Black Diamond Death (A Sloane Monroe Novel, Book One) [Kindle Edition]

Cheryl Bradshaw (Author)

Book Description

Cheryl Bradshaw is an Amazon Kindle Best-Selling Author in Mystery: Hard-Boiled and Thriller: Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue

***

Black Diamond Death Description: Sloane Monroe Series: Book 1

"IN A PANIC I GASPED FOR AIR, BUT THERE WASN'T ANY. I TRIED TO CRY OUT, BUT I WAS ALONE, AND IN MY HYSTERIA IT HIT ME. I HAD FELT A SIMILAR FEELING BEFORE––LIKE MY BODY WAS GIVING OUT ON ME, AND I KNEW WHAT IT MEANT. I WAS DYING."

Enter the world of Sloane Monroe in Black Diamond Death...

A SKIER CRASHES

On the slopes of Park City, Utah’s newest ski resort a woman is found dead. At first glance, it has all the makings of an accident. The victim, Charlotte Halliwell, collided with a tree as she schussed her way to the bottom of the hill. But what if her death wasn’t an accident at all––what if she was murdered?

A SISTER IS ON A MISSION

In Black Diamond Death, Audrey Halliwell faces a problem: finding someone who believes her story.

Enter Private Investigator Sloane Monroe.

When Audrey marches into Sloane’s office with claims her sister’s death was no accident Sloane is skeptical at first, but agrees to take the case. With little to go on, she questions the people in Charlotte’s life and discovers Parker Stanton, a jilted ex-fiancé with plenty to hide, and as the son of a prominent businessman, he will go to any lengths to protect his secrets.

A SECOND BODY IS FOUND

Just as Sloane feels she's close to solving the case she stumbles on another dead body and is forced to re-examine the clues from the beginning, but she must tread lightly. With the killer aware that Sloane will stop at nothing to find him, her life is in danger and her every move is being tracked. Will Sloane uncover the truth before he strikes again?

***

S. Warfield, a top 500 reviewer, gave Black Diamond Death 4 out of 5 stars and had this to say: For an author's first book, Black Diamond Death is one that drew me in with the prologue. It moves at a steady pace, but not a frantic one. There are a lot of tense situations in the book. Recommended for mystery fans.

***

ALSO BY CHERYL BRADSHAW:

SINNERMAN (BOOK 2) SLOANE MONROE SERIES

I HAVE A SECRET (BOOK 3) SLOANE MONROE SERIES

WHISPERS OF MURDER (A NOVELLA)

***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised in Southern California, Cheryl Bradshaw became interested in writing at a young age, but it was almost two decades before she put pen to paper. In 2009 Cheryl wrote her first novel, Black Diamond Death (Sloane Monroe Series, Book 1). Within six weeks of its release it was in the top #100 in two different mystery categories on the Kindle and has been a top ranked novel since April 2011 averaging 4.8 out of 5 stars from reviewers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The writing and editing are excellent, the characters are interesting, and the plot kept me hooked. The balance between action and detecting worked perfectly.  The main character was a masterpiece.  --Edward G. Talbot, Author of New World Orders

The tone reminded me of Robert B. Parker's novels, so if you're missing the likes of Spenser and Sunny Randall, I'd say that Cheryl Bradshaw looks to be a worthy successor. Highly recommended! --Chris Stout, Author of Days of Reckoning

While I've found most mystery/thrillers to be rehashes of the same old plot line, this novel was refreshingly new/original. It is a new twist on the PI murder-mystery with a few nice surprises along the way. --Jack Murphy, Author of PROMIS: Vietnam

From the Inside Flap

OTHER BOOKS BY CHERYL BRADSHAW:

SLOANE MONROE MYSTERY SERIES:

BLACK DIAMOND DEATH (BOOK 1), SLOANE MONROE SERIES

SINNERMAN (BOOK 2), SLOANE MONROE SERIES

I HAVE A SECRET (BOOK 3), SLOANE MONROE SERIES

STRANGER IN TOWN (BOOK 4), SLOANE MONROE SERIES

SLOANE MONROE SERIES BOXED SET (BOOKS 1-3)

ADDISON LOCKHART PARANORMAL THRILLER SERIES:

GRAYSON MANOR HAUNTING (BOOK 1)

MURDER NOVELLA SERIES:

WHISPERS OF MURDER (A NOVELLA)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 300 KB
• Print Length: 312 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Pixie Publishing (March 9, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004RCNW2U
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,785 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A refreshing mystery amidst the snow October 12, 2011

By S. Warfield TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

For an author's first book, Black Diamond Death (A Sloane Monroe Novel), is one that drew me in with the prologue. The murder victim, a real estate agent in Park City, Utah, is skiing and as she slowly dies by some unknown method, she describes how she feels before she goes down before a tree, dying an unpleasant death. Investigators and the police wrap it up and declare it an accidental death. There is one problem, though. Charlotte Halliwell was an expert skier with medals to prove it.

Charlotte's sister, Audrey, comes to Sloane Monroe, who is a private investigator, to ask her to look into her sister's death, because she thinks it was no accident that took her sister away from her. She thinks it's murder. Sloane takes on the case, and thinks about her own sister who was murdered not that long ago, and the killer is still free.

I like Sloane. She's independent and not afraid to take on a dangerous situation by herself if she thinks it will help someone else. The other characters in the book are interesting and original, and sometimes bring a break of humor to the search for a murderer. Sloane's friend, Maddie, is a great character, always giving advice to Sloane. The other character who adds a nice little sidekick for Sloane is Lord Berkeley, better known as Boo, her dog.

The theme of this novel surrounds the real estate business in Park City, and most of the characters who pop in and out of scenes in the story are involved in real estate or else they're the police. I had no idea who the perpetrator was until the end of the book when it was revealed.

Black Diamond Death moves at a steady pace, but not a frantic one. It's a comfortable pace and there are a lot of tense situations in the book. I've downloaded the next one in the Sloane Monroe series, Sinnerman, because I enjoyed the first book and I have the feeling I'm going to find an even better novel with the second one. Four stars for Black Diamond Death! Recommended for mystery fans.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE January 18, 2012

By D. C. James

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really like the main characters.....although flip flops in the snow are too contrived for my taste, especially when she has things to say about other characters' affectations? I liked the interactions and the story was pretty good, definitely worth the time and purchase. I just downloaded the next book in the series. Bottom-line is, a very good first book with great promise for the future.....I think the author will tighten up her writing, get over her tendency to try to be a bit cute; she has some great characters she'll feel more and more at home with and won't have to force on us because we already like them ......also, maybe she needs to pay a little more attention to the flow of the plot - she left some things hanging a bit long for my thinking...like wondering about the guy leaving the note in the door, who the brother was, and she should have known about Cooper's daughter for Pete's sake. Anyway, it was an enjoyable read and I'm look forward to more from this author.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I just finished reading the book from front to back in one sitting, and OH MY !!! July 13, 2011

By Sheralee

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I just finished reading the book from front to back in one
sitting...and OH MY !!! what darn good read that was.

I felt like I was running along beside our heroine Sloane, trying to
keep up with her. Mostly due to Cheryl's use of descriptive
adjectives. Allowing the reader to mentally visualize the smells,
look and ambiance of the scene. After a few chapters, you soon find
yourself right beside our heroine, eagerly flicking to the next page.

Chapter 50/51 for me was the turning point, when the story line took
a whole new twist. Great stuff Cheryl !!! had me going there.

I also chuckled when interviewing "W" she goes, "I'll take business
for $1000" I laughed out loud.

NOW all I want to know is ????? what happened to Nick ???? Will
he be back in Sinnerman ? or has he been "offed" by Sloane ?

Please keep Maddie around and of course the adorable Berkley

Can not wait for the next book in the series...

More About the Author

Born and raised in Southern California, Cheryl Bradshaw became interested in writing at a young age, but it was almost two decades before she put pen to paper. In 2009 Bradshaw wrote Black Diamond Death (Book One: Sloane Monroe series). Within six weeks it entered the top 100 in two different categories and remained in the top 100 for over a year. Since that time, Bradshaw has written three additional novels in the series, and is now hard at work on the fourth. In 2013, Bradshaw introduced a new pranormal thriller series: Addison Lockhart, the first book titled Grayson Manor Haunting.

Bradshaw is the founder of IWU on Facebook, a writers group with over 1,800 members. In August 2012, Bradshaw was named one of Twitter's seven best authors to follow.

Cheryl Bradshaw's Novels:

Sloane Monroe Series:

Black Diamond Death (#1)
Sinnerman (#2)
I Have a Secret (#3)
Stranger in Town (#4)

Addison Lockhart Series:

Grayson Manor Haunting (#1)

Novella Murder Series:

Whispers of Murder

For information and updates about Cheryl Bradshaw, visit her at www.cherylbradshaw.com, find her on Facebook on her Cheryl Bradshaw Author Page and follow her on Twitter @cherylbradshaw.