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Nichelle Clarke Crime Thriller #1
Front Page Fatality
When two rookie cops are killed in a fiery crash near Richmond, Virginia, crime reporter Nichelle Clarke is sent in to investigate. She assumes it will be routine, a scene like many other accidents she's covered.
She's wrong.
This was no ordinary accident.
And as Nichelle digs deeper into the case, people and evidence begin to disappear. Someone is one step ahead of her, desperate to cover their tracks. A master criminal with a deadly secret, who will stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden...
But as she draws closer to unraveling the mystery of two dead cops, Nichelle realizes she's become the next target. Can she survive this murderous game of cat and mouse long enough to solve the mystery? Or will Nichelle fall prey to a killer?
She's wrong.
This was no ordinary accident.
And as Nichelle digs deeper into the case, people and evidence begin to disappear. Someone is one step ahead of her, desperate to cover their tracks. A master criminal with a deadly secret, who will stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden...
But as she draws closer to unraveling the mystery of two dead cops, Nichelle realizes she's become the next target. Can she survive this murderous game of cat and mouse long enough to solve the mystery? Or will Nichelle fall prey to a killer?
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2013
7459 people are currently reading
4417 people want to read
About the author
LynDee Walker
36 books646 followersLynDee Walker writes about strong women who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Her books have appeared on finalist lists for the Agatha and International Thriller awards—and once, on the weekly Amazon Charts US national bestsellers list smack in between two of her writing heroes.
LynDee is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. Before she started writing fiction, LynDee was an award-winning journalist who covered everything from ribbon cuttings and high school football to capital murder trials and high level police corruption. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the United States. She has written more than 20 novels and feels lucky every day to get to play with her imaginary friends for a living.
LynDee's favorite things are family, hydrangeas, porches, beaches, and books. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she is working on her next novel when she's not juggling laundry, children's sports schedules, and two very happily spoiled rescue dogs.
LynDee is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. Before she started writing fiction, LynDee was an award-winning journalist who covered everything from ribbon cuttings and high school football to capital murder trials and high level police corruption. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the United States. She has written more than 20 novels and feels lucky every day to get to play with her imaginary friends for a living.
LynDee's favorite things are family, hydrangeas, porches, beaches, and books. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she is working on her next novel when she's not juggling laundry, children's sports schedules, and two very happily spoiled rescue dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
December 13, 2018
'Light' thriller.
Strong sassy heroine (a reporter investigating crimes and writing about them), decent suspense, well written.
No detailed scenes of violence, but still a thriller genre.
I really liked the heroine! A woman, who doesn't fall at men's feet, who doesn't drool over hot/sexy/ect guys - sign me up!
She has also a big heart! She genuinely cares for people.
I love how she loves her mom! 😍
I expect a very intriguing romantic development: here is a mysterious 'mafia'-guy and her ex/1st love...
Please, pretty please don't let it turn into the 2nd chance! I assume the 'choice' will be met at the end of the series... 😏
But I trust this cool heroine! 😉
Safe and not much of a romance, but an enthralling indication of a possible love interest.
Strong sassy heroine (a reporter investigating crimes and writing about them), decent suspense, well written.
No detailed scenes of violence, but still a thriller genre.
I really liked the heroine! A woman, who doesn't fall at men's feet, who doesn't drool over hot/sexy/ect guys - sign me up!
She has also a big heart! She genuinely cares for people.
I love how she loves her mom! 😍
I expect a very intriguing romantic development: here is a mysterious 'mafia'-guy and her ex/1st love...
Please, pretty please don't let it turn into the 2nd chance! I assume the 'choice' will be met at the end of the series... 😏
But I trust this cool heroine! 😉
Safe and not much of a romance, but an enthralling indication of a possible love interest.
March 8, 2013
I loved this mystery staring Nichelle "Nicey" Clarke, shoe collector and ace reporter for a Richmond, VA, newspaper. As Nichelle follows leads, she starts to unravel a potentially huge story involving drugs, the mafia, and the local police department. I loved Nichelle's quick thinking and loved the newsroom setting.
LynDee Walker has written a stellar debut novel. Nichelle's quest for the big story puts her in a lot of danger, but Walker's written a realistic portrayal of an up and coming reporter trying to make a mark in the newspaper world, not an easy feat. The mystery itself is full of many twists and turns that appear naturally and don't feel contrived. The romance doesn't overpower the story, but adds flavor to the quick pacing.
I can't wait for her next adventure!
LynDee Walker has written a stellar debut novel. Nichelle's quest for the big story puts her in a lot of danger, but Walker's written a realistic portrayal of an up and coming reporter trying to make a mark in the newspaper world, not an easy feat. The mystery itself is full of many twists and turns that appear naturally and don't feel contrived. The romance doesn't overpower the story, but adds flavor to the quick pacing.
I can't wait for her next adventure!
March 23, 2020
What do two dead drug dealers, two dead cops, a dead prosecutor, the mafia, missing evidence, and internal affairs have to do with one another? Nichelle Clark, crime reporter for the Telegraph, has the story!
Front Page Fatality, the first installment of LynDee Walker’s Nichelle Clark series, is a fast-paced, action packed, and even humorous trip through the intrigue and danger that typifies the exposure to and of the criminal element.
We meet 29-year old Nichelle Clark, a crime reporter with a Virginia newspaper called the Telegraph. Nichelle is tough, smart, ambitious and, most importantly, dogged in her determination to get the story and expose wrongdoing.
And boy is there some wrong being done in this one.
One thing I found refreshing was the fullness of Nichelle’s life; she has friends, a colorful work family, a job she loves, an impressive collection of discounted designer shoes, and an adorable dog named Darcy.
Though she eventually wants to find love, she has enough self-worth that she resists the advances of all of her would be suitors.
She is comfortable in her own skin and has managed to avoid the trap of assigning blame to herself for why she is single.
Far too often, heroines of crime thrillers spend paragraph upon paragraph lamenting the lack of a husband and children, waxing pathetic about biological clocks and citing their ambition and unconventional beauty as things that need fixing.
They have almost no meaningful interactions with anyone outside of work, something that only changes in the event that they become romantically involved
Aside from a quick mention of her eventual desire for love, you’ll find almost none of that here.
To continue, if you’re looking for insta-love as a vehicle for the damsel in distress trope, keep moving, because Nichelle has stilettos, and she knows how to use them. She calls in reinforcements when she knows she’s licked, but for the most part, she holds her own, and in hand to hand combat with men more than half her size.
Walker continues her break with convention through Nichelle’s backstory. Most heroines of crime thrillers I’ve read are haunted or broken women who’ve come through some sort of trauma. This often means wading through a great deal of exposition that, while critical to the overarching story, tends to slow the momentum of the narrative encapsulated in the installment.
We get a full picture of Nichelle’s history but aren’t mired in the details.
She comes from a broken home but has a loving relationship with her mother, a strong woman in her own right who has survived cancer, as well as being abandoned by her own parents for daring to raise Nichelle.
Nichelle’s ambition isn’t all bound up with a need to outrun a tragic past but is instead born of a long-held wish to join the Washington Post.
Finally, I’m not entirely sure why the author of the blurb felt the need to use JD Robb or James Patterson’s names to lure readers in. I, for one, didn’t need to be assured of the quality of Walker’s writing via the implication that it was comparable to their work. To be frank, Walker, in my opinion, writes circles around Robb. Also, the similarities between Walker’s Nichelle Clark and James Patterson’s Cindy Thomas and Lindsay Boxer aren’t significant enough to make a case for their comparability. Bottom line, the writing is good enough to stand on its own under Walker’s name.
All in all, I enjoyed this first installment very much and am looking forward to tearing through what remains of the series. Five stars.
Front Page Fatality, the first installment of LynDee Walker’s Nichelle Clark series, is a fast-paced, action packed, and even humorous trip through the intrigue and danger that typifies the exposure to and of the criminal element.
We meet 29-year old Nichelle Clark, a crime reporter with a Virginia newspaper called the Telegraph. Nichelle is tough, smart, ambitious and, most importantly, dogged in her determination to get the story and expose wrongdoing.
And boy is there some wrong being done in this one.
One thing I found refreshing was the fullness of Nichelle’s life; she has friends, a colorful work family, a job she loves, an impressive collection of discounted designer shoes, and an adorable dog named Darcy.
Though she eventually wants to find love, she has enough self-worth that she resists the advances of all of her would be suitors.
She is comfortable in her own skin and has managed to avoid the trap of assigning blame to herself for why she is single.
Far too often, heroines of crime thrillers spend paragraph upon paragraph lamenting the lack of a husband and children, waxing pathetic about biological clocks and citing their ambition and unconventional beauty as things that need fixing.
They have almost no meaningful interactions with anyone outside of work, something that only changes in the event that they become romantically involved
Aside from a quick mention of her eventual desire for love, you’ll find almost none of that here.
To continue, if you’re looking for insta-love as a vehicle for the damsel in distress trope, keep moving, because Nichelle has stilettos, and she knows how to use them. She calls in reinforcements when she knows she’s licked, but for the most part, she holds her own, and in hand to hand combat with men more than half her size.
Walker continues her break with convention through Nichelle’s backstory. Most heroines of crime thrillers I’ve read are haunted or broken women who’ve come through some sort of trauma. This often means wading through a great deal of exposition that, while critical to the overarching story, tends to slow the momentum of the narrative encapsulated in the installment.
We get a full picture of Nichelle’s history but aren’t mired in the details.
She comes from a broken home but has a loving relationship with her mother, a strong woman in her own right who has survived cancer, as well as being abandoned by her own parents for daring to raise Nichelle.
Nichelle’s ambition isn’t all bound up with a need to outrun a tragic past but is instead born of a long-held wish to join the Washington Post.
Finally, I’m not entirely sure why the author of the blurb felt the need to use JD Robb or James Patterson’s names to lure readers in. I, for one, didn’t need to be assured of the quality of Walker’s writing via the implication that it was comparable to their work. To be frank, Walker, in my opinion, writes circles around Robb. Also, the similarities between Walker’s Nichelle Clark and James Patterson’s Cindy Thomas and Lindsay Boxer aren’t significant enough to make a case for their comparability. Bottom line, the writing is good enough to stand on its own under Walker’s name.
All in all, I enjoyed this first installment very much and am looking forward to tearing through what remains of the series. Five stars.
March 7, 2019
I am on a crime/thriller streak these days. Not because I get high on murders or other gruesome crimes. I want to read about the good guys putting away these sick bastards. But what would be more satisfying, is if we could torture and prolong these bastards agony. (bloodthirsty much?) I think, Alex would be with me in this one. What do you think, sweets? *wink*
But I digress... Let's talk about the book, shall we? To borrow from Alex's term, this one is "light thriller" which I needed considering the heavy thrillers books I've been on lately.
Nichelle is a crime reporter who noses around to find out the truth. It all started with murders, then lost evidence, and some missing police officers. So, what is she to do? Investigate, of course and found out there nefarious things going on.
I like Nichelle. She's smart and tenacious. I love how she takes care of her Mom and Bob. I will continue reading this series but only for the mystery aspects. I am dreading the two love interests, though. *shakes head*
But I digress... Let's talk about the book, shall we? To borrow from Alex's term, this one is "light thriller" which I needed considering the heavy thrillers books I've been on lately.
Nichelle is a crime reporter who noses around to find out the truth. It all started with murders, then lost evidence, and some missing police officers. So, what is she to do? Investigate, of course and found out there nefarious things going on.
I like Nichelle. She's smart and tenacious. I love how she takes care of her Mom and Bob. I will continue reading this series but only for the mystery aspects. I am dreading the two love interests, though. *shakes head*
May 25, 2020
When I read the first couple of pages I thought oh boy this is going to be bad, but I was wrong .It was the first book I read by her and it was a good story. It was a good story and it never bogged down. I liked all the main characters and the dialogue was good. I gave a 4.0 on the book it barley escaped the dreaded 3 stars. The story was good but I thought at time it was a little too confusing and too many names thrown too fast. I think she will learn to be netter at that as time goes bye. I thought the ending was decent but something happened it a little bit over the top which I never like and have to deduct points lol. In the future I will read the next book in the series.. I do say give this book a chance and give it a spin
November 26, 2012
Shoe lover and ace reporter, Nichelle Clarke, has a dream--to work for the Washington Post. Until then, she's doing time at the Richmond Telegraph. When she discovers a drug-related murder that seems like a more like a vigilante killing, Nichelle simply follows the trail.
Suddenly, an ex-baseball player and the sports columnist for the paper, Parker, takes notice of Nichelle. But when he turns up at the river where two law enforcement officers die in a police boat accident, she wonders if his interest is personal or business. As Nichelle keeps investigating the story, she discovers there's something strange about the boat incident. Not knowing whom to trust, she confides in her soft-hearted editor and mentor, Bob. But soon dire circumstances make it impossible to rely on anyone but herself.
As she digs deeper, Nichelle links the stories together and finds herself in hot water with a sexy Mafia boss, in competition with her newsroom rival, and uncovers evidence that could very well cost Nichelle her life.
I loved this book and Nichelle. She's a funny, likable, well-rounded heroine who's tenacious and smart. She was a real person, with faults and hopes and humor. I enjoyed getting to know her. The secondary characters popped right off the page. And I never saw the end coming! It was a great mystery and I can't wait to read the next Nichelle Clarke book.
Suddenly, an ex-baseball player and the sports columnist for the paper, Parker, takes notice of Nichelle. But when he turns up at the river where two law enforcement officers die in a police boat accident, she wonders if his interest is personal or business. As Nichelle keeps investigating the story, she discovers there's something strange about the boat incident. Not knowing whom to trust, she confides in her soft-hearted editor and mentor, Bob. But soon dire circumstances make it impossible to rely on anyone but herself.
As she digs deeper, Nichelle links the stories together and finds herself in hot water with a sexy Mafia boss, in competition with her newsroom rival, and uncovers evidence that could very well cost Nichelle her life.
I loved this book and Nichelle. She's a funny, likable, well-rounded heroine who's tenacious and smart. She was a real person, with faults and hopes and humor. I enjoyed getting to know her. The secondary characters popped right off the page. And I never saw the end coming! It was a great mystery and I can't wait to read the next Nichelle Clarke book.
October 11, 2012
Front Page Fatality is very well written and really pulls you in from page one. It has the perfect combination of humor and colorful turns of phrase to have you laughing, plus a mystery that keeps you guessing. With an interesting and varied cast of characters (any one of whom could be a suspect - I found myself suspicious of almost everyone at some point in the story) and some plot developments that had my jaw dropping, this is a book that I can definitely recommend to everyone. I couldn't put it down.
January 31, 2013
LynDee Walker's debut novel, FRONT PAGE FATALITY, is fast-paced, fun and witty. Tightly written, with engaging and believable characters, the story moves through twists and turns that keep you guessing. I particularly enjoyed the heroine, Nichelle, with her sense of style and quirky manner. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and highly recommend this first one.
January 6, 2013
Nichelle Clarke is my new super hero... she makes Lois Lane look like a Brownie. I'm definitely putting LynDee Walker on my "watch for this author" list.
Better review in the morning.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author who only asked for a fair and impartial review.
Better review in the morning.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author who only asked for a fair and impartial review.
March 17, 2013
As a newspaper reporter I found this book very entertaining. I do everything – police coverage to political news and feature pieces; my skills have me writing everything for our paper (and I am the only writer that will take on everything).
In some ways, this book made me very jealous. The author’s descriptions of her newsroom and the events that took place, combined with the added competition from other media makes it sound like the kind of newsroom I would want to be working in. For me, it is very fascinating to read about other reporters, fiction or otherwise. It is a world that I fit in and I understand.
I really enjoyed this book! Thank you
Marianne Curtis
Author
Finding Gloria
Moondust and Madness: A collection of Poetry
Finding Gloria ~ Special Edition
Behind Whispering Pines
Brian's Last Ride
In some ways, this book made me very jealous. The author’s descriptions of her newsroom and the events that took place, combined with the added competition from other media makes it sound like the kind of newsroom I would want to be working in. For me, it is very fascinating to read about other reporters, fiction or otherwise. It is a world that I fit in and I understand.
I really enjoyed this book! Thank you
Marianne Curtis
Author
Finding Gloria
Moondust and Madness: A collection of Poetry
Finding Gloria ~ Special Edition
Behind Whispering Pines
Brian's Last Ride
December 17, 2012
Lucky me, got an early-bird read, and I loved Front Page Fatality! Nichelle Clarke (love her name) has to nail down her story, scoop her competition, bat off a coworker gunning for her job, keep one eye on the mob, and make sure her investigative piece isn’t the last one she’ll ever write, because she may be up against the worst bad guys ever-- the good guys. But which good guys? This story will keep you guessing. Nichelle is tough, tireless, can walk in Louboutins, and has a huge heart. What I liked best about Front Page Fatality was the credibility in the writing. LynDee Walker’s journalism background jumps off every page.
November 20, 2018
Ready for Book 2
- fast paced
- great story line
- interesting characters
- kept me guessing
- Who’s Joey?
- Parker???
All of these are ways I’d describe “Front Page Fatality”, LynDee Walker’s 1st book in the series featuring Nichelle Clarke. While it didn’t end on a cliff hanger, there are enough unanswered questions that make me want to dive right into Book #2!
- fast paced
- great story line
- interesting characters
- kept me guessing
- Who’s Joey?
- Parker???
All of these are ways I’d describe “Front Page Fatality”, LynDee Walker’s 1st book in the series featuring Nichelle Clarke. While it didn’t end on a cliff hanger, there are enough unanswered questions that make me want to dive right into Book #2!
June 15, 2020
Cute, lighthearted.
This book is a very nice beginning to what promises to be an interesting and witty series of mysteries.
It’s the first time I read a book in this genre where the protagonist is a journalist and the different modus operandi was both refreshing and interesting; the protagonist is both funny and relatable, her obsession with designer heels is charming. I don’t think she’ll turn into a proper Nancy Drew (she sees herself more as a Lois Lane) in the next books, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she mixes aspects of those two archetypes and creates her own persona.
While I don’t think the romance will take a central place in the plot, it still feels nice to have a hint of it and I cannot wait to see what will happen next.
This book is a very nice beginning to what promises to be an interesting and witty series of mysteries.
It’s the first time I read a book in this genre where the protagonist is a journalist and the different modus operandi was both refreshing and interesting; the protagonist is both funny and relatable, her obsession with designer heels is charming. I don’t think she’ll turn into a proper Nancy Drew (she sees herself more as a Lois Lane) in the next books, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she mixes aspects of those two archetypes and creates her own persona.
While I don’t think the romance will take a central place in the plot, it still feels nice to have a hint of it and I cannot wait to see what will happen next.
February 17, 2013
Move over Lois Lane and welcome Nichelle Clark, with goals and aims to be the next Washington Post reporter Nichelle Clark had to take a small detour and begin working for a smalltown newspaper writing their Crime Beat section. It seems though that this may very well be her big move and the Headlines that makes her job. What starts out as a normal crime day with a drug dealer shot dead starts to develop into a bigger story when Nichelle remembers that another dealer a few weeks prior was killed . Is someone trying to rid the streets of Drug dealers ? Planning a weekend off , Nichelle is called out to an accident site where a Police boat collided with the boat of a Basketball Star . Was it an accident or is someone trying to cover something up ? Nichelle , on the job starts to dig a little and soon she discovers that she has dug too deep and has unearthed a massive conspiracy, drug ring, corrupted police etc - THE WORKS. As her inside sources start to disappear and others turn up dead it seems like Nichelle has stumbled onto something BIG. Though it would be wise for Nichelle to back off, it doesn't seem like she will as her reporter instincts kick in and she delves to get to the bottom of the mess ? However, there are those who don't want the secrets uncovered and will stop at nothing to make sure Nichelle doesn't blow the whistle. What will happen when Nichelle is captured ? Will she be the next Front Page Fatality or will she find a way to ensure that the bad guys are the ones listed in the obituaries.
A fun novel , that fans of Janet Evanovich, Lisa Lutz, Kendal Gray and Rose Strickland will enjoy and I look forward to reading the next installment of Nichelle Clark - Headlines in Heels.
A fun novel , that fans of Janet Evanovich, Lisa Lutz, Kendal Gray and Rose Strickland will enjoy and I look forward to reading the next installment of Nichelle Clark - Headlines in Heels.
February 17, 2020
A pretty good, action adventure even though a bit predictable and at times parts were far fetched, but the good characters and narration kept me coming back for more.
January 18, 2013
My Rating: ★★★★★
Crime reporter Nichelle Clarke’s days can flip from macabre to comical with a beep of her police scanner. Then an ordinary accident story turns extraordinary when evidence goes missing, a prosecutor vanishes, and a sexy Mafia boss shows up with the headline tip of a lifetime. As Nichelle gets closer to the truth, her story gets more dangerous. Armed with a notebook, a hunch, and her favorite stilettos, Nichelle races to splash these shady dealings across the front page before this deadline becomes her last.
Page Count: 292 Pages
My Thoughts:
This book was provided by NetGalley and Henery Press for an honest review.
Nichelle Clark is a crime reporter for the Richmond Telegraph. She is sassy, smart, and ambitious and hopes to one day land a spot in the Washington Post White House press corps. With her sights set high on the Post, Nichelle (Nicey to some) beats the pavement and glues her ears to her police scanner looking for a story that will give her her big break. In a stroke of serendipity, a major story finds her but in many, seemingly unrelated, pieces. As Nicey tries to make sense of the separate pieces she begins to see that there is an ominous connection between them and nothing is as it seems on the surface. The line between the good guys and bad guys blurs and Nicey is square in the middle.
Wow. This was an excellent story. Ms. Walker is a new to me author but I'm putting her on my 'to buy' author's list. This story had it all: humor, adventure, intrigue, interesting characters, and a dynamic story line. Walker did an excellent job providing the reader with clues but not prematurely giving away the story plot. If you're looking for a story that will engage you from the first page to 'the end' then Front Page Fatality is the story for you. It was full of twists, turns, and the (pleasantly) unexpected. I absolutely enjoyed the "who done it" feel of the story.
Very well done indeed, Ms. Walker.
Reading Time: 5 Hours
For more reviews, visit The BookChick with Kick blog
EXCELLENT: The characteristics of a 5 star story include: an awesome story; and, I love everything about the story — characters, plot, and story elements. I would definitely read it again and I would highly recommend to a friend and rave about it often.Book Description:
Crime reporter Nichelle Clarke’s days can flip from macabre to comical with a beep of her police scanner. Then an ordinary accident story turns extraordinary when evidence goes missing, a prosecutor vanishes, and a sexy Mafia boss shows up with the headline tip of a lifetime. As Nichelle gets closer to the truth, her story gets more dangerous. Armed with a notebook, a hunch, and her favorite stilettos, Nichelle races to splash these shady dealings across the front page before this deadline becomes her last.
Page Count: 292 Pages
My Thoughts:
This book was provided by NetGalley and Henery Press for an honest review.
Nichelle Clark is a crime reporter for the Richmond Telegraph. She is sassy, smart, and ambitious and hopes to one day land a spot in the Washington Post White House press corps. With her sights set high on the Post, Nichelle (Nicey to some) beats the pavement and glues her ears to her police scanner looking for a story that will give her her big break. In a stroke of serendipity, a major story finds her but in many, seemingly unrelated, pieces. As Nicey tries to make sense of the separate pieces she begins to see that there is an ominous connection between them and nothing is as it seems on the surface. The line between the good guys and bad guys blurs and Nicey is square in the middle.
Wow. This was an excellent story. Ms. Walker is a new to me author but I'm putting her on my 'to buy' author's list. This story had it all: humor, adventure, intrigue, interesting characters, and a dynamic story line. Walker did an excellent job providing the reader with clues but not prematurely giving away the story plot. If you're looking for a story that will engage you from the first page to 'the end' then Front Page Fatality is the story for you. It was full of twists, turns, and the (pleasantly) unexpected. I absolutely enjoyed the "who done it" feel of the story.
Very well done indeed, Ms. Walker.
Reading Time: 5 Hours
For more reviews, visit The BookChick with Kick blog
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July 8, 2019
Front Page Fatality is a pretty cozy and intriguing mystery novel with complex characters. The writing is very easy to follow and get into and the narrative is engaging, but the way the mystery is developed is a little too easy for me.
The main character has quite a few clues fall into her lap and some plot points are rather convenient so as to help her figure out what's going on. There isn't a lot of tension in the plot as information just falls from the sky and straight into Nichelle's hands. She does investigate some, which leads to some really interesting scenes, but the convenience of it all kind of kills the thrill.
The ending is a little rushed. Even so, the way things come together and everything unravels is pretty well written and explained. There are still some loose threads that I'm sure will carry over into the next installments, but this holds up on its own. A nice read.
The main character has quite a few clues fall into her lap and some plot points are rather convenient so as to help her figure out what's going on. There isn't a lot of tension in the plot as information just falls from the sky and straight into Nichelle's hands. She does investigate some, which leads to some really interesting scenes, but the convenience of it all kind of kills the thrill.
The ending is a little rushed. Even so, the way things come together and everything unravels is pretty well written and explained. There are still some loose threads that I'm sure will carry over into the next installments, but this holds up on its own. A nice read.
December 8, 2015
This was definitely a fun book! I loved Michaela, I loved her fashion sense and Tenacity. I definitely love when the tough girl can still have an extremely feminine side, why can't you have both??? The only problem I had with his book is it was a bit scattered and all over the place, maybe a little too much going on. Sometimes things were a little bit unrealistic, but that usually doesn't bother me. I liked the characters enough in this book to definitely give the next book in the series ago.
January 4, 2023
This book is about Nichelle Clark who is a crime reporter for a newspaper called The Telegraph in Richmond, Va. When two drug dealers are killed a yr apart, Nichelle digs deep to find a connection. If there is one. Then when two rookie cops are murdered, things take a hasty unexpected turn of events leaving everyone feeling with shock.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS. BEWARE.
My review: I cannot remember how or when I came across this book but it's been on my tbr for a long time. I keep skipping it until I thought what the hell. Here's what I found: I think it's pretty well written. I can't say it was fantastic but it was decent. The characters had NO backstory. The book just jumps right on in kinda leaving you a little shaky. I think it's a nice spin on a police procedural because it really isn't a procedural. It's a mystery. I found it interesting enough. I do however have questions like: who were the friends or buddies of the rookie cops on the cop boat? What did Aaron find out after he poked the hornets nest? Why did he have to leave? What did Mike find out? Why did he have to leave? Where did Mike and Aaron go too? Who exactly is Joey? There are several other questions. I don't like not knowing. With that said, because the characters didn't have a backstory, you can't like or get to know any of the characters. You can't root or hate anyone. It's like a newspaper article lol. I found that it wasn't thrilling or exciting. It wasn't suspense either. It's just a guessing game.
Conclusion: it's a decent book don't get me wrong. I didn't dnf it so it held my curiosity for sure. I'm still trying to figure out a few things. I am not interested in book two though. I think if your going to write a book like this, you need to wrap everything up in ONE book. This isn't a TV show. There's no cliffhanger either so it's really not worth having to or forced to read book two to answer questions. I don't like that. I didn't find it amazing. I didn't find it a thriller or a a suspense. It's decent not fabulous.
My rating 3.7
POSSIBLE SPOILERS. BEWARE.
My review: I cannot remember how or when I came across this book but it's been on my tbr for a long time. I keep skipping it until I thought what the hell. Here's what I found: I think it's pretty well written. I can't say it was fantastic but it was decent. The characters had NO backstory. The book just jumps right on in kinda leaving you a little shaky. I think it's a nice spin on a police procedural because it really isn't a procedural. It's a mystery. I found it interesting enough. I do however have questions like: who were the friends or buddies of the rookie cops on the cop boat? What did Aaron find out after he poked the hornets nest? Why did he have to leave? What did Mike find out? Why did he have to leave? Where did Mike and Aaron go too? Who exactly is Joey? There are several other questions. I don't like not knowing. With that said, because the characters didn't have a backstory, you can't like or get to know any of the characters. You can't root or hate anyone. It's like a newspaper article lol. I found that it wasn't thrilling or exciting. It wasn't suspense either. It's just a guessing game.
Conclusion: it's a decent book don't get me wrong. I didn't dnf it so it held my curiosity for sure. I'm still trying to figure out a few things. I am not interested in book two though. I think if your going to write a book like this, you need to wrap everything up in ONE book. This isn't a TV show. There's no cliffhanger either so it's really not worth having to or forced to read book two to answer questions. I don't like that. I didn't find it amazing. I didn't find it a thriller or a a suspense. It's decent not fabulous.
My rating 3.7
August 1, 2018
This crime reporter novel was a real page turner.
I plan to read the other five books in this series set in Richmond, Virginia.
I plan to read the other five books in this series set in Richmond, Virginia.
May 9, 2025
Sooooo boring.
And the writing was really choppy, I was so confused after chapter breaks.
Just not a good time.
And the writing was really choppy, I was so confused after chapter breaks.
Just not a good time.
October 15, 2018
On a side note: I like the newer covers for this series. It's been noted that LynDee Walker was able to get the rights to all of her books, thus giving her the opportunity to repackage her series. Each book gets a brand new, grittier looking cover illustration, and the whole series gets a brand new title as well, having previously been known as A Headlines in High Heels Mystery, which I can see why it had been given this series title in the first place, but doesn't really show you that there's so much more to the story than Nichelle's love for fancy heels of all kinds.
***
Front Page Fatality is an extremely enjoyable and strong start to the Nichelle Clarke Crime Thrillers, and definitely has a lot of potential to continue on being great if the rest of the books follow along the same vein.
The story is fast-paced and the murder investigation keeps you on your toes. To be honest, I really didn't know what to think and who I thought would end up the ultimate culprit of the murders, and of the drug evidence disappearing. I wasn't surprised at the ending, but was kept guessing throughout. As others have mentioned, this book feels much grittier than your typical cozy mystery, with constant action from the beginning, all the way till the end, and even a darker atmosphere than your typical, humorous cozies. The characters are all interesting in their own way, and I hope to see more of them in the rest of the series.
I especially loved our heroine, Nichelle Clarke, who isn't the typical badass independent woman, nor is she a giggling, swooning damsel either. Nichelle is resourceful, smart, and doesn't spend her time pining after the first man who gives her a mega-watt smile. I also love that she's not out to be TSTL material, even though she DOES manage to get herself into trouble a couple times--at least she openly admits that getting herself killed was never the plan.
She also reacts appropriately when she finds a strange man in her home who shouldn't be there... sort of. I would have liked a lot less talking and a lot more dialing of 9-1-1, but I'm guessing Nichelle had her reasons; though I don't really approve of her still finding Mr. "Call me Joey" attractive after he'd just broken into her home. I DO appreciate her then spending the time searching her home and locking all of her doors and windows following that little incident, and keeping vigilant about it even a day or two later.
I also love Nichelle's relationship with Bob, her boss--a pseudo-father-daughter relationship, if you will. I like how they kind of take care of each other. I hope to see more of that in upcoming books.
The side characters could have been fleshed out a little more. Grant Parker felt like he should have been more interesting than he actually comes off. Nichelle's best friend, Jenna also feels like another tangent waiting to be told. And then Nichelle's police detective source, Aaron ended up disappearing for a good portion of the book. So, ultimately, as I'd mentioned already, I DO hope to see more of these people in future books, if only because there is SO much potential going on there.
The only one thing that DID bug me about this book were the constant commentary about Nichelle's co-worker, Shelby--it felt in bad taste, honestly. What people do in their romantic and/or sex lives is no one else's business, and using that as an attack against Shelby so much was uncalled for and unnecessary. No matter that Shelby was a big bitch to Nichelle all the time--you can dislike her for her general attitude and rude behavior, but there's no need to stoop to attacking her bedroom habits.
I had figured Nichelle to be above that, considering she'd been able to hold her tongue against Les, the temporary stand-in when her boss, Bob has a heart attack. Les was a standard asshole who kept the insults coming and I had so, so wanted her to retort back at least once. But she held her tongue every single time, even after he kept insinuating that she was playing hooky and not taking her job seriously enough.
Nichelle's behavior towards Shelby is a different matter, however, from the fact that Shelby's "sleeping with the boss to advance her career" side-fact had to be brought up at all. Truthfully, I had been so ready to be happy about Nichelle and Shelby's relationship being one of friendly rivalry of some sort when Nichelle mentions how Shelby is good at what she does, and could even potentially work the police and crime beat if she got the chance. But then we pull the slut-shaming card and I just felt a bit frustrated.
I appreciate that Nichelle and Charlie, a television news reporter, have the friendly rivalry going on, but Charlie barely makes an appearance in the book. It would have been nice to see more of this between Nichelle and Shelby, rather than just making Shelby out to be the stereotypical "Mean Girl."
But anyway, this book was overall entirely enjoyable, and I was very satisfied with it.
***
Halloween Bingo 2018
(a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community)
Other possible squares: Amateur Sleuth; Terrifying Women; Murder Most Foul
Review originally posed at Ani's Book Abyss | Front Page Fatality
***
Front Page Fatality is an extremely enjoyable and strong start to the Nichelle Clarke Crime Thrillers, and definitely has a lot of potential to continue on being great if the rest of the books follow along the same vein.
The story is fast-paced and the murder investigation keeps you on your toes. To be honest, I really didn't know what to think and who I thought would end up the ultimate culprit of the murders, and of the drug evidence disappearing. I wasn't surprised at the ending, but was kept guessing throughout. As others have mentioned, this book feels much grittier than your typical cozy mystery, with constant action from the beginning, all the way till the end, and even a darker atmosphere than your typical, humorous cozies. The characters are all interesting in their own way, and I hope to see more of them in the rest of the series.
I especially loved our heroine, Nichelle Clarke, who isn't the typical badass independent woman, nor is she a giggling, swooning damsel either. Nichelle is resourceful, smart, and doesn't spend her time pining after the first man who gives her a mega-watt smile. I also love that she's not out to be TSTL material, even though she DOES manage to get herself into trouble a couple times--at least she openly admits that getting herself killed was never the plan.
She also reacts appropriately when she finds a strange man in her home who shouldn't be there... sort of. I would have liked a lot less talking and a lot more dialing of 9-1-1, but I'm guessing Nichelle had her reasons; though I don't really approve of her still finding Mr. "Call me Joey" attractive after he'd just broken into her home. I DO appreciate her then spending the time searching her home and locking all of her doors and windows following that little incident, and keeping vigilant about it even a day or two later.
I also love Nichelle's relationship with Bob, her boss--a pseudo-father-daughter relationship, if you will. I like how they kind of take care of each other. I hope to see more of that in upcoming books.
The side characters could have been fleshed out a little more. Grant Parker felt like he should have been more interesting than he actually comes off. Nichelle's best friend, Jenna also feels like another tangent waiting to be told. And then Nichelle's police detective source, Aaron ended up disappearing for a good portion of the book. So, ultimately, as I'd mentioned already, I DO hope to see more of these people in future books, if only because there is SO much potential going on there.
The only one thing that DID bug me about this book were the constant commentary about Nichelle's co-worker, Shelby--it felt in bad taste, honestly. What people do in their romantic and/or sex lives is no one else's business, and using that as an attack against Shelby so much was uncalled for and unnecessary. No matter that Shelby was a big bitch to Nichelle all the time--you can dislike her for her general attitude and rude behavior, but there's no need to stoop to attacking her bedroom habits.
I had figured Nichelle to be above that, considering she'd been able to hold her tongue against Les, the temporary stand-in when her boss, Bob has a heart attack. Les was a standard asshole who kept the insults coming and I had so, so wanted her to retort back at least once. But she held her tongue every single time, even after he kept insinuating that she was playing hooky and not taking her job seriously enough.
Nichelle's behavior towards Shelby is a different matter, however, from the fact that Shelby's "sleeping with the boss to advance her career" side-fact had to be brought up at all. Truthfully, I had been so ready to be happy about Nichelle and Shelby's relationship being one of friendly rivalry of some sort when Nichelle mentions how Shelby is good at what she does, and could even potentially work the police and crime beat if she got the chance. But then we pull the slut-shaming card and I just felt a bit frustrated.
I appreciate that Nichelle and Charlie, a television news reporter, have the friendly rivalry going on, but Charlie barely makes an appearance in the book. It would have been nice to see more of this between Nichelle and Shelby, rather than just making Shelby out to be the stereotypical "Mean Girl."
But anyway, this book was overall entirely enjoyable, and I was very satisfied with it.
***
Halloween Bingo 2018
(a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community)
Other possible squares: Amateur Sleuth; Terrifying Women; Murder Most Foul
Review originally posed at Ani's Book Abyss | Front Page Fatality
March 4, 2021
This is not my normal genre, but this is my favorite narrator so I thought I would give it a try. Buddy listening with my book bestie we are both loving it so far.
The character Nichelle is pretty awesome she is a crime reporter not usually a job I would think of as a female and I kinda love that. She is great at her job but she isn’t the only one who wants her job.
Her boss is like a father/mentor she never had. He is a pretty big part of the book I personally love the relationship they have.
The suspense/ mystery of the book had me on my toes I had no idea who it was.
I will say there are a lot of names in this book and keeping them all straight was a bit difficult. Therese really does a great job with the voice and that does help to kind of keep them all from blending together.
Like I said Therese is a favorite narrator of mine and one of the reasons that is, is because the voices and inflection she gives brings the story to life in all the best ways. I am looking forward to book 2.
The character Nichelle is pretty awesome she is a crime reporter not usually a job I would think of as a female and I kinda love that. She is great at her job but she isn’t the only one who wants her job.
Her boss is like a father/mentor she never had. He is a pretty big part of the book I personally love the relationship they have.
The suspense/ mystery of the book had me on my toes I had no idea who it was.
I will say there are a lot of names in this book and keeping them all straight was a bit difficult. Therese really does a great job with the voice and that does help to kind of keep them all from blending together.
Like I said Therese is a favorite narrator of mine and one of the reasons that is, is because the voices and inflection she gives brings the story to life in all the best ways. I am looking forward to book 2.
June 10, 2013
Mystery is not my go-to genre, but I got the opportunity to beta-read this book before it went to press and very much enjoyed doing so. Walker's prose is snappy and sharp, which pairs perfectly with her equally snazzy heroine. I like that Nichelle is experienced, determined, career-driven, and still very feminine all at the same time.
Likewise, I enjoyed the two major male figures... whom I will refrain from detailing any further to avoid spoilers. I hate books where the female protag just sort of falls in with the "obvious" guy; Front Page Fatality doesn't make either dude an obvious choice, and there are reasons why both men may not be completely "right" for Nichelle... But at the same time, there's still lots of good romantic tension!
Overall, this is a strong debut which will please fans of the mystery genre. Which is to say... if you look at the cute cover and think, "Oooh, I wonder if THAT'S any good?" The answer is yes.
Likewise, I enjoyed the two major male figures... whom I will refrain from detailing any further to avoid spoilers. I hate books where the female protag just sort of falls in with the "obvious" guy; Front Page Fatality doesn't make either dude an obvious choice, and there are reasons why both men may not be completely "right" for Nichelle... But at the same time, there's still lots of good romantic tension!
Overall, this is a strong debut which will please fans of the mystery genre. Which is to say... if you look at the cute cover and think, "Oooh, I wonder if THAT'S any good?" The answer is yes.
March 6, 2013
The tag line on Lyn Dee Walker’s web site,‘mysteries with smart women, sexy men, and a southern drawl’ sums it up neatly. What more could you ask for? ‘Front Page Fatality’, the debut novel from author Lyn Dee Walker, I predict will be the first of many. She has already sold the second book in the series, ‘Buried Leads.”
As the story opens, crime reporter, Nichelle Clarke, Nicey to her friends, is knee deep in dead bodies. As she states,
"A body before I’d even made it to the newsroom was usually a good thing – but not that Friday. If I’d had to pay by the corpse, my MasterCard would’ve been maxed out by Wednesday that week."
For the rest of the review read: http://www.examiner.com/article/read-...
As the story opens, crime reporter, Nichelle Clarke, Nicey to her friends, is knee deep in dead bodies. As she states,
"A body before I’d even made it to the newsroom was usually a good thing – but not that Friday. If I’d had to pay by the corpse, my MasterCard would’ve been maxed out by Wednesday that week."
For the rest of the review read: http://www.examiner.com/article/read-...
June 4, 2013
You have to love a heroine with a penchant for designer shoes--the eBay way! Nichelle is an ace reporter looking to climb her way to the top, but when she investigates a case where the line between the good and bad guys blurs, she'll uncover more danger than losing the latest virtual bid. With an intriguing mystery that keeps you guessing, a heroine that keeps you cheering, and a fast paced plot that keeps your heat racing, Front Page Fatality is a major win!
February 18, 2013
A fast and fun read by a new author, LynDee Walker. Nicelle Clarke is a strong and driven journalist working the crime pages of the Richmond newspaper when she stumbles (sometimes literally, due to her high-priced heel addiction) into the story of a lifetime. Her insatiable curiosity will either get her killed or promoted and I honestly wasn't sure which it would be until the last few pages. Full of genuine characters, honest dialogue and fancy stilettos - it is the perfect weekend read!
April 22, 2013
Excellent read! Not a light weight cozy, but a very well thought out, edge-of-your-seat cozy mystery. I found the plot itself entertaining and sufficiently complex enough that I was surprised at the ultimate culprits behind the crimes. I loved the introduction of the bad-but-yummy mafia man, I hope that he'll be making future appearances.
Delightful characters and a great plot make this an excellent first book in a new series I'm looking forward to.
Delightful characters and a great plot make this an excellent first book in a new series I'm looking forward to.
October 29, 2017
Nichelle Clarke is a crime reporter who's gets in over her head after she writing a story about a boating accident gone wrong. For the most part Nicey knows what she's doing but there one way spot in particular in the book that had me shaking my head like why would you do that. No smart would have fell for that.
The story's got mystery, intrigue, funny, sexual tension and a great locale. Not a bad start to a new series.
The story's got mystery, intrigue, funny, sexual tension and a great locale. Not a bad start to a new series.
September 8, 2016
The first in a new mystery series featuring reporter Nichelle Clarke, Front Page Fatality had me hooked! A page-turning mystery with a bit of romance. The book is deservedly nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Mystery, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
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