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Deadly Focus
When Los Angeles TV news photographer Lucy Vega, whose family was killed in a car crash, investigates another crash during the worst El Niño storm in decades, she is horrified to learn the victim is her uncle.
Though the medical examiner declares the death accidental, Lucy suspects otherwise. She sets out on a murder investigation of her own, and soon discovers secret underworld involvement by Mexican cartel members.
Bent on finding answers, Lucy travels to Mexico, where she meets a handsome but burned out CNN war correspondent who helps her trail the cartel deep into their own territory. Corruption and brutality are rampant, and Lucy must risk all to find the truth behind her uncle’s murder.
PRAISE FOR DEADLY FOCUS
“One of the more suspenseful and fully engrossing books I’ve read in a long time, DEADLY FOCUS grabs you in the first chapter and never lets go. With a gift for instant and vivid characterizations, Sue Hinkin has created a highly sympathetic heroine in Lucy Vega whom you will never forget and will want to follow as the series unfolds. Lucy’s raw sorrow and constant struggles are so truly written and common to the human heart that your soul will recognize and feel them deeply. Thriller, mystery, and mainstream readers have a new author to follow and enjoy, year after year. Keep ‘em comin’, Sue!”
– Sonja Massie (G. A. McKevett) author of more than 60 published works including the highly acclaimed Savannah Reid Mysteries under the pseudonym G.A. McKevett and the bestselling novel Far and Away adapted from the movie by Ron Howard starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
Mystery readers will fall in love with Lucy Vega in this debut novel and devour this edge of your chair mystery. The pacing is breathless, but don’t turn the pages too fast, so you can enjoy all aspects of this well-built mystery. Sue Hinkin has found her purpose in this well written, engaging and clever novel. Already looking forward to the next one!
Susan Myhre Hayes is the author of Peace in the Becoming Your Intended Self and uses her book to support groups and individuals as they search for their unique purpose.
A “Thinking Person’s" Mystery/Thriller
This well-crafted, deeply absorbing mystery/suspense/thriller takes the reader from the tight camaraderie of an LA television news room staff to the terrifying violence-controlled drug cartel kingdoms of the Mexican jungle. Lucy Vega, a TV camera person who lost her entire family in a gruesome auto accident, is smart, impulsive and almost fearless on one hand, and bedeviled by loss, fears and anxiety on the other. Her newsroom colleagues are a tightly knit family and have Lucy’s back when the going gets tough. Which of course it rapidly does. When her closest remaining relative dies in a mysterious “accident” returning from Mexico, Lucy smells a cover up and is driven to get to the bottom of what she senses is murder. Lucy and the reader are quickly hurtled to a remote jungle and a deeply gripping drama. The action is fast and furious, the story twists and turns, but everything is well grounded in the story line. As good as the story is, it’s the characters that really shine. There is no stereotyping – the characters are all believable, human and individual. Even minor characters are memorable and worthy of novels in their own rights.
All in all, a satisfying, well-crafted, fast-moving read with characters that stay in your mind and leave you wanting more.
Carolyn Olson Adams
Amazon Reviewer
Though the medical examiner declares the death accidental, Lucy suspects otherwise. She sets out on a murder investigation of her own, and soon discovers secret underworld involvement by Mexican cartel members.
Bent on finding answers, Lucy travels to Mexico, where she meets a handsome but burned out CNN war correspondent who helps her trail the cartel deep into their own territory. Corruption and brutality are rampant, and Lucy must risk all to find the truth behind her uncle’s murder.
PRAISE FOR DEADLY FOCUS
“One of the more suspenseful and fully engrossing books I’ve read in a long time, DEADLY FOCUS grabs you in the first chapter and never lets go. With a gift for instant and vivid characterizations, Sue Hinkin has created a highly sympathetic heroine in Lucy Vega whom you will never forget and will want to follow as the series unfolds. Lucy’s raw sorrow and constant struggles are so truly written and common to the human heart that your soul will recognize and feel them deeply. Thriller, mystery, and mainstream readers have a new author to follow and enjoy, year after year. Keep ‘em comin’, Sue!”
– Sonja Massie (G. A. McKevett) author of more than 60 published works including the highly acclaimed Savannah Reid Mysteries under the pseudonym G.A. McKevett and the bestselling novel Far and Away adapted from the movie by Ron Howard starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
Mystery readers will fall in love with Lucy Vega in this debut novel and devour this edge of your chair mystery. The pacing is breathless, but don’t turn the pages too fast, so you can enjoy all aspects of this well-built mystery. Sue Hinkin has found her purpose in this well written, engaging and clever novel. Already looking forward to the next one!
Susan Myhre Hayes is the author of Peace in the Becoming Your Intended Self and uses her book to support groups and individuals as they search for their unique purpose.
A “Thinking Person’s" Mystery/Thriller
This well-crafted, deeply absorbing mystery/suspense/thriller takes the reader from the tight camaraderie of an LA television news room staff to the terrifying violence-controlled drug cartel kingdoms of the Mexican jungle. Lucy Vega, a TV camera person who lost her entire family in a gruesome auto accident, is smart, impulsive and almost fearless on one hand, and bedeviled by loss, fears and anxiety on the other. Her newsroom colleagues are a tightly knit family and have Lucy’s back when the going gets tough. Which of course it rapidly does. When her closest remaining relative dies in a mysterious “accident” returning from Mexico, Lucy smells a cover up and is driven to get to the bottom of what she senses is murder. Lucy and the reader are quickly hurtled to a remote jungle and a deeply gripping drama. The action is fast and furious, the story twists and turns, but everything is well grounded in the story line. As good as the story is, it’s the characters that really shine. There is no stereotyping – the characters are all believable, human and individual. Even minor characters are memorable and worthy of novels in their own rights.
All in all, a satisfying, well-crafted, fast-moving read with characters that stay in your mind and leave you wanting more.
Carolyn Olson Adams
Amazon Reviewer
- GenresThriller
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2018
About the author
Sue Hinkin
7 books31 followersVoted Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Writer of the Year, Sue Hinkin was raised in Chicago and is a former college administrator, TV news photographer, and NBC-TV art department manager. She was also a Cinematography Fellow at the American Film Institute. Her thrillers featuring Los Angeles TV news journalist Bea Middleton and her BFF, photographer Lucia Vega, have garnered numerous awards. Book 6, the final story in the Middleton and Vera series, The Snake Handler's Wife, will be released October 1,2025. See more at www.suehinkin.com. Hinkin now lives in Littleton, Colorado where she is the grandmother of twin girls who already love a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 27, 2018
I started reading while sitting at the salon, getting highlights, and ended up glued to my phone. Felt like the fasted hair appointment of my life. Finished reading in a couple days even though it usually takes me much longer to finish a book. It’s all about Lucy. Such a great character. She has huge heart and balls bigger than any male character. And all her supporting characters are real. It usually takes me a few books in a series to connect to the lead character, but I can’t wait to see what she gets herself into next!
February 23, 2018
PRAISE FOR DEADLY FOCUS
“I was bowled over! It's fantastic!!! Gripping. Gritty. Instant and vivid characterizations. Suspenseful. Surprising twists! Holy cow!”
--Sonja Massie is the author of more than 60 published works including the highly acclaimed Savannah Reid Mysteries under the pseudonym G.A. McKevett and the bestselling novel Far and Away adapted from the movie by Ron Howard starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
“Lucy and her wild, page-turning exploits will definitely satisfy those looking for a story chock-full of adventure and chicanery with a tough, tenacious, and tender heroine at its heart.”
--Colorado Book Review
“Mystery readers will fall in love with Lucy Vega in this debut novel and devour this edge of your chair mystery. The pacing is breathless, but don’t turn the pages too fast, so you can enjoy all aspects of this well-built mystery. Sue Hinkin has found her purpose in this well written, engaging and clever novel. Already looking forward to the next one!”
--Susan Myhre Hayes is the author of Peace in the Puzzle: Becoming Your Intended Self and uses her book to support groups and individuals as they search for their unique purpose.www.peaceinthepuzzle.com
Fast-moving, compelling drama, memorable characters
In this deeply gripping drama, the action is fast and furious, the story twists and turns, but everything is well grounded in the story line. As good as the story is, it’s the characters that really shine. There is no stereotyping – the characters are all believable, human and individual. Even minor characters are memorable and worthy of novels in their own rights.
All in all, a satisfying, well-crafted, fast-moving read, with characters that stay in your mind and leave you wanting more. Sequel, please.
--Carolyn Olson Adams
Amazon Reviewer
“I was bowled over! It's fantastic!!! Gripping. Gritty. Instant and vivid characterizations. Suspenseful. Surprising twists! Holy cow!”
--Sonja Massie is the author of more than 60 published works including the highly acclaimed Savannah Reid Mysteries under the pseudonym G.A. McKevett and the bestselling novel Far and Away adapted from the movie by Ron Howard starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
“Lucy and her wild, page-turning exploits will definitely satisfy those looking for a story chock-full of adventure and chicanery with a tough, tenacious, and tender heroine at its heart.”
--Colorado Book Review
“Mystery readers will fall in love with Lucy Vega in this debut novel and devour this edge of your chair mystery. The pacing is breathless, but don’t turn the pages too fast, so you can enjoy all aspects of this well-built mystery. Sue Hinkin has found her purpose in this well written, engaging and clever novel. Already looking forward to the next one!”
--Susan Myhre Hayes is the author of Peace in the Puzzle: Becoming Your Intended Self and uses her book to support groups and individuals as they search for their unique purpose.www.peaceinthepuzzle.com
Fast-moving, compelling drama, memorable characters
In this deeply gripping drama, the action is fast and furious, the story twists and turns, but everything is well grounded in the story line. As good as the story is, it’s the characters that really shine. There is no stereotyping – the characters are all believable, human and individual. Even minor characters are memorable and worthy of novels in their own rights.
All in all, a satisfying, well-crafted, fast-moving read, with characters that stay in your mind and leave you wanting more. Sequel, please.
--Carolyn Olson Adams
Amazon Reviewer
August 12, 2018
Very interesting book/story by Sue Hinkin. Really enjoyed it!! From the streets of L.A. to the dark halls of Mexico, this is full of suspense and intrigue, as the main character, Lucy Vega, struggles to find out what happened to her uncle after he was killed during a big storm. Nothing is as it seems, and it's quite a journey. I thought it was well written and well narrated, I'd definitely recommend it, and would definitely read/listen to more from her and from narrator Sandra Murphy. Great job!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
July 20, 2022
DEADLY FOCUS introduces Lucy Vega, a photojournalist with endearing quirks and steely determination to find the mystery behind her uncle's death. The book is packed with action in every chapter and frequent violence that compels the reader to a fast finish. Highly recommended for thriller fans who enjoy strong female characters and plenty of well-plotted twists.
June 18, 2026
I wanted to throw a little crime/suspense in to break up my usual summer romance reads; the book did that, but just wasn’t great. Way too many characters added quickly in the beginning, so it was hard to track who was doing what. Better once the action started, but still felt predictable. Sorry, but it’s a no from me.
May 31, 2020
How far would one go or travel to find the killer of your uncle. This was a gripping mystery and first I have read by author. The narration was excellent of where she went, added to this good thriller. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
February 20, 2021
Love it
This was a fantastic book. So much action and so worth reading. It will keep you very entertained throughout the book. I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series.
This was a fantastic book. So much action and so worth reading. It will keep you very entertained throughout the book. I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series.
March 4, 2018
Totally unbelievable.
January 4, 2019
I loved the story line and the main character. Plots involving strong women on the run or caught in dangerous situations make for great drama...and keep me turning the pages.
April 3, 2019
Gripping read
Loved this book from start to finish. So many twists and turns and a great action packed storyline. Would recommend this book to anyone.
Loved this book from start to finish. So many twists and turns and a great action packed storyline. Would recommend this book to anyone.
May 25, 2019
Excellent book!
January 2, 2022
Loved this story and really like the series.
Good suspense and the characters are well developed.
Good suspense and the characters are well developed.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews