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Veronica "Ronnie" Ingels/Dawson Hughes #2
Deadly Designs
Private investigator Veronica "Ronnie" Ingels teams up with Deputy Dawson Hughes to find a geeky radio broadcaster's missing wife and young daughter. They fear the woman and child were taken by Islamic terrorists as revenge against the husband's pro-Israel, conspiracy theory broadcasts.
Hughes has recently been promoted to lieutenant in the Taylor County, Texas Sheriff's Department. He's on leave on a special assignment with Authorized Operations (AO), a clandestine, quasi-government agency operating out of a sea-side mansion in Hither Hills, NY. The only thing is, many powerful politicians, and government big-wigs claim Authorized Operations doesn't exist.
Ronnie is furious at both Hughes and the broadcaster for waiting thirty-six hours to start the search. She knows the longer it takes, the less chance there is of finding the child alive. The problem is, radio talk-show host Ed Harper has been hoping-against-hope that his pot-smoking, model wife is on one of her esoteric experiences and has simply taken the child while she romps for a few days. He doesn't want to seriously consider the other, more hazardous possibility… that his radio broadcasts have angered some very dangerous people.
The investigation takes Ronnie and Hughes from a manicured Connecticut estate, to interviews with an elitist A-List society crowd, and run-ins with cranky local police detectives. Then they plunge deep into the seamy, drug-riddled underbelly of the fashion world, with the specter of international terrorism hovering. All the while they know, the sooner a child is found, the better.
Hughes has recently been promoted to lieutenant in the Taylor County, Texas Sheriff's Department. He's on leave on a special assignment with Authorized Operations (AO), a clandestine, quasi-government agency operating out of a sea-side mansion in Hither Hills, NY. The only thing is, many powerful politicians, and government big-wigs claim Authorized Operations doesn't exist.
Ronnie is furious at both Hughes and the broadcaster for waiting thirty-six hours to start the search. She knows the longer it takes, the less chance there is of finding the child alive. The problem is, radio talk-show host Ed Harper has been hoping-against-hope that his pot-smoking, model wife is on one of her esoteric experiences and has simply taken the child while she romps for a few days. He doesn't want to seriously consider the other, more hazardous possibility… that his radio broadcasts have angered some very dangerous people.
The investigation takes Ronnie and Hughes from a manicured Connecticut estate, to interviews with an elitist A-List society crowd, and run-ins with cranky local police detectives. Then they plunge deep into the seamy, drug-riddled underbelly of the fashion world, with the specter of international terrorism hovering. All the while they know, the sooner a child is found, the better.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2015
3 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Nike N. Chillemi
11 books91 followersNike N. Chillemi writes contemporary, classic murder mysteries/detective novels. Plenty of twists and turns, action, a dash of grit, wry humor as her characters navigate through situations and relationships. There's usually a national security/public safety underlying theme to her work with an uplifting message. She likes her bad guys really bad, her good guys smarter and better. Her newest endeavor is ACTS OF MALICE.
Nike is the founding board member of the Grace Filled Fiction Spotlight (formerly the Grace Awards) and its Chair, a platform to promote excellence in Christian fiction. She has been a judge in the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories; the Genesis Awards in 2018; First Impressions 2019, and an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category. She has written book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. Her blog delves into murder mystery/suspense writing as well as the challenges of life. She lives in NE coastal Florida with one small dog and five cats, is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). https://nikechillemi.com/
Nike is the founding board member of the Grace Filled Fiction Spotlight (formerly the Grace Awards) and its Chair, a platform to promote excellence in Christian fiction. She has been a judge in the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories; the Genesis Awards in 2018; First Impressions 2019, and an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category. She has written book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. Her blog delves into murder mystery/suspense writing as well as the challenges of life. She lives in NE coastal Florida with one small dog and five cats, is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). https://nikechillemi.com/
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 18, 2018
Pretty goid
Not enough action for me. This would make a great Hallmark channel movie. The writing is good, though some of the descriptions get a bit wordy for me.
Not enough action for me. This would make a great Hallmark channel movie. The writing is good, though some of the descriptions get a bit wordy for me.
October 14, 2016
Chillemi's Deadly Designs is one of the best crime fiction novels for today's world. Filled with tension and fast-paced action, the book also brings out the romance between the protagonists and both the suspense and romance are handled as an experienced, great writing author should do--realistically and attention-grabbing.
Ronnie Ingels teams up with Lt Dawson Hughes to find the missing wife and daughter of nerdy radio DJ Harper, even though reported far later than they should have been. Fear for the missing mother and daughter is building when the double protagonists go from questioning the elite society of Connecticut and grouchy local police detectives to an underworld of fashion and terrorism.
One impressive ability that shines from Chillemi's writing, is her ability to infuse faith and inspirational moments within her plots that are realistic and encouraging to readers, and far from overwhelming.
The question is: did the model/mother take off on one of her usual pot-smoking experiences with a shady "friend," or did the international terrorists kidnap the two as pay back for the DJ's pro-Israel, conspiracy theory he spouted on a regular broadcast? Is the husband at fault? And can Ronnie and Dawson rescue the family before it's too late?
Time is ticking...and everyone knows time is a factor in finding a live child. Recommended highly!
Ronnie Ingels teams up with Lt Dawson Hughes to find the missing wife and daughter of nerdy radio DJ Harper, even though reported far later than they should have been. Fear for the missing mother and daughter is building when the double protagonists go from questioning the elite society of Connecticut and grouchy local police detectives to an underworld of fashion and terrorism.
One impressive ability that shines from Chillemi's writing, is her ability to infuse faith and inspirational moments within her plots that are realistic and encouraging to readers, and far from overwhelming.
The question is: did the model/mother take off on one of her usual pot-smoking experiences with a shady "friend," or did the international terrorists kidnap the two as pay back for the DJ's pro-Israel, conspiracy theory he spouted on a regular broadcast? Is the husband at fault? And can Ronnie and Dawson rescue the family before it's too late?
Time is ticking...and everyone knows time is a factor in finding a live child. Recommended highly!
February 12, 2017
Intrigue and Villains ...
will keep you glued to each page as Ronnie and Dawson join forces with a secret community of agents and lawmen. Ronnie especially battles against raw determination and savvy investigation that requires patience and calm reasoning. A little girl's life is in the hands of men with no conscience. Nike Chillemi doesn't disappoint in Book No. 2 of this series.
will keep you glued to each page as Ronnie and Dawson join forces with a secret community of agents and lawmen. Ronnie especially battles against raw determination and savvy investigation that requires patience and calm reasoning. A little girl's life is in the hands of men with no conscience. Nike Chillemi doesn't disappoint in Book No. 2 of this series.
November 11, 2015
Ronnie Ingels and Dawson Hughes team up again in Deadly Designs, the sequel to Harmful Intent by Nike Chillemi. This time, international intrigue and religious radicals are part of the mix when the pair is called in to investigate the kidnapping of a seven year old girl. The story has a ‘007’ flavor since they are backed by a wealthy espionage expert. It is definitely a pageturner, and although I enjoyed meeting the characters again it is not necessary to read book one in order to make sense of book two. Woven quite expertly into this fast paced murder mystery is the romance between the two that was only hinted at in book one. Here it comes to full bloom. Also much more in the forefront is the faith element. Deputy Hughes rededicates his life to Christ and Ingels makes a first time commitment. However this part of the story is not presented in an ‘in-your-face’ style, but makes sense in the context of the story and does not detract from the main attraction, which is solving the case. Well done, Ms. Chillemi! I am now waiting impatiently for book three!
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February 10, 2016Another exceptional entry in the Veronica "Ronnie" Ingalls/Dawson Hughes series. When a mother and her child go missing Ronnie and Dawson team up with some heavy hitters to solve the case with some romantic sparks along the way for them. The book is very well written and keeps up the action at a rapid fire pace right up to the exiting ending.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews