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melissasbookshelf's review
5.0
Another amazing Natalie Marsh book that’ll keep you on pins and needles til the end! Finally, the much anticipated wedding between Natalie & Gideon is here, but it wouldn’t be a Natalie Marsh event without plenty of suspense and murder. Poor Natalie just wants to be a normal bride, but in the midst of wedding preparations, the eight year old death of her fiancé’s roommate comes back to haunt them. There are plenty of twists and turns in this fourth book in the series and it’s incredibly hard to put down. It’s her best Natalie Marsh mystery yet!
Gideon’s roommate Travis supposedly died of a drug overdose eight years ago. To honor his memory, his mother wants to establish a drug addiction clinic in his name and wants Natalie to run it. As a favor to her benefactor, Natalie agrees to listen to the proposal, but it’s clear this woman is going to be a nightmare to work with. Things go from bad to worse when Natalie’s estranged sister comes back into her life and adds yet another complication.
As more and more clues accumulate, it appears Travis’ death was actually murder. Gideon’s friends add an interesting dimension to the story as secrets are revealed about their pasts and the involvement they may have had in Travis’ death. They all become suspects when a bloody knife turns up during the wedding celebrations.
This mystery had me quickly turning the pages and as with all Stephanie Black mysteries, you need to pay attention because she throws some pretty amazing twists throughout the story. It’s a great whodunnit which will keep you guessing. Though it could be read as a standalone, it’s better if you’ve read the previous books.
I have the ebook but also listened to the audiobook. The audiobook version is really good and I enjoyed the narrator.
Gideon’s roommate Travis supposedly died of a drug overdose eight years ago. To honor his memory, his mother wants to establish a drug addiction clinic in his name and wants Natalie to run it. As a favor to her benefactor, Natalie agrees to listen to the proposal, but it’s clear this woman is going to be a nightmare to work with. Things go from bad to worse when Natalie’s estranged sister comes back into her life and adds yet another complication.
As more and more clues accumulate, it appears Travis’ death was actually murder. Gideon’s friends add an interesting dimension to the story as secrets are revealed about their pasts and the involvement they may have had in Travis’ death. They all become suspects when a bloody knife turns up during the wedding celebrations.
This mystery had me quickly turning the pages and as with all Stephanie Black mysteries, you need to pay attention because she throws some pretty amazing twists throughout the story. It’s a great whodunnit which will keep you guessing. Though it could be read as a standalone, it’s better if you’ve read the previous books.
I have the ebook but also listened to the audiobook. The audiobook version is really good and I enjoyed the narrator.
katiemayveil's review
4.0
Natalie Marsh is in the final week before her wedding. She's scheduled things out and doesn't have any downtime. But when she's approached by a potential donor who is very wealthy, she makes the time to meet with her. Everything starts unravelling when Natalie and her fiancee Gideon meet up with some old friends.
After the wedding, a bloodstained knife is discovered. Followed by the attack and death of multiple people. Natalie and Gideon have to work together to figure out who is behind all of this, and why. Using their combined strengths they make a formidable team.
This is the third book following Natalie Marsh. It's very well written and very captivating. I would recommend reading the previous two books, but it's not crucial that you do. Stephanie Black is a talented author and has put together another edge-of-your-seat thriller.
After the wedding, a bloodstained knife is discovered. Followed by the attack and death of multiple people. Natalie and Gideon have to work together to figure out who is behind all of this, and why. Using their combined strengths they make a formidable team.
This is the third book following Natalie Marsh. It's very well written and very captivating. I would recommend reading the previous two books, but it's not crucial that you do. Stephanie Black is a talented author and has put together another edge-of-your-seat thriller.
thecleanreadbookclub's review
5.0
“Tell me, do you and your lovely wife have a subscription in a crisis-of-the-month club?
-Mr. Bob Chapman
This is book 4 of 4 in the Natalie Marsh series and the perfect way to finish these books off! I HIGHLY recommend reading these books in order because there are a lot of character cross overs throughout this series. To read them in order you will want to start with ‘Not a Word’, followed by ‘Mind Games’ (I posted about this book on 10/15 October for my “Trust Me Thursday” Post), then ‘To Die, To Sleep’ and lastly ‘Bound in Shallows’.
Stephanie Black is the Queen of suspense and thrilling reading. I love her writing style because it gives me all the feels. Most of the time she makes me want to hide under the covers (yes, you’ll be staying up late to finish these books) but she has a way of adding dry humor in the most perfect places to help me still get some sleep after finishing...and rechecking my locks.
Stephanie is also an expert at never letting on “who done it” until she’s ready for you to know. For a reader who can usually pick up on every foreshadowing clue I appreciate her writing that keeps me guessing and never quite sure until the end!
The characters are well rounded and I’ve loved following them throughout their journey. The writing is clean and believable while still being extremely thrilling. This is a mystery/suspense novel and does have violence throughout the storyline, but nothing graphic or inappropriate. If you want a good book to keep you up all night, but not all night this series is the perfect place to start!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Covenant Communications and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
-Mr. Bob Chapman
This is book 4 of 4 in the Natalie Marsh series and the perfect way to finish these books off! I HIGHLY recommend reading these books in order because there are a lot of character cross overs throughout this series. To read them in order you will want to start with ‘Not a Word’, followed by ‘Mind Games’ (I posted about this book on 10/15 October for my “Trust Me Thursday” Post), then ‘To Die, To Sleep’ and lastly ‘Bound in Shallows’.
Stephanie Black is the Queen of suspense and thrilling reading. I love her writing style because it gives me all the feels. Most of the time she makes me want to hide under the covers (yes, you’ll be staying up late to finish these books) but she has a way of adding dry humor in the most perfect places to help me still get some sleep after finishing...and rechecking my locks.
Stephanie is also an expert at never letting on “who done it” until she’s ready for you to know. For a reader who can usually pick up on every foreshadowing clue I appreciate her writing that keeps me guessing and never quite sure until the end!
The characters are well rounded and I’ve loved following them throughout their journey. The writing is clean and believable while still being extremely thrilling. This is a mystery/suspense novel and does have violence throughout the storyline, but nothing graphic or inappropriate. If you want a good book to keep you up all night, but not all night this series is the perfect place to start!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Covenant Communications and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
thebookscript's review
4.0
Bound In Shallows is a fun clean thriller about a couple who just wants to make it to their honeymoon in one piece.
Stephanie and Gideon become wrapped up in the drama of a murder that they were associated with around 10 years ago. There’s a lot of drama, family ties and enough lies and drama to keep you entertained and trying to figure out “who dun it”.
This is a good thriller for those who like it a bit more on the clean side, with no language, sexual content or darker themes. But don’t think you’ll get away unscathed without a little blood shed!
A series to read in order or if you’re like me just jump into book 4 and still have a fun time! I loved Stephanies choice of villain and it had me guessing until the very end and walking away satisfied!
Stephanie and Gideon become wrapped up in the drama of a murder that they were associated with around 10 years ago. There’s a lot of drama, family ties and enough lies and drama to keep you entertained and trying to figure out “who dun it”.
This is a good thriller for those who like it a bit more on the clean side, with no language, sexual content or darker themes. But don’t think you’ll get away unscathed without a little blood shed!
A series to read in order or if you’re like me just jump into book 4 and still have a fun time! I loved Stephanies choice of villain and it had me guessing until the very end and walking away satisfied!
lawnchairbookworm's review
4.0
Poor Gideon and Natalie can’t even enjoy their honeymoon with a murder taking place! Trouble follows them wherever they go.
I loved being back in this suspenseful world that Stephanie Black has created.
Great list of suspects and she kept me guessing whodunnit the whole time.
Family drama, murder, kidnapping and so much suspense.
I loved being back in this suspenseful world that Stephanie Black has created.
Great list of suspects and she kept me guessing whodunnit the whole time.
Family drama, murder, kidnapping and so much suspense.
canada_matt's review
4.0
First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and S.L. C., Jr. for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
It was the premise of this book that pulled me in, with the cover art being a close second. Unique on both fronts, I chose to tackle this book by the mysterious author, S.L.C., Jr. Clifford Swank is a pornographer and not afraid to hide it. His medium is photographs and he is able to cobble together a basic magazine on a monthly basis, with the talent that enters his Tampa establishment. When the body of a young woman turns up in the water, the police are baffled about the identity, helped only by a small tattoo on her backside. Swank reads of this and wonders if he might know her as a past model who came to see him. Not long thereafter, Swank is visited by a local street preacher, who wishes to hire him to locate the girl. Swank balks, admitting to no one but himself that he used his now deceased father’s PI business as an advertisement filler in his magazine. After seeing that money will not be an issue, Swank agrees to the investigative task and takes the case, where he finds that his sly demeanour can help. He focuses his attention on a local televangelist who speaks of the evils of pornography and prostitution, but may himself be dabbling in the field. When Swank and an undercover copy end up working together, they discover new and angering angles in the case, ones that include a local crime family and some dirty cops. Trying to stay one step ahead of the heavy hitters, Swank and his new ‘partner’ work their leads as they seek to bring justice to a young woman whose life was cut short for reasons as yet unknown. An interesting tale told from the most unique perspective I have seen in a crime thriller. Definitely not your run of the mill read, though those can be the best at times.
I like unique in my reading experiences, which this book offered in spades. While Cliff Swank is involved in one of those professions that many a reader usually finds on the darker side of a story, he does well as a protagonist and his line of work does not enter the story too much, saving some of the more prude and expectation seeking readers from being too disturbed. Swank parachutes into the role of PI well and seems in touch with the community, even as he turns over rocks he never expected he would have to. Others in the piece worked well and kept the pace moving well, as the story took some interesting twists throughout. I was eager to see how the author would tackle the pornographer as PI situation and was pleasantly surprised. While the story was unique to the max and had some interesting early chapters, the momentum soon faded and I was left with a touch of disappointment. I cannot place my finger on what might have been better or how things could have been improved, but if this is the debut novel, there is some great potential. A mix of short and longer chapters keeps the story moving and the writing is quite clear, making the read a quick and somewhat enjoyable one for me.
Kudos, S.L.C., Jr. for your mysterious ways. I may return to read another of you pieces, having some honing and polish work on your writing.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
It was the premise of this book that pulled me in, with the cover art being a close second. Unique on both fronts, I chose to tackle this book by the mysterious author, S.L.C., Jr. Clifford Swank is a pornographer and not afraid to hide it. His medium is photographs and he is able to cobble together a basic magazine on a monthly basis, with the talent that enters his Tampa establishment. When the body of a young woman turns up in the water, the police are baffled about the identity, helped only by a small tattoo on her backside. Swank reads of this and wonders if he might know her as a past model who came to see him. Not long thereafter, Swank is visited by a local street preacher, who wishes to hire him to locate the girl. Swank balks, admitting to no one but himself that he used his now deceased father’s PI business as an advertisement filler in his magazine. After seeing that money will not be an issue, Swank agrees to the investigative task and takes the case, where he finds that his sly demeanour can help. He focuses his attention on a local televangelist who speaks of the evils of pornography and prostitution, but may himself be dabbling in the field. When Swank and an undercover copy end up working together, they discover new and angering angles in the case, ones that include a local crime family and some dirty cops. Trying to stay one step ahead of the heavy hitters, Swank and his new ‘partner’ work their leads as they seek to bring justice to a young woman whose life was cut short for reasons as yet unknown. An interesting tale told from the most unique perspective I have seen in a crime thriller. Definitely not your run of the mill read, though those can be the best at times.
I like unique in my reading experiences, which this book offered in spades. While Cliff Swank is involved in one of those professions that many a reader usually finds on the darker side of a story, he does well as a protagonist and his line of work does not enter the story too much, saving some of the more prude and expectation seeking readers from being too disturbed. Swank parachutes into the role of PI well and seems in touch with the community, even as he turns over rocks he never expected he would have to. Others in the piece worked well and kept the pace moving well, as the story took some interesting twists throughout. I was eager to see how the author would tackle the pornographer as PI situation and was pleasantly surprised. While the story was unique to the max and had some interesting early chapters, the momentum soon faded and I was left with a touch of disappointment. I cannot place my finger on what might have been better or how things could have been improved, but if this is the debut novel, there is some great potential. A mix of short and longer chapters keeps the story moving and the writing is quite clear, making the read a quick and somewhat enjoyable one for me.
Kudos, S.L.C., Jr. for your mysterious ways. I may return to read another of you pieces, having some honing and polish work on your writing.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
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