Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast-paced, suspense-filled story for crime fiction fans, March 13, 2009
Riveting, fast-paced, and filled with twists and turns, "No Sanctuary" by F.M. Meredith is a crime fiction reader's dream.
Officer Stacey Wilbur is the first on the scene of a one-car accident. A green Toyota has smashed into an oak tree and the female driver is dead. But it soon becomes obvious that the accident is a cover up for murder.
The victim is the wife of a prominent local minister, and her preacher husband soon becomes the most likely suspect. Gossip in town tells of trouble in their marriage, but as Stacey and Doug start putting pieces together, they find several other likely suspects who could have wanted Mallory Cookmeyer dead.
Called away from the case to work on a special assignment, Stacey is faced with decisions that will impact her career and her budding romance with Doug Milligan, and most likely, put her in harms way.
When we last heard from Stacey Wilbur in "Smell of Death", she had broken her long-standing rule of never dating anyone she works with and entered into a relationship with Doug. This gives an already strong character even more depth. A widow, she has been caring for her son Davey with the help of her parents, while trying to juggle a challenging and dangerous career. Having lost her husband in the line of duty, a relationship with Doug offers similiar dangers, but it's really their difficult work schedules that make nurturing their relationship tough on Doug and Stacey.
One of the things that Meredith does best with the Rocky Bluff P.D. series is show not only the official side to her characters, but also how working in law enforcement impacts these people's lives--not just the members of the police force, but also their families. I could easily see these books being turned into a television crime series.
Meredith is also wise in making each one truly a stand alone book. These books focus on different members of the Rocky Bluff P.D. These aren't just Stacey's stories; they are Doug's, Gordon Butler's, Abel Navarro's, Rick Strickland's, and others who are or were part of the Rocky Bluff P.D.
There are many twists and turns in "No Sanctuary", as the reader is led to believe it might be the husband, but then it might be someone on his staff or someone from the church. And this mystery propels the story forward to an exciting and satisfying conclusion.
As with "Smell of Death", Meredith breaks up all the seriousness with a bit of humor. This time it is mostly brought on by Officer Gordon Butler who rents a room from Doug and who happens to walk in on Doug and Stacey at the worst times. In addition, the banter between Doug and Stacey about the outfit she chooses for her special assignment lightens things up and makes the reader want to see more of these two together in the future.
"No Sanctuary" is a fast and suspense-filled read for crime fiction lovers.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Crime Fiction Goes Literary, July 26, 2009
Crime fiction readers will find F. M. Meredith's No Sanctuary deeply satisfying. It is an excellent police procedural and worth reading on those grounds alone. But there is so much more. Meredith rivals Ed McBain in her ability to create convincing cops and lead us through the twists and turns of investigation. She draws her characters and her setting in prose reminiscent of the British novelist Barbara Pym who was noted for her style, characterization, and sketches of village life. In short, Meredith has risen above genre fiction and created in Rocky Bluff a place you will enjoy visiting. Indeed, as I read the book, I kept having the strangest feeling that I had been there - this despite the fact that the place is fictional. Make no mistake, mystery aficionados will find their fixes in the intricate plot, the well scattered clues, the `aha moment' (I almost missed it because it is so teasingly subtle), the suspense at the end, and the final resolution. But even people who don't normally read mysteries will enjoy this book for its deftly drawn "slice of life," a sort of updated Our Town. And finally, it has what every successful book of any genre must have - romance. I look forward to reading the four other books in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series and hope more are forthcoming from this prolific and talented writer.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
An ok read, March 26, 2009
Officer Stacey Wilbur is called onto the scene of horrible car crash. The car is wrapped around a tree. There is onle one person in the car...a woman. At first it seems like a pretty cut and dry case. Upon futher digging, Stacey learns that the woman was shot to death, neatly behind the ear. The woman was Mallory Cookmeyer. She is the wife of a prominant pastor's wife.
Stacey calls for help on this case. Detective Doug Milligan, Stacey's friend and somewhat boyfriend agrees to lend a hand to Stacey. Instantly as with any murder case, the spouse is the lead suspect. It seems that Stacey may not need to look any father then the husband. He sure never acted with any remorse when he was notifed of his wife's death. Stacey learns though that everything is not what it seems in this town. The pastor was not the only one who's hands are covered in blood. As Stacey gets more involved in the case, the list of suspects grows. Just who wants Mallory dead and for what reason? You can learn the answers by reading No Sanctuary.
No Sanctuary is a good read. It is also part of the Rocky Bluff P.D. series written by F.M. Meredith. The best part is that you don't have to read the books in any order. I like this fact because if I am just discovering a new author, which is the case, I want to be able to pick up any book and start reading it. I liked Office Stacey Wilbur. She was tough without being over the top mean. She knew just what to do to solve the case and get her suspect. The romance between Stacey and Doug was just right. I say this because, I enjoy my romances but when it comes to mysteries, I like when the romances don't over power the storyline. Luckily this was not the case. For anyone looking for a quick weekend story with plenty of twists to satisfy any mystery fan, then you should give this book a try.
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