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McAllister Files #2
Deadfall
Mac is dealing with three difficult cases, two dead bodies . . . and a decision of the heart. It’s been just three months since Detective “Mac” McAllister solved his first homicide case with the Oregon State Police. Now he’s working the search for a ski instructor who has mysteriously disappeared. The man’s parents claim their son wouldn't have committed suicide, but they suspect his girlfriend of something sinister. The case gets more complicated when Mac and his partner, Kevin, are called to investigate a homicide nearby that may or may not be related. A few days later, a body turns up in the Columbia River, and the autopsy reveals surprising information about the victim's suspicious death. When their investigation seems at a dead end, Mac is determined not to let the crimes go unsolved—even if it means putting his life on the line to catch the killer.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2004
10 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Patricia H. Rushford
64 books142 followersPatricia H. Rushford, an award winning author and speaker, has extensive experience in writing and has authored over sixty books, both fiction and non-fiction. In addition to having a nursing degree and masters in counseling, she is also an artist and quilter.
The Jennie McGrady Mysteries for young adults have sold well over 500,000 copies. Silent Witness won the Silver Angel Award for Excellence in Media and was nominated for an Edgar Allen Poe Award by Mystery Writers of America. She also wrote the Max & Me Mysteries for middle grade.
The various mystery series for adults continue to receive great reviews. Her series include, The Helen Bradley Mysteries, The Angel Delaney Mysteries, The McAllister Files and her latest, the Artisan Mysteries.
Her newest releases are: Watercolor Dreams, Deadly Deception and The Quiltmaker's Daughter, both are romantic suspense novels featuring artists.
She has been awarded the Golden Quill Award by RWA- Desert Rose Chapter and earned honorable mention in the Silver Angel Awards.
Patricia is a member of ACFW and a number of other writing organizations. She has participated in such mystery events such as Bouchercon--the World Mystery Convention, Left Coast Crime, and other conventions for lovers of mystery and suspense. She manages a website and blog and has a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads and Linked-in and also generates a newsletter. Called Mysterious Musings.
Additional info at www.patriciarushfordbooks.com
The Jennie McGrady Mysteries for young adults have sold well over 500,000 copies. Silent Witness won the Silver Angel Award for Excellence in Media and was nominated for an Edgar Allen Poe Award by Mystery Writers of America. She also wrote the Max & Me Mysteries for middle grade.
The various mystery series for adults continue to receive great reviews. Her series include, The Helen Bradley Mysteries, The Angel Delaney Mysteries, The McAllister Files and her latest, the Artisan Mysteries.
Her newest releases are: Watercolor Dreams, Deadly Deception and The Quiltmaker's Daughter, both are romantic suspense novels featuring artists.
She has been awarded the Golden Quill Award by RWA- Desert Rose Chapter and earned honorable mention in the Silver Angel Awards.
Patricia is a member of ACFW and a number of other writing organizations. She has participated in such mystery events such as Bouchercon--the World Mystery Convention, Left Coast Crime, and other conventions for lovers of mystery and suspense. She manages a website and blog and has a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads and Linked-in and also generates a newsletter. Called Mysterious Musings.
Additional info at www.patriciarushfordbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 15, 2019
Nope, I don’t really care about the murder mysteries at this point to continue with this book.
DNF at 40%.
This was one of my book club books for July, and I stuck with it as long as I could. This book is identified as a Christian mystery and honestly, I just don’t think it’s for me.
I think the fundamental issue with Deadfall was the characters. I really didn’t care for detectives “Mac” McAllister or his partner, Kevin Bledsoe. They were both too squeaky clean for me.
I like my homicide detectives to be a bit more edgy, broken and someone that I can relate with.
I mean, when it comes down to it, this is one of the toughest jobs out there emotionally and mentally for a person.
I can’t relate with a religious detective that never cusses and quotes bible verses. Ha!!
Honestly, the one person that I liked the most in this book was the Medical Examiner, Dr. Kristen Thorpe. But the author Patricia Rushford tries to make her sound like a freak or bad person with her purple hair, tattoos and dark humor with dealing with dead bodies everyday. And I loved her the most! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Just goes to show that books work with some people and not others. I'm the wrong audience for this.
I think if you like clean mysteries with a theme plot that involves God and scripture, this is for you!
DNF at 40%.
This was one of my book club books for July, and I stuck with it as long as I could. This book is identified as a Christian mystery and honestly, I just don’t think it’s for me.
I think the fundamental issue with Deadfall was the characters. I really didn’t care for detectives “Mac” McAllister or his partner, Kevin Bledsoe. They were both too squeaky clean for me.
I like my homicide detectives to be a bit more edgy, broken and someone that I can relate with.
I mean, when it comes down to it, this is one of the toughest jobs out there emotionally and mentally for a person.
I can’t relate with a religious detective that never cusses and quotes bible verses. Ha!!
Honestly, the one person that I liked the most in this book was the Medical Examiner, Dr. Kristen Thorpe. But the author Patricia Rushford tries to make her sound like a freak or bad person with her purple hair, tattoos and dark humor with dealing with dead bodies everyday. And I loved her the most! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Just goes to show that books work with some people and not others. I'm the wrong audience for this.
I think if you like clean mysteries with a theme plot that involves God and scripture, this is for you!
April 23, 2019
An Oregon detective is called in when a missing ski instructor is found. He may have committed suicide, but then again, maybe not.
Nothing really memorable, but I did like the the die cut cover.
Nothing really memorable, but I did like the the die cut cover.
April 18, 2020
I’m not sure how to report this, so I’ll put it here. First of all, I enjoyed this book. This is only the second book I’ve read from the authors, and I like how it is generally clean. As a Christian, I appreciate seeing how a detective can live out his faith in the character of Kevin Bledsoe.
However, I’ve also read Deadfall and the entire John Hutchinson series by Robert Liparulo. The subtitle for this book on Goodreads belongs to his book by the same title. That is not a criticism of this book, but Goodreads might want to correct that.
However, I’ve also read Deadfall and the entire John Hutchinson series by Robert Liparulo. The subtitle for this book on Goodreads belongs to his book by the same title. That is not a criticism of this book, but Goodreads might want to correct that.
April 30, 2023
I did enjoy reading this book. The writing was great. I found it to be a slower read though. The story tells of two murders but the first murder really isn't focused on at all. It felt like a passing glance at the very beginning and end of the story and wish there was a little more focus on it throughout the book. All-in-all though, I enjoyed reading this book.
October 26, 2020
Book 2 was the most drama filled of the series. I enjoy learning more about Mac!
November 23, 2020
Really good book
Great mystery! Suspensful, exciting, with a surprise ending. Mac and Dana make a great pair. Ready for more books like this.
Great mystery! Suspensful, exciting, with a surprise ending. Mac and Dana make a great pair. Ready for more books like this.
October 14, 2021
3.5 Stars - is good in places and not so in others... overall, worth a read...
August 16, 2024
As intriguing as the first book. Very well-written with great twists.
May 25, 2015
I found the book to be a bit of a mess, the main reason being that there is literally no mystery besides the killer's identity. There's a strong clue that the missing person is going to turn up dead because the phrase "two dead bodies" is on the back cover. The authors take so much time trying to build up suspense about what happened to Brad that it eventually seems that a large portion of the book is filler; we know Brad is the second body so there's no big reveal. I also found the characters to be quite bland; the main detective has girlfriend troubles but he never seems three dimensional because we know little else about him. It's the same with the mother; she's a devoted Christian worried about her son but other than that, there's little else there.
I also found it highly doubtful that within the first few minutes of a missing person investigation, a lead detective would state to another detective that Brad's girlfriend killed him, especially as there's no concrete evidence of a murder or even a body at this point in the story. Little things like this really took me out of the book.
Really, the only positive thing about this book is the description of things like police protocol and autopsies. Obviously the writers did their research. I actually think the quirky medical examiner would have been a much more interesting protagonist. All in all, I can't recommend the book as I found it an irritating and disappointing read.
I also found it highly doubtful that within the first few minutes of a missing person investigation, a lead detective would state to another detective that Brad's girlfriend killed him, especially as there's no concrete evidence of a murder or even a body at this point in the story. Little things like this really took me out of the book.
Really, the only positive thing about this book is the description of things like police protocol and autopsies. Obviously the writers did their research. I actually think the quirky medical examiner would have been a much more interesting protagonist. All in all, I can't recommend the book as I found it an irritating and disappointing read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2013
Great second installation in this quartet of mystery stories set in places I actually travel through on a regular basis. They are set in Portland and the Gorge and are really well-written. I love a good mystery and these aren't overdone with sex and dirty cops and politics, just good mysteries with good people working together to solve them !!!! Can't wait for more in this series and also other books by both authors. Well done !!! Recommend to one and all !!!
October 12, 2016
Can hardly wait to read #3
Excellent storyline. Great detective work. Believable characters. Very suspenseful with humor. I gave this one 4 stars because of so many typos. (Which does take away from the read. Interrupts the flow). Very frustrating. Hopefully not this way because it was an ebook library download.....
Excellent storyline. Great detective work. Believable characters. Very suspenseful with humor. I gave this one 4 stars because of so many typos. (Which does take away from the read. Interrupts the flow). Very frustrating. Hopefully not this way because it was an ebook library download.....
February 14, 2011
If you like "who done its", this one continues the great Detective 'Mac" MacAlister series.
June 1, 2013
A bit of a disappointment. The plot seemed to drag at times and the ending was a bit too "neat". This was the first book I read on my KoboArc and went fairly quickly.
February 1, 2015
I couldn't keep my interest up in this book. It sounded great but couldn't quite get there.
January 22, 2015
More like 2 1/2 stars. Not that thrilling of a thriller.
Read
March 7, 2015Christian
July 5, 2015
Enjoyable read!
March 14, 2016
It wasn't a scary book. It was still good and kept you wondering.
Read
May 3, 2016great
November 13, 2013
It was AMAZING!!!
This is a MUST read!
This is a MUST read!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews