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They came with hope to find the truth.

They'll leave only if they survive a swim with the sharks.

Willow Ball and Cooper Chain are tied at the hip again, hoping to blend in with the masses in the city that never sleeps.

Can they locate Willow's father before his time is up?

Settling on old score wasn't on Cooper's mind--not until the man who destroyed his life shows back up.

Will history repeat itself?

Dead bodies turn up like rotten fish in the East River. While dodging threats has become a way of life for the unlikely crime-fighting duo…this time the odds aren't in their favor. Could this be the end of the road for Ball & Chain?

Filled with vivid characters that leap off the page, this Ball & Chain novel promises more thrills, more laughs and gaffes, and that thread of romance that will keep your pulse popping until the very last sentence.

Get ESCAPE now!

You will devour this book if you're a fan of Michael Connelly's Ballard and Bosch, Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar, David Baldacci's King and Maxwell, Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles, or the TV show "Castle."

*Warning: The Ball & Chain Thrillers are an addictive thrill ride full of white-knuckle suspense and sarcastic sass. A mystery-thriller with a slice of humor. Go figure. Proceed with caution.

Don't miss out on all the Ball & Chain Thrillers:
MERCY - Book 1
FEAR - Book 2
BURY - Book 3
LURE - Book 4
PREY- Book 5
VANISH - Book 6
ESCAPE - Book 7

359 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2020

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About the author

John W. Mefford

80 books401 followers
Amazon #1 Bestselling Author, #2 bestselling author on Barnes and Noble, and a Readers' Favorite Gold Medal winner.

John W. Mefford has been writing his debut novel since he first entered the work force almost thirty years ago, although he never put words on paper until 2009. Once he started writing, however, he couldn't stop. Many readers ask John from where he gets his ideas. Well, he's a veteran of the corporate rat-race, a former journalist, and he's always been an astute observer of human and social behavior. On top of that, he's really good at embellishing.

A member of International Thriller Writers, John writes novels full of electrifying suspense -- the same types of books he has loved to read since before he could shave.

Learn more about John at www.JohnWMefford.com

Let's connect! Follow John on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JohnWMeffordAuthor

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5 stars
69 (64%)
4 stars
25 (23%)
3 stars
9 (8%)
2 stars
3 (2%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Kathi Defranc.
1,182 reviews497 followers
February 5, 2020
Ball and Chain just can not help getting into So many skirmishes while trying to follow leads to locate Ball's missing Father!! You never know who Is trying to help them and who is on a different trail...Dead bodies seem to be on every trail this embattled duo travel, with the past constantly rearing it's head while Willow just wants to find her Dad and get her life with Cooper back to normal!
Another exciting adventure filled with suspense, surprise and real love that affords the team of Ball & Chain the chance to keep going through every struggle. You find yourself right back in every scene,listening to the screech of tires and feeling the muggy air that begs you to take a deep breath,but you do Not want to be noticed! With fast-paced action and intriguing comebacks between Ball and Chain you read quickly, forgetting the time, deeply engrossed in each scene,until you realize with a smile and perhaps a tear, that its Over..and you are awaiting the Next book in the series!!!
Profile Image for Debbie Mcnally.
981 reviews1 follower
February 5, 2020
I was lucky enough to have gotten a ARC copy of this book from the author. I am volunteering to leave this review. Outstanding book a wild roller-coaster of emotions and adventures.
Profile Image for Barbara.
791 reviews6 followers
January 26, 2020
Sometimes I feel so repetitive but honestly the author knows how to write a great book. Once again, he knocked it out of the park (pun) on the latest Ball & Chain thriller, Escape. After I read his books, I just wonder what an amazing mind he has to come up with scenarios for the series. This one I felt had even more mystery/thrill to it. I just couldn’t stop reading due to the suspense and then at the end he leaves you hanging for more.

Cooper Chain and Willow Ball leave Florida for this one and end up in Alabama and NYC. Willow is still searching for her father so she leaves a note for Cooper and off she goes. Of course, when he sees the note, he’s off trying to find her along the way finding a few people he runs into that aren’t that great. They way the author describes the characters is great. He really gives you details to actually picture them. So off goes Chain to find Willow, and find themselves in Alabama and then end up in NYC. Once there, they run into issues searching for clues on where her father is. I really enjoyed reading the character Gino and his John Travolta obsession. I pictured Danny DeVito playing the character. Cooper and Willow go through a lot and met some really seedy characters along the way in NYC. Of course, the ending leaves me hanging wanting more of the two of them and what they managed to get into. At least they finally said the “L” word.Their interaction with each other is really fun to read. On my list, this is a must read. Mefford is right up there with all the popular mystery/thriller writers but to me, he’s got them beat by a long shot. I like the idea of Danny DeVito playing Gino and would love to see this in a movie. Looking forward to the next episode.
155 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2020
Another great book by John Mefford. Escape has Cooper and Willow in New York City looking for her father. Since they want to keep low they get a room at a cash only motel and it is one that you really don’t want to stay in. Cooper goes out to get things from a convenient store down the road On his way there he bumps into guy who wants to get into a fight with him, but the guys friend pulls him away. Then in the store he runs into a guy from his past. It is the ball player who ruined Coppers life with the false drug charge. Alfonso and his body guard want Cooper to help them out because Alfs cousin is in trouble with a drug dealer accusing him of stealing drugs. Cooper doesn’t want any part of it but get threatened to do so. Later on Coop finds out the cousin George is the guy who wanted to fight him on the way to the store. Now not only are the pair looking for Willow’s father they are involved with trying to help Alf to clear his cousin. As usually Coop and Will find themselves in trouble several times. This book is full of action and twists and turns. Will they get any closer to finding Willow’s father. This book keeps you involved from start to finish, and is very hard to put down. Really looking forward to the next book
4,055 reviews15 followers
January 24, 2020
"It could only happen to us!"
The ill started lovers reunited, Willow and Cooper, are again caught up in a whirlwind of adventure, murder and mayhem as the search for Willow's father continues. This time, the chase leads them to New York City, to those parts best avoided by tourists. And to the grave of the escapologist, Houdini. But will they find Willow's dad in time, and who can they trust to help them escape with their lives, especially now there's a new player to contend with: Cooper's old nemesis, Alphonso Lopez, the man who originally ruined Chain's life.

Book seven of John Mefford's fast moving, quick talking series following the unfortunate events in the lives of the pair who were made for each other, just hadn't known it for years, is best read in sequence but can still work as a stand alone as any essential catch ups are inserted, where needed, through the course of the story. Constant banter accompanies the near constant action into which this warm, quirky couple are drawn. The characters are clearly defined and the imagery visual with lots of laughs along the way. Full frantic fun.
Profile Image for Pete.
895 reviews8 followers
February 7, 2020
Once again Willow Ball and Cooper Chain are in big difficulties, hanging upside down from a tree is pretty difficult isn't it!
But reunited again they manage to escape from this predicament and continue the hunt for Willow's father, unfortunately for them, but not for the reader, they manage to find lots more hot water to get into.
John Mefford's books are always exciting, with ingenious, well crafted plots and peopled by characters who are simultaneously well written but also slightly 'over the top', especially Willow and Cooper's adversaries, some of whom are extremely unpleasant, to put it mildly, this one delivers on all those counts.
Willow and Cooper are always enjoyable to read about, with their unspoken passion for each other, their love for their friends and family, but above all for their fun, sarcastic humour.
If you have read the earlier books, this is a 'must-read', if you haven't and you love thrillers, then go and read them, as this book really needs to be read in context with the rest of the series.
As a member of the author's advance readers team I received an advance copy of this book, but have voluntarily written this honest review.
Profile Image for Julie.
281 reviews5 followers
May 13, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

JOHN MEFFORD DOES IT AGAIN! ANOTHER FANTASTIC SERIES!
March 2, 2020

This new series “Ball & Chain” by John Mefford is another huge success! Each book just takes you deep and deeper into each character’s own thrills! ! Ball is trying to stay away from the unsavory group he accidentally got involved with and it doesn’t appear that he is making any progress! Chain is still trying to find her sometimes father and doesn’t know which clue to follow next! This series just pulls you in deeper and deeper with each book! The characters are all truly believable and they keep you constantly guessing as to which ones are the good guys and which ones are the bad guys! Even Ball and Chain are having trouble figuring out which is which. JOHN Mefford is an excellent author and knows when to give you a hint and when not to. I’ve loved all his books and expect that you would too. Start “Ball and Chain” today and you won’t be sorry. It truly is an excellent series.
Profile Image for Gary.
38 reviews1 follower
January 20, 2020
"Escape ", #7 in John Mefford's Ball & Chain thriller series is the best yet! Every time Willow Chain thinks she has a good lead in finding her father a door is slammed shut in her face. Former boyfriend, Cooper Chain, her ever faithful sidekick, really she's his sidekick, is there with her when she doesn't leave a note and take off.

We see some old characters that have been in previous stories, some that we've just heard of, and some brand new ones.

Read the book to see if Willow will find her father? Will Cooper and Willow finally say the L word?

I recommend this to anyone who likes a good thriller.
Profile Image for Karina.
600 reviews19 followers
February 17, 2020
Escape by John W. Mefford is book 7 in this amazing series. Every review I write for this series I feel is the best book and it can’t get any better, well guess what it does get better. I don’t know how he does it but Mr. Mefford writes an exciting and suspenseful story which drew me right in, making me forget everything else. This story had me engaged and sitting at the edge of my seat until the very last page. Once I started reading I could not stop so many twists and turns to keep one guessing. I am anxiously waiting for the next book in this series. I'm excited to see what he has in store for us next!
Profile Image for Kathy.
1,436 reviews37 followers
February 24, 2020
Another wonderful book by Mr. Mefford! I truly do not know how he does it but he always manages to intrigue, excite, entice and mesmerize the reader in every book he writes. He is a master at this game. This time Cooper and Willow are in NYC to continue looking for her father. As usual, they find themselves in all different kinds of predicaments. And as usual, while we wrap somethings up we are left hanging on others. Can't wait to read the next book! Hurry up, Mr. Mefford!
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Profile Image for Bev.
3,303 reviews99 followers
February 11, 2020
You would think a road trip to find your father wouldn't be too bad. WRONG!!! When Ball and Chain are involved anything and everything that can go wrong will!!! The humorous way they get out of some of the trouble is for the books. You should take notes! I have enjoyed every one of the books in this series by John W. Mefford, they just keep getting better! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
623 reviews10 followers
January 24, 2020
An excellent mystery -thriller with a great storyline and really interesting characters. Contains plenty of action, lots of suspense, several twists and turns, even some romance. With Willow and Cooper constantly getting into trouble this book is hard to put down. Highly recommended book and series. Bring on the next adventure in this great series.
61 reviews2 followers
January 25, 2020
Well John Mefford has certainly done it again. I started this book and didn't want to put it down . It is loaded with suspense and action. Have Willow and Cooper gotten themselves in so deep there's no way out of will things suddenly fall into place? You'll have to read this one to find out what becomes of Ball & Chain
Profile Image for Sammye.
5,103 reviews38 followers
February 5, 2020
Another exciting adventure with Ball and Chain. They are an awesome duo. I really enjoyed this addition to the series. It’s full of twists and turns throughout Lots of mystery and mayhem! Also a touch of romance. Quite an entertaining series. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review
105 reviews1 follower
February 5, 2020
Cooper and Willow travel to New York in search of Willow’s father. As usual, they get into one scrape after another. This book had a lot of different characters that were pretty interesting. But I felt that a lot of this book was taken up by the banter between Cooper and Willow which became a little tedious and fell a little short for me.
303 reviews5 followers
February 6, 2020
Cooper and Willow are trouble magnets once again. This is part of what makes this series so entertaining. Willow's endless search for her father seems to stay just out of her reach. This episode has them running around New York. Past meets present. Are these people here to help or hinder? Another great adventure! I can't wait for the next installment to see what trouble they get into next.
214 reviews2 followers
January 20, 2020
Willow and Cooper continue to chase answers, this time in the NYC Burroughs. While the truth eludes them they continue to meet interesting characters. Great action and storyline will keep you entertained, I can't wait for the next installment in the saga!
Profile Image for Denise.
1,771 reviews24 followers
November 14, 2020
'Escape' was another good addition to a great series. I love how Cooper and Willow are better at finding and catching the bad people better than the police. But I think that's what makes for a great, thrilling read. A good add to your tbr list.
497 reviews
March 2, 2021
Excellent

Wow!!! These books are so good!! There’s so much suspense and mystery with crazy twists and turns. I really can’t put these books down. The characters Cooper and Willow are so great. I’m going to be sad when this series is over.
294 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2020
Intriguing roller coaster ride between twist and turns in 2 subplots. Mr. Mefford again captures the mind and never let's go. Can't wait for next addition to this series.
206 reviews4 followers
August 29, 2020
A roller coaster ride!

Wow can Willow and Cooper run fast enough to get through this ride? This is a page turner waiting for what is next. This was an exciting ride!
Profile Image for Sherry Vaughan.
845 reviews10 followers
February 12, 2020
Willow and Cooper are reunited and head for NYC where she hopes to find her father or get an inkling of where he might be. Instead, they meet the man who got Cooper in trouble. The man swears he's changed and wants help getting his brother on the straight and narrow. Instead, our dashing duet find themselves being pursued by drug runners.
This is a great book by John Mefford. He introduces some new characters--some wacky and some dangerous. The suspense mounts and the plot thickens until you are as confused and mystified as our two friends. How much more can Willow and Cooper take?
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews