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Kenner County Crime Unit #8
An Unexpected Clue
Special Agent Ben Parrish had been thought dead for two months. So when he suddenly reappeared, bruised and battered on his pregnant wife's doorstep, claiming he'd been working deep undercover, even the FBI had trouble believing him. Before he could be debriefed, though, he had to convince Ava to trust him with her safety and that of their unborn baby. But with his captors hot on his trail, Ben had little time to explain to Ava how much he'd missed her. Now, even as they barely stayed one step ahead of the danger and protecting Ava became his top priority, Ben had never felt happier to be home....
Contains an exclusive Kenner Country Crime Unit bonus story by Delores Fossen!
Contains an exclusive Kenner Country Crime Unit bonus story by Delores Fossen!
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2006
17 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Elle James
682 books1,190 followersAward-winning author Elle James grew up as an air force military brat. She received her work ethic from her rock-solid father, her creative streak from her artistic mother and inspiration from her writing partner and sister, Delilah Devlin. As a former member of the army reserves and a current member of the air force reserves, she's traveled across the United States and to Germany, managed a full-time job, and raised three wonderful children. She and her husband have even tried their hands at ranching exotic birds (ostriches, emus and rheas) in the Texas hill country. Ask her, and she'll tell you what it's like to go toe-to-toe with an angry three-hundred-and-fifty-pound bird and live to tell about it!
Her adventures in the army and air force reserves, and the wild antics of her life on a small ranch in Texas give her fodder for mystery, suspense and humor in her writing. Elle writes gothic, paranormal mystery for the Harlequin Intrigue line and paranormal romantic comedy for Dorchester Publishing. A former manager of computer programming and project management professionals, Elle is happy she now has the opportunity to pursue her writing full time.
Her adventures in the army and air force reserves, and the wild antics of her life on a small ranch in Texas give her fodder for mystery, suspense and humor in her writing. Elle writes gothic, paranormal mystery for the Harlequin Intrigue line and paranormal romantic comedy for Dorchester Publishing. A former manager of computer programming and project management professionals, Elle is happy she now has the opportunity to pursue her writing full time.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 23, 2009
Eighth and last book in Harlequin Intrigue's "Kenner County Crime Unit" multi-author mini-series. This book can pretty much be summed up in two words: TSTL heroine. That one fact was a total mood killer on reading this story.
An Unexpected Clue wraps up the storyline of the murder of FBI Agent Julie Grainger and warring Las Vegas mob families.
Since the series started, Agent Ben Parrish has been under suspicion of whether he was a good guy or a bad guy. He's done some things that made him look guilty, but he's friends continued to trust him. Then Ben was injured and disappeared while on a manhunt for a suspect, and afterwards, more evidence came to light pointing toward him going bad. His pregnant new wife was left with a lot of questions and few answers.
Then Ben reappeared after having escaped being held captive by a mob boss. He knows his wife is in danger and searches her out, but he has to keep to the shadows because the police and FBI want to arrest him on suspicion of murder. Once he finds Ava, she is reluctant to trust him and thwarts all attempts he makes to protect her. But Ben won't let Nicky Wayne get his hands on Ava. He'll do anything to protect her.
The biggest thing about this book is, as mentioned about, the utterly TSTL heroine. Ava was so irritating and idiotic. It was bad enough the way she treated Ben. I mean, the man was held captive and she acts like he went off on man's vacation and abandoned her. She decides SHE doesn't want to deal with his job and traveling and whatnot so therefore SHE won't let him be a part of their baby's life. WTF? But worst than that, she was a freakin' idiot when it came to her safety. The woman is eight months pregnant and has a ruthless mob boss after her and she keeps running off by herself, doing whatever she wants. She ditches her husband (whose got the gun to protect her), she goes here and there all alone, thinking 'oh, I'll just be real quick.' Sure, right. Which is why she kept getting shot at, almost kidnapped, etc. And she never learned! No matter that she kept being in danger, she kept doing stupid things. And she was a forensics person, for pete's sake! Ava just ruined the entire book. She was the epitome of TSTL.
As for the storyline and wrapping up and eight book series. Hmm...well, this book in and of itself wasn't too bad. Wasn't great and wasn't horrible. But at the same time, this book as part of a series, felt rather incomplete. I didn't feel like I really knew all of Ben's story, and his story with Ava...did they meet with the start of this case, did they get together right away, etc.
And I thought the way his character was portrayed throughout the books was inconsistent. In the first book he's under a lot of suspicion, then he's not and he's just Ben, Agent and friend to other characters, then he's back under suspicion. It was weird. So I thought that aspect could have been better.
Aside from that, I was left with some lingering questions. One being that there was never really a definitive answer to who killed Julie and why. It's pretty solidly implied that one certain antagonist did, but I was never sure why she was killed. There was a half-assed explanation in this book but it made no sense to me.
Second, who killed Del Gardo? Because I'm not sure. One book implies it was one character, another book implies a different character and no one was ever given final responsibility. So who killed him?
Lastly, I was confused on something. In the beginning of the series, Ben, Dylan and Tom all receive a note from Julie alone with a medal that had numbers etched on one side. It was later discovered Del Gardo put the numbers there and that they were to a bank account with his missing $50 million. What I don't get is how did Julie end up sending medals that Del Gardo had put a bank number on? She picked out the medals, each one had a person meaning to the person who received, yet Del Gardo had some involvement. How did that happen? It was rather confusing.
So what do I have to say about this series overall? I think I can sum it up by saying that even though this series wasn't absolutely horrible, I don't think I'll be reading any more of these HQ multi-author series. They are just too frustrating to read with all the inconsistencies between books.
An Unexpected Clue wraps up the storyline of the murder of FBI Agent Julie Grainger and warring Las Vegas mob families.
Since the series started, Agent Ben Parrish has been under suspicion of whether he was a good guy or a bad guy. He's done some things that made him look guilty, but he's friends continued to trust him. Then Ben was injured and disappeared while on a manhunt for a suspect, and afterwards, more evidence came to light pointing toward him going bad. His pregnant new wife was left with a lot of questions and few answers.
Then Ben reappeared after having escaped being held captive by a mob boss. He knows his wife is in danger and searches her out, but he has to keep to the shadows because the police and FBI want to arrest him on suspicion of murder. Once he finds Ava, she is reluctant to trust him and thwarts all attempts he makes to protect her. But Ben won't let Nicky Wayne get his hands on Ava. He'll do anything to protect her.
The biggest thing about this book is, as mentioned about, the utterly TSTL heroine. Ava was so irritating and idiotic. It was bad enough the way she treated Ben. I mean, the man was held captive and she acts like he went off on man's vacation and abandoned her. She decides SHE doesn't want to deal with his job and traveling and whatnot so therefore SHE won't let him be a part of their baby's life. WTF? But worst than that, she was a freakin' idiot when it came to her safety. The woman is eight months pregnant and has a ruthless mob boss after her and she keeps running off by herself, doing whatever she wants. She ditches her husband (whose got the gun to protect her), she goes here and there all alone, thinking 'oh, I'll just be real quick.' Sure, right. Which is why she kept getting shot at, almost kidnapped, etc. And she never learned! No matter that she kept being in danger, she kept doing stupid things. And she was a forensics person, for pete's sake! Ava just ruined the entire book. She was the epitome of TSTL.
As for the storyline and wrapping up and eight book series. Hmm...well, this book in and of itself wasn't too bad. Wasn't great and wasn't horrible. But at the same time, this book as part of a series, felt rather incomplete. I didn't feel like I really knew all of Ben's story, and his story with Ava...did they meet with the start of this case, did they get together right away, etc.
And I thought the way his character was portrayed throughout the books was inconsistent. In the first book he's under a lot of suspicion, then he's not and he's just Ben, Agent and friend to other characters, then he's back under suspicion. It was weird. So I thought that aspect could have been better.
Aside from that, I was left with some lingering questions. One being that there was never really a definitive answer to who killed Julie and why. It's pretty solidly implied that one certain antagonist did, but I was never sure why she was killed. There was a half-assed explanation in this book but it made no sense to me.
Second, who killed Del Gardo? Because I'm not sure. One book implies it was one character, another book implies a different character and no one was ever given final responsibility. So who killed him?
Lastly, I was confused on something. In the beginning of the series, Ben, Dylan and Tom all receive a note from Julie alone with a medal that had numbers etched on one side. It was later discovered Del Gardo put the numbers there and that they were to a bank account with his missing $50 million. What I don't get is how did Julie end up sending medals that Del Gardo had put a bank number on? She picked out the medals, each one had a person meaning to the person who received, yet Del Gardo had some involvement. How did that happen? It was rather confusing.
So what do I have to say about this series overall? I think I can sum it up by saying that even though this series wasn't absolutely horrible, I don't think I'll be reading any more of these HQ multi-author series. They are just too frustrating to read with all the inconsistencies between books.
July 2, 2018
This book's storyline was really good. I really liked the chemistry in this story. I really liked Jason's character. I really liked Lily's character. I felt sorry for Lily. I loved ❤ Megan. I really liked the ending.
September 20, 2009
Having recently escaped from a Vegas Mafia boss's torture chamber where he's been held for the past two months, undercover FBI agent Ben Parrish is determined to do everything in his power to protect his pregnant wife Ava.
Unfortunately for him, the past two months have wreaked havoc in Ava's mind. Suspicion about her husband's integrity, accusations of him being a murderer, and the fear he might turn out like her father and abandon her and her baby, didn't inspire much faith in Mrs. Parrish and now she wants nothing to do with her husband. She doesn't believe him, she doesn't trust him, but he is the only one who can truly keep her safe.
This would've been a great RS story - the premise was good, the suspense gripping, the action scenes great, and the villain twisted just right - but Mrs. Ava Parrish ruined it all for me.
She was stubborn, hormonal, obtuse, judgmental etc. (all toward the man she professed to love, the father of her unborn child) she was borderline TSTL.
The constant litany of "Ben is just like my father", "he'll abandon me and the baby", "I don't want my baby to grow up without her father", "boo-hoo, poor me" was frustrating, unbelievably obtuse...She was doing a great job of pushing Ben away herself, but of course she wasn't at fault here, he was. The man who almost died in a torture cell but got out because he wanted to keep her safe could not be counted on. Sheesh, just because her father abandoned her and her sister (and he had a good reason!), not every man was like that. But of course, it was all about her, and her, and more her. Talk about a selfish woman.
She completely ruined this story for me and I'll be damned before I attempt to read this book again. I might be a fool, but I ain't that big of a fool.
Unfortunately for him, the past two months have wreaked havoc in Ava's mind. Suspicion about her husband's integrity, accusations of him being a murderer, and the fear he might turn out like her father and abandon her and her baby, didn't inspire much faith in Mrs. Parrish and now she wants nothing to do with her husband. She doesn't believe him, she doesn't trust him, but he is the only one who can truly keep her safe.
This would've been a great RS story - the premise was good, the suspense gripping, the action scenes great, and the villain twisted just right - but Mrs. Ava Parrish ruined it all for me.
She was stubborn, hormonal, obtuse, judgmental etc. (all toward the man she professed to love, the father of her unborn child) she was borderline TSTL.
The constant litany of "Ben is just like my father", "he'll abandon me and the baby", "I don't want my baby to grow up without her father", "boo-hoo, poor me" was frustrating, unbelievably obtuse...She was doing a great job of pushing Ben away herself, but of course she wasn't at fault here, he was. The man who almost died in a torture cell but got out because he wanted to keep her safe could not be counted on. Sheesh, just because her father abandoned her and her sister (and he had a good reason!), not every man was like that. But of course, it was all about her, and her, and more her. Talk about a selfish woman.
She completely ruined this story for me and I'll be damned before I attempt to read this book again. I might be a fool, but I ain't that big of a fool.
April 7, 2019
I’ve read every book in this series, and loved The Kenner County Crime Unit series. I really liked how this book, An unexpected clue tied all the books together, and how it ended. I wasn’t fond of the heroine in this book. She was annoying through most of the book. She was married to an FBI agent that went missing. His fellow agents thought Ben had gone bad. Ava was pregnant. When her husband came back, she didn’t want to reconnect. She was afraid that her husband would turn out like her father, and leave her and their child. She didn’t want her child going through the pain she did as a child. Her solution was not to allow her child to know the father. Bad guys were after both Ben and Ava, and Ben was risking his life throughout the book to protect his wife, and unborn child.
I loved the suspense and action of this book. This is not the best book that I have ever red, but it wasn't the worst either. It kept me interested. There is not a single book that will please everyone. I will leave you with a few samples of the book.
Sample from chapter one - One of the men shouted. A popping sound was immediately followed by the glass in the passenger window next to him exploding, showering him with tiny shards. His heart hammering in his chest, Ben evaluated his options in two seconds. Stay where he was and face two guards who could multiply into many more, or take his chances and run
Sample from chapter 14 - "I couldn't and wouldn't leave you in Kenner City. Nicky is a mean son of a bitch," He said quietly. "He wouldn't give a damn that you are a woman and pregnant. To him, your condition would only mean more leverage." Leverage. A cold lump settled in Ava's squashed stomach. She sat quietly, reflecting on what Ben said and attempted to study her surroundings.
I loved the suspense and action of this book. This is not the best book that I have ever red, but it wasn't the worst either. It kept me interested. There is not a single book that will please everyone. I will leave you with a few samples of the book.
Sample from chapter one - One of the men shouted. A popping sound was immediately followed by the glass in the passenger window next to him exploding, showering him with tiny shards. His heart hammering in his chest, Ben evaluated his options in two seconds. Stay where he was and face two guards who could multiply into many more, or take his chances and run
Sample from chapter 14 - "I couldn't and wouldn't leave you in Kenner City. Nicky is a mean son of a bitch," He said quietly. "He wouldn't give a damn that you are a woman and pregnant. To him, your condition would only mean more leverage." Leverage. A cold lump settled in Ava's squashed stomach. She sat quietly, reflecting on what Ben said and attempted to study her surroundings.
March 19, 2017
NOTE:
I enjoyed reading Delores Fossens mini-book about Ben's time in prison first. Up to you but several times I was able to think back to what I read first and I enjoyed the overall completion it gave to the book!
Awesome ending - loved Ava - she had only known the way she grew up, stupid/selfish sure but whatever it made for a better ending! Would love to see a follow-up to this, Ms Fossen are you interested??
I enjoyed reading Delores Fossens mini-book about Ben's time in prison first. Up to you but several times I was able to think back to what I read first and I enjoyed the overall completion it gave to the book!
Awesome ending - loved Ava - she had only known the way she grew up, stupid/selfish sure but whatever it made for a better ending! Would love to see a follow-up to this, Ms Fossen are you interested??
October 12, 2008
Unexpected Father (Silhouette Intrigue) by Delores Fossen (2007)
May 1, 2017
Liked characters, liked plot, memorable book.
March 11, 2020
Love to read about the gentler side of these tough men
April 26, 2012
I’m not sure there was one good thing about AN UNEXPECTED PREGNANCY. I found the plot uninteresting and the characters extremely annoying and uncooperative.
Ben and Ava Parrish got married when Ava got pregnant. During her 6th month of pregnancy, Ben disappeared and his guys in his Special Agent force began questioning his loyalties. With theories flying and the cops questioning Ava for her husband’s whereabouts, she herself begins to questions if she really knew him.
During the two months, Ava’s heart hardens and she prepares herself to raise her daughter without a father. With a fatherless childhood herself, this hits Ava hard that she fell for a man like her mother did.
So one would think that when Ben finds Ava that she would be so thankful that her husband hadn’t abandoned them and be even more willing to listen to his side of things when it becomes clear that he was indeed captured like he said he was.
Not! Ava doesn’t want to hear anything Ben has to say. The man tells her that an evil mobster is after them both, yet she continuously sneaks off by herself with no care in the world. Really? How stupid. She’s 8 months pregnant, on forced work leave because of high risk for premature labor, and she’s running away from the man who’s trying to save their lives, not to mention her husband.
And except for a really weird night together, which I think the author just threw in there, they had no kind of romantic interest or actions that felt real.
When Ben does finally get her off by themselves she still pushes him away…until the big bad guys show up and he’s about to go outside to confront them. Only then does she finally confess her belief in him and her love for him.
A month after their daughter, Lola is born, everybody from the previous books gather for some good news.
Ben and Ava Parrish got married when Ava got pregnant. During her 6th month of pregnancy, Ben disappeared and his guys in his Special Agent force began questioning his loyalties. With theories flying and the cops questioning Ava for her husband’s whereabouts, she herself begins to questions if she really knew him.
During the two months, Ava’s heart hardens and she prepares herself to raise her daughter without a father. With a fatherless childhood herself, this hits Ava hard that she fell for a man like her mother did.
So one would think that when Ben finds Ava that she would be so thankful that her husband hadn’t abandoned them and be even more willing to listen to his side of things when it becomes clear that he was indeed captured like he said he was.
Not! Ava doesn’t want to hear anything Ben has to say. The man tells her that an evil mobster is after them both, yet she continuously sneaks off by herself with no care in the world. Really? How stupid. She’s 8 months pregnant, on forced work leave because of high risk for premature labor, and she’s running away from the man who’s trying to save their lives, not to mention her husband.
And except for a really weird night together, which I think the author just threw in there, they had no kind of romantic interest or actions that felt real.
When Ben does finally get her off by themselves she still pushes him away…until the big bad guys show up and he’s about to go outside to confront them. Only then does she finally confess her belief in him and her love for him.
A month after their daughter, Lola is born, everybody from the previous books gather for some good news.
February 11, 2013
I love stories like these in which the male and female characters are forced to work together, especially ones where it’s because of their relations or connections to babies. Delores Fossen does a great job in writing this type of scenarios. Lilly and Jason have to stay together because of her daughter and his niece, Megan, who Jason took care of for over a year because Lilly was in a coma when she gave birth. This was a very difficult situation sort out. It creates questions such what exactly is the correct or ethical thing to do regarding the custody of the baby?
Despite this conflict, I didn’t like how Lilly first reacted. I found it harsh that just a few days after waking up and finding how she gave birth to a girl more than a year ago and has been protected, cared, and loved by the girl’s uncle, the first thing she does is prepare to revoke his custody of the child. At least wait a while, she should have given some thought and been a little nicer about it knowing that Jason had taken care of Megan with all he had.
Other than that, it was a great story. I loved how Jason and Lilly have a bad history in which they always argued, mainly about her part in Greg's death. It seemed unlikely that they would get along at all, but Jason was very caring and opened up small ways that allowed them to be less hostile against each other.
I liked how the secondary characters remained under suspicion or were not fully trusted just because of their longtime relationship with Jason or Lilly. Everyone was looked at like a suspect which some stories fail to do and end up giving away who the villain is early on.
Despite this conflict, I didn’t like how Lilly first reacted. I found it harsh that just a few days after waking up and finding how she gave birth to a girl more than a year ago and has been protected, cared, and loved by the girl’s uncle, the first thing she does is prepare to revoke his custody of the child. At least wait a while, she should have given some thought and been a little nicer about it knowing that Jason had taken care of Megan with all he had.
Other than that, it was a great story. I loved how Jason and Lilly have a bad history in which they always argued, mainly about her part in Greg's death. It seemed unlikely that they would get along at all, but Jason was very caring and opened up small ways that allowed them to be less hostile against each other.
I liked how the secondary characters remained under suspicion or were not fully trusted just because of their longtime relationship with Jason or Lilly. Everyone was looked at like a suspect which some stories fail to do and end up giving away who the villain is early on.
February 17, 2013
This was extremely bad. Here, I will save you an evening reading this.
Ava: I'm pregnant. I'm as fat as a whale. I feel so fat. I hate you Ben Parrish. I'm fat. I'm pregnant. I hate my dad. I'm fat. I haven't eaten in 18 hours but I don't want to eat a sandwich because I'm fat. [yes this is exactly what happens at one point]
Ben: I must be a zombie because I can perform superhuman feats after not having eaten for 48 hours. I haven't slept or eaten.
Cardboard cutout bad guy: Grr my money. Shoot the pregnant lady. Make sure you stuff up everything, henchmen.
Epilogue:
Everyone from previous books: we're pregnant! Babies for everyone! Look how pregnant every single one of us is! [yes, this is what actually happens at the end, they all meet up to compare uteruses]
Worst Intrigue I've read in a very VERY long time. I would rather read Twilight fanfiction written by 11 year olds than I would read anything else written by this author.
Ava: I'm pregnant. I'm as fat as a whale. I feel so fat. I hate you Ben Parrish. I'm fat. I'm pregnant. I hate my dad. I'm fat. I haven't eaten in 18 hours but I don't want to eat a sandwich because I'm fat. [yes this is exactly what happens at one point]
Ben: I must be a zombie because I can perform superhuman feats after not having eaten for 48 hours. I haven't slept or eaten.
Cardboard cutout bad guy: Grr my money. Shoot the pregnant lady. Make sure you stuff up everything, henchmen.
Epilogue:
Everyone from previous books: we're pregnant! Babies for everyone! Look how pregnant every single one of us is! [yes, this is what actually happens at the end, they all meet up to compare uteruses]
Worst Intrigue I've read in a very VERY long time. I would rather read Twilight fanfiction written by 11 year olds than I would read anything else written by this author.
July 19, 2011
Well, going in I did not know this was the 8th in a series. However, I'm sorta glad I did not read the other seven if the female lead is too stupid to breathe like Ava was. This book pissed me off. I hate when women come off as fools. Doing not just one, but numerous costly mistakes, that rationally, they should have been dead from in the first couple of chapters. Yes I seriously hated her that much. I really didn't get a sense of who Ben was, so I can't say I liked him too much. However the only postive was I LOVED THE LARGE PRINT!!!!!
August 11, 2021
If you are looking for a fast paced and on the edge of your seat then grab a copy of the series Kenner County Crime Unit and read book #8 An Unexpected Clue. From the first page to the very last word on the last page you will be gripped into the book with held breath wanting to find out who and why someone wanted to set up Ben Parrish. Join Ben as he gos after the people who want him dead and the secret that his wife holds around her neck and the friends who will risk their necks and jobs to help.
gave-up-on
June 17, 2012I'm afraid the cover and the synopsis fooled me into thinking this story was better than it was. I've read other reviews about this book and many say that the heroine was TSTL. I agree with that. She was very childish, stubborn, and couldn't make up her mind.
March 20, 2014
Great storyline full of intrigue and action.
2014-read
June 18, 2014Last book in the series, didn't read.
February 21, 2015
Steamy quick read. :) Overall not bad.
March 15, 2018
The last book in the series. I was a little disappointed in Ben & Ava's story.
April 21, 2019
HI #1156
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews