Dead Giveaway

Brenda Novak's Dead Giveaway represents the best of the current romantic suspense on the market today. After reading Dead Silence, I was dubious that Novak could keep the suspense alive for a second book, but her character insight and development, her pacing, and tension make the second book as pleasurable and exciting as the first one in the Stillwater triology.

Talented author Brenda Novak weaves yet another tale of romance, suspense and deception in this the second book in the Stillwater trilogy, Dead Giveaway. After a painful divorce, detective Allie McCormick comes back to her childhood town of Stillwater to start a new life with her six-year old daughter. Of course, it doesn't hurt that her father happens to be the chief of police and offers her a job. Immediately, Allie begins to work on a cold case--the strange disappearance of Reverend Lee Barker nineteen years ago. But the time factor is not the problem. The main problem is the chief suspect, handsome and brooding Clay Montgomery, who everybody in the town hates and believes to have murdered the Reverend. As the investigation unfolds, and Allie falls deeper into her relationship with Clay, she realizes the man she has fallen in love with could not be capable of murder. She decides to help him to the end, even if that means putting herself in danger and fighting the whole town and its most important family. Will she succeed? And what if the famous Reverend, who everyone respected to much, turns out to be the most despicable of criminals? Surprising twists and turns and a couple of interesting sub-plots keep the story moving at a fast pace until the very startling ending. Novak has a keen gift for combining suspense and romance, as well as for creating real, sympathetic heroines and darkly mysterious heroes that beautifully stand out from the typical stereotypes of the genre. The way Allie `solves' the case at the end is smart and unexpected. Dead Giveaway will draw the reader in different levels--both intellectually and emotionally, making this a very compelling read. Highly recommended. ***This review originally appeared in Armchair Interviews.

Brenda a Novak is a talented writer who is one of the best on the market at writing suspense. If you read one of her books you will be hooked and come back for more. Her characters are always very interesting people and I challenge you to figure out the ending a head of time. No peeking at the back of the book. I can't wait to read the next one due out this August.

I loved Dead Silence and I knew Dead Giveaway would be just as great. Clay is a wonderful hero. His connection and chemistry with Allie was electric. My only complaint, which isn't really complaint, would be I was expecting Clay to explain to Allie why he went to Beth Ann's. I thought Allie got over that very fast with no apology, and yet there was so much more critical stuff going on, it wasn't so important. This was an edge of your seat, can't put down read. This trilogy is gripping and I can't wait to read Madeline's story.

Clay Montgomery has lived in Stillwater Mississippi since his mother married Reverend Lee Barker. After the night that the Reverend was murdered, Clay has done everything possible to protect his family, especially his sister Grace. Remaining on the farm, which was the scene of the crime, Clay knows that he will never have what he wants most; a wife to love and children to raise. While he projects the image of a man who can't be bothered by those things, it is the farthest thing from the truth. If he can't have what he wants, he's determined to let his sisters have the chance for happiness, even if it means not finding his own. Allie McCormick returned to Stillwater after a bitter divorce. As a Detective with the Chicago Police Department in the Cold Cases division, Allie thinks she can solve the mystery of what happened to Reverend Barker. What she doesn't count on his her feelings for Clay. While she can see that he wants her, she also sees his determination not to give in. Allie soon realizes that she's trying to solve the case to prove Clay's innocence. When she realizes that her digging may prove the exact opposite, Allie stops. However, it's too late because her opening the case again has the town wanting Clay Montgomery's blood for the death of their beloved preacher. When Allie discovers what kind of man Reverend Barker really was, she knows that Clay was involved. She just doesn't know the extent of his involvement. Clay is determined to protect Allie from any backlash her digging has caused, even if it means hurting her. While Clay would love to be a family with Allie and her daughter, he knows it's not possible. He has too many secrets, held in for too long to be anything but bad for Allie and her daughter. Brenda Novak brings these characters to life for the reader, in this small Mississippi town. You don't want to miss the second installment in the DEAD series, as it will have you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing!