This killer won't stop …until she's dead When Lt. Everett T. Pope is notified of an explosion in downtown Denver close to the judicial buildings, his first instinct is gas leak. No such luck. As Incident Command and Pope's own Major Crimes unit move in, he discovers he knows the intended victims—an Assistant U. S. Attorney—and Pope's former partner, now a private investigator, has died shielding the injured AUSA with his body.
As ATF and the FBI take over investigating the bombing and unraveling motives behind the murder attempt, Pope is relegated to a peripheral role. But the injured AUSA's aunt is a United States senator used to getting results. She turns to the team that solved the Black Pearl Killer murders with a very big ask—find her answers and locate the bomber.
FBI Special Agent Brian DiPietro must recall his entire cold case team from their far-flung assignments knowing he's being asked to do the impossible. The senator, however, doesn't know the meaning of the word. All too soon, DiPietro finds his team working alongside ATF on a red-hot mission. One that uncovers a decades' old cold case.
I grew up in the 4-Corners area, in the city of Farmington, New Mexico. I love New Mexico, and am influenced by its rich Hispanic and Native American culture, and will bring some of this knowledge to future work. I also love Colorado of which I was a resident for thirty plus years.
Since my debut in 2010, I've added five more books and am currently hard at working on number seven.
I'm passionate about suspense and storytelling. I hope you'll join me as I write around the theme *SUSPENSE TOO CLOSE TO HOME*
Until Dead is the second of the Cold Case Suspense series. Having read Black Pearl, the first of the series, I was looking forward to reading this one and it certainly did not disappoint. A task force that was formed in the first book working a new case in Denver connected to a case from fourteen years prior is back together in Until Dead. A bombing in downtown Denver appears to have a link to a case from a few years ago. Special Agent Brian DiPietro of FBI, Special Agent Devon Taylor of FBI, Major Crimes LT Everett Pope of Denver PD and his team, former PD Officer Allison Shannon, now Special Agent of FBI, and members of ATF unite to find the person(s) responsible. But the actual bomber is just the tip of the iceberg. Someone else is behind the scheme, footing the bill. This is a complicated plot that is more interesting as the layers are unpeeled. It is another great mystery with likable characters and the lovely setting of Colorado and is a page turning, edgy story. I highly recommend for those who enjoy a suspenseful story involving law enforcement. Oh, but there is a little cliffhanger letting us know that there may be another story in the future. I received a complimentary copy from Bell Bridge Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are mine only.
Until Death, Donnell Ann Bell’s second book in her cold case suspense series, could be subtitled, “All in the Family.” Driven by a female senator whose niece has been severely injured in an explosion meant to kill her, FBI agent Brian DiPietro reunites the “family” of skilled professionals who brought the Black Pearl killer to justice in Bell’s first cold case thriller, Black Pearl. DiPietro’s team match intuitive and technological skills with a mysterious, dangerously proficient hit man armed with an array of advanced communication equipment that would be the envy of the CIA. Known to the reader as ‘Jack,’ he stays one step ahead of DiPietro’s team who must keep the senator’s niece in a secure hiding place while endeavoring to learn who Jack is, who is paying him to kill the woman, and why. The trail leads them to a long-unsolved case and a dark family secret.
Bell, an award winning author of romantic suspense novels, displays her writing skills to maximum effect as she smoothly transitions genres from romantic suspense to cold case suspense. Although ‘suspense’ appears in both genres, each requires a unique writing approach, particularly as it applies to character and theme development.
Bell’s experience as a court reporter and volunteer with law enforcement shows through in Until Dead. Her scenes showing the interactions of law enforcement agencies and procedures is authentic. She provides a necessary slice of backstory for Black Pearl, which I recommend readers of this review read first. Bailey Herrington, author of the David Elliott Mystery Series.
Having missed the Black Pearl, I am definitely going back to check it out and I will be eager to read book three in this series.
A wonderfully crafted cast of characters, each with their own talents and hangups, some you'll love, some you'll want to throttle. If you like suspense, you'll especially enjoy seeing into Jack's head to get a peek at what our heroes will be dealing with - only they don't know it --- yet. The nitty gritty of police work is enlivened by the constant twists and turns this plot takes - it's like riding a roller coaster, the kind that swoop toward earth and disappears into the dark so you have no idea what's coming next. Awesome mystery. Nail-biting suspense. Great story.
I won’t go into a synopsis as there are already several posted by other readers. I will simply tell you…read this book! The characters are real, the plot has lots of twists and turns. I stayed up very late last night to finish the story. Ms Bell is one of my favorite authors. I have loved all of her books, but this one is my favorite. Highly recommended!
In Until Dead, the second book in Donnell Bell’s cold case series, she weaves a complicated web of crime and corruption. A skilled storyteller who can keep clarity in what is a sophisticated, layered, and challenging plot, Bell is also able to juggle the interaction of a cast of fascinating players in a way that I never became confused and always stayed engaged. I was drawn to each of the characters in the inter-agency task force and how they related to one another. All have a history, baggage, and backstories that make them human and relatable.
In this page-turner, the ATF, FBI, a US Senator and others, are all involved in a plan to finally uncover a serial killer who has been elusive over too many years, leaving behind too many dead bodies behind. The research the author did to make clear how each agency’s function fits into the puzzle is remarkable. Bell’s writing is also consummately visual. I can see this series as a TV show. I’ve read the first in this cold case series, Black Pearl, and now, Until Dead. Can’t wait for number three. I’m definitely a fan and would recommend this series to any thriller lover who appreciates a tight plot, smart characters, and well-researched police procedure.
Holy moly, I couldn't put this book down. I adore these characters, especially Pope. They are so well crafted, and I'm having a blast hanging out with them again. The plot is one wild ride with all the twists and turns. And that ending? I'm still suffering from "you did NOT just do that". The next book cannot come soon enough.
When a bomb goes off in a crowded cafe in downtown Denver it's a big law enforcement event. When one of the dead is a former federal agent and his tablemate is a Federal attorney who seems to have been the target and whose aunt is a United States senator, it's an alphabet soup circus (FBI, ATF, Major Crimes Unit, Cold Case Unit) more or less working together. The cast of characters and the investigation are very compelling, the due diligence is meticulous, and the suspense is riveting. An awesome read. I requested and received a free e-book copy from Bell Bridge Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
I love seeing the characters again. The story was amazing with lots of twist and turns. And the ending, well we know there's another book. Can't wait to see what Donnell surprises us with next.
Donnell Ann Bell is the award-winning author of several standalone romantic suspense novels. She recently changed course with her novel Black Pearl, the first in her Cold Case Suspense series; the second in the series, Until Dead, was released in May 2022.
The two need not be read in order, but I recommend starting with Black Pearl to help with character development and locations. It is a page-turner and will drag you into Bell’s work.
Both titles, especially Until Dead, are perfect for the mystery you must unravel. The title and front cover would have been enough to encourage me to pick it up in a bookstore for closer examination and purchase.
I did have a bit of trouble with the number of characters Bell inserted into the story. There were times I could not remember what role her secondary characters played, and on occasion, with the number of primary characters. My confusion was not enough to detract from the plot and what the law enforcement characters were attempting to accomplish. Don’t get the impression that I think that any of these primary characters were dispensable—they are not. I grew attached to each of them, especially the Denver police lieutenant.
Bell created an antagonist (Jack) who is evil beyond imagination. I hated him and wished him dead yet had empathy and a touch of sympathy for him.
The writing is straightforward. Bell’s voice is clear and brings the reader into her world. She does not embellish her characters, events, or facts. Her investigators do not follow the Jack Reachers or Harry Boschs of the police procedural or mystery milieu. Her law enforcement officers do not conduct “pre-warrant searches.” Her characters are, for the most part, believable. They live and breathe the same as we do.
Bell could not wholly abandon her bent for romance; however, there is a smidgeon of it as an undercurrent throughout the story between two agents.
This is a really good book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and so will you. I heartily recommend Until Dead and the first in the series, Black Pearl. I can hardly wait for the next episode in the Cold Case Suspense Series.
“Unique characters blend in this high-profile suspense written by Donnell Ann Bell. Each person brings their unique expertise to help solve the case. But will past experiences help them or harm them?”-Books and Pens on Green Gables
“Until Dead has a host of memorable characters, and the storyline is something that could be taken from today’s news headlines! Well done!”-Books and Pens on Green Gables
Unexpected details, history, and jealousy all merge into a case you won’t believe in Until Dead.
A bombing at a Denver coffee shop brings past co-workers back onto a case together, and they each come ready and prepared to do what is necessary to solve it. When the lead investigator Pope finds out his former partner and friend was killed in the bombing protecting the Assistant US Attorney, he knows he and his team will stop at nothing to find who is responsible.
Donnell Ann Bell brings together the Black Pearl cold case team and some new agents to help with the case. Working together, they have two goals—keep Theresa, Assistant US Attorney, safe from another attack—and find who is behind the attack and threat on her life.
When the team becomes scattered and communications become more complicated, can they all keep themselves—and Theresa—safe? And, once they discover more details about the bomber and his skills, it is hard to know if they are one step ahead—or if the bomber is.
Until Dead is a highly recommended four-star book with the perfect mix of suspense, thrill, mystery, deception, and a teeny hint of romance. With some references to Black Pearl, the book is excellently written as a second book. But, Until Dead can easily be read as a stand-alone book too. Don’t lose your focus as you read-you might miss some important details!
SYNOPSIS: "This killer won't stop …until she's dead When Lt. Everett T. Pope is notified of an explosion in downtown Denver close to the judicial buildings, his first instinct is gas leak. No such luck. As Incident Command and Pope's own Major Crimes unit move in, he discovers he knows the intended victims—an Assistant U. S. Attorney—and Pope's former partner, now a private investigator, has died shielding the injured AUSA with his body.
As ATF and the FBI take over investigating the bombing and unraveling motives behind the murder attempt, Pope is relegated to a peripheral role. But the injured AUSA's aunt is a United States senator used to getting results. She turns to the team that solved the Black Pearl Killer murders with a very big ask—find her answers and locate the bomber.
FBI Special Agent Brian DiPietro must recall his entire cold case team from their far-flung assignments knowing he's being asked to do the impossible. The senator, however, doesn't know the meaning of the word. All too soon, DiPietro finds his team working alongside ATF on a red-hot mission. One that uncovers a decades' old cold case."
Complicated—And Fascinating In UNTIL DEAD, Donnell Ann Bell realistically captures the complexity of a multijurisdictional investigation into a high-profile crime—a targeted bombing that seriously injures an assistant U.S. attorney and kills both her private investigator friend and an innocent bystander. The targeted attorney is the niece of a powerful U.S. Senator, who isn’t averse to applying what she considers to be legitimate pressure. It’s easy to relate to the author’s generally likeable law enforcement characters as they battle emotional conflicts as well as a meticulous and ruthless hired assassin. Yet catching the assassin is only half the battle since his wealthy employer can simply hire another hitman to go after the target if he fails. I’m in awe of Bell’s in-depth research into investigative procedures, techniques and protocol. While Bell avoids drowning the reader in minutiae, she judiciously sprinkles in enough details and technology to make the investigation engrossing and believable. UNTIL DEAD is the second book in Bell’s Cold Case Suspense series. A fun read!
The plot is intricate and complex and the cast of characters large, but I was never once lost in the maze, nor did I ever forget who anyone was or their role in the story. The threads are woven so well that every piece fits, every scene flows, and each main character is drawn in depth despite how many share the stage. The members of the task force solving the crime are unique individuals with personal stories that make me care about them. The victims have depth. Even the “bad guy” does. In suspense novels, too often scenes in the antagonist’s viewpoint provide material the reader receives a second time in the crime-solvers’ point of view, but Bell handles the bad guy brilliantly. His character. His thinking and planning. And he is also facing a mystery: who hired him as a contract killer? Intense without violence, with the outstanding in-depth research and realism I’ve come to expect of this author, this book is suspense at its best. Twists and surprises all the way to the end.
If you like mystery/suspense/thrillers then give this series a try.
In the first book a task force was formed to track down a serial killer. This time the task force is rebanded after a bombing that tried to take the life of a Assistant United States Attorney. This isn't the first time Theresa O'Neil's life has been threatened.
This series is a little different in that there isn't just one main character. The whole task force team are all equally given POV's. FBI Special Agent Brian DiPietro of FBI, Lt. Everett Pope of Denver PD Special Crimes, former Denver cop Allison Shannon who is now with the FBI, and FBI agent Devon Taylor. They team up with ATF to search for the man responsible which uncovers not only a killer who has been active for years but who is backing him.
Another great suspenseful thriller from beginning to end.
Until Dead, the second novel in Donnell Ann Bell’s compelling Cold Case Suspense series, puts to the test, as main characters, crime fighters from book one. Denver Metro, FBI, and ATF officers team up following an explosion that kills a private investigator and injures an assistant U.S. attorney. As the professionals work on the case, they also focus on protecting the attorney from a second assassination attempt. The novel gets into the head of the hired killer, Jack, which adds considerable tension to the story. Throughout, there’s a mystery to be solved: Who hired Jack and why? Woven into the plot is a touch of romance under pressure, which I appreciated. Until Dead and its predecessor, Black Pearl, should strongly appeal to fans of serious, detailed police procedurals.
Bell combines the accuracy of a well-researched police procedural with the fast pace of a thriller. I can imagine Until Dead as a movie. The writing is very visual. The characters jump off the page. Each subplot was well developed, from the present day crime that starts the book with a bang, to the cold case that was the origin of the story. My only problem with this series so far is that I became so wrapped up in the books, I had trouble setting them down, and stayed up too late reading "just one more chapter."
Until Dead is a masterclass in cold case suspense, where the past is never really past, and danger is always just a step behind. Donnell Ann Bell weaves a taut, chilling tale with twists that will keep you guessing until the very end. With a tenacious investigator and a mystery that refuses to stay buried, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves their suspense served ice-cold and razor-sharp.
This is the second cold case suspense with a well-rounded cast of lawmen from a variety of agencies, all working as a team (with only a few disagreements) to solve a bombing and murder with a case from the past included. Keep track of the characters because I'm betting they'll be back in a third novel in the series (which I'm looking forward to reading).
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were believable and likeable. Since I skipped the first book, I will go back and read it before going on to book three. The interaction between police and federal agents was interesting.
The second book in the Cold Case Suspense series, I think I might like this one even better than the first book. Got to visit with the same main characters from book one and so enjoyed the character development. These are people I think I would be friends with. The story-line was great and kept me engaged. I hope the author intends to write more in this series.
An excellent mystery, well plotted and compelling. I found it entertaining, appreciated the fast paced plot and the relationship amongst the characters Recommended. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
What a twisted plot this author weaves-Loved the complexity and having to keep my wits about me reading this story. There is a daunting cast of characters woven throughout-and keeping them straight is also a challenge I am definitely a new fan. Keep them coming -
Actually I might give it a 3+. I enjoyed the overall story, but there were too many names and their positions to keep straight. The ending was rushed. It needed more details with what happened at the mountain cabin. And I needed to know what happened to more of the characters.
I recommend this story a must read to anyone looking for a well-written crime thriller. An authentic investigation by characters you root for from opening to denouement. Nothing short of excellent.
Hooked me quickly and kept me reading—I finished it in one afternoon. Fast paced and complex plot and well-developed characters. I recommend this book.
A top-notch team reassembled, a driven assassin, and too many suspects. Such a nice twist that a multi-agency task force can act like dedicated, cooperative professionals.