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Triple Threat #2
Labyrinth of Lies
When the daughter of a high-profile businessman disappears from an exclusive girls' boarding school, police detective Cate Reilly is tapped for an undercover assignment. It doesn't take her long to realize that beneath the veneer of polish and wealth, things are not as they seem at Ivy Hill Academy. But the biggest surprise of all? The only man she ever loved is also working at the school.
Zeke Sloan has never forgotten Cate, but now isn't the best time for their paths to cross again. When their two seemingly disparate agendas begin to intertwine--and startling connections emerge among the players--the danger escalates significantly. But who is the mastermind behind the elaborate ruse? And how far will they go to protect their house of cards?
Queen of romantic suspense Irene Hannon invites you to scale the heights of human folly and plumb the depths of the human heart in this second gripping book in the Triple Threat series.
Zeke Sloan has never forgotten Cate, but now isn't the best time for their paths to cross again. When their two seemingly disparate agendas begin to intertwine--and startling connections emerge among the players--the danger escalates significantly. But who is the mastermind behind the elaborate ruse? And how far will they go to protect their house of cards?
Queen of romantic suspense Irene Hannon invites you to scale the heights of human folly and plumb the depths of the human heart in this second gripping book in the Triple Threat series.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published October 5, 2021
185 people are currently reading
3459 people want to read
About the author
Irene Hannon
126 books3,030 followersIrene Hannon, who writes both contemporary romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than 65 novels. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romance fiction) and she is a member of that organization's elite Hall of Fame. She has also received a Career Achievement award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Other awards for individual books include National Readers' Choice, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers Choice, Booksellers' Best, and Reviewers' Choice from RT Book Reviews. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist.
Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.
A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com.
Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.
A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 344 reviews
December 26, 2021
3.5 stars!
Characters: Zeke and Cate were both well-defined characters. They were interesting to read about on their own and when they worked together.
Language: There were a couple of instances that seemed to me like sketchy uses of God's name. Which is strange to me ... I've read lots of Irene Hannon's books and don't remember encountering this before. Or maybe my memory has failed me. For more sensitive readers, there were also some slang words.
Moral: While the main characters were both Christians and mentioned God occasionally, I couldn't really pick out a moral. This book seemed more like clean fiction to me.
Plot: The plot had to be my favorite part of this book. I don't know if I've ever read a suspense novel that focused so much on undercover work, so the whole "going undercover at a prestigious boarding school" angle was really interesting and unique.
Random comments: I seem to remember a couple of comments that struck me as more on the liberal side ... one about racial profiling and another about women's empowerment. Also, what's with capitalizing words like white and black when they refer to skin color? It's not like they said African-American, English, or Chinese--which are nationalities and should be capitalized.
Romance: Clean. A few kisses. A lot of the romance did seem to be based on physical attraction (which of course is a part of romance), but some of it was a bit too much for me. Also, readers might want to note that Zeke and Cate had spent the night together eight years before the book began. This wasn't mentioned in detail, and they both regretted their actions.
Writing: Irene Hannon's fast-paced writing style worked great for this story. I'm looking forward to reading the third in the series when it comes out next year!
Overall: Labyrinth of Lies was an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and romantic suspense.
Characters: Zeke and Cate were both well-defined characters. They were interesting to read about on their own and when they worked together.
Language: There were a couple of instances that seemed to me like sketchy uses of God's name. Which is strange to me ... I've read lots of Irene Hannon's books and don't remember encountering this before. Or maybe my memory has failed me. For more sensitive readers, there were also some slang words.
Moral: While the main characters were both Christians and mentioned God occasionally, I couldn't really pick out a moral. This book seemed more like clean fiction to me.
Plot: The plot had to be my favorite part of this book. I don't know if I've ever read a suspense novel that focused so much on undercover work, so the whole "going undercover at a prestigious boarding school" angle was really interesting and unique.
Random comments: I seem to remember a couple of comments that struck me as more on the liberal side ... one about racial profiling and another about women's empowerment. Also, what's with capitalizing words like white and black when they refer to skin color? It's not like they said African-American, English, or Chinese--which are nationalities and should be capitalized.
Romance: Clean. A few kisses. A lot of the romance did seem to be based on physical attraction (which of course is a part of romance), but some of it was a bit too much for me. Also, readers might want to note that Zeke and Cate had spent the night together eight years before the book began. This wasn't mentioned in detail, and they both regretted their actions.
Writing: Irene Hannon's fast-paced writing style worked great for this story. I'm looking forward to reading the third in the series when it comes out next year!
Overall: Labyrinth of Lies was an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and romantic suspense.
October 2, 2021
This is the story of Cate, the oldest of the Reilly sisters, second in the Triple Threat series. Cate really was over working undercover for the St. Louis Police. She would rather work her normal detective job but when a girl disappears from an exclusive girls' school, she is the only one on the team who can pass for a teenager. What Cate was not expecting was to run into her old flame Zeke Sloan from eight years ago when they worked together. Now Zeke is DEA, also working undercover to investigate a drug ring at the school, posing as the Spanish teacher at the school. They had a close relationship that ended badly with Cate getting hurt and she really doesn't want to rekindle things but they do have to work together. The story has lots of suspense and action with some tense and dangerous moments. The top bad guys use code names so we aren't given an idea of who they are until late in the story. Great characters, suspenseful mystery to solve, faith, romance and second chances make this another awesome Irene Hannon book.
I received a complimentary ARC from Revell Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
I received a complimentary ARC from Revell Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
August 12, 2021
4.5 stars
Labyrinth of Lies was a great sequel to Point of Danger, although I did enjoy that book just a bit more.
It didn't take long before I was completely hooked by this story. I absolutely loved the suspense and undercover aspect. It was thrilling to continue to read and wonder what dangers the main characters might encounter. There were several moments that had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't read quickly enough.
I loved the characters. I always seem to enjoy second chance romance stories and this was no different. While the romance in this one was a little bit much at times for me, I still really enjoyed it overall. The ending was satisfying and I am eager to read the third book to see what happens next.
All in all, Labyrinth of Lies was a great romantic suspense novel and I definitely recommend it. I don't think you have to read the first book, but I encourage you to as it was amazing.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
Labyrinth of Lies was a great sequel to Point of Danger, although I did enjoy that book just a bit more.
It didn't take long before I was completely hooked by this story. I absolutely loved the suspense and undercover aspect. It was thrilling to continue to read and wonder what dangers the main characters might encounter. There were several moments that had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't read quickly enough.
I loved the characters. I always seem to enjoy second chance romance stories and this was no different. While the romance in this one was a little bit much at times for me, I still really enjoyed it overall. The ending was satisfying and I am eager to read the third book to see what happens next.
All in all, Labyrinth of Lies was a great romantic suspense novel and I definitely recommend it. I don't think you have to read the first book, but I encourage you to as it was amazing.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
July 21, 2022
I seriously don't know how I missed this book last year. Maybe it released in the middle of my re-read marathon of the author's Hope Harbor series and that distracted me? Anyhow, I'm catching up now so I'll be ready when the third Triple Threat novel releases in October.
Great series title, by the way, because it centers around three sisters with interesting investigative kind of jobs which, of course, leads to all kinds of trouble. In Labyrinth of Lives, a reluctant Cate Reilly goes undercover to find answers on a missing persons case...and that's about all I can say without posting spoilers galore.
But I can tease you by saying her undercover persona is unexpected and challenging. Especially when she comes face to face with her ex! All kinds of awkward. Especially since Cate knows how to hold onto a grudge, and honestly, when I found out all the details I was ready to purse whomp Zeke for her. So there's this wonderfully taut energy snapping between them all the time. I do so love a Reunion Romance that sizzles!
Loved the setting for this suspense and the way the author feeds her readers clues along the way, sometimes giving voice to various other characters who are caught up in a complicated game of cat and mouse. Motives and opportunities are plausible and Hannon knows how to pace action and danger that keeps a reader frantically turning pages until the very end.
Great series title, by the way, because it centers around three sisters with interesting investigative kind of jobs which, of course, leads to all kinds of trouble. In Labyrinth of Lives, a reluctant Cate Reilly goes undercover to find answers on a missing persons case...and that's about all I can say without posting spoilers galore.
But I can tease you by saying her undercover persona is unexpected and challenging. Especially when she comes face to face with her ex! All kinds of awkward. Especially since Cate knows how to hold onto a grudge, and honestly, when I found out all the details I was ready to purse whomp Zeke for her. So there's this wonderfully taut energy snapping between them all the time. I do so love a Reunion Romance that sizzles!
Loved the setting for this suspense and the way the author feeds her readers clues along the way, sometimes giving voice to various other characters who are caught up in a complicated game of cat and mouse. Motives and opportunities are plausible and Hannon knows how to pace action and danger that keeps a reader frantically turning pages until the very end.
October 4, 2021
Any Irene Hannon novel is a suspenseful delight. Since I lived in the St. Louis suburbs for 20 years, I always take a trip down memory lane as I read each book and look for familiar places. This time it was Hanks Cheesecake which I drove past it on my way to work. Nathaniel Bakery is near where I lived and was on my shopping route and Tony’s was in downtown Clayton where I went to the bank and library. Nostalgic to say the least.
Cate Reilly, a County Detective, reluctantly goes undercover as a student in a posh school for girls on the western outskirts of the City. When she meets up with Zeke Sloan, also undercover for DEA, things get interesting. Cate and Zeke have a history and their parting 8 years ago was very hurtful, so this case could make or break their tenuous relationship. How are they going to work together to solve their cases of a missing teen couple and a possible drug ring? Are their cases even connected?
As the story unfolds, and they ferret out the bad guys, the tension ramps up and unpredictable things happen.
Ms. Hannon is very adept at crafting taut, believable characters in settings that I recognize. As always, the culprits get dealt with, the romance heats up and faith lessons are learned. I enjoyed the relationship Cate had with her sisters and the new friend she made in Kayla.
A great follow up to Point of Danger. Can’t wait to read book #3.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Cate Reilly, a County Detective, reluctantly goes undercover as a student in a posh school for girls on the western outskirts of the City. When she meets up with Zeke Sloan, also undercover for DEA, things get interesting. Cate and Zeke have a history and their parting 8 years ago was very hurtful, so this case could make or break their tenuous relationship. How are they going to work together to solve their cases of a missing teen couple and a possible drug ring? Are their cases even connected?
As the story unfolds, and they ferret out the bad guys, the tension ramps up and unpredictable things happen.
Ms. Hannon is very adept at crafting taut, believable characters in settings that I recognize. As always, the culprits get dealt with, the romance heats up and faith lessons are learned. I enjoyed the relationship Cate had with her sisters and the new friend she made in Kayla.
A great follow up to Point of Danger. Can’t wait to read book #3.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
July 23, 2022
This story is about Cate and one of her undercover jobs. Thanks to her youthful appearance, she can pass for a teen, and that’s exactly why they need her on the job in a ritzy boarding school where a girl has vanished. Pretty quickly things get intense, but not for the reason she expected...rather than instant drama with bad guys, she finds her ex undercover as a teacher! He’s working for DEA and trying to figure out how drugs are flowing through the school. It’s a no brained that the two cases must be connected and they end up being ordered to work together....horrors!
Pretty quickly the bad guys catch on about being hunted and hit back quickly, so in order to save their own lives and those of some students, Cate is on a major time crunch. They have multiple strong leads and all of those are in positions of authority with the school. But can they figure out which one before another student dies? It’s a race against time as soon as another one is kidnapped...
Very good and fast-paced story that kept me guessing....and no, I didn’t accurately guess the bad guy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
Pretty quickly the bad guys catch on about being hunted and hit back quickly, so in order to save their own lives and those of some students, Cate is on a major time crunch. They have multiple strong leads and all of those are in positions of authority with the school. But can they figure out which one before another student dies? It’s a race against time as soon as another one is kidnapped...
Very good and fast-paced story that kept me guessing....and no, I didn’t accurately guess the bad guy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
September 9, 2021
A richly layered novel that kept the pages flying. There's a past rich with pain between the hero and heroine, and now they are forced into the same space. Both are undercover and the risk is high that something will go permanently wrong. I guessed who the pereptrator was, but it was carried out in such a way that I had to keep reading because I wanted to be wrong. A compelling story that I deeply enjoyed.
March 14, 2022
Good suspense novel! I liked this one even better than the first in the series.
Thirty-three year old Cate goes undercover as a student at an exclusive girls school where a student recently went missing.
There were several possibilities for what happened and it was a fun ride to unravel the pieces.
The romance was neatly woven into the story line. Loved the connection Cate was able to make with one of the students.
Look forward to the third in the series.
Thirty-three year old Cate goes undercover as a student at an exclusive girls school where a student recently went missing.
There were several possibilities for what happened and it was a fun ride to unravel the pieces.
The romance was neatly woven into the story line. Loved the connection Cate was able to make with one of the students.
Look forward to the third in the series.
August 15, 2021
This book was a powerful book. At times, I was a little confused about who the characters were and how they related to the story but in the end it all came together for me. There is so much suspense in the story and a little bit of romance which is perfect for me. Zeke and Cate go undercover separately in a private boarding school in order to uncover illegal activities that are happening at the school. The amount of lies and twists and turns in the story kept me looking forward to the next page.
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
October 5, 2021
Labyrinth of Lies is the second book in the in the Triple Threat trilogy. This book could be read as a stand alone and it features the eldest sister Cate. She is a detective for the St. Louis County police department and goes undercover in an all girls school. She encounters her long lost love of her life at the school who is working his own case for the DEA. Their work intertwines and so does their feelings for each other. This is great thriller romance and I enjoyed it very much. I look forward to sister Grace's story next.
*I received a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
*I received a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
September 16, 2022
What a great audio book! I loved both the story and the narration for this one. Labyrinth of Lies is book two in the Triple Threat series, which follows three sisters and each sister gets a book. It can easily be read or listened to as a stand alone if you haven’t read book one.
I loved that Zeke and Cate had a romantic backstory together. The tension that was already there due to the fact that both were working undercover at the school was definitely heightened by thoughts of their personal relationship eight years earlier. These two quickly realized that they still cared for each other, yet there were reasons that Cate was especially hesitant to begin a relationship with Zeke again. I loved the way they talked things out and were open about what had happened between them.
The suspense and storyline was top notch with many players and lots of questions about not only what happened to the missing student but also concerning who was the mastermind behind the focus of Zeke’s DEA investigation. Great story!
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
I loved that Zeke and Cate had a romantic backstory together. The tension that was already there due to the fact that both were working undercover at the school was definitely heightened by thoughts of their personal relationship eight years earlier. These two quickly realized that they still cared for each other, yet there were reasons that Cate was especially hesitant to begin a relationship with Zeke again. I loved the way they talked things out and were open about what had happened between them.
The suspense and storyline was top notch with many players and lots of questions about not only what happened to the missing student but also concerning who was the mastermind behind the focus of Zeke’s DEA investigation. Great story!
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
October 20, 2021
This was another solid romantic suspense from a tested and favourite author.
At first, I thought it was a bit unrealistic that a 33 year old can pass for a 17 year old, and it reminded me a bit of the movie, Never Been Kissed, but soon the characters and story pulled me in that I didn't really mind that fact.
The undercover plot was interesting and I enjoyed following the characters finding the clues and following the evidence. I did know who the ultimate man was as soon as Kaylee told Cate something in the middle of the book, but it did not keep me from enjoying how everything developed and was revealed.
The history between Zeke and Cate was deep with emotion and unsettled baggage. Zeke - I had a love - hate - love relationship with him as more facts were revealed, and enjoyed the second chance story they had.
Love the relationship the sisters has and all the appearances by Eve and Grace.
The book starts at a point before the epilogue of book 1, but I enjoyed that and how the epilogue brought both books together.
This can be read as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading it in order.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*
At first, I thought it was a bit unrealistic that a 33 year old can pass for a 17 year old, and it reminded me a bit of the movie, Never Been Kissed, but soon the characters and story pulled me in that I didn't really mind that fact.
The undercover plot was interesting and I enjoyed following the characters finding the clues and following the evidence. I did know who the ultimate man was as soon as Kaylee told Cate something in the middle of the book, but it did not keep me from enjoying how everything developed and was revealed.
The history between Zeke and Cate was deep with emotion and unsettled baggage. Zeke - I had a love - hate - love relationship with him as more facts were revealed, and enjoyed the second chance story they had.
Love the relationship the sisters has and all the appearances by Eve and Grace.
The book starts at a point before the epilogue of book 1, but I enjoyed that and how the epilogue brought both books together.
This can be read as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading it in order.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*
October 11, 2021
It's been a while since I've read Irene Hannon's romantic suspense and I'm so glad that I was able to read this one. I've missed the fast-paced plot with unexpected twists and turns and riveting suspense that the author brings to every book she writes. The premise is somewhat unique as a seasoned detective goes undercover as a teenager at an exclusive boarding school and a veteran DEA agent goes undercover at the same school as a substitute Spanish teacher. As the investigation into the disappearance of a student intersects with an investigation into a drug ring, Cate and Zeke are thrown together in impossible situations and they may just find a second chance at love if they can stay alive to solve their cases. Cate and Zeke are likable characters but their romance was a bit underwhelming. I did enjoy getting glimpses into the perpetrators' thoughts and actions but the mastermind behind the crimes was a total surprise and the identity cleverly disguised until the end.
I received the book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.
I received the book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.
October 3, 2023
3.5⭐
An action pack ride about two teens who go missing and a cop and fbi agent that go undercover to solve the case. I really enjoyed the storyline and I really liked the character of Kayla, she really showed such strong faith in the Lord. But the rest of the characters I didn't really connect with. I feel like I need a Kayla story.😁
An action pack ride about two teens who go missing and a cop and fbi agent that go undercover to solve the case. I really enjoyed the storyline and I really liked the character of Kayla, she really showed such strong faith in the Lord. But the rest of the characters I didn't really connect with. I feel like I need a Kayla story.😁
October 13, 2021
If nail biting stories are your thing, then Labyrinth of Lies will ALSO be your thing! While it's completely different than the first book, it does include another Reilly sister... Cate. She's gone undercover at an all girls' school to search for a missing girl and her boyfriend, and it's something she wasn't intending to do because undercover work just wasn't her thing.
I liked Cate because she had spunk, but she didn't take undo risks. Sometimes women characters in the detective role go way overboard. I really felt like Cate was really true to her character! I loved her by-the-book style and how she really thought through her role.
And then there's Zeke. Hello, Zeke Martinez, aka Zeke Sloan, undercover at the same school as Cate, but for an entirely different reason. Sheesh, there's a lot going on at this private school! Both are undercover, but neither had any idea they'd be there so as a reader we could feel the tension between them. Of course, they have to work together, right?!
Drugs, missing teens, people suspect left and right... makes me glad I wasn't at that school! Then there's the creep factor that there's someone on the inside, but who?! There were a good number of people to point the finger at! It's winter time in St. Louis at a private college in the middle of nowhere, nothing to see there, right? Easy to see why they'd be chosen for a drug cartel to drop their goods.
Trying to connect the dots and hoping people don't get hurt had me biting my nails. I just loved Eduardo! Here's this man from Mexico trying to make a good life for his family, but let's just say things aren't easy for him. I know they only showed up a couple of times, but I enjoyed Cate's sisters spending time with her as well. It was fun to catch up with Eve, and now I'm even more excited about Grace's story.
*I received this book for review. This is my personal opinion.
I liked Cate because she had spunk, but she didn't take undo risks. Sometimes women characters in the detective role go way overboard. I really felt like Cate was really true to her character! I loved her by-the-book style and how she really thought through her role.
And then there's Zeke. Hello, Zeke Martinez, aka Zeke Sloan, undercover at the same school as Cate, but for an entirely different reason. Sheesh, there's a lot going on at this private school! Both are undercover, but neither had any idea they'd be there so as a reader we could feel the tension between them. Of course, they have to work together, right?!
Drugs, missing teens, people suspect left and right... makes me glad I wasn't at that school! Then there's the creep factor that there's someone on the inside, but who?! There were a good number of people to point the finger at! It's winter time in St. Louis at a private college in the middle of nowhere, nothing to see there, right? Easy to see why they'd be chosen for a drug cartel to drop their goods.
Trying to connect the dots and hoping people don't get hurt had me biting my nails. I just loved Eduardo! Here's this man from Mexico trying to make a good life for his family, but let's just say things aren't easy for him. I know they only showed up a couple of times, but I enjoyed Cate's sisters spending time with her as well. It was fun to catch up with Eve, and now I'm even more excited about Grace's story.
*I received this book for review. This is my personal opinion.
December 14, 2024
Dnf. There was so many comments about the two characters who had broken up being physically attracted to each other in too much excess for my liking.
November 25, 2021
This is the third book I’ve read by Irene Hannon, and to be honest, I don’t really know about her books, or maybe just this series. While the suspense is well done and gripping, the rest of the book wasn’t good enough for me to fully enjoy it, and overall the story line is weak and the characters lack depth.
Like other Hannon books I’ve read, this book was extremely focused on appearance and looks: from the first time the characters meet, there is a lot of thinking about how attractive the other person is, a lot of “she fills out those jeans well” “he left the top button of his shirt unbuttoned” energy, and overall just a LOT of attention focused on the physical aspects of the two main love interests. Both of them are stereotypical attractive people doing well for themselves, but ~somehow~ single. They had had a relationship in the past (which is heavily alluded to, including when they . As I’ve made clear from my other Christian fiction reviews, it’s a particular pet peeve of mine when two characters are drawn to each other because of their physical attributes: it’s extremely shallow, and does not bode well for their relationship, and this was extremely prevalent in this book.
Another thing I didn’t really understand/like about this book/romance was the reason for Cate and Zeke’s original breakup? They had great chemistry and seemed to have not broken up over a *huge* fight, and it just seemed like overall they broke up 8 years ago over a miscommunication, then their romance reignited immediately once they saw each other again. It was also bizarre to me how All in all, the relationship just didn’t seem healthy in this book.
The other thing I really wasn’t a huge fan of in this book was the extraordinary profiling that was being done. The “crime” in this case focused on drug dealing and “the cartel,” which was fine in and of itself, but there was significant talk about illegal immigrants and the Spanish-speaking character was part of the drug business. It wasn’t outright racist, but there were definitely some . . . *implications* about people from Mexico specifically (regardless of their immigration status), which really does not sit well with me.
There was also a black character in the book, who turned out to be fairly major to the plot. However, the way she was pulled into the storyline was because Cate wanted a “diverse roommate to broaden her exposure to other demographics and enhance her ethnic sensitivity,” which, 🤢. Granted, it was said semi-ironically, but STILL.
Also related to the drug thing, this book treated alcohol as something bad, but not something absolutely horrible: like the protagonists didn’t drink, but the antagonists would drink beer. It definitely had negative connotations, but wasn’t actively villainized. However, they treated marijuana at the same level as heroin and meth, which was so bizarre to me: if anything, marijuana is closer to alcohol than hard drugs, but they were acting like it was something so absolutely awful. The only real distinction was that the white people were interacting with the marijuana and the Hispanic people were interacting with the heroin, which has,,,Implications to be sure.
Lastly, the antagonist in this book was so built up, and the plot reached such a peak, but the motivation of the antagonist was really unknown? It was surprising and memorable to be sure, but the internal motivation of the antagonist was simply “[they] were not okay in the head. How does someone get to this point” without any more justification on their actions, which was really poorly executed, in my opinion. Some of the story was told from their point of view, but it was very much action based and didn’t justify the reason they were done, which did not justify the way the antagonist was thinking.
Overall, I did really like the buildup of the story: the suspense was really well done and the romance wasn’t all too unbelievable. However, with the other content and other stuff factored in, I would not recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion; I was not required to write a positive review.
Like other Hannon books I’ve read, this book was extremely focused on appearance and looks: from the first time the characters meet, there is a lot of thinking about how attractive the other person is, a lot of “she fills out those jeans well” “he left the top button of his shirt unbuttoned” energy, and overall just a LOT of attention focused on the physical aspects of the two main love interests. Both of them are stereotypical attractive people doing well for themselves, but ~somehow~ single. They had had a relationship in the past (which is heavily alluded to, including when they . As I’ve made clear from my other Christian fiction reviews, it’s a particular pet peeve of mine when two characters are drawn to each other because of their physical attributes: it’s extremely shallow, and does not bode well for their relationship, and this was extremely prevalent in this book.
Another thing I didn’t really understand/like about this book/romance was the reason for Cate and Zeke’s original breakup? They had great chemistry and seemed to have not broken up over a *huge* fight, and it just seemed like overall they broke up 8 years ago over a miscommunication, then their romance reignited immediately once they saw each other again. It was also bizarre to me how All in all, the relationship just didn’t seem healthy in this book.
The other thing I really wasn’t a huge fan of in this book was the extraordinary profiling that was being done. The “crime” in this case focused on drug dealing and “the cartel,” which was fine in and of itself, but there was significant talk about illegal immigrants and the Spanish-speaking character was part of the drug business. It wasn’t outright racist, but there were definitely some . . . *implications* about people from Mexico specifically (regardless of their immigration status), which really does not sit well with me.
There was also a black character in the book, who turned out to be fairly major to the plot. However, the way she was pulled into the storyline was because Cate wanted a “diverse roommate to broaden her exposure to other demographics and enhance her ethnic sensitivity,” which, 🤢. Granted, it was said semi-ironically, but STILL.
Also related to the drug thing, this book treated alcohol as something bad, but not something absolutely horrible: like the protagonists didn’t drink, but the antagonists would drink beer. It definitely had negative connotations, but wasn’t actively villainized. However, they treated marijuana at the same level as heroin and meth, which was so bizarre to me: if anything, marijuana is closer to alcohol than hard drugs, but they were acting like it was something so absolutely awful. The only real distinction was that the white people were interacting with the marijuana and the Hispanic people were interacting with the heroin, which has,,,Implications to be sure.
Lastly, the antagonist in this book was so built up, and the plot reached such a peak, but the motivation of the antagonist was really unknown? It was surprising and memorable to be sure, but the internal motivation of the antagonist was simply “[they] were not okay in the head. How does someone get to this point” without any more justification on their actions, which was really poorly executed, in my opinion. Some of the story was told from their point of view, but it was very much action based and didn’t justify the reason they were done, which did not justify the way the antagonist was thinking.
Overall, I did really like the buildup of the story: the suspense was really well done and the romance wasn’t all too unbelievable. However, with the other content and other stuff factored in, I would not recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion; I was not required to write a positive review.
March 6, 2023
Wow! The first thing that I have to say about Labyrinth of Lies is how different it is from Point of Danger – but it’s just as riveting & just as full of surprises! I loved how the mood and pace of Cate’s story were different from Eve’s, much like the two sisters and their careers of choice are uniquely individual, too.
Cate is a police detective who is once again going undercover, this time at a private boarding school. And without giving away any spoilers, I can say that it’s a very unique role she’s taking on – an aspect that added some interesting dimension to the story and unearthed some hidden layers to Cate’s character. Also undercover? A blast from her past named swoony Zeke. Okay, I added the swoony part lol but that’s because this DEA agent IS quite swoony and I imagine you’ll love him as much as I did. The unresolved vibes and mistakes from their past relationship keep the tension high even when their lives aren’t in danger, and I loved the chemistry that zinged between them whenever they shared the page.
Bottom Line: Labyrinth of Lies delivers more pulse-pounding suspense and toe-curling romance from Irene Hannon! The creative way in which the author arranged for Cate & Zeke to combine their undercover investigations without raising suspicion at the school allows them a lot of scene time together, which lets readers thoroughly enjoy the sparks they set off while rooting for them to act on those long-repressed feelings. And, for that matter, the suspense is top-notch, too, with several surprising twists and lots of layers in play along with a mix of diverse characters. Grace’s story is next, and I can’t wait!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Cate is a police detective who is once again going undercover, this time at a private boarding school. And without giving away any spoilers, I can say that it’s a very unique role she’s taking on – an aspect that added some interesting dimension to the story and unearthed some hidden layers to Cate’s character. Also undercover? A blast from her past named swoony Zeke. Okay, I added the swoony part lol but that’s because this DEA agent IS quite swoony and I imagine you’ll love him as much as I did. The unresolved vibes and mistakes from their past relationship keep the tension high even when their lives aren’t in danger, and I loved the chemistry that zinged between them whenever they shared the page.
Bottom Line: Labyrinth of Lies delivers more pulse-pounding suspense and toe-curling romance from Irene Hannon! The creative way in which the author arranged for Cate & Zeke to combine their undercover investigations without raising suspicion at the school allows them a lot of scene time together, which lets readers thoroughly enjoy the sparks they set off while rooting for them to act on those long-repressed feelings. And, for that matter, the suspense is top-notch, too, with several surprising twists and lots of layers in play along with a mix of diverse characters. Grace’s story is next, and I can’t wait!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
July 20, 2022
I really enjoyed this story. I thought the way the romance was played out (Cate and Zeke had previously been in a relationship, but he broke her heart) was very well done, especially given their individual undercover roles at the school. Understated worked well for this.
I really loved the suspense part of the book, which I do feel was the main driving point. I had a few sneaking suspicions along the way, but how things actually played out was chilling to say the least.
I look forward to Grace's story!
I really loved the suspense part of the book, which I do feel was the main driving point. I had a few sneaking suspicions along the way, but how things actually played out was chilling to say the least.
I look forward to Grace's story!
November 2, 2021
Cate Reilly is going undercover--posing as a young woman in Ivy Hill's elite boarding school where the daughter of a high-profile businessman has disappeared. When she arrives at the school, she is surprised to find her former boyfriend, Zeke Sloan, is also working at the school undercover as a Spanish teacher. However, he is investigating to find out how drugs are being smuggled in the area from Mexico. Labyrinth of Lies by Irene Hannon is aptly named as this book has loads of twists and turns--and more than one person is putting on an act.
Labyrinth of Lies kept me turning pages quickly to find out who the bad guys really were. There were a few surprises in this book, with a plot kept me guessing right up until the end for both detective's cases--who was involved in both the drugs and the disappearance of the student and her boyfriend. I enjoyed all of the characters, including the secondary characters. They all felt like real people. There were a few who had struggles with making good choices. There were also characters who showed forgiveness, grace and compassion with those they dealt with. The spiritual element was mostly quietly woven in throughout the story. I also enjoyed the rekindled feelings that led to romance between Zeke and Cate. I especially like the thought they put into whether they would rekindle their romance and that their relationship held off until the investigation was mostly complete. I read Labyrinth of Lies as a stand-alone. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
Labyrinth of Lies kept me turning pages quickly to find out who the bad guys really were. There were a few surprises in this book, with a plot kept me guessing right up until the end for both detective's cases--who was involved in both the drugs and the disappearance of the student and her boyfriend. I enjoyed all of the characters, including the secondary characters. They all felt like real people. There were a few who had struggles with making good choices. There were also characters who showed forgiveness, grace and compassion with those they dealt with. The spiritual element was mostly quietly woven in throughout the story. I also enjoyed the rekindled feelings that led to romance between Zeke and Cate. I especially like the thought they put into whether they would rekindle their romance and that their relationship held off until the investigation was mostly complete. I read Labyrinth of Lies as a stand-alone. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
November 11, 2021
The storyline in this book completely grabbed my attention.
Cate is assigned an undercover job. She's to register at a prestigious girl's school as a student, and be a 17 year old. Sounds like a cushy assignment, right? Well, maybe...until you remember that the reason for her position is that a girl and her boyfriend are both missing. Her task is to get close to some of the girls there and try to figure out just what exactly happened.
To make things even more complicated, her ex boyfriend, Zeke, is also working undercover there. He's the new Spanish teacher.
I loved the characters, the setting, and the storyline. It was fun to read about, but contained so much mystery, action, and intrigue.
Who or what is behind all the things that have been going on? The twists and turns the story takes to get you through all of it...well it's not a story you want to put down, so save it for a time when you can just read it the whole way through!!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
Cate is assigned an undercover job. She's to register at a prestigious girl's school as a student, and be a 17 year old. Sounds like a cushy assignment, right? Well, maybe...until you remember that the reason for her position is that a girl and her boyfriend are both missing. Her task is to get close to some of the girls there and try to figure out just what exactly happened.
To make things even more complicated, her ex boyfriend, Zeke, is also working undercover there. He's the new Spanish teacher.
I loved the characters, the setting, and the storyline. It was fun to read about, but contained so much mystery, action, and intrigue.
Who or what is behind all the things that have been going on? The twists and turns the story takes to get you through all of it...well it's not a story you want to put down, so save it for a time when you can just read it the whole way through!!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
November 3, 2021
Police detective Cate Reilly goes undercover at an elite girls' school when the daughter of a high profile businessman goes missing. She teams up with DEA agent and former flame Zeke Sloan to unravel the twisted goings on, beneath the veneer of wealth and privilege.
A fast paced suspense, with characters that you can cheer for to the end. Cate is fast thinking and intelligent, she isn't exactly thrilled to be working with Zeke, but the lives of the girls at the school are on the line. There is a lot going on, as Cate and Zeke work to find answers while keeping their covers. I liked how they reconnected, making strides towards mending their relationship, finding common ground in their faith.
While this is the second book in the series, it does stand on its own, though I loved seeing familiar characters form the previous book. A riveting plot and great character interaction make this book hard to put down. Can't wait to read Grace's story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A fast paced suspense, with characters that you can cheer for to the end. Cate is fast thinking and intelligent, she isn't exactly thrilled to be working with Zeke, but the lives of the girls at the school are on the line. There is a lot going on, as Cate and Zeke work to find answers while keeping their covers. I liked how they reconnected, making strides towards mending their relationship, finding common ground in their faith.
While this is the second book in the series, it does stand on its own, though I loved seeing familiar characters form the previous book. A riveting plot and great character interaction make this book hard to put down. Can't wait to read Grace's story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 24, 2021
'In the world he'd occupied for close to a decade, there had been little evidence of the Almighty's presence-or even the existence of a loving God.'
I am a huge fan of Irene Hannon. Her suspense books are great. She deftly layers on layer after layer of more suspense, thereby giving readers a more difficult time in trying to figure out the culprits. I was shocked at this one! She is very good at what she does and I never miss one of her good books.
My thanks to Revell Publishing for a copy of this book via the Net Galley platform. The opinion here is my own.
I am a huge fan of Irene Hannon. Her suspense books are great. She deftly layers on layer after layer of more suspense, thereby giving readers a more difficult time in trying to figure out the culprits. I was shocked at this one! She is very good at what she does and I never miss one of her good books.
My thanks to Revell Publishing for a copy of this book via the Net Galley platform. The opinion here is my own.
August 16, 2021
The latest from Irene Hannon takes us to the Ivy Hill school where two undercover agents find each other working different cases at the present but have a past that’s unresolved. Cate is working the disappearance of a student, while Zeke is trying to sort out a drug smuggling ring. As they work together to untangle the cases, sorting through the web of hurt in their past will also take time and trust.
If you’re a fan of Irene Hannon, this suspense filled story will hit the mark.
If you’re a fan of Irene Hannon, this suspense filled story will hit the mark.
December 9, 2022
Another interesting mystery from Irene. There were a few characters to keep straight and that got a bit confusing till I got farther in to the story. The premise was one I enjoyed and Cate and Zeke were characters I really liked. Kayla was probably my favorite character in the story. The story held my attention and had an exciting ending. Good read!
March 23, 2022
An excellent continuation of the series. I really enjoyed Cate's story. I liked it a bit better than the first book, and I am looking forward to reading Grace's story. A lot of mystery and suspense. I think one of my favourite things about the story was Cate and Kayla's friendship.
September 6, 2022
I'm not a big romantic suspense reader but was happy to win this in a giveaway and try a book by Irene Hannon. I enjoyed the read and I think fans of romantic suspense will probably love it. I'm just more of a historical fiction or general fiction type of gal myself :)
October 25, 2021
I hated the first book. Why I picked the second one thn you ask? Cause I liked Cate's character. She was portrayed as a strong willful character who actually uses her braincells. So yeah that's why I started this book. Girrrl was I wrong?
It didn't feel like I was reading about the same women. She was just like all those girls who melt as a pudding when the men just look at them. No matter how much wrong they did to them. Yeah no matter what she says that she didn't forgive Zeke or she will be professional and won't be personal blah blah blah. She didn't showed anything on that matter. Her resistance was laughable. Even Zeke figured it out at the first meeting which pissed me off so much. At their first meeting he knew that Cate is still hung up on him and he still affects her. And he felt what? Pity? The whole book was about Zeke fighting for a second chance but I didn't think he ever felt that he might actually loose her. He knew constantly how he was affecting her. He could have had her if he pushed harder. They got together at the end cause Zeke wanted to go slowly and that one time Cate actually complained about how he hurt her before. But imo they would have got together no matter when Zeke decided to do that. Yes he had his reasons to broke up with her but.....it wasn't that strong of a reason. You want to marry a girl but you can't open up to her about your problems? And I don't think he would have pursued her after 8years if she indicated that she won't interested. He was ready to move on if she said no at the end.
The mystery was okay. Not bad. I like Kayla and Cate's friendship.
Huffff.... I'm striking bad romances back to back💔
It didn't feel like I was reading about the same women. She was just like all those girls who melt as a pudding when the men just look at them. No matter how much wrong they did to them. Yeah no matter what she says that she didn't forgive Zeke or she will be professional and won't be personal blah blah blah. She didn't showed anything on that matter. Her resistance was laughable. Even Zeke figured it out at the first meeting which pissed me off so much. At their first meeting he knew that Cate is still hung up on him and he still affects her. And he felt what? Pity? The whole book was about Zeke fighting for a second chance but I didn't think he ever felt that he might actually loose her. He knew constantly how he was affecting her. He could have had her if he pushed harder. They got together at the end cause Zeke wanted to go slowly and that one time Cate actually complained about how he hurt her before. But imo they would have got together no matter when Zeke decided to do that. Yes he had his reasons to broke up with her but.....it wasn't that strong of a reason. You want to marry a girl but you can't open up to her about your problems? And I don't think he would have pursued her after 8years if she indicated that she won't interested. He was ready to move on if she said no at the end.
The mystery was okay. Not bad. I like Kayla and Cate's friendship.
Huffff.... I'm striking bad romances back to back💔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2021
I got strong Gallagher Girls vibes right away, but that's probably because the book is set in an all-girls private school. Hannon did a great job keeping me guessing and I didn't suspect the perp until just before they were revealed!!!! There was a lot of subterfuge and things not being as they seemed, from the bad guys and the good guys. Labyrinth of Lies is the perfect title.
I really liked Cate's sisters. Their relationship is fun and sweet. I wish they could have been around more, but that wouldn't work for obvious reasons. I also really like Kayla. It's a relatively minor subplot, but I just liked how everything went with her. How Cate connected to her and was able to form a relationship.
The case took a larger role than personal character growth, which is new. Our MCs did have things to work through, but there wasn't as clear of a message or theme that they were learning. Not bad, just different.
My one drawback was how big of a role the romance held in the story. Usually, it's in the background or a minor part of the plot because catching bad guys is more important! I just didn't like how it was done in this one.
Many thanks to Revell and NetGalley for a copy of the book. All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.
I really liked Cate's sisters. Their relationship is fun and sweet. I wish they could have been around more, but that wouldn't work for obvious reasons. I also really like Kayla. It's a relatively minor subplot, but I just liked how everything went with her. How Cate connected to her and was able to form a relationship.
The case took a larger role than personal character growth, which is new. Our MCs did have things to work through, but there wasn't as clear of a message or theme that they were learning. Not bad, just different.
My one drawback was how big of a role the romance held in the story. Usually, it's in the background or a minor part of the plot because catching bad guys is more important! I just didn't like how it was done in this one.
Many thanks to Revell and NetGalley for a copy of the book. All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.
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