Reviewer: Robyn Roberts
Title: Falcon’s Bend Case Files, Volume 1 (The Early Cases)
Author: Karen Wiesner & Chris Spindler
Publisher: Hard Shell Word Factory
ISBN Electronic: 0-7599-4370-2
ISBN Trade Paperback: 0-7599-4371-0
Release Date: Early 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Contemporary Suspense/Mystery Romance
Year/Setting: Present
Overall rating of the Anthology: 4.25
Sexual content rating: Subtle/Sensual
Karen and Chris' Falcon's Bend website: www.falconsbend.com
Bugs
"A partially digested body is found in the oxidation ditch at the Falcon's Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant. Was it an accident...or is new Falcon's Bend Investigator Pete Shasta facing his first murder?"
I thought this story was a great way to get to know Detective Pete Shasta and some of the townsfolk of Falcon’s Bend. While it was a mystery in the beginning, I found that I was able to guess the next moves and the ending on this particular story. I enjoyed it, but felt the suspense was telegraphed. Perhaps it’s all those Nancy Drew books I read as a child. You have to really keep me in suspense and keep the plot twisting to keep me from guessing the ending.
Broken Wings
"Just 2 months ago, a runaway daughter Keith Pierce never knew he had landed on his doorstep. Seventeen years earlier, Keith Pierce had a brief, intense affair with a woman on the lam. When Keith returns to Kat's hometown of Falcon's Bend to find his daughter's mother, he discovers that Kat disappeared shortly after giving birth to Quinn. Investigator Pete Shasta solves a decade and a half old missing-person case that's about to turn into murder."
This was a very intense story. especially towards the end. While I thought I had this one figured out, it did give me a few glitches on the way to the ending. Keith Pierce is incredibly funny as he tries to figure out what to do with a teenaged daughter whom he doesn’t know. Just the byplay between them is enough to make you roll on the floor. If you have teenaged daughters or if you know any teenaged daughters, you’ll love the teen attitude.
Obsessions
"A newborn baby is stolen from Falcon's Bend Community Hospital's maternity ward...and Lt. Pete Shasta's only lead is to the Liace Adoption Agency, which set up the open adoption of the unmarried mother's baby. Case Representative Lisa Mercer is as suspicious and defensive as she is beautiful. Pete finds himself breaking the cardinal rule of investigation--never get emotionally involved with anyone even remotely associated with a case. With a kidnapper who seems to believe there’s nothing left to lose and potentially everything to gain, and his own uncontrollable feelings for Lisa, Pete’s about to learn just how dangerous obsessions can be."
This is the point in the book where I felt like the authors had a grasp on how to really write suspense that is suspenseful and doesn’t telegraph the who-done-it portion or the ending. As an expectant mother myself, this was an extra measure of bone-chilling because it really is a fear that most pregnant women have. Could your baby be stolen from the hospital??
While I spent my time focused on the missing baby and who could have stolen her, Lt. Shasta is starting to have feelings (in a romantic way) towards a suspect. It added another layer of depth to the story and made Lt. Shasta a little more real to me as a reader. This was my personal overall favorite from the book—although the next two stories had me gripping the edge of my seat.
Blind Revenge
"This was the most chilling story in the book. I read it right before bed and had trouble sleeping. We don’t know Lindsay for long, but the ramifications of her death and her nightmares just don’t stop. Could it be the new lover she just met on the night of her murder? If not, than who could have killed her?? Each twist takes you a step deeper into the unknown and the ending will knock your socks off."
Fixated
"Someone has been following new Falcon's Bend citizen Risa Nitzberg for the past few weeks. Victor Brooks, her neighbor from across the street who's become fixated with Risa from afar, steps in when Risa's creepy stalker decides to get up close and personal."
Wow! I would say that Ms. Wiesner and Ms. Spindler really hit their stride in the last half of the book. This story was wild and crazy. Without giving away the ending (which was a surprise and a half), I was stunned. You’ll be amazed at the reality of this story. It’s one of those things that really could happen---even to you. Risa and Victor’s budding romance is just icing on the cake of this story. Hang onto your hat and enjoy the ride.
Overall, I really did enjoy the book. I’m looking forward to more mysteries/suspense stories from Falcon’s Bend. I thought each story touched a different part of me as a reader. I was able to associate in unique was with each of the situations and characters. I did enjoy each story and found that the last half of the book was top notch. I think Ms. Wiesner and Ms. Spindler have a great collaborative future together.
Robyn
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