Published: March 16, 2020
Creative Magnolia
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Melinda Woodhall is the author of the page-turning Mercy Harbor Thriller series and the addictive new Veronica Lee Thriller series. She also writes women's contemporary fiction as M.M. Arvin.

“Death is real, and it can come for any of us, at any time.”

Veronica Lee is a roaming reporter working for Channel 10. She has charisma and charm, which helps her when she is on camera. But now, something terrible has happened in her sleepy little town, that could be quite the story if Veronica is alive at the end to tell it.

This book is filled will memorable characters and is an excellent foundation for a new thriller series. I liked Veronica Lee as a character; she is smart, has integrity, and is passionate about being a fair and ethical reporter. I also really enjoyed Iris and Nessa as characters. I love a strong female cast, and this book has that. I also really appreciated that the men were willing to have female leaders and support them because of their qualifications. There was no talk of being “too dainty” or “too fragile,” and I respect the hell out of that.

There were mentions of past cases that impacted several of the characters, and I wish that had been described in flashbacks or something. The blurbs we get throughout give pieces of the story, but not enough to understand how the situation truly impacted the various characters.

The twist in this was pretty well played. I did not see it coming, and it made me read even faster. I liked the build-up to the showdown, and I think the action was spread nicely throughout. The pacing was quick, but there were sprinkled throughout the plot that kept the storyline moving and interesting.

The character development was done with care, and each person had an exciting and intriguing history. I would love to know Veronica’s mom, Ling Lee, more in the coming books. She was a supporting character in this book, but she has a story to tell. And she is such a strong character already.

I think this series has a lot of potential to be great, and I will be on the lookout for book number 2! ( )

Veronica Lee Thriller book #1

As a fan of the Mercy Harbor Thriller Series I definitely didn’t want to miss reading “Her Last Summer” the first book in the exciting spin-off series set in the small Florida town of Willow Bay.

I appreciated to see that some of my favourite characters took center stage in this new story. After reading 4 books in the Mercy Harbor series they have become dear to me. Although the story brought back known players the story has its own spin, is fresh and exciting. Ms. Woodhall writes an intriguing premise and has a knack to twirl suspense to keep us flipping pages.

It starts when a well-known author is found dead in her hotel room…is it suicide or murder….chief of Police Nessa and her team are scrambling to find out and Veronica, the reporter, to get her scoop. Of course, the villain or villains play a cat and mouse game with everyone…and what a chase we are into when several women are killed by the same method and everyone suspect a serial killer may be on the loose…who will be next…. many players come into play, some we know and some appear for the first time and all are entangled in a web of mystery, suspense and betrayal. As the plot moves at a steady pace there is a great deal of tension. I was so engaged in the action I lost track of time and had to be brought to reality and back to my daily chores….

This kind of story is just up my alley: one that never misses a beat, gives us intriguing and suspenseful action and a satisfying wrap up…oh yah also a mushy ending…..how one could not like this story?

I received a free digital copy of this crime fiction. This is a voluntarily review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own. ( )