Dead by Midnight

No matter how hard she tries to enjoy a normal life after returning to her hometown of Dunmore, Alabama, Lorie Hammonds cannot escape the mistakes she made while seeking fame, fortune and stardom in Hollywood. Almost a decade after fleeing California with her pride and reputation in shambles, the former Playboy centerfold and porn film actress starts receiving death threats warning her to say her prayers and ask forgiveness for her sins. Because of her sordid and much-whispered-about past, Lorie is accustomed to being the object of gossip and scorn by some of the "good" citizens of Dunmore. After receiving the first threatening letter, she immediately dismisses it as a vicious prank and tosses it in the trash. Then a duplicate letter arrives with the same wording: "Midnight is coming. Say your prayers. Ask for forgiveness. Get your affairs in order. You're on the list. Be prepared. You don't know when it will be your turn. Will you be the next to die?" This second letter convinces Lorie to take the threat seriously, but because of her past relationship with Sheriff Mike Birkett, she doesn't want to ask the Sheriff's Department for assistance. Normally, she would approach her best friend, Cathy Perdue, for help, but Cathy and her husband Jack are away on their honeymoon. So Lorie turns to Jack's sister, Maleah. Maleah Perdue, a seasoned investigator with Powell Private Security and Investigation Agency, immediately recognizes the danger and agrees to help Lorie. It isn't long before another Powell investigator, former FBI profiler Derek Lawrence, gets on board with the case. Maleah and Derek, who mix together like fire and water, set aside their differences for their client's sake, and they coordinate their investigation with local Dunmore authorities. Initially, Sheriff Birkett believes that Lorie has concocted the threat in a desperate attempt to get his attention. Because of their past relationship, he refuses to forgive the woman he once loved before marrying his late wife, Molly. As a widower with two children and a reputation to protect, he is reluctant to get involved in Lorie's case. But he joins the investigation once he realizes the threat is genuine and her life is in jeopardy. Because of the Powell Agency's vast resources and law enforcement connections, it soon becomes apparent that a serial killer is on the loose. Investigators learn that murder victims in other states had received threatening letters with the exact wording as Lorie's prior to their deaths. In addition, the victims are also connected with the porn movie Midnight Masquerade. The clock ticks as investigators try to apprehend the murderer, protect Lorie and warn other potential victims before the killer strikes again. Once the media learns about the contents of the letters, they dub the serial murderer the "Midnight Killer." With the barrage of unwanted media attention, Lorie's past becomes even more public. It seems no matter how hard she tries to overcome the mi

What I found particularly refreshing about Dead by Midnight is that Lorie had left the man she loved to follow her dream of acting in Hollywood. It didn't work out, moving back home took a lot of fortitude. Mike at the beginning of this novel is judgmental and assumes much. The more time he spends with Lorie in his need to protect, the more feelings for her run a gamut culminating in the realization that regardless of the past, he still wants her. Both the hero and heroine are flawed, making this a volatile and interesting mix. The author hasn't shied away from undesirable circumstances but worked them into the story, which I found refreshing. As the body count rises, the author skillfully keeps track of the FBI, Special Investigators and the local police as they race to find the killer. All the while adding continuity from previous novels and hinting at maybe future books. Dead By Midnight is a first rate, riveting, thrilling suspense. Its pace, intrigue and genuine characters kept those pages turning. However, I immersed myself in to the story, drawn in trying to guess the killer. I found myself on more than one occasion talking to my computer screen as if the characters could hear me, receiving odd looks from my family. This is romantic suspense at its best and it comes highly rated. It's the first in a new trilogy and linked to previous books featuring the Powell Private Security and Investigation Agency. I see my 'to buy list' growing every larger. - Abi

Lorie Hammons has tried to have a good life since her movie career came to a crashing halt. She has said and done things she isn't proud of, but is tired of constantly feeling like she has to apologize all the time. Her ex-high school sweetheart is the sheriff of Dunmore and ever since Lorie returned, he has treated her as a pariah and avoided her like the plague. Lorie can live with that, but then she gets a death threat in the mail. Then she gets another one, and this one is more sinister than the first. Now she has no choice but to take her troubles to Mike Birkett, the man she used to love and if she was honest with herself, she would admit that her feelings for Mike have never gone away. With the threat of death approaching, Mike and Lorie have got to come to some sort of conclusion with their relationship - if they can stay alive long enough. Dead by Midnight scared me to death. Me whimpy? Most definitely. The suspense was enough to make me grind my teeth and I found myself almost afraid to turn the page. Seriously. Dead by Midnight was the most suspenseful book I have read in a very long time. It made me look around corners and check out my surroundings. As for Mike and Lorie? I am happy to say that these two characters definitely belonged together. Their love for each other took a detour, but soon ended up on the right road. If romantic suspense is your cup of tea, don't hesitate to invest in Dead by Midnight. This volatile and well written novel will leave you breathless and panting for more! Talia Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Lorie Hammonds and Mike Birkett were a High School loving couple. Lorie decided she wanted to be an actress. She tried to encourage Mike to go to Hollywood with her. Mike had his own plans he wanted to go into law enforcement. Lorie left Dunmore, Alabama to California and tried to make it into show business. To her astonishment, she was unsuccessful after six years of trying to get a big break. Lorie played a small role in a Porno movie. Lorie moved back home to Dunmore as a failure. She made a mistake making one porno movie. Most of the town's people had seen the porno movie Midnight Masquerade. Nine years later, Lorie received two death threats. She hired Maleah Perdue from the Powell Agency. The FBI believes there is a serial killer that's murdering the cast in Midnight Masquerade. State, local enforcement, and the FBI are working with Powell Agency. Dead By Midnight could stand alone. Although, I recommend also reading The Murder Game. This is the book where Nicole was an FBI agent and met Griffin Powell. I would recommend reading the Silent Killer. Most of the characters in The Murder Game and Silent Killer are in Dead By Midnight. Dead By Midnight has too many characters; too many story lines going at once with two serial killers. One serial killer, murdering the cast in Midnight Masquerade. Then, the other serial killer, killed two Griffin Powell Agency employees. Ms. Barton left the Powell Agency for another series. I like Maleah who works for Powell Agency as a detective. She is intelligent and sassy. Derek Lawrence is a retired FBI Agent who works for Powell Agency as a consultant. Beverly Barton will be writing a book about these two characters. I' am looking forward to their story.

Lorie Hammonds dreamed of making it in Hollywood so she left Dunmore, Alabama to pursue her dream. She left behind her boyfriend, now the town Sheriff Mike Birkett (see Silent Killer for the back story). She came home after her fantasy failed and her BFF widow Cathy Cantrell needed her (also see Silent Killer). Mike remains angry with her to the point it impacts his job as he ignores death threats aimed at her. The widower tries not to be short with his kids, eleven years old M.J. and nine years old Hannah while not understanding why they reject caring Abby Sherman who reminds him of his late wife Molly. However, Powell Agency detective Maleah Perdue takes the threats to Lorie seriously as a serial killer is methodically murdering the cast who performed in the nude in an adult film that Lorie would prefer to not count on her credits list. She will show her inner strength when the two kids become the target. The latest Dead By romantic suspense thriller tied to the Powell Detective Agency is a tense direct sequel to the Silent Killer. The story line is fast-paced from the onset as a serial killer methodically murders the cast of a porn film with Lorie listed as an actress. As she and Mike learn via Dead by Midnight that a person cannot run from their deeds as regret and remorse are powerful feelings that never quite leave. Fans will relish this strong sequel with a fascinating unexpected potentially deadly twist that does not require reading the previous novel, although that helps with the past that haunts the present. Harriet Klausner