Customer Reviews

Dead Giveaway (Mira Direct)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Talented author Brenda Novak weaves yet another tale of romance, suspense and deception in this the second book in the Stillwater trilogy, Dead Giveaway.

After a painful divorce, detective Allie McCormick comes back to her childhood town of Stillwater to start a new life with her six-year old daughter. Of course, it doesn't hurt that her father happens to be the chief of police and offers her a job. Immediately, Allie begins to work on a cold case--the strange disappearance of Reverend Lee Barker nineteen years ago. But the time factor is not the problem. The main problem is the chief suspect, handsome and brooding Clay Montgomery, who everybody in the town hates and believes to have murdered the Reverend.

As the investigation unfolds, and Allie falls deeper into her relationship with Clay, she realizes the man she has fallen in love with could not be capable of murder. She decides to help him to the end, even if that means putting herself in danger and fighting the whole town and its most important family. Will she succeed? And what if the famous Reverend, who everyone respected to much, turns out to be the most despicable of criminals?

Surprising twists and turns and a couple of interesting sub-plots keep the story moving at a fast pace until the very startling ending. Novak has a keen gift for combining suspense and romance, as well as for creating real, sympathetic heroines and darkly mysterious heroes that beautifully stand out from the typical stereotypes of the genre. The way Allie `solves' the case at the end is smart and unexpected. Dead Giveaway will draw the reader in different levels--both intellectually and emotionally, making this a very compelling read. Highly recommended.

***This review originally appeared in Armchair Interviews.

Brenda Novak's Dead Giveaway represents the best of the current romantic suspense on the market today. After reading Dead Silence, I was dubious that Novak could keep the suspense alive for a second book, but her character insight and development, her pacing, and tension make the second book as pleasurable and exciting as the first one in the Stillwater triology.

Brenda a Novak is a talented writer who is one of the best on the market at writing suspense. If you read one of her books you will be hooked and come back for more.

Her characters are always very interesting people and I challenge you to figure out the ending a head of time. No peeking at the back of the book. I can't wait to read the next one due out this August.

All of the prior reviews have thoroughly covered the story-line, so I'm taking a totally different slant.

In the past, with the exception of Janet Evanovich, I've only read what I've been told was called chick-lit, because I've bought books at writer's groups, to help support fellow authors. With most of them, I lost interest in the first couple of chapters.

That changed when I read my first Brenda Novak. Thinking I had done her a favor by purchasing her books, I instead found I did myself that favor. I'm glad she had both Dead Silence, the first book, and Dead Giveaway, part two to her Stillwater trilogy, at the signing - and even more glad I bought both of them.

I only wish the timing was such, that her as yet unpublished third book could have been there also, as I'm anxious to find how Brenda finalizes the story, especially with Madeline - step-sister to Clay and the rest of the Montgomery children.

I have no doubts Dead Right will be just as exciting and appealing as books one and two. It's going to be interesting to see how Novak handles the situation with Madeline, when the birth daughter of the disgusting Preacher Barker finds out the truth about her sicko-dad, and what part each of her step-family played in that truth.

Did she ever have questions or doubts about the entire situation? Did she honestly believe her father was as pure and perfect as the rest of his family and the townspeople thought him to be? All of those questions were raised in my mind as I read Dead Giveaway.

Brenda has an easy style of writing about her, and I appreciate the fact she uses good taste and common sense in her stories.

I'm hooked, and can't wait till Aug 2007 when the final book of the trilogy, Dead Right, is published.

In Stillwater, Mississippi almost two decades ago highly regarded Revered Lee Barker vanished without a trace. His family with one noted exception and the townsfolk believe that either his second wife or his then teenage stepson Clay Montgomery killed him. However, no proof or corpse was ever found so no one was arrested for the crime.

Former Chicago cold case Detective Allie McCormick accompanied by her six years old child Whitney has come home to work for her father, the Stillwater police chief following a divorce from a person who detested their daughter for no reason except her "intruding" on their lifestyle. Allie plans to uncover the truth behind the Barker disappearance, but also finds herself attracted to the prime suspect Clay, who she thinks knows what happened but is protecting someone probably his mom, his two sisters or his stepsister.

Noted for her fast-paced romantic suspense thrillers, Brenda Novak heats up Mississippi with this cold case investigation. The fascinating twist to the tale is that fans know early on that Clay knows what happened to the missing Reverend and Allie believes he is innocent, but protecting someone. The support cast is top rate as each has a reason to either conceal the truth or want the truth revealed. The romance adds fun as Allie begins to doubt her professionalism as she falls in love with the townsfolk only suspect. As with DEAD SILENCE and BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY, Ms. Novak writes a tense suspense laden tale.

Harriet Klausner

Former Chicago cold case detective Allie McCormick has returned to her bayou roots with her daughter in tow after a messy divorce to take a job as a deputy. When she gets a call to check out the Montgomery farm, she is reintroduced to the enigmatic Clay Montgomery, longed rumored to be the culprit behind his stepfather's disappearance. An instant attraction develops between the two, but he won't act on it since it doesn't want to ruin her reputation, and she has been retained by Clay's stepsister Madeline to put her cold case skills to work to find Madeline's dad. But there are many secrets buried at the Montgomery farm, and many people hoping to hang the crime on Clay, and Allie discovers that she and Clay are linked by more than their shared passion.

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Reverend Lee Barker continues to fuel imaginations throughout the bayou town of Stillwater, Mississippi, picking up where "Dead Silence" ended. Novak continues the sensuous series with the very complex Clay at the apex of the mystery. Allie makes an intriguing partner to the brooding Clay. But those looking for closure will have to wait at least until the third book comes out. As all three stories are heavily dependent on each other, it is recommended that they be read in order: Dead Silence; Dead Giveaway; Dead Right.

Clay Montgomery has lived in Stillwater Mississippi since his mother married Reverend Lee Barker. After the night that the Reverend was murdered, Clay has done everything possible to protect his family, especially his sister Grace. Remaining on the farm, which was the scene of the crime, Clay knows that he will never have what he wants most; a wife to love and children to raise. While he projects the image of a man who can't be bothered by those things, it is the farthest thing from the truth. If he can't have what he wants, he's determined to let his sisters have the chance for happiness, even if it means not finding his own.

Allie McCormick returned to Stillwater after a bitter divorce. As a Detective with the Chicago Police Department in the Cold Cases division, Allie thinks she can solve the mystery of what happened to Reverend Barker. What she doesn't count on his her feelings for Clay. While she can see that he wants her, she also sees his determination not to give in. Allie soon realizes that she's trying to solve the case to prove Clay's innocence. When she realizes that her digging may prove the exact opposite, Allie stops. However, it's too late because her opening the case again has the town wanting Clay Montgomery's blood for the death of their beloved preacher.

When Allie discovers what kind of man Reverend Barker really was, she knows that Clay was involved. She just doesn't know the extent of his involvement. Clay is determined to protect Allie from any backlash her digging has caused, even if it means hurting her. While Clay would love to be a family with Allie and her daughter, he knows it's not possible. He has too many secrets, held in for too long to be anything but bad for Allie and her daughter. Brenda Novak brings these characters to life for the reader, in this small Mississippi town. You don't want to miss the second installment in the DEAD series, as it will have you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing!

If you read romantic suspense for the romance mostly and like very light suspense, you may well love this book. If you picked this up from the mystery aisle and mistakenly believed it's a hard-boiled suspense novel, you may not be so happy. It's a matter of taste.

I picked up "Dead Silence" (the first novel in this series) based reading on the slam-bang first chapter. I read the book mostly in one sitting, and I gave it a 5. If I had realized it was 'romantic suspense' I probably would not have purchased the book and that would have been regrettable.

The concept behind these novels is different than anything I've ever read. We know pretty much whodunit and most of us agree "he needed killing." What provides the real thrill-ride is will the perpetrators get caught--and by whom?

"Dead Giveaway" picks up where "Silence" left off with new point of view characters. Allie McCormick is a cold-case detective from Chicago who returns home to Stillwater, Mississippi with her little girl, Whitney, after her divorce. She's working for her father, the police chief. Clay is the eldest son of Irene Montgomery and the one everyone suspects of doing in the Reverand Barker. He's kept the family secret for nearly 20 years, but the arrival of the new detective puts him and his family at great risk again.

My principal problem with this book is the narrators. Allie just isn't believable as a female cop--most of it revolving around issues of her own personal safety and handgun handling. Clay's been tamping his emotions down all this time, so he's something of a weak or impaired narrator.

I've bought the last book and I'm considering whether I should read it or not. I probably will for, just to see what will happen to a cast of characters that I genuinely do like.

Again, if romance is your favorite genre to read, you're going to love this book. I was somewhat disappointed, because I was hoping for something more like the first book.

Dead Silence was wonderful and Dead Giveaway is just as good. A great story. They evolve around what happened to the Reverend Lee Barker...and the secrets the characters all have. Those secrets keep you on the edge of your seat...wondering how it will all play out.

I loved Dead Silence and I knew Dead Giveaway would be just as great. Clay is a wonderful hero. His connection and chemistry with Allie was electric. My only complaint, which isn't really complaint, would be I was expecting Clay to explain to Allie why he went to Beth Ann's. I thought Allie got over that very fast with no apology, and yet there was so much more critical stuff going on, it wasn't so important.

This was an edge of your seat, can't put down read.

This trilogy is gripping and I can't wait to read Madeline's story.