The Raven by Mike Nappa

• Series: Coffey & Hill (Book 2)
• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Revell (September 6, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800726456
• ISBN-13: 978-0800726454

About the Book:

As part of his regular street performance, a deception specialist who goes by the name The Raven picks his audience's pockets while they watch. It's harmless fun--until he decides to keep the spare wallet a city councilman doesn't seem to miss, hoping for a few extra bucks. When he finds not money but compromising photos of the councilman and his "personal assistants," The Raven hatches a plan to blackmail the man. However, he quickly finds himself in over his head with the Ukrainian Mafia and mired in a life-threatening plot code-named, "Nevermore."

Private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill must scramble to sort out the clues--and their complicated feelings for each other--to rescue The Raven and save hundreds of lives from a wildcard bent on revenge.

Mike Nappa snags readers from the first page of this fast-paced thriller--and he never lets go until the end.

My Thoughts:

Wow!  What a complex and thrilling ride!  Mike Nappa has crafted a suspenseful series with a unique literary twist.  Threads of Edgar Allen Poe weave through some intense reading, adding an almost gothic feel to a modern day criminal procedural.

The series opened with "Annabel Lee", a mystery concerning a young girl kept hidden away by her uncle and the race to discover the why behind the hiding.  That story was mind-blowing, and I was very eager to read what Mike came up with next.

"The Raven" introduces us to a street magician with a series problem: owing money to a crime syndicate that has deep ties within the community.  Sam Hill and Trudi Coffey will have to join forces once again to uncover just what "Nevermore" is and find a way to stop it.

Mike has a wild imagination and I love it!!  Talk about a well-crafted story structure.  Make sure you start reading early afternoon because you won't be able to stop once you've turned the first page.  And when the pieces all fall into place...have tissues handy, because your jaw will drop and you may go into shock (drooling could ensue!).

I truly cannot wait until the third book releases.  Unfortunately, I must wait.  Fortunately, you don't have to wait at all to pick up a copy of "The Raven".  But don't stop there!  Get a copy of "Annabel Lee" as well! This book gets my "Oh The Feels" award.  Until then,

Mark Your Place,

Deena