The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir

Twists & turns from a police insider—couldn’t put it down!

From the Publisher

Ex-homicide detective Ray Quinn never had glamorous thoughts of the life of a private investigator—but being cornered in a bathroom stall by the enraged philandering husband of a client? That’s something he could live without. Retired from homicide and living with a painful disability, Ray’s options are limited. Stick to the job, keep impetuous sidekick Crevis alive, and spend quiet evenings with trusted pal Jim Beam, that’s about the best he can hope for.

As a new client emerges, Ray finds himself in an impossibly large boardroom holding a check with enough zeros to finally lift him from his financial pit. The job seems easy enough: find Logan Ramsey, an ex-cop turned security officer who’s taken off with sensitive corporate information. But few things are easy in Ray’s world, regardless of the amount of zeros in the check.

In what should be an open-and-shut case, Ray stumbles across Logan Ramsey in a seedy motel room. Only Ray wasn’t the first to find him. Now Logan’s dead, the client’s information is nowhere to be found, and Ray’s employer is less than forthcoming with the details. Suddenly the line between the good guys and bad guys isn’t so clear. With a foot in both worlds and an illuminating look at an unhappy ending that could well be his own, which will Ray choose?

My Take

I’ve recently taken a liking to some murder mystery books and have added several new authors to my list of “must reads”.  I’ve now added Mark Mynheir to that list! This was a new author for me and now I can’t wait to read the first Ray Quinn mystery book.

Mynheir has a way of taking the facts and thinking outside the box to get new angles. I found it interesting how a police investigator’s thought process works and getting inside their heads.  Working with the Florida homicide unit, SWAT team, and forensics brings a whole other perspective to the usual mystery novel. 

I also enjoyed the characters in The Corruptible.  From the murder victim (not just a “dead guy”) to head honcho CEO that hires Quinn to Quinn’s business partners, each one has a distinct, unique personality. They also have their own story and Mynheir brings out those stories to give the reader a “bonding” experience with the characters. I think this helps for sequel books—you already have an investment in the characters and will more likely to get the new book to see what happens to them.

The Corruptible is a Christian based novel but Mynheir didn’t make it “preachy”.  There was really only one faithful character and she wasn’t pushy about it even though it was mentioned each time she was involved in the story line. I also liked how several of the characters had their own struggles and were trying to work through them to heal themselves. One negative -- there was some repetition throughout the book on minor items but I think they can be overlooked with such a compelling story line. 

I give The Corruptible 5 stars—I couldn’t put the book down and the story kept pulling me further and further in. It was almost as if I was involved in the case, too. I can’t wait to see what Mynheir comes up with next!

I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah’s “Blogging for Books”  as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."

 

About the Author

Mark Mynheir is the author of the Christy Award nominated The Night Watchman, the first Ray Quinn mystery. He has worked undercover as a narcotics agent, as a SWAT team member, and now investigates violent crimes as a detective with the Criminal Investigations Unit in central Florida, where he lives with his wife and three children.

Fatal Judgment by Irene Hannon

From the Publisher

U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward Liz haven't warmed in the five years since she lost her husband--and Jake's best friend--to possible suicide. How can Jake be expected to care for the coldhearted workaholic who drove his friend to despair?

As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, his feelings slowly start to change. When it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in mortal danger.

Full of the suspense and romance Irene Hannon's fans have come to love, Fatal Judgment is a thrilling story that will keep readers turning the pages late into the night.

My Take

Irene Hannon, author of the Heroes of Quantico series, has done it again! She has taken the mystery & romance together to make the start of another excellent series—Guardians of Justice.  The story dives right in at the beginning to get the reader hooked.

Federal Judge Liz Michaels’ sister is shot in the judge’s home and it soon becomes apparent that bullet was meant for the judge. In walks, US Marshal Jake Taylor, straight from another case. He had no clue that the Judge was actually the widow of his best friend. With all the unflattering stories Jake had heard about the Judge from his embittered best friend, how was he going to protect her with unbiased professionalism?

Hannon develops the characters a little at a time to keep the reader’s interest in their developing friendship. Both the Judge and Marshal Taylor have their demons they have to work through.  But it’s those demons that have made them who they are and gotten them to this point in their lives. They each have preconceived notions of each other and, as they spend time together, they realize those notions are wrong.

This is one of those books you just “need” to keep reading---that you “need” to know what’s going to happen next. The characters draw you in so you have a hard time putting the book down. There is a faith-based undertone, but you know both characters rely on God to guide their way. I really liked this book and would highly recommend it! Hannon does it again!

About the Author

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 25 novels, including the CBA bestsellers Against All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, and In Harm’s Way. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier award, and the Reviewer’s Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine. She lives in Missouri.