City of Fear

Ava Gold #2

by Blake Pierce

In the rough streets of 1920s New York City, 34 year-old Ava Gold, a widower and single mom, claws her way up to become the first female homicide detective in her NYPD precinct. She is as tough as they come, and willing to hold her own in a man’s world.

When a 16-year-old girl from a wealthy Fifth Avenue family is found strangled, murdered on the eve of her society coming-out party, Ava, 1920s New York City’s best female homicide detective, is called in to find the killer. She quickly learns that psychosis is pervasive even amongst the glamour of high society’s wealthiest families.

Determined to find justice for the girl—and to stop the psychotic killer from killing again—Ava pries into the dangerous rings of powerful high society, finding herself threatened as she is singled out by a tycoon. Fighting for her job, trying to stop a killer, and finding herself in an unexpected romantic relationship, Ava finds herself in the battle of her life.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

173 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2021

About the author

Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Reviews

[BlueFalkon95 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava Gold a newly appointed Detective in the Womens department of the NYPD is looking into the murder of a young woman. Ava is a strong woman, who knows her own mind and goes out of her way to figure out what happened. It doesn’t matter if the victim is from the poor or rich side of town, Ava treats them with respect but also knows how to fight her way out of situations. These situations could be needing her quick wit or thinking even with her fists or feet. The book is not for the quick reader as you might miss out some much needed information. Full of twists and turns, clues leading to other issues, red hearings or dead ends. Edge of the seat thrilling until the end, with a slight cliffhanger leading to the next Ava story.
I received this book for free from Blake Pierce in exchange for my honest review - good or bad.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava is feeling stronger in her role as a detective but in this story, she has to face prejudice not only from her peers but also from those she has to interact with to perform at her job. A girl has been murdered and all leads seem to be dead ends. Will she let the prejudice stop her? Is she going to let fear stop her and maim her family? The city is her to conquer she realizes with a start and that what she has to do, starting at her job and her home. This story was better than the first book, it has a very good plot, believable characters, and so many variables, twists, and turns that the ending is surprising! Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I downloaded a free copy of this book through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion.

[Manie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Blake Pierce managed in City of Fearn to harness so many prejudices in a way that I have never seen conjoined. And so true in the past. And still true.
Which is something detective Ava Gold has first hand experience of. Yet, nothing she cannot deal with aplomb.
It all started with a young girl of a rich and influential man getting murdered on the eve of her sixteenth birthday. And Ava and Frank got assigned the investigation.
An amazing investigation followed with some very ruffled feathers being generated whilst this reader also get to finish reading this book in one enraptured setting.
Enjoy

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava Gold, now working as a detective for the NY police is put on a case where a sixteen year old girl is found dead in her bed. After talking to everyone in the home at the time and coming up empty handed and having ruffled the feathers of the father of the dead girl and the good friends of the parents .The captain has given them one more day to find this killer or he is putting someone else on the case. Ava finds a spot of oil on the floor of the girls bedroom but can't place it. So Ava and her partner further their search. They look into outside people who might have had a grudge against the family. An entertaining read and a quick read. I gave this book 4 stars.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was good but could have been better. The characters read as one dimensional for most of the book but I was still able to stay engaged. The use of the term “African-American” in a book set in the 1920s was anachronistic, but I understand why. It was just an observation. I read the ebook edition and there were quite a lot of typing errors. Periods were placed in the middle of a sentence or the first character in the sentence wasn’t capitalized, occasional misuse of a pronoun, and misspelling. These mistakes are happening more frequently in ebooks. I don’t think they get the same level of proofreading as printed books do.

[Lesli M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Ava Gold joins Detective Frank Wimbly on a case that pits them not only against the killer of a 15 year old girl, but also against her wealthy family. Ava and Frank face roadblocks and complaints about their procedures, racism and sexism; the victims family and their friends are just not likable people. In addition, someone is targeting Ava’s home with messages and packages, taunting her and disturbing her peace. Throughout it all, a glimmer of romance sparks. Ava Gold is a likable, strong female character. I really enjoy this series.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

City of Fear (Ava Gold #2) was a great read by Blake Pierce. A 16 year old girl from a wealthy Fifth Avenue family is found murdered the morning of her society coming out party. Ava is New York City’s best female detective and told to find the killer. Ava goes deep into the dangerous rings of high society to find justice for the young girl. I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to read more by the author.

[Maryann Hornbaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a Fan

The story line was interesting. But the author did not impress me. I felt it was rather stilted and certainly unbelievable.

The first woman detective more or less bulldozing her way through the department and investigation just wasn’t believable.

I had the feeling I should have read book 1 first. A little explanation of Book 1 would have been helpful. There were clues to it scattered throughout the story line.

I doubt I’ll read this author again.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Really great mystery. I don’t like when they always talk about the women being Dames and skirts, but I really love being reminded of how things were then. Not everybody had a car, women really weren’t accepted anywhere, they were automatic prejudice against minorities. But it was really a great book and great development for the character, but you can also see the buildup for the next one.

[Sue Blanke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of twists

I couldn't figure out who the killer was until the very end! Ava Gold meticulously picked through every possibility, and went back to Fifths to be certain which suspects she could dismiss. I'm the only one in my family who enjoys this genre.

I'm anxious to read City of Bones!

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelyn Johnson, sixty working as a maid and cleaning woman
George and Millie getting rid of money like it was poison.
Debutant party, cigars from France, an orchestra, the food.
Detective.Ava now, son Jeffery loved the cop talk of his mom.
Hostility from the male officers and notes on home door from the mob.
Frank Wimbly partnered with Ava again.
The captain told her because case was of a woman.
Frank knew money would win every time, over the laws.
We have those involved now to figure out why and what happened.
Love this author style of writing, it’s clean, the plot flows, as we are
introduced to one’s in their family, the work force and now the case.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

[Debbie Joyner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava Gold is searching for the killer of a 16 year old daughter of a millionaire who is not very helpful to her & her partner, Frank. This is another book by Blake Pierce that's hard to put down. Really enjoyed it!

[Arthur Okun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series! Her husband killed. A woman Detective? However she has a great.knock out punch
And a joy to read about her.

[Dinesh Raghavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series with Ava Gold. The second was even better than the first. There is one more book already published and three more scheduled for release in 2022!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful....I enjoyed it!

[Bill Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the character, pace and plot

[Linda Woolverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, some twists and turns, enjoyable diversion

[§am I Am · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf

[Renee Trembly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classy, well written.

Not quite what I expected. Loved the realism, of the time it was set in. Looking forward to reading much more from this Author..

[Carlotta Matucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This time Ava and her partner find the killer of rich young woman from 5th Avenue.

[Penelope Sturm-Borkert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

I love the characters in this series! They are so natural & realistic. The plot is well developed & presented