Sugar & Spice: A Novel [Paperback]

Keith Lee Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 18, 2003

This fast-paced thriller twists and turns its way through the prplexing investigation of several mysterious murders that will have readers on the edge of their seats.

When the set of twins are released from prison they have one thing on their minds; to settle the score against the people who put them there in the first place. The revenge killings begin in the District of Columbia with the murder of the prison warden and his wife -- both found viciously beaten and brutally dismembered -- and to continue on the opposite coast where a socialite is found dead in Malibu. Baffled by the gruesome murders, Detective Phoenix Perry ends her vacation early to conduct an unauthorized investigation and embarks upon a thrilling adventure to unravel the mystery and put end to violence.

Sugar & Spice is a gripping race to discover who is behind all of the murder, corruption, and revenge. It is sure to keep readers guessing up to the stunning climax. From a promising new voice in fiction, this novel will keep spines tingling and pages turning.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Strebor Books; Original edition (November 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593090137
• ISBN-13: 978-1593090135
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #307,945 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Keith is the author of four novels: PRETENSES, Sugar & Spice, Little Black Girl Lost, and Fate's Redemption. He's also the former editor of Insight Magazine. He attained a top secret security clearance while serving in the United States Air Force. His duty stations included Texas, Mississippi, Nevada, California, Turkey, and various other places in his four years of service. Keith graduated with honors and holds a degree in electronics and general education. Excerpts of his work can be read at his website: www.keithleejohnson.com. His email address is [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Twists and Turns that will keep you turning the page, April 3, 2004

By 

Shelia M Goss (Essence Magazine Best-Selling Author of My Invisible Husband, Delilah, Hollywood Deception and more.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sugar & Spice: A Novel (Paperback)

SUGAR & SPICE by Keith Lee Johnson is a must have if you love a good suspense novel. It is full of several twists and turns and you will not be able to put the book down.

Normally, the reader is trying to figure out who the killer is along with the detective. However in this case, we already know the twins are doing the killing. The fun part is traveling along with Detective Phoenix Perry as she gets closer and closer to finding out who could commit some of the horrendous murders that span from one coast to the other.

Just when you thought you knew more than Detective Perry, the author threw in some more twists that will have you shaking your head and asking yourself-how could I have missed that?
Overall, this is a good read and I would highly recommend it. I don't want to give away too many details about the book-don't want to spoil the suspense. After reading SUGAR & SPICE, I look forward to many more books in this genre from Keith Lee Johnson.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ...And everything murder, September 23, 2004

By 

LOCKSIE "ARC Book Club Inc" (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Coram, N.Y.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sugar & Spice: A Novel (Paperback)

This is a fantastic murder mystery! Special F.B.I. agent Phoenix Perry is conducting an investigation of multiple gruesome murders. Phoenix (who is a martial arts expert) and her sexy partner Kelly McPherson are baffled. Each time they think they are close to solving the murders, another killing takes place! The killings soon hit close to home when a teacher from Phoenix's daughter's school is murdered. This killer has an agenda but what is it? The evidence from the crime scenes lead these ladies to a local prison that is more like a drug/sex shop, but still the murder trail keeps getting hot. Join these women as they battle their way through counless twists and turns to try and solve the murders. This novel was written very well and there were no typos. I never was a murder mystery fan but reading Keith Lee Johnson's novel has made me a big fan of him and his book. I will find out more about this up and coming author on his website. Iam now reading his other book "Pretenses" which apparently was his first book before "Sugar & Spice", but Iam confused about the marketing strategy that Keith and his team used for these two books. Why did "Sugar & Spice" come out before "Pretenses"? Keith please feel free to contact me with an answer!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars [3.5]--Sugar & Spice well keep the readers on the edge of there seat., September 15, 2006

By 

Jenny J.J.I. "A New Yorker" (That Lives in Carolinas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sugar & Spice: A Novel (Paperback)

I'm surprised that I haven't pick up this book sooner. Keith Lee Johnson's novel was interesting I'm not really into mystery/suspense novels too much but I thought I give this one a try and I'm glad that I did because this book has a little of everything.

Around July 2001, the twins are set free from prison, while in prison, they plotted and planned revenge on those who mistreated them on the inside and outside. First, they had to take care of the prison warden, then Heather Connelly, a high school sweetheart. More vicious killings soon followed. FBI agent Phoenix Perry was vacationing in California when she read about the murder of the prison warden. Her curiosity piqued, she could hardly finish her vacation before her detective mind began churning with ways to solve this case. Very few clues, a hard-nosed boss, and an over sexed partner, are just a few obstacles Phoenix faced in her quest to get the killers off the streets. A trip to the post office and a phone call from the West Coast provides clues that lead Phoenix to the culprits.

After reading this I came to like the relationship of Phoenix Perry her husband. It's stimulating to read books that portray a healthy marriage. Now the twins, these two were cold, but I totally understood where they were coming from. I think some of their victims got what was coming to them. When you think you understand what's going on, a few pages later, you might realize that your guesses and assumptions were incorrect. The only downsize to this book was the grammar errors and the term usage in certain areas of this book. It really could of use some brushing up and I'm surprise the publisher hasn't caught that before the book was released.

Sugar & Spice is filled with excitement, suspense, and more than enough surprises to keep readers interested throughout the novel. Keith writes the book in short, concise chapters and the pacing of the story never feels bogged down, even though there are a lot of characters in this story. This book offers the reader a unique opportunity to experience not only betrayal and deceit from the murderer's perspective; but regret as well! I'm looking forward in reading some more of his book.