Book Review: Sue Coletta’s BLESSED MAYHEM

A chance encounter …a deadly predicament …a lethal decision.

The infamous Mr. Mayhem is not your average serial killer. Reminiscent of the beloved Hannibal Lecter, minus his thirst for flesh—because eating humans is just plain rude—Mr. Mayhem storms on the scene with style, grace, elegance, and a zest for life unlike any other. Impeccable manners also help. He may commit murder, but there’s no reason to be impolite about it.

Accompanied by his loyal crow companions, Poe, Allan, and Edgar, his crimes strike fear in the hearts and minds of folks across Massachusetts’ North Shore. When Shawnee Daniels—cat burglar extraordinaire and forensic hacker for the police—meets Mayhem in the dark, she piques his curiosity. Sadly for her, she leaves behind an item best left undiscovered. Or is it serendipity by design?

Color him curious, but he yearns to examine the psychology behind her life choices, tough girl routine, witty banter, and unique double-life. In a different time and place they may even become friends. But unfortunately, their predicament defines the risk.

The stakes are too high to stop now.

For reasons authorities cannot fathom, these seemingly unrelated murders will go down in history as the most impressive killing regime of all time. His coup de grace, if you will. Even if it means permanently erasing Ms. Daniels from the equation. All the pieces are there if the authorities look hard enough. The question is, will they? The only new wrinkle is Shawnee Daniels, and she may be his toughest opponent yet …if she’s clever enough to play the game.

Learn more about Blessed Mayhem here.

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My Review:

A Unique and Compelling Thriller

Read one of Sue Coletta’s stories, and you’ll want to read all of them. Read Wings of Mayhem and/or Hacked, and there’s no way you’ll want to miss Blessed Mayhem.

This series picks up with Shawnee Daniels, current forensic hacker and former cat burglar, reverting to her old ways. That’s bad in and of itself, considering she not only works for the police, she’s dating a detective. What makes matters worse is she gets caught—by a serial killer in the middle of a… let’s call it a project. Thus begins a pulse-pounding game of cat-and-mouse. Or maybe I should say cat-and-bird. The way the author incorporates crows and ravens into this story is nothing short of inspired.

Coletta has a fabulous ability to craft believable characters who do extraordinarily memorable things. Our heroine (or is she an anti-heroine?) has a complex past that we learn more about in this novel, a past that not only impacts all her present-day relationships but also inspires a rather bold decision on her part. Her love interest is sexy and stalwart, the perfect complement to the heroine and her less-than-pure actions. Her best friend is a quirky delight. And the villain is deliciously complex. I haven’t been this enthralled by an antagonist since Hannibal Lecter.

The plot is fast-paced, the settings exquisitely described. I love everything I read by this author, but this may have been my favorite work of hers so far. If you like heart-hammering suspense, you don’t want to miss this.

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To learn more about Sue Coletta and her work, or to find links to connect with her on social media, visit her website.

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