Halloween is Avery Shaw's favorite time of year. What's not to love? Slasher movies, hot chocolate and corn mazes. She's addicted to them all.
During a visit to one of those mazes, she runs across several men trying to kidnap a teenage girl. In true Avery fashion, she intervenes... resulting in a severe injury. While she's on the mend, she starts tracking information on a group of people working in the area.
Avery can't decide if she's on to something or imagining things. The attack leaves her weaker than she would like, something she refuses to acknowledge, and questioning her investigative mind.
Eliot Kane, her live-in love, decides to help. As much as he wants her safe, he understands she needs to take control. Together, they're going to dig until they find the information they need. Unfortunately for both of them, the deeper they get, the more they start to wonder just how big of an operation they're dealing with.
Information pours in, leading to questions about missing girls from years before... and an odd woman serving as an oracle for the Halloween fans in the present. She's keeping a secret, too, and Avery is determined to figure out what it is.
As she's proven her entire life, Avery won't quit until she wins. This time, however, the battle is going to be long, dark and deadly.
She won't ever give up... even if the search for the truth ultimately kills her.
When I was a kid, I was torn between whether or not I was going to grow up and be the Incredible Hulk or Wonder Woman. I flirted with being a Jedi Knight for awhile, but I wasn't up for the intense travel associated with the gig. In my teens, I settled on being a writer -- although I had no idea the effort that would entail. Not only am I a writer now, but I'm a writer in several different mediums. I'm a longtime newspaper reporter, an avid reader and a voracious science fiction fanatic.
Well now that really was the best Avery Shaw so far, I have loved every single book in this series but this one was a step above. Avery showed more personal growth than ever before omg she really is becoming an adult, I also have to say wow Eliot really knows what he's doing where Avery is concerned I seriously love the way he reads her, they are perfect together and I love that Jake finally saw that too and the three of them still make the best trio of friends. I have to say I agree with Avery if Jake had pulled her in from the beginning and they had worked together he may have sorted this one sooner but in the end it worked out kinda sorta.
I would give this 10 stars. I have read all of Ms Lee's series and like them all. This is the only one that I just started reading. When I first read this one, I couldn't find any thing likeable in Avery. I gave it another try, and Avery actually grew up a little and grew on me. Now I can't wait till the next installment.
Wow. Mostly Avery annoys me, but in this book she's showing some maturity and manged to stay sassy while doing it. Maybe I won't give up on her after all. Great story line, excellent pacing and all the characters were more accessible to the reader.
Oof. This was likely the most powerful storyline I have read in this series. There were moments that I thought I wasn’t going to make it through but the lighter hearted crazy hi-jinx we always find Avery getting herself into helped to break some of the tension. A really good read with timely topics that keep you up at night thinking things like, what can I do to help stop these types of things from happening? Highly recommend, but if you are new to the series you may want to ease in on an earlier mystery in this series with lighter hearted themes and get to know the characters. It’s worth it.
It's back to one of my favorite series and one of my most favorite characters, Avery. You've got a missing girl, Duncan (tool) attending a Ted Ludington (loser) event and Eliot not yet able to fire Fawn but working on it.
There are missing girls, a supposed psychic, an attack on Avery, a kitten, suspicious guards and an entire group of kidnappers along with various other things going on.
The story is a very serious one in respect to what is happening to girls. There's a lot going on and as usual the author does a really good job of telling the story and keeping it interesting throughout.
Avery Shaw is one of the most incredible characters I’ve read. Amanda M. Lee has written a hit with her and Eliot is her perfect counterpart. For those of you that can remember Erma Bombeck, imagine her comedy mixed with Nancy Drew investigative abilities and Dolly Partons attitude from 9 to 5. The mix is incredible so refreshing. I have read each one of the 15 books in this series and yes, I catch myself checking the calendar for the next release! One of my favorite authors.
I love Amanda M. Lee, so I just knew I would enjoy this Avery Shaw Mystery. I've not read any of the other books in this series, but the author's writing style is universally fun and I've long considered her books a guilty pleasure. The story was creative, entertaining, and original. Okay for younger readers, as there's minimal to no cursing and only very slight insinuation of sexy times. I hope my library gets the remaining books of this series. Very worth the time to read.
With each new book, I am more impressed with Am a.nada Lee's ability to keep me interested. She has the best plots with the most unexpected twists and turns. I truly hope she continues writing until I am no longer able to read. And I expect to be reading for a every long time.
Book number 15 was the best yet in moving the character development of Avery and Elliot toward a more realistic relationship. The mystery was good but the investigation was a little weak It relied on a little too much luck. It is still enjoyable and leading me to want to read more to see where Avery and Elliot end up.
Avery Shaw is a sassy, confident women. She is an amazing character. The trouble that finds her is always outlandish fun. This series is a lot of fun and fast reading.
This book was hard to put down. This one made me laugh and cry. I am glad that Elliot and Avery are working things out. I love them together. I love to read books that get my emotions involved. I can't wait to read more of the books.
There seems to be a trafficking ring going on. Avery investigates while Jake, of course, tells her not to. I love that Eliot knows what she needs and what she can and cannot do.
The main character in this series just loves finding trouble! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!
I’m not sure what I think about this story. It’s pretty amazing how she manages to stumble onto things that people have been getting away with for years. And the topic is pretty dire.
This is my favorite read from Amanda. Found some of the missing puzzle pieces of her personality. After 15 of her books that I have read, I can now see Avery as someone who cares .
Avery never seems to amaze me. She gets into so much trouble but can talk herself just about out of her trouble. Love the story's. Her and Tliot are perfect for each other.
Its fascinating how the plot evolves. The characters interact well and its fun watching them mature. Great writing, keeps my interest. On to the next book.
This one's tough and Avery really has to hold herself together..
A local girl goes missing and Avery is intrigued that Jake isn't releasing any information, the girls parents haven't made an appeal in fact they're pretty much under house arrest so she's unable to follow up.. seeing a flyer for another missing girl the next county over only starts her cogs whirring at overtime speed.
On a trip to a corn maze, with plans to make Eliot play "Children of the Corn" later, Avery manages to be in the wrong place at the right time again and rescues the farmers daughter from being abducted. Unfortunately the abductors manage to attack her before fleeing leaving her unconscious with brutal facial bruising.
Bouncing back in her own inimitable way, signing herself out of hospital, Eliot is watching her closely for the reality to hit but Avery isn't having any of it.. now she's got the evidence that something bigger is at play and nothing is going to stop her from being first to break the story.. not even Fish's office ban; he's worried he'd finally have to sack pretty much the entire staff for making totally inappropriate comments about the state of Avery's face. Not that it stops Fawn still determined to oust Avery from Eliot's life.
With a huge investigation underway with multiple organisations involved Jake can't believe how many times Avery comes across his path while carrying out her own.
Will she beat them to the perpetrators? Can she keep it together? Will she let the kitten dumped as a threat on her doorstep stay? Is Avery finally growing up, maturing? Can she think of anything worse?
Gripping, hilarious, and absolutely un-put-down-able.
Sass explosions & an Elliot. The perfect night in.
I don't think there has been a book in this series I haven't loved. Such quick witted (well maybe not because....well how much time did it really take Amanda take to come up those lines?) but it is just a funny and light-hearted mystery series told from this amazingly brazen womans point of view. I do not know how this series has not exploded across the world. It is in the same realm as Stephanie Plum, just better. And it hasn't had to resort to adding a ridiculous mythical character to keep interest because the relationships in this series evolve and yet are still endearing and very relatable. Amanda has kept this series always feel fresh and never forced, which takes a talented author to do and is resigned to the realms of few (the 'In Death' series comes to mind - another with quirky characters with amazing loyalty to each other). Amanda Lee, those who read a lot will know her, but her talent is such that her name should be a household name along with Nora Roberts and Janet Evanovich. I hope the next time I look, her Goodreads reviews number in the hundreds of thousands but as a broke student I am glad to read her through the kindle unlimited option, though her books are never returned. This is such an underrated series that I truly love. I rarely write reviews and keep them for books that are truly deserving but for a fun and heart warming read that doesn't take itself too seriously, this series is one of the best.
I loves this book! I guess you want to know why now? The mystery that unfolded has me unable to first put the book down ,I got none of my chores done because it's just that good! If you are a fan of this author and maybe misunderstood the main character in this series and have not give it the chance it deserve I say , you need to re-read because this book is there 's nothing not to love. You will truly understand this character in way you didn't think possible. If you love this series it's has all the wonderful snark ,with and lol moments that often get me in trouble when I'm laughing in bed and wake my husband. Would we expect less from Amanda M. Lee ? I think not. I'm not sure a review is supposed to be written this way but after devouring nearly all this author's book I gotta see this was the biggest build up of understanding a character. I'm grateful for the journey even if my laundry and dishes aren't. So worth it!