Malinois, during the first half of the book that dropped my enjoyment down to 4 stars from the 5 that the previous two series books earned from me. Certainly the story is complex and exciting from the get-go with twists and turns (and murders) created by a growing master of the genre.
In the last half of the book, a stunning surprise from Sydney's past appears, and it threw me for a loop. I mean, the possible implications for Sydney... wow. A railroad-related murder that she suspects may tie in to her personal investigation brings Sydney back to Denver and Clyde (yay!), and the suspense -and fun - goes into overdrive.
Ambush wraps up several loose threads in Sydney's life, events from the war that continued to break her heart throughout the first two books, and it was satisfying to see the resolutions. Nickless surprised me multiple times in the story, including the final resolutions, but, in the end, they were exactly right.
I'm happy to say that a new Sydney Rose Parnell series book is in the works and scheduled for release this coming spring. I'm looking forward to it.
Maybe it's the disengagement from her role as a railroad cop and the absence of Clyde, her brilliant ex-Marine Belgian Malinois, during the first half of the book that dropped my enjoyment down to 4 stars from the 5 that the previous two series books earned from me. Certainly the story is complex and exciting from the get-go with twists and turns (and murders) created by a growing master of the genre.
In the last half of the book, a stunning surprise from Sydney's past appears, and it threw me for a loop. I mean, the possible implications for Sydney... wow. A railroad-related murder that she suspects may tie in to her personal investigation brings Sydney back to Denver and Clyde (yay!), and the suspense -and fun - goes into overdrive.
Ambush wraps up several loose threads in Sydney's life, events from the war that continued to break her heart throughout the first two books, and it was satisfying to see the resolutions. Nickless surprised me multiple times in the story, including the final resolutions, but, in the end, they were exactly right.
I'm happy to say that a new Sydney Rose Parnell series book is in the works and scheduled for release this coming spring. I'm looking forward to it.
February 22, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc. I had marked my calendar with it's publication date and it was a special thrill to read the arc for me.
Sydney is one tough Marine (former) and up to her armpits in trouble. This was an intense read for me. This was the 3rd book in the series and they really should be read in order. And I have read them in order, but am tempted to re-read all 3 of them again on a good "binge" weekend. An excellent police procedural / global conspiracy / study in moral philosophy and family values. The pace was breakneck, the characters all well defined (the good, the bad, and the ugly). While there was some techno speak, I understood it well enough that I didn't have to interrupt my reading to "Google" it.
Clyde rules!!
My only regret is that this felt like the final book. I would love to keep reading about these characters, but then they'd be different. Hopefully Ms. Nickless continues writing, if not these characters, then others as this series is excellent.
Sydney is one tough Marine (former) and up to her armpits in trouble. This was an intense read for me. This was the 3rd book in the series and they really should be read in order. And I have read them in order, but am tempted to re-read all 3 of them again on a good "binge" weekend. An excellent police procedural / global conspiracy / study in moral philosophy and family values. The pace was breakneck, the characters all well defined (the good, the bad, and the ugly). While there was some techno speak, I understood it well enough that I didn't have to interrupt my reading to "Google" it.
Clyde rules!!
My only regret is that this felt like the final book. I would love to keep reading about these characters, but then they'd be different. Hopefully Ms. Nickless continues writing, if not these characters, then others as this series is excellent.
March 24, 2019
A little slow to pull me in, but once I was pulled in, this one wowed me. No giveaways, but it definitely had a surprise or two. Clyde was awesome. Sydney, although still carrying past trauma, is a strong main character.
There are relationships in this book which I really like but it isn't what I would call romantic suspense. It's a suspense book with characters who have a relationship. I really like this style myself.
I really recommend this series, but start with book 1.
There are relationships in this book which I really like but it isn't what I would call romantic suspense. It's a suspense book with characters who have a relationship. I really like this style myself.
I really recommend this series, but start with book 1.
March 19, 2019
Ambush by Barbara Nickless
Sydney Rose Parnell #3
Intrigue from beginning to end – who can anyone trust and who is the Alpha that is pulling the strings that causes people and even children to be kidnapped, tortured and killed? Sydney and others want to know and do all they can to find the monster and cage it.
This book had me looking up which division of the military deals with the dead, what they do and how traumatic their job actually is. I also found myself looking up what transit police do and that was another eye opener. I do like a book that has me wondering and looking things up because I learn and grow and become a bit wiser through the process.
The story itself was action-packed and intense. Having read the previous books no doubt would help but it is not absolutely necessary. I felt as if I was in the middle of the story right beside Sydney and wondering just what would happen next. The bad guys were BAD and the good guys mostly ex-military who had seen a LOT in the war. Sydney has some romantic conflict to deal with and a big surprise twist at one point that left me wondering how that person will play into future books of the series...and...I do hope there will be more books about Sydney to read as time goes by. I would like to see some books about what her job entails as a Transit Cop and how she interacts with others on that team. Clyde...what a wonderful K-9 partner and just plain old dog he is!
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Do I want to read more in this series? Definitely!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Sydney Rose Parnell #3
Intrigue from beginning to end – who can anyone trust and who is the Alpha that is pulling the strings that causes people and even children to be kidnapped, tortured and killed? Sydney and others want to know and do all they can to find the monster and cage it.
This book had me looking up which division of the military deals with the dead, what they do and how traumatic their job actually is. I also found myself looking up what transit police do and that was another eye opener. I do like a book that has me wondering and looking things up because I learn and grow and become a bit wiser through the process.
The story itself was action-packed and intense. Having read the previous books no doubt would help but it is not absolutely necessary. I felt as if I was in the middle of the story right beside Sydney and wondering just what would happen next. The bad guys were BAD and the good guys mostly ex-military who had seen a LOT in the war. Sydney has some romantic conflict to deal with and a big surprise twist at one point that left me wondering how that person will play into future books of the series...and...I do hope there will be more books about Sydney to read as time goes by. I would like to see some books about what her job entails as a Transit Cop and how she interacts with others on that team. Clyde...what a wonderful K-9 partner and just plain old dog he is!
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Do I want to read more in this series? Definitely!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
March 23, 2019
5/5.
I enjoyed this so much. I loved being back with these characters and how this book dealt with the aftermath of what went down in Iraq. This book was so fast-paced and there were so many plot twists. Sydney is such an amazing character and I cannot wait to see what she has in store next.
I enjoyed this so much. I loved being back with these characters and how this book dealt with the aftermath of what went down in Iraq. This book was so fast-paced and there were so many plot twists. Sydney is such an amazing character and I cannot wait to see what she has in store next.
April 22, 2019
5 stars
Wow! What a thrill to read this the third in the Sydney Rose Parnell series.
Sydney and her canine partner Clyde are really in for action in this their latest adventure. She is trying to find an eleven-year-old Iraqi boy named Malik. He apparently knows secrets worth killing for, at least according to an assassin code named Alpha who is also looking for him.
She joins in with a team of covert operatives and soldiers to hunt for Malik – and Alpha. Their travels take them to Mexico and other places. There is much danger and excitement along the way. And tragedy.
This is a very well written and plotted novel. It is filled with action and excitement, almost on every page. The pages fly by as the reader becomes so engrossed in the story they hardly see time passing. Barbara Nickless is a remarkable writer with talent aplenty. I am avidly following her Sydney Parnell series.
I want to thank NetGalley and GoodReads for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book for me to read, enjoy and review. (I won a copy of this Kindle book in a GoodReads Giveaway contest.)
Wow! What a thrill to read this the third in the Sydney Rose Parnell series.
Sydney and her canine partner Clyde are really in for action in this their latest adventure. She is trying to find an eleven-year-old Iraqi boy named Malik. He apparently knows secrets worth killing for, at least according to an assassin code named Alpha who is also looking for him.
She joins in with a team of covert operatives and soldiers to hunt for Malik – and Alpha. Their travels take them to Mexico and other places. There is much danger and excitement along the way. And tragedy.
This is a very well written and plotted novel. It is filled with action and excitement, almost on every page. The pages fly by as the reader becomes so engrossed in the story they hardly see time passing. Barbara Nickless is a remarkable writer with talent aplenty. I am avidly following her Sydney Parnell series.
I want to thank NetGalley and GoodReads for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book for me to read, enjoy and review. (I won a copy of this Kindle book in a GoodReads Giveaway contest.)
February 24, 2019
I love, love, love this series. Each book keeps getting better and better and this one is the best yet.
Sydney Parnell is a character I can't help but identify with. She is determined, stubborn, brave and vulnerable all rolled into one. Together she and her K-9 partner Clyde make a formidable duo and they will need each other to solve this mystery that has links to Sydney's time in Iraq and the loss of the love of her life. Or does ghosts have a tendency to return to the land of the living?
A on-the-edge of your seat ending and I can't wait for the next one. Highly recommended!
Sydney Parnell is a character I can't help but identify with. She is determined, stubborn, brave and vulnerable all rolled into one. Together she and her K-9 partner Clyde make a formidable duo and they will need each other to solve this mystery that has links to Sydney's time in Iraq and the loss of the love of her life. Or does ghosts have a tendency to return to the land of the living?
A on-the-edge of your seat ending and I can't wait for the next one. Highly recommended!
March 21, 2019
Just finished reading this on my kindle. Having read the first two books and enjoying them I was looking forward to some closure on the plot arc that had obviously been building from the first two. I certainly was not disappointed.
It was a definite five star read accomplished over two sittings. I'd guessed at one of the twists very early on and found it satisfying that I was right.
Another year until the next one but that will give me time to re-read all three. I am also going to give another star to the first two now I see how important they are to the plot of this one.
It was a definite five star read accomplished over two sittings. I'd guessed at one of the twists very early on and found it satisfying that I was right.
Another year until the next one but that will give me time to re-read all three. I am also going to give another star to the first two now I see how important they are to the plot of this one.
November 25, 2019
Two-haiku review:
Her past catches up
She and K-9 in danger
From time in Marines
Another good one
Really enjoyed this series
Will wait for next one
Her past catches up
She and K-9 in danger
From time in Marines
Another good one
Really enjoyed this series
Will wait for next one
September 28, 2020
Another fine installment in the adventures of former marine, now railway cop Sydney Parnell and her K9 partner, Clyde.
This one starts with Sydney in Mexico City searching for an Iraqi boy who she took under her wing when his mother was brutally murdered during the war, who is now missing, and takes off from there. The action starts right away as the mystery of who's hunting the boy and other Marines Sydney served with intensifies. Fast paced and tightly wound this story pulls together the threads and plot lines developed in the first two books in the series.
I'm sure this could be read as a stand-alone but I highly recommend starting with Blood On The Tracks and Dead Stop, the first two books.
I love a strong, flawed female protagonist who's able to draw me into her story and make me care about her. It doesn't hurt that she has a dependable loving dog by her side that I care about as well. I'm a big fan of this series and look forward to the next book, Gone To Darkness.
This one starts with Sydney in Mexico City searching for an Iraqi boy who she took under her wing when his mother was brutally murdered during the war, who is now missing, and takes off from there. The action starts right away as the mystery of who's hunting the boy and other Marines Sydney served with intensifies. Fast paced and tightly wound this story pulls together the threads and plot lines developed in the first two books in the series.
I'm sure this could be read as a stand-alone but I highly recommend starting with Blood On The Tracks and Dead Stop, the first two books.
I love a strong, flawed female protagonist who's able to draw me into her story and make me care about her. It doesn't hurt that she has a dependable loving dog by her side that I care about as well. I'm a big fan of this series and look forward to the next book, Gone To Darkness.
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