Buckle up for a double dose of mystery and suspense in this two-book forensic thriller set from USA Today bestselling author Melissa F. Miller!
Dark Path (Book 1)
Healthy residents of a posh assisted living facility are dying in the middle of the night ... expressions of pure terror etched on their faces.
After solving a series of unexplained deaths several years ago, forensic pathologist Dr. Bodhi King retreated from the limelight. Now, he's called out of early retirement to help investigate a death cluster on a private island in the Florida Keys, where he lands in the middle of a simmering conflict.
Members of the Golden Island Church have a furtive agenda to protect. The dying Cuban-Americans have long-held secrets of their own. And everyone seems to have a reason to stop Bodhi from bringing the truth to light.
Lonely Path (Book 2)
An overdose epidemic, a girl who’s supposed to be dead, and a chance encounter with an old flame land Bodhi in the middle of a high-stakes crime ring.
Bodhi’s honored when he’s invited to present a paper at an international forensic pathology conference. And he’s stunned when he learns his former girlfriend is a fellow panelist. It’s been more than a decade since Bodhi broke Eliza’s heart, and his behavior weighs on him. He convinces her to join him for dinner in the Quebec countryside so he can make amends.
Returning to the hotel after their meal, they see a dazed young woman, barefoot and mute, standing by the roadside. She has no memory of who she is or what's happened to her. Bodhi and Eliza put aside their past to help the shattered woman reclaim her life. In the process, they discover the horrifying truth about an overdose epidemic plaguing the region. The knowledge paints a target on their backs.
As a Buddhist, Bodhi follows a path of nonviolence, but his faith will be tested when Eliza’s life is on the line.
Melissa F. Miller is a multi-time USA Today bestselling author of mystery, thriller, suspense, and romance novels. Formerly a complex commercial litigator, Melissa graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in medieval literature and creative writing poetry and earned her JD, cum laude, from the Duquesne University School of Law, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Law Review.
After fifteen years, Melissa traded the practice of law for the art of storytelling, drawing on her legal background and love of research to craft fast-paced, twisty books for readers who believe light drives out darkness, love is brave, and kind is strong. She writes strong, resilient characters who tackle serious (and sometimes dark) issues and themes with heart.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Novelists, Inc. When she’s not writing, you can find her tending her garden, doing yoga, or drinking coffee. Melissa currently lives outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with her family and their rescues—a cat and a beagle. The cat’s in charge.
First, the good. Excellent characters. They're neither perfect nor so flawed as to be unbelievable that they can cope with daily life. In the second book the protagonist meets an old flame - and, in something I found particularly refreshing, they don't immediately get into a sexual relationship. Are things uncomfortable? YES! But so would it be in real life. In the first book, the protagonist doesn't want to get involved - but a friend asks a question that forces some serious introspection. That's how real life works. Anyway, I found the characters to be very interesting and enjoyed reading about them.
Then we have the not so good. To prove a crime, you need (at least) three elements: Means, Motive, and Opportunity. Now I will grant you that authors hide the motive all the time - that's part of keeping things suspenseful and making you think. It also makes the ending more interesting when the motive is finally revealed. However, in the first book (this is a two-book set, remember), there is no motive at all. None. Is the mystery resolved? Yes. But why did the individual commit the crime in the first place?
In the second book, they discuss a case where someone stopped breathing - after arriving at a walk-in clinic. The book states that the patient died before they could get them on a ventilator. Seriously? What about a bag-valve-mask, the tool of choice for people who stop breathing?
If you like stories that leave you guessing right till the end, then you should love these books. The 1st one deals with old people dying on a private island at a elderly facility. The only clue that Bodhi has to go by is that all of them died with a weird facial expression. Bohdi along with the local medical examiner, a priest and a detective finally figure it out. To discover what killed all of these people, then you need to read this book.
The 2nd story starts with Bodhi attending a conference when he goes alone with a former girlfriend to explore the various sights. On one of these excursions, they discover a women that is seems sort of drugged. They bring her to a hospital, and little did they know that this would involve them bpth in a search for information related to this person. The local police ask them to consult, and when they finally figure it out, it almost comes at a price. As with the previous story, you need to read this book to discover the importance that this find represented.
A couple of good stories although the first one seems a bit far fetched that so many people would be terrified to death, they must have been really gullible. An evangelist type minister selling religion as a franchise is a good plot though, trying to get people to think God will bless them with wealth if they give their money to him. Second book is a good follow on with the symposium or conference where he Bodhi is to give a speech on his paper about the last case with an old flame Eliza in the audience who he is glad to be reacquainted with. The zombie drug is similar to something that has done the rounds, tranq that vets use on large animals but there's always someone who thinks it would be good to try it on people. Bodhi and Eliza come across a victim and have to follow it through to find the cause putting themselves in the frame as someone to get rid of. The villains don't seem too clued up though and using their victims as cheap labour and hit men is probably not the best business plan. Decent starters to a series and good characters and plot.
It's an amazing series. Brilliantly penned and well researched. Both the books are awesome! Bodhi's calm demeanor helps him to get out of the tight situation. Thrilling to the core. A must-read for all mystery lovers.
She manners to write two great mystery using the background of two very different subjects and keeps the intrigue and suspense up right to the end of each story. Great reads!!
In this slightly different kind of mystery we get to see the wold through the eyes of a Buddhist coroner who gets caught up in murder investigations. That alone makes these books worthwhile and the stories aren’t bad either.
I really like the book, but I was a little lit down, thinking it would be more like The Sasha McCandeless book. Still a great book, I've got 2 thru 4 already downloaded to read. I'm ready for more intriguing mysteries to solve.
Dr Bodhi King is a retired forensic pathologist that keeps getting drawn into mystery health events - one book was deaths and the second drugs. He's a great character with a well developed personality.
Loved the plot, characters and writing style. So glad this is a series and I can look forward to reading more about Bodhi King and his adventures and philosophy.
I very much liked the main character and his approach to things. Initial pacing is good, but the additional pov in the second lessens the mystery for me so I enjoy the read less.