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Nichelle Clarke Crime Thriller #2
Buried Leads
A young female reporter uncovers a dark web of political corruption. A discovery so big the conspirators will do anything to keep it a secret.
When an Armani-clad body turns up in a shallow forest grave, Nichelle Clarke is the first reporter on the scene. She soon discovers the victim is a tobacco lobbyist with powerful connections.
Local politicians are pushing for a quick arrest.
Nichelle thinks they seem nervous. Even more so after a second victim is found dead.
Nichelle's search for the killer soon uncovers a jaw-dropping trail of malfeasance and debauchery that stretches all the way to Washington, D.C. It's the kind of story that can make a crime reporter's career.
But the power players at the center of this conspiracy have everything to lose, and as Nichelle's quest for the truth nears its end, she lands squarely in the crosshairs of the killer. Can her wits alone can get her out alive, or will these secrets stay buried for good?
When an Armani-clad body turns up in a shallow forest grave, Nichelle Clarke is the first reporter on the scene. She soon discovers the victim is a tobacco lobbyist with powerful connections.
Local politicians are pushing for a quick arrest.
Nichelle thinks they seem nervous. Even more so after a second victim is found dead.
Nichelle's search for the killer soon uncovers a jaw-dropping trail of malfeasance and debauchery that stretches all the way to Washington, D.C. It's the kind of story that can make a crime reporter's career.
But the power players at the center of this conspiracy have everything to lose, and as Nichelle's quest for the truth nears its end, she lands squarely in the crosshairs of the killer. Can her wits alone can get her out alive, or will these secrets stay buried for good?
6 pages, Audible Audio
First published October 11, 2013
2373 people are currently reading
1326 people want to read
About the author
LynDee Walker
47 books653 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 158 reviews
September 27, 2018
I have a new girl-crush 😍😉
Such a cool heroine. Not a badass per se, but very strong and real.
Very loyal and very human. What she did for Troy - a boy, who lost his drug-dealer brother, but wants to make a difference in this world - was very touching and remarkable.
Good suspense, well written.
NOT a love triangle, but there are 2 guys, who want the heroine. Good thing she wants her job and doesn't reduce herself to a drool imbecile in front of any of them!
Joey - a mysterious mafia guy. My favourite.
Kyle - her ex. Not bad, but he needs a reality check 🙄
Best words spoken by a woman, whose ex tells her he wants her back:
Such a cool heroine. Not a badass per se, but very strong and real.
Very loyal and very human. What she did for Troy - a boy, who lost his drug-dealer brother, but wants to make a difference in this world - was very touching and remarkable.
Good suspense, well written.
NOT a love triangle, but there are 2 guys, who want the heroine. Good thing she wants her job and doesn't reduce herself to a drool imbecile in front of any of them!
Joey - a mysterious mafia guy. My favourite.
Kyle - her ex. Not bad, but he needs a reality check 🙄
Best words spoken by a woman, whose ex tells her he wants her back:
“There’s someone else?” he asked when I opened my mouth to speak.
“N—yes,” I said. “There’s me. Kyle, I lost myself in you to the point that I almost gave up what I’d wanted most since I was little girl. I’ve even wondered since if I made the right choice. But I did. I chose me. And I’ve found a girl who can interview a serial killer and kick some bad guy ass and rock a pair of stilettos, too. I like her. And I don’t want to lose her again.”
March 24, 2020
Holy black markets, college prostitution rings and murderous political families, Batman!
Buried Leads, the second installment of LynDee Walker’s Nichelle Crime Thriller series, opens with the discovery of a decaying lobbyist in the Virginia woods.
Always in pursuit of the story, and in perpetual competition with not one, but two of her fellow reporters, Crime reporter Nichelle Clark races to get all she can out of the tightlipped investigators in order to land the story.
This time, Nichelle is up against a juggernaut she’s never encountered before, one that, if she isn’t careful, could cost her her job and, more importantly, her head.
Over the warnings of her suitors and behind her editor’s back, she digs deeper into a tangle of suspicious characters and half-truths, stumbling into a seedy bastion of sex-work, dirty politics (redundant, I know), illegal gambling, and black markets.
When I say that Nichelle is playing with her life and career in this one, I’m not joking; the mafia, the newspaper’s publisher, and her direct supervisor want her to back off. Full stop.
Meanwhile, Shelby, Nichelle’s arch nemesis, is still gunning for her job and, with Nichelle preoccupied with the senator, missing meetings, and blowing stories, things seem to be going Shelby’s way, especially because no one but Nichelle seems to want to look into the dirt that the senator may be up to.
None of Nichelle’s connections are talking, and everyone else seems to have a vested interest in concealing the senator’s…activities.
Against the backdrop of all that craziness is a budding love triangle that, if not handled correctly, could become Blech worthy very quickly.
There is also a bit of steam in this one, but it’s the kind I could get behind because it’s the product of mutual electricity rather than “kiss her to shut her up and to let her know who’s in charge) domination.
On a more touching note, we get to catch up with the family of one of the murder victims from Front Page Fatality. I have to really applaud Walker’s responsible portrayal of an African American family living in the inner-city. She eschews the awkward, inaccurate, and highly offensive verblackular that, in my opinion, is as revelatory of authorial ignorance as are stereotypical names and hairstyles.
The climax seemed kind of rushed and much less action packed than in book one, but the damsel in distress trope is nowhere to be found, something I love.
Once again, Walker delivers an excellent story, complete with danger, breaking and entering, laughs, sexual tension, and professional vindication.
4.5 stars!
Buried Leads, the second installment of LynDee Walker’s Nichelle Crime Thriller series, opens with the discovery of a decaying lobbyist in the Virginia woods.
Always in pursuit of the story, and in perpetual competition with not one, but two of her fellow reporters, Crime reporter Nichelle Clark races to get all she can out of the tightlipped investigators in order to land the story.
This time, Nichelle is up against a juggernaut she’s never encountered before, one that, if she isn’t careful, could cost her her job and, more importantly, her head.
Over the warnings of her suitors and behind her editor’s back, she digs deeper into a tangle of suspicious characters and half-truths, stumbling into a seedy bastion of sex-work, dirty politics (redundant, I know), illegal gambling, and black markets.
When I say that Nichelle is playing with her life and career in this one, I’m not joking; the mafia, the newspaper’s publisher, and her direct supervisor want her to back off. Full stop.
Meanwhile, Shelby, Nichelle’s arch nemesis, is still gunning for her job and, with Nichelle preoccupied with the senator, missing meetings, and blowing stories, things seem to be going Shelby’s way, especially because no one but Nichelle seems to want to look into the dirt that the senator may be up to.
None of Nichelle’s connections are talking, and everyone else seems to have a vested interest in concealing the senator’s…activities.
Against the backdrop of all that craziness is a budding love triangle that, if not handled correctly, could become Blech worthy very quickly.
There is also a bit of steam in this one, but it’s the kind I could get behind because it’s the product of mutual electricity rather than “kiss her to shut her up and to let her know who’s in charge) domination.
On a more touching note, we get to catch up with the family of one of the murder victims from Front Page Fatality. I have to really applaud Walker’s responsible portrayal of an African American family living in the inner-city. She eschews the awkward, inaccurate, and highly offensive verblackular that, in my opinion, is as revelatory of authorial ignorance as are stereotypical names and hairstyles.
The climax seemed kind of rushed and much less action packed than in book one, but the damsel in distress trope is nowhere to be found, something I love.
Once again, Walker delivers an excellent story, complete with danger, breaking and entering, laughs, sexual tension, and professional vindication.
4.5 stars!
June 17, 2020
I have been in one of those bad slumps the last 15-20 books for the most part except for fair warning. I knew this would be a safe book after reading he first one in the series. It was not as good as the first one. I thought it was decent story however it seemed at times to stall or go around in circles. I thought the end was some what lame. The dialogue was decent. The secondary characters were decent. I am tired of how she might get fired -these last two stories should keep her job safe for life and romance angle is getting a little old been done in other series been there done it. There is a good chance I will read the next one in the series. If you want a safe read to help you get out of a slump then this is a good book for that. I would say give it a spin
June 12, 2013
I LOVE this book. I said it about FRONT PAGE FATALITY, by LynDee Walker, and it's even truer about BURIED LEADS-- LynDee writes with so much authenticity. Nichelle clicks her pen to get the details for her story, and I reached for a pen every time. I felt like I was in the newsroom, Nichelle's kitchen, and I almost felt like I was in the dumpster. (Read it. You'll see.) Love this book, and I gladly, proudly, highly recommend it. Just one more thing...Joey.
June 15, 2020
A convoluted mystery, a charming ensemble of characters, an abundance of designer heels mentioned....yup, it’s another Nichelle Clarke mystery!
I quite enjoyed this book, the mystery of the day was a layered affair that took quite a while to unravel, and the funny quips sprinkled in here and there helped relieve some pressure and lighten the mood.
One thing I didn’t enjoy quite a lot: there’s a bloody love triangle...and from the quick search I did, it won’t be resolved at all. Yay 😑
I can’t take so much of Nichelle’s commitment issues, especially since I already picked my “champion” and I’m starting to hate the contender. Nope, not having it!
I’m seriously debating continuing it. Ugh.
I quite enjoyed this book, the mystery of the day was a layered affair that took quite a while to unravel, and the funny quips sprinkled in here and there helped relieve some pressure and lighten the mood.
One thing I didn’t enjoy quite a lot: there’s a bloody love triangle...and from the quick search I did, it won’t be resolved at all. Yay 😑
I can’t take so much of Nichelle’s commitment issues, especially since I already picked my “champion” and I’m starting to hate the contender. Nope, not having it!
I’m seriously debating continuing it. Ugh.
March 8, 2019
RTC. Maybe.
January 16, 2016
She did it again. I started reading and just couldn’t stop. The rest of the world just fell away as I chased down the clues with Nichelle.
She is juggling at least 4 headlines for the Richmond Telegraph while trying to keep a co-worker who is sleeping with the managing editor from stealing her job and still scoop a television reporter. Her ex has shown up in town as the area’s newest ATF agent and wants them to give their relationship another chance. But her new “friend” Joey has plans of his own romantically speaking and his contacts in the criminal world have him doing everything he can to keep her safe. Nichelle’s police contacts are telling her nothing. Then her investigation shows a couple of her stories seem to be connected, it is time for her inner Lois Lane to shine as she plans to scoop everyone unless someone scoops her up first.
This is fast paced with fantastic characters, the supporting ones are really growing too! There is political corruption, murder, mayhem, bullets flying, romantic tension, and a tough heroine in high heels. Hang on tight! Lyndee Walker takes us on us a wild ride with a few surprises and even a couple laugh out loud moments. She is definitely an author to keeps our eyes on! She has DATELINE MEMPHIS (novella after BURIED LEADS in Heartache Motel) on sale Dec 2013 and SMALL TOWN SPIN (#3) on sale Spring 2014. I have already both to my wish list!!
She is juggling at least 4 headlines for the Richmond Telegraph while trying to keep a co-worker who is sleeping with the managing editor from stealing her job and still scoop a television reporter. Her ex has shown up in town as the area’s newest ATF agent and wants them to give their relationship another chance. But her new “friend” Joey has plans of his own romantically speaking and his contacts in the criminal world have him doing everything he can to keep her safe. Nichelle’s police contacts are telling her nothing. Then her investigation shows a couple of her stories seem to be connected, it is time for her inner Lois Lane to shine as she plans to scoop everyone unless someone scoops her up first.
This is fast paced with fantastic characters, the supporting ones are really growing too! There is political corruption, murder, mayhem, bullets flying, romantic tension, and a tough heroine in high heels. Hang on tight! Lyndee Walker takes us on us a wild ride with a few surprises and even a couple laugh out loud moments. She is definitely an author to keeps our eyes on! She has DATELINE MEMPHIS (novella after BURIED LEADS in Heartache Motel) on sale Dec 2013 and SMALL TOWN SPIN (#3) on sale Spring 2014. I have already both to my wish list!!
March 5, 2021
Oh wee, I am really enjoying this series. Nichelle is an interesting character and all she wants to do is keep her job but someone is out to take it.
She keeps getting scooped out of her own stories but she is also running in to new leads. Just when she thinks she has a leg up something else happens.
Her friendship with Parker is kind of my favorite. I like that she set him up and that he is so happy.
Her ex Kyle coming back has seems ok they seem to be friendly but not that friendly since Joey the mystery fella who might or might not be in the Mob seems to have caught her eye.
But mostly she is just out catching leads and witnessing things she shouldn’t. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
Again the narration is awesome and I am following the characters better with each book because Therese gives them all their own voice.
She keeps getting scooped out of her own stories but she is also running in to new leads. Just when she thinks she has a leg up something else happens.
Her friendship with Parker is kind of my favorite. I like that she set him up and that he is so happy.
Her ex Kyle coming back has seems ok they seem to be friendly but not that friendly since Joey the mystery fella who might or might not be in the Mob seems to have caught her eye.
But mostly she is just out catching leads and witnessing things she shouldn’t. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
Again the narration is awesome and I am following the characters better with each book because Therese gives them all their own voice.
January 22, 2019
This is a top notch crime story featuring Nichelle Clarke, a reporter trying to make a name for herself covering murder and mayhem. This time she puts herself in the crosshairs of a killer when she refuses to give up her investigation. Considering it includes a Senator a cover up and a high level of corruption it's no wonder someone wants her silenced. Still, her job is on the line - literally! - which makes her dig her Louboutins (heels) in even more.
Am enjoying this series. Nichelle has competition at the paper that she's trying to stay one step ahead of, as well as a friend, Parker. And then there's a very handsome man who would like to be someone special in Nichelle's life but his ties to organized crime cause her to keep her distance. . . although she doesn't hesitate to ask him for help when she needs it. Can't wait to dig into the next one!
Am enjoying this series. Nichelle has competition at the paper that she's trying to stay one step ahead of, as well as a friend, Parker. And then there's a very handsome man who would like to be someone special in Nichelle's life but his ties to organized crime cause her to keep her distance. . . although she doesn't hesitate to ask him for help when she needs it. Can't wait to dig into the next one!
August 24, 2014
Another really good read...apart from the "simmering eyelids" and the habit of referring to crime stories as sexy.
Looking forward to #3.
Looking forward to #3.
October 22, 2018
This second book in the Nichelle Clarke series was maybe a little bit more disappointing than I had hoped. Sure, it was still written well, and I still like Nichelle. But I think I would like her better if she didn't blatantly ignore warnings of danger just to trudge forward without a care. As much as I hated the scene with the stuffed Pomeranian toy, I'm glad that it kind of gave her a wake-up call... even if she still didn't really see the danger in the story she was pursuing. At least she was taking some action to keep her puppy safe, even if she wasn't taking steps to keep herself safe.
The story pacing and the writing is still winning, though. As I stated, I still like Nichelle. I like that she's smart, resourceful, and has a way with puzzles. I didn't really care for her trying to edge into another co-worker's area though, because it left me feeling like she was trying to steal someone else's job. She'd been spending time complaining about Shelby trying to steal her job since book one, so it felt a little contradictory. At the very least, she DOES finally admit that she's not trying to steal Trudy's political beat, and goes to Trudy with questions as well as offers the scoop to her co-worker.
It's a little too convenient, however, that Trudy dismisses Nichelle's insights, thus giving Nichelle a green light for continuing her investigation, conscience-free.
I AM glad for the fact that Nichelle covers more than just the "mystery of the week." In fact, there are more mysteries going on in this book than I'd expected, and enough to keep readers guessing for hours. Simply the mystery of the missing white chocolate syrup was lingering in the background.
But to be totally honest, the ending wasn't really all that surprising to me, even if I didn't see it coming. And I felt like it was kind of abrupt. All the other incidents that Nichelle covered in this book felt like they should have been separate incidents, but everything tied together in the end, though. I'm not sure if I like that everything ties together in the end, or if I would have preferred to see Nichelle working an article on an incident that had nothing to do with the "mystery of the week," just to show us that there's more going on in this world than the one big convoluted scandal that serves as the main conflict in this book.
Meanwhile, I'm not a big fan of love triangles, but I could smell this one coming a mile away. I don't know how to feel about it at the moment, because not a whole lot of character is given to either male love interest--at least not enough for me to like one over the other. And since I don't like triangles, I'm really hoping that this one doesn't keep up for too long and Nichelle either chooses one guy... or chooses no one. At this point, you can kind of see her leaning more towards Mr. "Call Me Joey," though it could have just been because of the fact that she and ATF Agent Kyle have a history she's reluctant to get into.
At this point, I am kind of glad that Nichelle's world doesn't revolve around her love interests. They're really just afterthoughts for her at the moment, even if she finds both of them attractive and alluring.
I'm still not digging the color commentary about Shelby's bedroom habits--nor am I feeling the necessity of Shelby's "Mean Girl" act. I don't feel like it brings much to the table--Nichelle's urgent deadlines still stand whether or not there's someone actively vying for her position. The fact that she's got a friendly rivalry going on with Charlie from News Channel Four also serves to keeps her on her toes as is.
Otherwise, this second book of the series wasn't bad. It wasn't incredible, nor was it as exciting or entertaining as the first, but it was still enjoyable, and fast-paced enough that I finished it in a breeze.
***
Halloween Bingo 2018
(any murder mystery)
Other possible squares: Cozy Mystery; Amateur Sleuth; Terrifying Women
Review originally posted at Ani's Book Abyss | Buried Leads
The story pacing and the writing is still winning, though. As I stated, I still like Nichelle. I like that she's smart, resourceful, and has a way with puzzles. I didn't really care for her trying to edge into another co-worker's area though, because it left me feeling like she was trying to steal someone else's job. She'd been spending time complaining about Shelby trying to steal her job since book one, so it felt a little contradictory. At the very least, she DOES finally admit that she's not trying to steal Trudy's political beat, and goes to Trudy with questions as well as offers the scoop to her co-worker.
It's a little too convenient, however, that Trudy dismisses Nichelle's insights, thus giving Nichelle a green light for continuing her investigation, conscience-free.
I AM glad for the fact that Nichelle covers more than just the "mystery of the week." In fact, there are more mysteries going on in this book than I'd expected, and enough to keep readers guessing for hours. Simply the mystery of the missing white chocolate syrup was lingering in the background.
But to be totally honest, the ending wasn't really all that surprising to me, even if I didn't see it coming. And I felt like it was kind of abrupt. All the other incidents that Nichelle covered in this book felt like they should have been separate incidents, but everything tied together in the end, though. I'm not sure if I like that everything ties together in the end, or if I would have preferred to see Nichelle working an article on an incident that had nothing to do with the "mystery of the week," just to show us that there's more going on in this world than the one big convoluted scandal that serves as the main conflict in this book.
Meanwhile, I'm not a big fan of love triangles, but I could smell this one coming a mile away. I don't know how to feel about it at the moment, because not a whole lot of character is given to either male love interest--at least not enough for me to like one over the other. And since I don't like triangles, I'm really hoping that this one doesn't keep up for too long and Nichelle either chooses one guy... or chooses no one. At this point, you can kind of see her leaning more towards Mr. "Call Me Joey," though it could have just been because of the fact that she and ATF Agent Kyle have a history she's reluctant to get into.
At this point, I am kind of glad that Nichelle's world doesn't revolve around her love interests. They're really just afterthoughts for her at the moment, even if she finds both of them attractive and alluring.
I'm still not digging the color commentary about Shelby's bedroom habits--nor am I feeling the necessity of Shelby's "Mean Girl" act. I don't feel like it brings much to the table--Nichelle's urgent deadlines still stand whether or not there's someone actively vying for her position. The fact that she's got a friendly rivalry going on with Charlie from News Channel Four also serves to keeps her on her toes as is.
Otherwise, this second book of the series wasn't bad. It wasn't incredible, nor was it as exciting or entertaining as the first, but it was still enjoyable, and fast-paced enough that I finished it in a breeze.
***
Halloween Bingo 2018
(any murder mystery)
Other possible squares: Cozy Mystery; Amateur Sleuth; Terrifying Women
Review originally posted at Ani's Book Abyss | Buried Leads
August 15, 2018
This crime reporter series is great so far.
June 4, 2023
Really good cozy mystery.
June 14, 2015
LynDee Walker’s Buried Leads is the second book in the Nichelle Clark series. You don’t need to read Front Page Fatality to enjoy Buried Leads; although, several characters from Front Page do make an appearance. If you’re worried about spoilers, you won’t find any major ones preventing you from enjoying Front Page at a later date. Feel free to dive right in, but I do recommend reading Front Page prior to Buried Leads so you can become familiar with Nichelle and company.
Richmond Telegraph crime reporter, Nichelle Clark is back! At first glance a dead body is just that, but when Nichelle receives a tip that the victim is a tobacco lobbyist and the suspect is the vice president of a tobacco company, she realizes there’s more to the story than meets the eye. Armed with a great pair of designer heels, she sets out to uncover the truth only to receive a death threat. Not one to be deterred, she refuses to heed the advice given by one very sexy Mafia boss and proceeds to continue to research the story. Little does she know she’s about to uncover secrets that will rock Washington politics. Will Nichelle uncover the truth before she’s silenced or will she kiss her job goodbye as her nemesis steals the limelight?
I always have fun reading Walker’s books and Buried Leads was no exception. Character development continues to be strong. In Front Page Fatality we meet sexy mafia boss, Joey and he’s still enigmatic as ever, but does open up to Nichelle. At one point she makes a reference about how many people he’s killed and Joey responds that not all deaths are at his hands. He goes out of his way to warn and protect Nichelle, but our feisty heroine is not one to back down from threats and proves she’s resourceful and can hold her own. I’m not going to lie-I lit up each time Joey made an appearance. How Nichelle manages not to grin like a fool every time she sees him is beyond me. This time Joey has a little competition with Nichelle’s ex-boyfriend, Kyle, moving to Richmond. Kyle is ready to pick up where things left off, but Nichelle puts a halt to things. Upon seeing Joey pay a late visit to Nichelle, Kyle is immediately suspicious and since Kyle works for the ATF, I wonder how long it will take him to do a background check on Joey. The real treat for me was seeing Parker and Bob! I feel as if I’m an honorary employee of the Richmond Telegraph and I loved catching up with Parker especially when he was willing to help Nichelle do a little research. For those that read Front Page Fatality, you might remember Troy Wright and how his brother died; Walker follows up with Troy and I really appreciate being able to touch base with him via Nichelle.
Once again, the writing is engaging and Buried Leads is a fast paced read. Walker expertly combines serious scenes with a touch of humor. For example, Nichelle meets the mother of a tobacco farmer and she’s a smoker who carries an oxygen tank. She has Nichelle wondering if she’s going to blow them up as she tries to question the woman. I really like how Walker showcases a newspaper competing with a television station and how Nichelle not only has to deal with competition from a television reporter, but she has her co-worker Shelby to worry about. I loved that Parker understands what Nichelle is up against especially when he’s assigned to a job with Shelby. The interoffice politics is downplayed a little in Buried Leads, but it’s still a very important aspect to story and series. I do love watching Nichelle grow as well as Parker and can’t wait to see what Walker does with these two in the future.
One reason why I really like Walker’s writing is that she slowly feeds us the information and the reader has to make sense of the clues. At first glance, the different stories Nichelle has to cover don’t seem connected and it’s up to us to decide if they are. I love working out the puzzle with Nichelle and Walker gives us the ability to get our feet wet by playing detective alongside Nichelle. As for the mystery, I thought I had it figured out and I agreed with Nichelle for the most part, but I had a nagging suspicion that it was a bit too tidy. No mystery could be that straight forward and sure enough it wasn’t. Walker delivers a curve ball that would make Parker proud!
LynDee Walker’s Buried Leads is a must read for any mystery fan. I loved Front Page Fatality, but Buried Leads may be my favorite in the series to date. If you’re a fan of mysteries or contemplating trying a new genre, I highly recommend Buried Leads.
This review is posted at Literary, etc.
Richmond Telegraph crime reporter, Nichelle Clark is back! At first glance a dead body is just that, but when Nichelle receives a tip that the victim is a tobacco lobbyist and the suspect is the vice president of a tobacco company, she realizes there’s more to the story than meets the eye. Armed with a great pair of designer heels, she sets out to uncover the truth only to receive a death threat. Not one to be deterred, she refuses to heed the advice given by one very sexy Mafia boss and proceeds to continue to research the story. Little does she know she’s about to uncover secrets that will rock Washington politics. Will Nichelle uncover the truth before she’s silenced or will she kiss her job goodbye as her nemesis steals the limelight?
I always have fun reading Walker’s books and Buried Leads was no exception. Character development continues to be strong. In Front Page Fatality we meet sexy mafia boss, Joey and he’s still enigmatic as ever, but does open up to Nichelle. At one point she makes a reference about how many people he’s killed and Joey responds that not all deaths are at his hands. He goes out of his way to warn and protect Nichelle, but our feisty heroine is not one to back down from threats and proves she’s resourceful and can hold her own. I’m not going to lie-I lit up each time Joey made an appearance. How Nichelle manages not to grin like a fool every time she sees him is beyond me. This time Joey has a little competition with Nichelle’s ex-boyfriend, Kyle, moving to Richmond. Kyle is ready to pick up where things left off, but Nichelle puts a halt to things. Upon seeing Joey pay a late visit to Nichelle, Kyle is immediately suspicious and since Kyle works for the ATF, I wonder how long it will take him to do a background check on Joey. The real treat for me was seeing Parker and Bob! I feel as if I’m an honorary employee of the Richmond Telegraph and I loved catching up with Parker especially when he was willing to help Nichelle do a little research. For those that read Front Page Fatality, you might remember Troy Wright and how his brother died; Walker follows up with Troy and I really appreciate being able to touch base with him via Nichelle.
Once again, the writing is engaging and Buried Leads is a fast paced read. Walker expertly combines serious scenes with a touch of humor. For example, Nichelle meets the mother of a tobacco farmer and she’s a smoker who carries an oxygen tank. She has Nichelle wondering if she’s going to blow them up as she tries to question the woman. I really like how Walker showcases a newspaper competing with a television station and how Nichelle not only has to deal with competition from a television reporter, but she has her co-worker Shelby to worry about. I loved that Parker understands what Nichelle is up against especially when he’s assigned to a job with Shelby. The interoffice politics is downplayed a little in Buried Leads, but it’s still a very important aspect to story and series. I do love watching Nichelle grow as well as Parker and can’t wait to see what Walker does with these two in the future.
One reason why I really like Walker’s writing is that she slowly feeds us the information and the reader has to make sense of the clues. At first glance, the different stories Nichelle has to cover don’t seem connected and it’s up to us to decide if they are. I love working out the puzzle with Nichelle and Walker gives us the ability to get our feet wet by playing detective alongside Nichelle. As for the mystery, I thought I had it figured out and I agreed with Nichelle for the most part, but I had a nagging suspicion that it was a bit too tidy. No mystery could be that straight forward and sure enough it wasn’t. Walker delivers a curve ball that would make Parker proud!
LynDee Walker’s Buried Leads is a must read for any mystery fan. I loved Front Page Fatality, but Buried Leads may be my favorite in the series to date. If you’re a fan of mysteries or contemplating trying a new genre, I highly recommend Buried Leads.
This review is posted at Literary, etc.
May 9, 2020
Love this main character. Any time I find a strong, sassy and smart female lead, I'm in. Good characters with intriguing plot lines. Excited to continue this series.
January 1, 2015
The picture on the cover of this book was enough to get my interest. I happen to love shoes. The story inside lived up to the fun of the cover. It kept my interest from the very beginning.
Nichelle Clark is a reporter in Richmond VA on the crime and courthouse beats. She will do anything for a story and would like to move up to covering politics for the Washington Post. She's smart and funny and clever. She is one of the more likeable heroines I've met in a while. She hears about a dead body found in the woods over her police scanner late one night and goes to investigate. The stiff turns out to be a lawyer and lobbyist for the tobacco industry. As she doggedly pursues this case, it keeps getting deeper and deeper. She soon finds herself being warned off and that's enough to get any reporter's juices going.
The mystery in this story is a complex one and I enjoyed it. No simple solutions here. It's a pleasure to follow Nichelle's investigation as she sifts through the evidence using her own investigative skills and her arsenal of law enforcement contacts. I love watching a good detective at work. Her law enforcement contacts feel professional and competent. I love that she doesn't seem condescending toward the people around her. I really don't enjoy female detective that seem to think they are above normal life. Nichelle feels like someone you would be friends with.
This is more of a traditional mystery to me than a cozy though it has elements of a cozy. It's not set in a small town and the heroine doesn't have some weird hobby or shop that plays into the mystery like so many cozies. Nichelle actually has a legitimate reason to be pursuing this case and does it as a professional, it just happens to be a professional journalist rather than a professional detective. It's a quick read, it's not graphic with violence or sex and it's fun but it's not quite as soft as a cozy generally is.
There is a love triangle but for some reason it isn't as obnoxious as I usually find them though I do need it to resolve soon. Like most readers, writing love triangles is one of the most annoying things that writers do. They never feel realistic to me because so few men would put up with them.
It felt to me that there was one small continuity error when she was warned away from investigating one of her suspects. I didn't think that she had even mentioned to anyone else yet that she was following that path so I'm not sure why she would be warned away from it but that was minor. Maybe I had just missed something.
I can recommend this book for lovers of traditional or cozy mysteries. It should have great appeal to lovers of either genre and you don't have to have read the first in the series to enjoy this one. This is the first one I have read.
This book was provided by Netgalley and I appreciated the opportunity to read and review it.
Nichelle Clark is a reporter in Richmond VA on the crime and courthouse beats. She will do anything for a story and would like to move up to covering politics for the Washington Post. She's smart and funny and clever. She is one of the more likeable heroines I've met in a while. She hears about a dead body found in the woods over her police scanner late one night and goes to investigate. The stiff turns out to be a lawyer and lobbyist for the tobacco industry. As she doggedly pursues this case, it keeps getting deeper and deeper. She soon finds herself being warned off and that's enough to get any reporter's juices going.
The mystery in this story is a complex one and I enjoyed it. No simple solutions here. It's a pleasure to follow Nichelle's investigation as she sifts through the evidence using her own investigative skills and her arsenal of law enforcement contacts. I love watching a good detective at work. Her law enforcement contacts feel professional and competent. I love that she doesn't seem condescending toward the people around her. I really don't enjoy female detective that seem to think they are above normal life. Nichelle feels like someone you would be friends with.
This is more of a traditional mystery to me than a cozy though it has elements of a cozy. It's not set in a small town and the heroine doesn't have some weird hobby or shop that plays into the mystery like so many cozies. Nichelle actually has a legitimate reason to be pursuing this case and does it as a professional, it just happens to be a professional journalist rather than a professional detective. It's a quick read, it's not graphic with violence or sex and it's fun but it's not quite as soft as a cozy generally is.
There is a love triangle but for some reason it isn't as obnoxious as I usually find them though I do need it to resolve soon. Like most readers, writing love triangles is one of the most annoying things that writers do. They never feel realistic to me because so few men would put up with them.
It felt to me that there was one small continuity error when she was warned away from investigating one of her suspects. I didn't think that she had even mentioned to anyone else yet that she was following that path so I'm not sure why she would be warned away from it but that was minor. Maybe I had just missed something.
I can recommend this book for lovers of traditional or cozy mysteries. It should have great appeal to lovers of either genre and you don't have to have read the first in the series to enjoy this one. This is the first one I have read.
This book was provided by Netgalley and I appreciated the opportunity to read and review it.
October 31, 2013
Review originally posted: Traveling With T
Nichelle is back! Wearing her fabulous designer high heels (size 9, by the way) One night, Nichelle hears some news about a dead body on her police scanner. Never one to let a scoop pass her by, she grabs her fancy Manolo’s and heads to the scene of the crime! When Nichelle gets there, she sees the body in an Armani suit and wonders how and why this man arrived at his fate. Poking around the crime scene- she finds something that the crime scene techs missed- and wonders how important the clue is.
The dead man is a tobacco lobbyist- which in the land of tobacco and politics is making Nichelle see a potential big story in her future. Good for Nichelle because there is a copy-editor wanting her courtroom beat and a TV reporter trying to out-scoop her. In the land of politics- where Nichelle is fiercely longing to be- Nichelle begins to investigate Senator Grayson, a local politician who might be up to his eyeballs in dirty politics. Nichelle has a hard time deciphering what a tobacco lobbyist and politician who is against tobacco have in common- but she discovers a link, a link that appears innocent at first, which leads to a whole set of other questions.
When Nichelle’s sexy Mafia boss friend, Joey, stops by to warn her off the search into Grayson’s background- Nichelle does not want to listen. She wants to get the political scoop of the year- so she can move up in the world of news. Nichelle gets deeper and deeper into the world of politics and tobacco- and just to complicate matters further- her ex-boyfriend, Kyle, is now living in Virginia being a hottie ATF agent. Kyle wouldn’t mind heating things up again with Nichelle, but the sexy Mafia boss might prove to be a crimp in his plans.
Politics, tobacco, gambling and call girls- how do those things go together? Will Nichelle get the scoop? Or will she get scooped? Read Buried Leads to find out!
Traveling With T’s Thoughts
This is the 2nd book in the Headlines in High Heels mystery series- but my first to read. Nichelle is delightful- fun, entertaining, cute, drinks Midori Sours and Moscato (my kind of girl!) and has some funny one-liners. Cute and fun- a good mystery with enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Plus, enough romance- Nichelle has 2 very fine men in her life- one a sexy Mafia boss, the other a hottie ATF agent. While this is not exactly like Lacey Smithsonian’s Crimes of Fashion series written by Ellen Byerrum- there are some similarities- which I think is one reason I enjoyed Nichelle (I adore Lacey!)
This is not a cozy mystery- although it does has cozy elements. The language is bit spicier, the mystery has a bit of a harder edge. Enjoyable, entertaining, and definitely worth a read!
Nichelle is back! Wearing her fabulous designer high heels (size 9, by the way) One night, Nichelle hears some news about a dead body on her police scanner. Never one to let a scoop pass her by, she grabs her fancy Manolo’s and heads to the scene of the crime! When Nichelle gets there, she sees the body in an Armani suit and wonders how and why this man arrived at his fate. Poking around the crime scene- she finds something that the crime scene techs missed- and wonders how important the clue is.
The dead man is a tobacco lobbyist- which in the land of tobacco and politics is making Nichelle see a potential big story in her future. Good for Nichelle because there is a copy-editor wanting her courtroom beat and a TV reporter trying to out-scoop her. In the land of politics- where Nichelle is fiercely longing to be- Nichelle begins to investigate Senator Grayson, a local politician who might be up to his eyeballs in dirty politics. Nichelle has a hard time deciphering what a tobacco lobbyist and politician who is against tobacco have in common- but she discovers a link, a link that appears innocent at first, which leads to a whole set of other questions.
When Nichelle’s sexy Mafia boss friend, Joey, stops by to warn her off the search into Grayson’s background- Nichelle does not want to listen. She wants to get the political scoop of the year- so she can move up in the world of news. Nichelle gets deeper and deeper into the world of politics and tobacco- and just to complicate matters further- her ex-boyfriend, Kyle, is now living in Virginia being a hottie ATF agent. Kyle wouldn’t mind heating things up again with Nichelle, but the sexy Mafia boss might prove to be a crimp in his plans.
Politics, tobacco, gambling and call girls- how do those things go together? Will Nichelle get the scoop? Or will she get scooped? Read Buried Leads to find out!
Traveling With T’s Thoughts
This is the 2nd book in the Headlines in High Heels mystery series- but my first to read. Nichelle is delightful- fun, entertaining, cute, drinks Midori Sours and Moscato (my kind of girl!) and has some funny one-liners. Cute and fun- a good mystery with enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Plus, enough romance- Nichelle has 2 very fine men in her life- one a sexy Mafia boss, the other a hottie ATF agent. While this is not exactly like Lacey Smithsonian’s Crimes of Fashion series written by Ellen Byerrum- there are some similarities- which I think is one reason I enjoyed Nichelle (I adore Lacey!)
This is not a cozy mystery- although it does has cozy elements. The language is bit spicier, the mystery has a bit of a harder edge. Enjoyable, entertaining, and definitely worth a read!
December 20, 2014
This is the second book in the Nichelle Clark Headlines in Heels Mystery by LynDee Walker. One of the first book tours I was a part of was for Front Page Fatality and really enjoyed it. So I was thrilled to be able to be part of this tour and get my hands on Buried Leads early!
This book starts out a couple of months following the ending in book one. Nichelle, or Nicey as she typically goes by, is living the glamorous life of the investigative journalist - tromping through the woods at night, looking for the dead body she heard about on her police scanner. When Nicey gets there, she finds the gruesome remains of a man wearing an expensive suit, shot in the face and left in a shallow grave. The teenagers that found the body give Nicey a quote for her article the next day, but otherwise there is little to go on. While the officers are busy, Nicey takes a closer look at the grave and finds a strange piece of paper in the surrounding grave. Hoping this will get her some brownie points (and perhaps lead to a scoop), Nicey brings it to their attention. Little does she know how important that little piece of paper will prove to be.
In this book we get the return of Joey, the shady mafia guy who visits with Nicey after dark and Kyle, Nicey's high school flame and currently the new ATF agent. Nicey has occasions during her investigation to work with both of the guys separately and we get the joy of being on hand for their first face to face meeting at Nicey's house. All that testosterone in one small space, it's enough to make a girl swoon! *fans self* But seriously, though Alpha guys they be, Nicey is a woman who takes care of herself and calls her own shots. She is not going to let someone tell her how to do her job or live her life. Even when faced with a massive professional set-back, Nicey kept her head high and kept moving forward. Nicey shows us that a woman can be aggressive, yet classy and tough, yet feminine. If you like strong female characters, you are going to want to check out this series. This earned a 4 star rating from me on Goodreads.
This book starts out a couple of months following the ending in book one. Nichelle, or Nicey as she typically goes by, is living the glamorous life of the investigative journalist - tromping through the woods at night, looking for the dead body she heard about on her police scanner. When Nicey gets there, she finds the gruesome remains of a man wearing an expensive suit, shot in the face and left in a shallow grave. The teenagers that found the body give Nicey a quote for her article the next day, but otherwise there is little to go on. While the officers are busy, Nicey takes a closer look at the grave and finds a strange piece of paper in the surrounding grave. Hoping this will get her some brownie points (and perhaps lead to a scoop), Nicey brings it to their attention. Little does she know how important that little piece of paper will prove to be.
In this book we get the return of Joey, the shady mafia guy who visits with Nicey after dark and Kyle, Nicey's high school flame and currently the new ATF agent. Nicey has occasions during her investigation to work with both of the guys separately and we get the joy of being on hand for their first face to face meeting at Nicey's house. All that testosterone in one small space, it's enough to make a girl swoon! *fans self* But seriously, though Alpha guys they be, Nicey is a woman who takes care of herself and calls her own shots. She is not going to let someone tell her how to do her job or live her life. Even when faced with a massive professional set-back, Nicey kept her head high and kept moving forward. Nicey shows us that a woman can be aggressive, yet classy and tough, yet feminine. If you like strong female characters, you are going to want to check out this series. This earned a 4 star rating from me on Goodreads.
July 3, 2013
I received an early ARC of Buried Leads and am so glad I did. I love the Nichelle Clarke series, particularly for its sharp patter and fast past that reminds me of one of my favorite movies and another newspaper story, His Girl Friday. There's something about the back rooms of a newspaper, the push for a story, and the competition to be the first to reveal a headline that's particularly exciting. In the second of the Headlines In Heels series, Nichelle begins to unbury a hornet's nest of seemingly unrelated clues that begins with a buried body. This time Nichelle finds herself tracking down tobacco ranchers, local mafia, and political big wigs in an effort to score the biggest story of the year in order to keep her job as the Crime and Courts reporter. She's also got a heart tangle between the very smexy mobster Joey and her high school sweetheart ATF agent Kyle.
I loved the first book FRONT PAGE FATALITY, but BURIED LEADS is my favorite in the series so far. Walker does a great job of inching up the tension until you really can't put down her books. I can't wait for the next one!
I loved the first book FRONT PAGE FATALITY, but BURIED LEADS is my favorite in the series so far. Walker does a great job of inching up the tension until you really can't put down her books. I can't wait for the next one!
November 13, 2016
I always love a good Lyndee Walker mystery. Her character Nichelle is kind of a kick ass reporter in Jimmy Choos. Who wouldn't love that? I get to live vicariously through her as she tromps through life wearing awesome footwear and solving great, interesting crimes. Nichelle is the crime/police and court reporter for her paper and she's really good at the job. As another reviewer mentioned, you feel like your right with Nichelle as she works her leads in and out of the office.
This time she's looking into political corruption. When a well dressed body turns up in the woods Nichelle thinks the murder may be connected to a senator running for re-election. She is neck deep in cigarette tax law and motives for murder when Joey, her mobbed up mystery man warns her off her story. Nichelle cannot be put off even when no one else believes that the senator is taking bribes. She will need some serious luck and help from her former boyfriend an ATF special agent to find a satisfying end to this mystery without putting her life in danger. This was a solid 4 star read, perfect for curling up in your favorite chair with.
This time she's looking into political corruption. When a well dressed body turns up in the woods Nichelle thinks the murder may be connected to a senator running for re-election. She is neck deep in cigarette tax law and motives for murder when Joey, her mobbed up mystery man warns her off her story. Nichelle cannot be put off even when no one else believes that the senator is taking bribes. She will need some serious luck and help from her former boyfriend an ATF special agent to find a satisfying end to this mystery without putting her life in danger. This was a solid 4 star read, perfect for curling up in your favorite chair with.
June 25, 2013
Between a dead lobbyist, corrupt politics, a very sexy Mafia boss, the return of a hunky (and determined) ex-boyfriend, designer heels knee deep in dead bodies, missing coffee creamer, and fake diamonds - there is no end to the air of mystery in BURIED LEADS. Nichelle Clarke is a headstrong, determined woman who knows how to strut through the murky woods in Manolos and likes her coffee thick with syrup. On top of that, she strives to uncover the truth behind the lobbyist's murder, unveil corrupt politics, all while struggling to save her job from the manicured claws of Shelby.
I LOVED this book! LynDee's books are so fantastic! She writes with such authenticity and it's clear that she brushes up on her fair share of research before even beginning to type on that keyboard!
Her characters are well developed, her knowledge of the context is remarkable, and her mentions of those fabulous heels and shoes are so entertaining! It makes me want to go shopping. :)
Once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down!
I LOVED this book! LynDee's books are so fantastic! She writes with such authenticity and it's clear that she brushes up on her fair share of research before even beginning to type on that keyboard!
Her characters are well developed, her knowledge of the context is remarkable, and her mentions of those fabulous heels and shoes are so entertaining! It makes me want to go shopping. :)
Once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down!
August 12, 2013
Just as charming and witty as the first book in this series! Nichelle is back and this time she is following up on the death of a lawyer who turned up in the woods. Of course she is wearing sassy heels as always, and she stumbles into something that the bad guys don't want her to investigate. I love the mix of crime reporter, court reporter and ambitious political reporter that we meet in this likable heroine. By her side once again his her sexy mafia friend (please, we want more of him!) and her ex boyfriend who has turned into a toned special agent.
The story flows nicely and the keep the reader engaged and interested, always on Nichelle's side as she investigates and listens to her police scanner. I find the story believable and enjoyable, and I can't wait to hear more from this engaging heroine. This is a make you feel good kind of mystery, none of the dark ones that leave you feeling like you have to check underneath your bed for a hidden serial killer.
Copy provided through NetGalley
The story flows nicely and the keep the reader engaged and interested, always on Nichelle's side as she investigates and listens to her police scanner. I find the story believable and enjoyable, and I can't wait to hear more from this engaging heroine. This is a make you feel good kind of mystery, none of the dark ones that leave you feeling like you have to check underneath your bed for a hidden serial killer.
Copy provided through NetGalley
September 21, 2013
As a crime reporter, Nichelle Clarke is doing what she does best: sniffing out a story. But when she reports on a dead body found in the woods, she never imagined it would lead to a high ranking politician. This is the case Nichelle has dreamed about, but dealing with corruption, professional jealousy, and a mafia hottie warning her off the case, Nichelle might wind up making the front page for all the wrong reasons.
I loved every minute of Nichelle's search for the truth. She and her inner Lois Lane will stop at nothing until she gets the story and justice. LynDee Walker's writing is fresh and funny, but with her real life reporter background, the way she weaves details seamlessly through the book add a fun insight into a newsroom.
I loved every minute of Nichelle's search for the truth. She and her inner Lois Lane will stop at nothing until she gets the story and justice. LynDee Walker's writing is fresh and funny, but with her real life reporter background, the way she weaves details seamlessly through the book add a fun insight into a newsroom.
August 17, 2013
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book. :) I really enjoy the story itself. Its fast paced and has a little of everything... romance, excitement, heartwarming moments and cant forget those few character that you just love to hate. I like the way LynDee writes. She includes all the necessary bits, but leaves out extra non-essential material that allows it to be a quick read. (Which I always appreciate since I have so many books on my TBR list that I will probably never get to.) :O I enjoy the characters and this book has quite the surprise ending. You'll never see it coming! ;-)
September 5, 2013
Another awesome book by LynDee Walker. It kept my interest from start to finish and I enjoyed the story. I loved the first book and this was just as good. If you want a good read I recommend both of her books.
March 25, 2014
LynDee kept me on my toes as I flew to her hometown in TX (so appropriate that I finally read Buried Leads then)! Never a dull moment for Nichelle Clarke! Can't wait for Small Town Spin!
November 1, 2020
Reporter Nichelle Clarke writes about the death of a tobacco lobbyist whose body was found buried in a shallow grave and damaged by animals. Nichelle discovers links to other crimes as well as political corruption. This is the second offering in the crime thriller series and features many of the same characters that appeared in the first. The characters are well-developed and have interesting backgrounds. The rivalry between Nichelle and fellow newspaper employees is excellent as is the competition between Nichelle and the TV reporter. The clashes between Nichelle and her bosses are realistic and all too familiar for anyone who has ever had an intense butt chewing from the upper brass. The portrayal of a black family living in the inner city is good and avoids cliches. Some things grow tiresome, however. I'm sure the author thinks the frequent references to fancy footwear are cute and give Nichelle more of a feminine touch but they seem silly and over the top. Surely a reporter would carry a sensible pair of shoes to change into at crime scenes or on rough terrain. Fight scenes continue to be unrealistic in this series. Anyone capable of killing a person would likely put up a much tougher fight. It's also unlikely that a killer would voluntarily engage in a long discussion of their crimes, explaining them and including their confession. In frequent danger, surely Nichelle would have learned to carry some means of personal defense with her by now, such as a handgun or even a can of mace. This series also exceeds its quota for hunks. It's OK to have a few sexy men with good bodies around but not so many as to become unbelievable. Nichelle's ex-boyfriend is a hunk. The mafia guy is a hunk. The former baseball star and coworker Parker? You got it, another hunk. Overall, the book is entertaining, but to enjoy it the reader must be willing to overlook some irritating issues.
April 19, 2025
My Thoughts:
I am an old fan of Aurora Teagarden Mysteries by Charlaine Harris which is also read by Thérèse Plummer, and the Nichelle Clarke Crime Thriller series is similar in theme and vein. Non-police chick solving crimes ala Agatha Cristie. Having said that, I also have to say that Nicey did not really solved the crime per se. She was a big contributing factor to it, of course. But she did not really get to figure it out... But that does not detract from the fact that this book is an enjoyable read none-the-less!
This being book 2, I can already see a pattern that the author likes to use. Nicey always has this "vague" feeling that will later on reveal that her subconscious was onto the perpetrator all along.
I am already an old Thérèse Plummer fan. So for her to read this series is a bonus! Kudos to the narrator!
Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 3.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 5
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 5
Pace = (6 hrs and 29 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
I am an old fan of Aurora Teagarden Mysteries by Charlaine Harris which is also read by Thérèse Plummer, and the Nichelle Clarke Crime Thriller series is similar in theme and vein. Non-police chick solving crimes ala Agatha Cristie. Having said that, I also have to say that Nicey did not really solved the crime per se. She was a big contributing factor to it, of course. But she did not really get to figure it out... But that does not detract from the fact that this book is an enjoyable read none-the-less!
This being book 2, I can already see a pattern that the author likes to use. Nicey always has this "vague" feeling that will later on reveal that her subconscious was onto the perpetrator all along.
I am already an old Thérèse Plummer fan. So for her to read this series is a bonus! Kudos to the narrator!
Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 3.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 5
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 5
Pace = (6 hrs and 29 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
April 1, 2021
S U M M A R Y
Nichelle Clark, crime reporter at The Tribune in Virginia, covers a pretty busy beat in Richmond, VA. After nearly dying a few months ago, she's been very busy, constantly trying to outdo her TV counterpart. Her dream is, one day, to cover politics, and when a series of crimes start showing a bunch of politicians, things start getting even more complicated.
C H A R A C T E R S
I really like Nichelle. Her love of shoes and her dog is great, though I feel bad for her pupper being home alone so much! She had a sharp, amusing sense of humor, a keen mind, and a nose for trouble. I like the supporting cast a lot as well, I don't feel like they're just cardboard cutouts. Some of the dueling romantic interests actually keeps me interested, too, oddly enough. The villains seem at least mostly believable.
P L O T
Walker can really keep up the tension and find clever ways to twist events around. It's obvious in retrospect that she was a journalist in her previous life, and it really felt like a peek into that world. The pacing was great in both of these books, it kept me turning the metaphorical pages!
N A R R A T I O N
Therese Plummer did a stellar job! She has a very ... flexible? ... voice and really manages to get in the tongue-in-cheek and emotional tones into the narration.
O V E R A L L
Obviously I like it enough to keep on with the series! Bless audible for having the series member sale (which I spent too much on). I have the third one and will be reading it in the near future.
Nichelle Clark, crime reporter at The Tribune in Virginia, covers a pretty busy beat in Richmond, VA. After nearly dying a few months ago, she's been very busy, constantly trying to outdo her TV counterpart. Her dream is, one day, to cover politics, and when a series of crimes start showing a bunch of politicians, things start getting even more complicated.
C H A R A C T E R S
I really like Nichelle. Her love of shoes and her dog is great, though I feel bad for her pupper being home alone so much! She had a sharp, amusing sense of humor, a keen mind, and a nose for trouble. I like the supporting cast a lot as well, I don't feel like they're just cardboard cutouts. Some of the dueling romantic interests actually keeps me interested, too, oddly enough. The villains seem at least mostly believable.
P L O T
Walker can really keep up the tension and find clever ways to twist events around. It's obvious in retrospect that she was a journalist in her previous life, and it really felt like a peek into that world. The pacing was great in both of these books, it kept me turning the metaphorical pages!
N A R R A T I O N
Therese Plummer did a stellar job! She has a very ... flexible? ... voice and really manages to get in the tongue-in-cheek and emotional tones into the narration.
O V E R A L L
Obviously I like it enough to keep on with the series! Bless audible for having the series member sale (which I spent too much on). I have the third one and will be reading it in the near future.
November 26, 2021
Deaths , Politics and Stilettos
Nichelle Clarke is back on the case again not long after almost getting herself killed in the first book. Book 2 took us on another wild ride of a case, this time dealing with high stakes politics and college girl hookers. And of course some well placed deaths. Nichelle can't seem to stay out of trouble for long. And really we wouldn't have this exciting story if she kept to herself. Add to that the arrival of her ex-boyfriend from high school to her city as the newest ATF agent, plus Joey, her handsome mafia contact warning her off the case things got exciting quickly. Never a dull moment with Nichelle and her newspaper cop beat. Highly recommended to women's suspense readers.
Nichelle Clarke is back on the case again not long after almost getting herself killed in the first book. Book 2 took us on another wild ride of a case, this time dealing with high stakes politics and college girl hookers. And of course some well placed deaths. Nichelle can't seem to stay out of trouble for long. And really we wouldn't have this exciting story if she kept to herself. Add to that the arrival of her ex-boyfriend from high school to her city as the newest ATF agent, plus Joey, her handsome mafia contact warning her off the case things got exciting quickly. Never a dull moment with Nichelle and her newspaper cop beat. Highly recommended to women's suspense readers.
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