Cover-up: A Novel of Suspense

Melanie Vargas #3

by Michele Martinez

Beautiful and ruthless television reporter Suzanne Shepard made her name by airing brutal celebrity gossip and earned a roster of high-profile enemies in the process. But her own murder was more than a scandal . . . it was a horror show.

At first glance, the mutilated corpse lying still in the Manhattan rain bears all the earmarks of a random sex slaying. But federal prosecutor Melanie Vargas knows that too many people wanted Suzanne Shepard dead for her murder to have been a coincidence.

Sifting through the scandals that fueled the dead reporter's career keeps Melanie from obsessing about her own intense affair with sexy FBI agent Dan O'Reilly. But Melanie's own murder may be the next one to make headlines, now that blood-chilling e-mails are arriving from an anonymous "admirer" who knows far too much about the Shepard slaying . . . and about Melanie's every move.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Romantic Suspense, New York

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2007

About the author

Michele Martinez, a graduate of Harvard University and Stanford Law School, was a federal prosecutor in New York City for eight years. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Stacy Alesi]

Melanie Vargas, federal prosecutor in NYC, returns in this latest thriller from the oh-so-talented Martinez. While dining out with her boyfriend, hunky FBI agent Dan O'Reilly, she is dragged along to the scene of a murder when he is paged to respond. Vargas had been laying low, taking low profile cases in order to recover from some rough cases and spend more time with her daughter. But being that she is in the right place at the right time - the murder scene of a celebrity, tabloid TV reporter Suzanne Shephard, Vargas realizes that this is an assignment she can't walk away from. Shephard had plenty of enemies, and law enforcement has their work cut out for them to try and find the murderer. Terrific pacing in this legal thriller along with some hot romance makes this another fast, fun read from this author, who has turned into one of my favorites.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suzanne Shepard spent her working life revealing dirty little secrets about others on television as a high-profile reporter. When New York City cops get an anonymous call, the caller directs them to a ravine that reveals the ghastliest secret of all. Suzanne Shepard is dead, and someone has sliced and diced her in brutal ways, carving the word “bitch” on her stomach. And that doesn’t include the sexual assault stuff she endured.

FBI Special Agent Dan O’Reilly gets the nod to investigate the murder, and he calls his girlfriend, federal prosecutor Melanie Vargas, who reluctantly agrees to accompany him to the crime scene. A representative from the local district attorney’s office had already been there and fled vomiting because of the brutality of the murder.

Because Shepard was in the enemy-making business, Melanie has a list of suspects longer than a polygamist’s clothesline to plow through. Finding Shepard’s killer won’t be easy; normally Vargas can narrow suspect lists down quickly. But not so this time. Some of the people on the list trouble Vargas. One suspect is the father of a young and promising intern in Vargas’s office. He’s a mayoral candidate, and he and his assistant are extremely hostile to Vargas.

Then the emails start pinging into Melanie’s box. The writer references Melanie’s body, commending her for it and yearning to do unthinkable things to it. More troubling still is the fact that the writer has specific information about the Shepard murder that police never released to the media.

It’s a race against time and a stalker as the killer wounds one suspect, and another one dies near the end of the book. Melanie could find herself among the dead if she can’t find a solution.

I chose this as one of my early-morning walk books. I need a title whose plot keeps me so involved I can’t fixate on how much farther I must walk. Something that provides the occasional adrenaline shot to the ticker is a must, and this book fills that bill nicely.

[Crystal Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright, but it was definitely not as good as the first two. I listened to the audiobook, which was a mistake because it was a different narrator than the first two, and she was awful. I'll be reading the fourth book physically, so we will see how that one compares to the first three. Hopefully it's better than this one because I really love Michele Martinez!

[Dick Ulmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the Melanie Vargas (prosecutor) series very much. I did wonder if prosecutors really ever get involved in the detective work of solving the crime as Melanie seems to do, but Michele is a former prosecutor herself, so maybe so.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring

[Debbie Deissler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay book - A television reporter Suzanne Shepard was killed and prosecutor Melanie Vargas starts to uncover why putting herself in dangers way.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The Melanie Vargas series is terrific. Fast reads, thrillers, that keeps you turning the pages. Love the relationship between Melanie and Dan.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read! Great action, great characters (all imperfect, just like real life) and an intriguing plot, with surprising twists.
I be looking for more from Michele Martinez!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read that kept me on the edge until the end.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michelle Martinez has done it again. Somehow, she manages to keep some unexpected twists and turns just lying but Neath the surface of what is really going on. Read this book and take another wild ride with Melanie and Dan. Not only with their jobs, but also with their relationship. Ride along with them as their love continues to grow, and their lives are put on the line. Experience the difficulty and emotional pain, when Melanie must continue to balance being a single mom and having a high-pressure job. If you think this book will be boring, you can't be more wrong. I guarantee you will not be disappointed with this book. Excitement awaits! This is the third book in the series, there are four books, so far. I anxiously await picking up number four.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Federal prosectuer Melanie Martinez becomes involved in the investigation of the murder of a prominent tabloid journalist. The journalist was murdered in an especially brutal way, and as Melanie investigates she begins to suspect that she is being stalked herself. She needs to solve the case fast, but there are too many suspects. And her relationship with FBI agent Dan O'Reilly is a constant distraction.[return]This was a fair suspense story, but the dialogue seemed kind of stilted and the characters one dimensional. Good for a light read but not much more.

[Debra · Rating 2 out of 5]

It rarely is a good thing to start a series in the middle. My enjoyment of Close Up probably suffered because of it.

It seemed an OK legal thriller - not terrible but not memorable. Some poor sex scenes that really seemed to be thrown in as the requisite heat pulled down my enjoyment.

Since I listened to the audiobook format, I must say that narration was fine. Again, not memorable, but her voice suited the story and pacing.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a famous TV scandal reporter is found brutally murdered in Central Park, Federal prosecutor Melanie Vargas is assigned the high-profile case.

Third in the series featuring Melanie Vargas. Melanie continues to develop into a well-rounded character as we learn more about her daughter and her new love interest. Fast-paced and well-written. Highly recommended.

[Mary Beth Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series. It's edgy enough to keep me interested, but not horrifyingly graphic. I like the secondary characters and they way they interact, and I like the fact that things are not always clear-cut. I would definitely recommend this one to fans of Linda Fairstein and Karin Slaughter.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A TV reporter with a long list of high-profile enemies.
But which one left her mutilated, lifeless body in the
dark recesses of New York's Central Park? Melanie has been receiving chilling e-mails from an anonymous "admirer" who knows way too much about the murder -- and about Melanie's every move. If Melanie doesn't find the killer soon, it will be to late.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the main character in this book and think she would make a great friend. The plot wasn't very suspenseful or surprising and her relationships with others are not very well-developed. I would read the next installment, though, because I like the honesty and integrity of the protagonist.

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melanie Vargas is a tough ADA in New York. She gets a big murder case that everyone is watching and it puts her safety at risk. I like this series, just a little romance and the violence is not too graphic, something for most.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

8/10/2004

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really intense and and page turner

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much better than the first two in the series...really enjoyed it.

[Book Concierge · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an adequate thriller. On the plus side - I got really caught up in the plot. On the minus side - loose ends, a stupid female prosecutor, and an unnecessary love interest.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

M Vargas #2

[Vivian · Rating 1 out of 5]

With cartoon characters and cliched prose, this book was awful and is the last Michele Martinez novel that I will try to read. No more wasting time, she's finally off my list of authors to read.

[Alma Garcia]

When I started reading this book I remembered that I had read it before. But, I read it again.

[Jim Moffett · Rating 4 out of 5]

07-07

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.literaryfeline.com/2011/09...

[Leah Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending of this book felt rushed, like there was too much build up for the eventual ending.

[Mary Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was close to five stars until near the end. Why, why, why do women writer's let their tough, bright, feisty female protagonists do really stupid things? Will say no more as I do not want to give away the conclusion.