Dead Reckoning

by Linda Castillo

Assistant D.A. Kate Megason is about to prosecute the case of her career when someone starts sending her terrifying messages. Someone who obviously knows her deep, dark secret. Now, she needs the help of Frank Matrone--an investigator with his own shadowy past--or else Kate may have no chance of surviving a killer's brutal wrath.

Genres: Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Romance, Thriller, Suspense, Fiction, Contemporary

330 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 6, 2005

About the author

Linda Castillo is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Kate Burkholder mystery series, set in the world of the Amish. The first book, Sworn to Silence, was adapted into a Lifetime original movie titled An Amish Murder starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards including a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, a nomination for the Mystery Writers of America’s Sue Grafton Memorial Award, and a nomination for an “Audie Award” for best mystery audiobook. Her work has appeared on numerous bestseller lists and earned a spot on the Boston Globe’s shortlist for best crime novel.

In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, three Appaloosas, and two feisty, but loveable Blue Heelers.

She loves hearing from readers. Contact her at books@lindacastillo.com.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very good! I had it read in no time. Wonderful suspense to keep you turning the pages.

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Reckoning by Linda Castillo was a good read. I enjoyed how the characters were all tortured.

Kate Megason is an assistant DA. She loves her job and is too dedicated to it. She works and works and people call her a ball-buster but she cares deeply hides it. As a 17 year old she and her twin were brutalized, with her sister ending up in a convalescent home and she with guilt and her life changed forever. So, justice matters to her, that is all she has. Her parents never got over what happened and instead hurt her. She gets handed a high profile case that could make her career.

Frank Matrone was a cop, he was also a reservist when he was injured badly in Jerusalem and lost the woman he loved, his life has gone downhill since then. He wallows in his grief and pain and also suffers from chronic pain so bad that he mixes his pills and alcohol. His friends seeing his condition offer him a chance, to work as an investigator in the DA's office. Hi start is less than auspicious, he walks in late and acts as if it doesn't matter and Kate she is a stickler for punctuality, she tries to get him removed but her boss owes a favor and it is an election year.
Frank is bit of a smart-ass in the beginning but slowly that changes. He finds that their case is not totally open and shut and more is involved. Kate starts getting threats and someone tries to scare her with the past.

The book was great, with a good pace. The relationship is gradual and nothing immediate. There is a lot of working together and getting to know each others history, coming to terms with the past. Frank saves Kate from doing something and that moment was great for me. There were a lot of things going on in the book and I enjoyed it a lot and never felt a lack of romance or anything even though things finally happen after quite a long time.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read!

,,I started reading Linda Castillo books When I discovered her Kate Burkholder series. I love those and decided to try another book. I enjoyed this one and kept telling the characters, no don't do that! Keep putting out your great thrillers Linda Castillo.

[Bevjirwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

thought this was a mystery-turned out to be a romance-lady in distress thriller-not my cup of tea

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

ADA Kate Megason is getting ready to prosecute the biggest case of her career. As she gathers her team together she clashes with one of her investigators - Frank Matrone. As they begin the case of Bruton Ellis, who is allegedly accused of brutally killing two convenience store clerks, she starts to get threatening messages and needs Frank’s help but she can’t him why and Frank needs Kate’s help but he doesn’t realize it. Read on to see how this thriller plays out...

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author can do no wrong by me! I love the Kate Burkholder series. This book has different characters that are just as interesting and the plot was solid and well done

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this standalone novel from 2005, Assistant District Attorney Kate Megason readies to prosecute a man accused of a brutal double murder of 2 convenience store clerks. One of her investigators, former cop Frank Matrone, believes the murderer when he says he was paid to kill the 2 women. Kate starts receiving threatening phone calls and someone breaks into her house in attempts to scare her. She thinks this is related to her assault 11 years ago and not the current case, but she doesn't want anyone to delve into her past. Frank has an equally troubling past and he still has nightmares and terrible leg pain. She is determined to prosecute her cases plus find the men who assaulted her and exact justice. Frank is just as determined to protect her.

Warning -- violent murder scenes and sexual assaults described in the book. I liked seeing Kate and Frank interact and attempt to overcome their past tragedies.

[Launa Faulkner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable and lackluster.

[Gordon Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank is a retired cop who receives an assignment working as an investigator for the Dallas DA's office. His boss is Kate, an Assistant District Attorney who has been given her first high profile murder case to prosecute. Both have tragic past experiences that seem destined to derail Kate's case.

A clash between Frank and Kate is inevitable when Kate's type 'A' personality meets head-on with Frank's inability to follow the rules and show up at work on time. In spite of Kate's concerns about his ability and worth to her team, the DA forces her to keep Frank on the job even though she doesn't want him.

This is the first non-series book by Linda Castillo that I have read and I found it just as enjoyable and the Kate Burkholder series that I read earlier. Lots of action a a great plot leading to a 'palm sweating' conclusion.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate is a lawyer who was the victim of a brutal crime when she was a teen, Frank is the celebrated ex-cop/war hero, now investigator who lost his love in a bombing, together they clash during their meeting on Kate's first big death row case. As they are forced to spend more and more time together researching the case the start to get under each other's skins, every way they turn irritating the other, all the while the office has started a betting pool of when they will end up together. This is an interesting book where you know the couple will end up together, but the fun is in how they do and to what lengths they go to protect, save, and help each other over their past traumas.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first standalone novel that I have read by Linda Castillo. The lead character is Kate who is an ADA who is getting ready to try a particularly brutal double homicide in a gas & go type store. Someone or ones absolutely don't want her to look too deep into the case. I will definitely read more books by her. She already had me won over with her Kate Burkholder series. 5 stars.

[Heather Cardinale · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh, pretty predictable, but what did I expect?

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her books and have been a fan for quite some time but, I must say, this is by far my favorite!!! Romance is included which I loved but it would have been 5 stars without it. Great read!!!!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read. Kept my interest.

I have read her famous Amish thrillers. I love those!!
Her 'older' books are just as fascinating. Need to find more of her books that's she written.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely awesome. This was a awesome book with twists and turns. It was a good page turner and I
Loved the characters and the plot. This author never fails.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery but predictable in its outcome.

[Connie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read this authors Kate Bulkholter series that I really enjoy. I have never read any of her other books, so I thought that I would give them a try. While the writing is good, the story has been done before with the deeply injured character (both physically and emotionally. Actually, two of the characters fit this category) and the driven workaholic bitchy female who in the end falls for the guy blah, blah, blah. I really dislike this story line. They are all the same.

[Rosa Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The suspense got me hooked. I just had to know what was going to happen next. The romance part was quite detailed 😳. While this stand alone was good, I'm sticking to the Amish fiction series. I enjoyed that female character much better than the one in this book. It's almost like she tries too hard to go out of her way to make sure no female characters are similar to Kate Burkholder.

[Lindsey Ruppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a phenomenal, on the edge of your seat read. I had a hard time putting Dead Reckoning down. Castillo is a favorite of mine and slowly getting through her backlist. I loved the raw tension between Kate and Frank and the suspense was killer, between the past plot of Kate’s childhood horror and her prosecuting a double murder! Outstanding

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, before Kate Burkholder by Castillo, there were several other stand-alone books. This one. Pretty good..has the 'obligatory' explicit sex scene that the Kate Burkholder ones don't (and they are the better without it), but it's a good story.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series and came across this book by chance. Absolutely loved it and a great way to start off the new year with a 5 Star winner! Fantastic character development and fast moving action throughout.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book by this author that I have read, other than her Katie Burkholder Amish mystery series. It did not disappoint! I will now be reading her other standalone books! The pages kept turning and I loved it!

[Inez Santori · Rating 2 out of 5]

The tedious repetition of stifled sexual attraction was irritating. The behaviour of the lead female was irrational considering her job. The damaged detective who was the only person who had a clue what was happening was way too stereotyplical. Disappoting overall.

[Linda Di francesco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have not read enough to judge but do far it is very good

It is way too soon to rate this book check back later but so far I am enjoying it will be glad to rate it later

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I waited a long time to find a copy of this one. Story was good, suspenseful. Romance was a little cheesy but still worth the time.

[Muriel Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK but not as good as the Burklander series. Has a very explicit sex scene - not my thing

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really like Castillo’s Kate Burkholder series so I thought I was sure to like this stand alone book, and I did.

[Jill Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story but there was too much foul language and a graphic scene that was unnecessary.

[Jane Maloney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one had a few twist which were unexpected!

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars