Customer Reviews

Dead Reckoning (Berkley Sensation)

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ADA Kate Megason survived a brutal rape at 17; her sister Kirsten was not so lucky, and has lingered in a vegetative state since that fateful night. Kate has dedicated herself to ensuring that violent criminals are put away. She is handpicked by the DA for an open and shut capital case in which two convenience store workers are senselessly gunned down (one raped as she lay dying), which miraculously was caught on tape.

Kate is assigned burnt out investigator Frank Matrone, a former police detective and military reservist who was critically injured in a terrorist bombing that claimed his lover. He is now a functioning addict - addicted to prescription pain killers and alcohol - something that doesn't bode well with an anal and organized gal like Kate.

While Frank questions the why of the case - it appears that there is more to it than meets the eye. Meanwhile, someone who knows about Kate's past is taunting her with sadistic calls and notes reminding her of the worst night of her life. She has hired a PI to track down the possible culprits, hoping for justice Texas-style. When attempts are made on her life, Frank is called in to watch her, and soon he finds his way into her bed, which completely freaks him out.

The mystery is a little predictable. As soon as the heavies are introduced, their guilt is obvious. But rather than concentrating on the mystery, author Castillo has chose to focus on the dramatic transformation of two injured souls who soon will find that they are each other's salvation as he deals with his grief over the loss of his lover, and she over the violence that stole her sister's innocence and future. In this respect, the story excels.

Assistant District Attorney Kate Megason works the sure thing prosecution on the capital case of Burton Ellis, accused of the brutal murder of two convenience store clerks. However, Kate becomes irritated when her political supervisors assign former cop Frank Matron as her investigator; Frank was injured in a Mideast suicide bombing while serving as a deployed reservist. Kate knows that he has not physically healed and assumes that he is also mentally disturbed.

Frank immediately observes something that makes no sense. The accused took out a hidden camera that he should not have known existed. Even weirder in the robbery gone bad case is the strange fact that not all the loot was taken. Why would he leave anything behind? As Kate begins to heed all that Frank opines, they work together to uncover the truth in spite of someone with connections wanting the real facts to remain buried.

Readers will grip the pages tightly as this tense legal thriller hooks the audience to anticipate a DEAD RECKONING between the ADA and her investigator vs. an unknown brutal individual whose avarice is biblical in proportions. The story line is action-packed starting with Frank proving his worth from the start and never slows down until the final confrontation as the close and shut case becomes open and dangerous. This is suspense at its thrilling finest.

Harriet Klausner

Kate Megason has just gotten the chance to make her career a success by prosecuting a double homicide. It seems like a homerun for sure, the crime was even caught on video, but someone is out to get Kate. You would think, logically, that the threats are tied to the current case, but Kate hears something else. She fears that what happened eleven years ago is coming back to haunt her again. A brutal attack left her emotionally scarred and her sister brain damaged, but Kate has overcome her past somewhat. As the threats become more terrifying, she turns to Frank Matrone, a P.I. whose physical pain threatens to drive him insane. Perhaps it has already, addicting him to pills that render him senseless at times. Yet, he's Kate's best hope of finding how the past and present are linked and putting an end to her own nightmare.

*** Seeing a hero with such severe problems is shocking, but this is also a compelling character. Frank puts a face on addiction that most of us never suspect exists. Combined with an action packed plot and deep emotional issues, this makes for a powerful novel. ***

Amanda Killgore

This was my first time reading a Linda Castillo book and I was not disappointed. It was a great read.

I love Linda Castillo books, so I purchased this one recently. This is one of her best, don't miss this one.

Kate Megason is an ADA with a secret in her past. She has devoted herself entirely to her work since she was 17. College, Law school, and finally work in the District Attorney's Office. She has closed off all her emotions and persued her goals both in her work and out of it. Now she has been handed a case that will make her career if she can pull it off. Just as soon as the case starts, she begins to receive notes and threats concerning the secret in her past. How does it connect to the case she is trying? Or is it just the fact she is finally closing in on the attackers from 11 years ago?

Frank Matrone is a former detective with the PD. He was sent to Iraq and wounded in a car bombing. He has lost some of the use of his leg, he has nerve damage in his body, and someone he cared for died in his arms. If that isn't enough he is now addicted to prescription pain relievers. He and Kate immediately strike sparks of enmity. But all sparks can cause fire and these lead our two wounded heros not only to each other but to healing.

Both feel alone and hurt, each is fighting a battle with themselves as well as others. The tension is good, the plot is very good, and we get the enjoyment of watching the whole situtation explode and come to resolution. I loved it.

ADA Kate Megason is a tough as nails and works hard at putting the bad guys in jail. She is handed a career making case when out of no where her past comes back to haunt her. Eleven years earlier Kate and her twin sister Kirsten were attacked and left for dead. There parents work to keep the attack secret even going so far as to change their names and relocating. Someone knows her secret and they are tormenting her but soon crank calls turn into something more. On top of that she has just been partnered with a loose cannon investigator who has a few demons of his own. Will they be able to work together or will the sparks that fly between them start something they won't know how to deal with?

Frank Matrone was injured while overseas. He barely managed to survive and he has the scars and pain to prove it. He has been assigned to work along side ADA Kate Megason. This could be a bad thing since she has little tolerance weakness and he has a boatload of issues that make him weak. But when he realizes the case Kate is working is more then it seems, and when trouble starts dogging Kate's feet, he can no longer pretend he is unmoved by the sassy and strong Kate. Will she be willing to trust him to tell the truth or will someone finish what was started eleven years earlier?

This was an exceptional read...until the end. Several things were introduced at the beginning and carried forth through the story without any conclusion. This was very disappointing as it was a very strong part of the story and since there was no resolution, this left the read unfinished. Still Ms. Castillo managed to create a very strong set of characters and a very engaging storyline. If only she followed through on all that she introduced.

I really enjoyed this book and will look for both older and for her next book. Sorry, don't think any sex details are necessary as learned that in school. But, that said-the story contact and interplay between characters is great.