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Morgans of Nashville #2
Be Afraid
The Fear Is Terrifying
When police rescue five-year-old Jenna Thompson from the dark closet where she's been held captive for days, they tell her she's a lucky girl. Compared to the rest of her family, it's true. But even with their killer dead of an overdose, Jenna is still trying to find peace twenty-five years later.
But The Truth
On leave from her forensic artist job, Jenna returns to Nashville, the city where she lost so much. Instead of closure, she finds a new horror. Detective Rick Morgan needs Jenna's expertise in identifying the skeletal remains of a young child. The case jogs hazy half-buried memories--and a nagging dread that Jenna's ordeal hasn't ended.
Is Even Worse
Now other women are dying. And as the links between these brutal killings and Jenna's past becomes clear, she knows this time, a madman will leave no survivors. . .
When police rescue five-year-old Jenna Thompson from the dark closet where she's been held captive for days, they tell her she's a lucky girl. Compared to the rest of her family, it's true. But even with their killer dead of an overdose, Jenna is still trying to find peace twenty-five years later.
But The Truth
On leave from her forensic artist job, Jenna returns to Nashville, the city where she lost so much. Instead of closure, she finds a new horror. Detective Rick Morgan needs Jenna's expertise in identifying the skeletal remains of a young child. The case jogs hazy half-buried memories--and a nagging dread that Jenna's ordeal hasn't ended.
Is Even Worse
Now other women are dying. And as the links between these brutal killings and Jenna's past becomes clear, she knows this time, a madman will leave no survivors. . .
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 28, 2015
1,571 people are currently reading
2,302 people want to read
About the author
Mary Burton
84Ìýbooks3,767ÌýfollowersMary Burton, whose latest novel is THE LIES I TOLD, loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.
Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense, thriller and mystery. Upon publication, her novels, including NEVER LOOK BACK and BURN YOU TWICE, consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List. Her novels CUT AND RUN and YOU'RE NOT SAFE were nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Romantic Suspense.
A Richmond native, Mary is the author of forty-five published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and as Mary Ellen Taylor.
A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters and/or place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
March 28, 2015
I received "Be Afraid" by Mary Burton as an ARC from the publisher, Kensington Books via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second novel that I have read by this author, having read “Cover Your Eyes� and while “Be Afraid� is classified as romantic/suspense, I feel that it belongs more in the crime/mystery genre. Both can be read as a standalone; however, you will want to read the two of them, to get learn more about the characters.
This novel, opens in Nashville and starts off a little strange, with the characters of Reason and Madness, a Jekyll and Hyde association. Reason shot and killed their victim under Madness’s guidance.
Detective Deke Morgan’s returns from the last book. His brother, Rick Morgan, detective with Nashville Metro Homicide (nickname Boy Scout) is fairly new to the homicide division with his partner Bishop, (from Boston) and Tracker (the dog) are on first on the scene of a crime in Tennessee. The unidentifiable remains of a child have been found in a pond in a park, the bones and a pink blanket probably belong to a four to six year old girl.
Rick’s baby sister, Georgia Morgan also returns from the last book, a senior member of the Nashville Police Department’s forensics team and is assigned to work on the case.
Jenna Thompson is a forensic artist and a cop on leave from Baltimore Police Department, who is willing to do a facial reconstruction, to help solve the case. Jenna had suffered a tragic past, at only five years old when police rescue her from the closet where she was held captive for nine days. He had killed her family. Now, twenty-five years later, Jenna comes home to deal with her past.
But now as the links between the killings and Jenna’s past become clearer� a serial killer and madman is on the loose.
This was a fast-paced suspense, keeping you on the edge with an intriguing case dealing with the psychological elements of the crazy killers. I enjoyed following up on the Morgan characters, to see what would happen next. I enjoyed reading this mystery, and looking forward to reading her next book, “I’ll Never Let You Go�, to be released Oct 27 2015.
This is the second novel that I have read by this author, having read “Cover Your Eyes� and while “Be Afraid� is classified as romantic/suspense, I feel that it belongs more in the crime/mystery genre. Both can be read as a standalone; however, you will want to read the two of them, to get learn more about the characters.
This novel, opens in Nashville and starts off a little strange, with the characters of Reason and Madness, a Jekyll and Hyde association. Reason shot and killed their victim under Madness’s guidance.
Detective Deke Morgan’s returns from the last book. His brother, Rick Morgan, detective with Nashville Metro Homicide (nickname Boy Scout) is fairly new to the homicide division with his partner Bishop, (from Boston) and Tracker (the dog) are on first on the scene of a crime in Tennessee. The unidentifiable remains of a child have been found in a pond in a park, the bones and a pink blanket probably belong to a four to six year old girl.
Rick’s baby sister, Georgia Morgan also returns from the last book, a senior member of the Nashville Police Department’s forensics team and is assigned to work on the case.
Jenna Thompson is a forensic artist and a cop on leave from Baltimore Police Department, who is willing to do a facial reconstruction, to help solve the case. Jenna had suffered a tragic past, at only five years old when police rescue her from the closet where she was held captive for nine days. He had killed her family. Now, twenty-five years later, Jenna comes home to deal with her past.
But now as the links between the killings and Jenna’s past become clearer� a serial killer and madman is on the loose.
This was a fast-paced suspense, keeping you on the edge with an intriguing case dealing with the psychological elements of the crazy killers. I enjoyed following up on the Morgan characters, to see what would happen next. I enjoyed reading this mystery, and looking forward to reading her next book, “I’ll Never Let You Go�, to be released Oct 27 2015.
October 26, 2015
A special thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mary Burton's BE AFRAID catches up with some familiar characters for a cop procedural, crime mystery, psycho-thriller, and romantic suspense. . Driving a woman from Boston, returning to the tragic scene of the southern crime from twenty-five years ago in Nashville, and even more danger to come.
The novel begins in Nashville with the opening of "Reason and Madness, like Jekyll and Hyde, were two sides of the same coin. One worshiped peace, the other devastation. One told the truth. The other, rule breaker and thief, always lied. Once again, a war raged between the two."
Detective Deke Morgan’s (from last book) brother, Rick Morgan, detective with Nashville Metro Homicide (nickname Boy Scout) is fairly new to the homicide division of four weeks with his partner Bishop, (from Boston) and Tracker (the dog) are on first on the scene of a crime in Middle Tennessee. A 132 acre-Centennial Park, where the remains of a child have been found in a pond. The body is pretty much unidentifiable, with only a pink blanket and bones, approximately a girl, four to six years at the time of death.
Ricks sister, Georgia Morgan (from the last book), with a great singing voice, and a senior member of the Nashville Police Department’s forensics team is called to work the case. She recommends using an artist (forensic reconstruction) to create the child’s face in order to investigate.
Jenna Thompson is a forensic artist and a cop on leave from Baltimore Police Department. Even though she is in Nashville battling demons from her past, she agrees to help with the case. She is renting the The Murder House. A woman, had been killed on the property but she had fallen in love with the rustic exterior, the woods and the stream behind the house. The locals say the house is haunted.
She needed a break from police work and really did not want to get involved; however Georgia talked her into it, especially when she learned it was a child. She has to help find the killer.
Jenna has a horrific past, at only five years old when police rescue her from the closet where she was held captive for nine days. Now, twenty-five years later, Jenna is here to try and obtain closure from her past. Days after her fifth birthday, her captor took her from her home, her pink blanket had become her lifeline. She had clung to it. She had her blanket in the closet and now the pink threads brought those memories front and center. He had killed her family
Now she finds herself working with Rick, as the old memories come flooding back and possibly a link in the cases. Now she may come the focus of the serial killer and Rick, with his own demons may come to her rescue even though they do not hit it off in the beginning. There is also some attraction between Georgia and Bishop which was interesting.
This was quite the book, and was so excited, immediately purchased the audiobook of her previous book, COVER YOUR EYES, which I enjoyed, in order to learn more about the characters. Both can be read as as a standalone; however, you will want to read the two of them, plus her previous books.
A fast-paced suspense, keeping you on the edge with an intriguing case diving into psychological elements of the crazy killers. I also enjoyed Jenna's character, her talents, the light romance, and catching up with familiar Morgan characters.
Readers you are also in for a rare treat with a sneak peek of her upcoming next romantic suspense thriller, 5 stars +
Mary Ellen Taylor On a side note, I am only now discovering Mary Burton also writes more than crime fiction, under another name, Mary Ellen Taylor, with a love of baking! I had the pleasure of reading both books and looking forward to the third.
The Union Street Bakery (Union Street Bakery #1) 5 Stars 2013
Sweet Expectations (Union Street Bakery #2) 5 Stars 2013
Mary Burton's BE AFRAID catches up with some familiar characters for a cop procedural, crime mystery, psycho-thriller, and romantic suspense. . Driving a woman from Boston, returning to the tragic scene of the southern crime from twenty-five years ago in Nashville, and even more danger to come.
The novel begins in Nashville with the opening of "Reason and Madness, like Jekyll and Hyde, were two sides of the same coin. One worshiped peace, the other devastation. One told the truth. The other, rule breaker and thief, always lied. Once again, a war raged between the two."
Detective Deke Morgan’s (from last book) brother, Rick Morgan, detective with Nashville Metro Homicide (nickname Boy Scout) is fairly new to the homicide division of four weeks with his partner Bishop, (from Boston) and Tracker (the dog) are on first on the scene of a crime in Middle Tennessee. A 132 acre-Centennial Park, where the remains of a child have been found in a pond. The body is pretty much unidentifiable, with only a pink blanket and bones, approximately a girl, four to six years at the time of death.
Ricks sister, Georgia Morgan (from the last book), with a great singing voice, and a senior member of the Nashville Police Department’s forensics team is called to work the case. She recommends using an artist (forensic reconstruction) to create the child’s face in order to investigate.
Jenna Thompson is a forensic artist and a cop on leave from Baltimore Police Department. Even though she is in Nashville battling demons from her past, she agrees to help with the case. She is renting the The Murder House. A woman, had been killed on the property but she had fallen in love with the rustic exterior, the woods and the stream behind the house. The locals say the house is haunted.
She needed a break from police work and really did not want to get involved; however Georgia talked her into it, especially when she learned it was a child. She has to help find the killer.
Jenna has a horrific past, at only five years old when police rescue her from the closet where she was held captive for nine days. Now, twenty-five years later, Jenna is here to try and obtain closure from her past. Days after her fifth birthday, her captor took her from her home, her pink blanket had become her lifeline. She had clung to it. She had her blanket in the closet and now the pink threads brought those memories front and center. He had killed her family
Now she finds herself working with Rick, as the old memories come flooding back and possibly a link in the cases. Now she may come the focus of the serial killer and Rick, with his own demons may come to her rescue even though they do not hit it off in the beginning. There is also some attraction between Georgia and Bishop which was interesting.
This was quite the book, and was so excited, immediately purchased the audiobook of her previous book, COVER YOUR EYES, which I enjoyed, in order to learn more about the characters. Both can be read as as a standalone; however, you will want to read the two of them, plus her previous books.
A fast-paced suspense, keeping you on the edge with an intriguing case diving into psychological elements of the crazy killers. I also enjoyed Jenna's character, her talents, the light romance, and catching up with familiar Morgan characters.
Readers you are also in for a rare treat with a sneak peek of her upcoming next romantic suspense thriller, 5 stars +
Mary Ellen Taylor On a side note, I am only now discovering Mary Burton also writes more than crime fiction, under another name, Mary Ellen Taylor, with a love of baking! I had the pleasure of reading both books and looking forward to the third.
The Union Street Bakery (Union Street Bakery #1) 5 Stars 2013
Sweet Expectations (Union Street Bakery #2) 5 Stars 2013
May 1, 2021
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February 24, 2021
I read this series out of order, beginning with #3 and #4 and then following up with #1 and #2. This was my least favorite of the four, although still a solid read. I liked the suspense, but found I didn't think the romance/attraction between Jenna and Rick felt real. Certain elements didn't work for me, but overall I did enjoy it.
Mary Burton is a favorite author of mine, and if you haven't read this series, I do recommend it.
Mary Burton is a favorite author of mine, and if you haven't read this series, I do recommend it.
August 26, 2017
This is the 2nd book in the Morgans series. The Morgan family has 3 brothers and one sister, all involved in law enforcement. This second book is a story of Rick. He had a very small part in book one, so this gives the reader more information on him. The genre of these books is romantic suspense, so with the romantic part, it's a little predictable. You know who is going to end up with who. I was disappointed with the suspense aspect. It also seemed predictable. I was also disappointed by the loose ends that were left at the end. The story begins when the bones of a 5 year old child are found in the bottom of a pond. Forensics indicates the bones have been there for about 25 years. So, the police have to identify the child. Rick is one of the detectives on the case and meets Jenna, a person who left the town 25 years ago after a traumatic incident when she was 5 years old. So, we learn Jenna's story, we learn Rick's story, but whose bones are they??? We never truly find out. Hello....the whole point of the beginning of the book still hasn't been resolved. Maybe it will come out in a future book? I don't know, but I don't think I have the wherewithal to read the next one to find out.
February 13, 2016
Two-haiku review:
Kidnapped as small girl
She goes back to find answers
Strange murders happen
Liked the characters
Psychological thriller
Minimal romance
Kidnapped as small girl
She goes back to find answers
Strange murders happen
Liked the characters
Psychological thriller
Minimal romance
March 21, 2015
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Be Afraid is about a woman named Jenna who rolls back into her hometown and is dragged into an ongoing investigation that hits a little too close to home. Jenna is a forensic artist and even though she is taking a break from all of that, she decides to help a couple of Nashville detectives with a case.
That's really all I'm going to say ... I know that the blurb says more but I'm having a hard time finding things that I like about this book and it was starting to flow into my little description. So. Let's just jump right in. From the very beginning of this novel, it was freaking weird. Super weird. I didn't like it at all. I wish I could say what I'm talking about but I'm hoping that some things are changed before the book comes out. I'll just say this ... Madness and Reason. Weird.
I found it really difficult to get to know the characters. The writing style felt just different. Something felt completely off to me during the entire book. It was almost as if it was written without any feeling and it was just putting words onto a page. I would say that this could be just a carryover feeling from the beginning (which was weird, in case you missed that) but since it lasted so long into the novel, I really don't think that it was me. It felt stilted. Like a little kid who is stuck in clothes that are a bit too small because it's summertime and the parents don't want to go spend a fortune on new clothes before school shopping. There just didn't feel like there was any breathing room and things were stifled.
Be Afraid also read like it was part of a series. There were so very many subplots and side stories and back stories. This also aided in the stilted feeling I was having. There was just too much stuff going on for this to be a single novel. I didn't feel like there needed to be THAT much going on. The story would have been just as good if it was cut down to half of the little subplots and the novel had room to expand rather than trying to fit everything into one novel.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. But it is really popular with a lot of other people. I'm just not in that mix this time. Oooh ... and I've heard of naming cars and boats and even homes are named in the south ... no one can forget Tara ... but this book takes place in Nashville and these named homes didn't sound like plantations ... this weird house naming thing also contributed to the growing weirdness with this novel.
June 1, 2015
Jenna Thompson is a forensic artist on leave and back in her native Nashville to solve the case of the murder of her family 25 years previously.
When several women are abducted, raped, shot and then set on fire, detectives figure they have a serial killer running rampant. And when the suspects in those cases turn up dead in overdoses, talk begins of another 'someone' who is pulling the strings and manipulating the men into committing these horrible crimes.
When Detective Rick Morgan learns of Jenna's background, he suspects that his current cases may have been committed by the same man who killed her family ... or is it a copy cat?
I love Mary Burton's books! They are always well thought out ... characters seem true to life .. which is kinda scary if you think about it. A serial killer, a great mystery, some psychological mind games, a bit of a romance ... what's not to like?
When several women are abducted, raped, shot and then set on fire, detectives figure they have a serial killer running rampant. And when the suspects in those cases turn up dead in overdoses, talk begins of another 'someone' who is pulling the strings and manipulating the men into committing these horrible crimes.
When Detective Rick Morgan learns of Jenna's background, he suspects that his current cases may have been committed by the same man who killed her family ... or is it a copy cat?
I love Mary Burton's books! They are always well thought out ... characters seem true to life .. which is kinda scary if you think about it. A serial killer, a great mystery, some psychological mind games, a bit of a romance ... what's not to like?
July 21, 2015
I would like to thank Net Galley and Kensington Books for supplying me with a forward copy of this novel in return for a honest review.
This is the 2nd book in the Morgans of Nashville series by Mary Burton and although I had not read the first book it did not spoil my enjoyment of it. The book is fast paced and full of strong characters that I am sure will develop further if the series continues. Lots of action and suspense that makes it very difficult to put the book down once you start. Looking at the reviews for Mary Burton's other work it appears that the first book in the series is equally as good and I plan to read that very soon. This is my first taste of a Mary Burton novel and I was certsinly impressed enough to want to read more from her.
This book is due for release on 28th April 2015 and is well worth reading.
This is the 2nd book in the Morgans of Nashville series by Mary Burton and although I had not read the first book it did not spoil my enjoyment of it. The book is fast paced and full of strong characters that I am sure will develop further if the series continues. Lots of action and suspense that makes it very difficult to put the book down once you start. Looking at the reviews for Mary Burton's other work it appears that the first book in the series is equally as good and I plan to read that very soon. This is my first taste of a Mary Burton novel and I was certsinly impressed enough to want to read more from her.
This book is due for release on 28th April 2015 and is well worth reading.
March 19, 2015
Thank you netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have never read anything by this author, but I will be adding her to my must read authors! Wow...this was a fast paced read that keeps you guessing. It was an unputdownable thriller with a little romance thrown in. I read in other reviews that some of the characters are from other books are in this one, so I will definitely be checking those out!
I have never read anything by this author, but I will be adding her to my must read authors! Wow...this was a fast paced read that keeps you guessing. It was an unputdownable thriller with a little romance thrown in. I read in other reviews that some of the characters are from other books are in this one, so I will definitely be checking those out!
January 18, 2018
Another excellent book from this author. She never disappoints. Found it to be gripping from start to finish, so good that I finished it in two days.
August 25, 2023
On leave from her job in the Boston Police Department, Forensic Artist Jenna Thompson returns to Nashville to think on where she wants to go in her career and try to figure out the hazy memories that surround her even as closure in that is not even close. Detective Rick Morgan is a man determined to solve a baffling crime and he needs Jenna’s help. With murders piling up, it will take the combined help of Jenna as well as Rick to bring justice to the victims as well as closing a case that dates far back to the time of Jenna Thompson’s childhood. The question is can they catch a killer before they strike next?
I got to admit I loved the first book, Cover Your Eyes, and I found BE AFRAID a worthy sequel to enjoy. The pace is fast; writing top notch and the storyline twists and turns as it weaves a spell around you. Ms. Burton delivers a wild ride from start to finish and as the reader is drawn deeper into this author’s web, they will be surprised as I was who was the murderer and just how much Jenna’s memories will help Rick close the latest string of murders.
We met Rick Morgan in Cover Your Eyes as well as his siblings (Deke, Alex and Georgia). This time we find Rick as well as his retired police dog, Tracker, back in the field as they try to get a handle on a string of murders that cause Rick a major headache even as he is drawn to the forensic artist Jenna Thompson. I loved seeing Rick in th e spotlight as well as Jenna making him learn to live again. Both characters are drawn to one another even as they dance around their attraction. The sparks fly fast and furious between them even as the dead bodies start to pile up, with no end in sight. With the right amount of toughness and vulnerability, Ms. Burton delivers two strong characters who compliment one another. I loved that both Jenna and Rick were independent yet vulnerable. They had issues from their past even as their future looked murky at best. The secondary characters were just as intriguing as well as diverse. All the characters were well written and enjoyable to read.
BE AFRAID left me reeling from start to finish with an ending that had my jaw dropping in shock and I, for one, can not wait to see who is next in the Morgan siblings to find them in the crossfire while trying to navigate murder and relationships. I give Ms. Burton kudos for creating a great series and one I am eager to continue to read. I am now looking to see just what else this author has in her backlist to read while I await the next Morgan book to devour.
I got to admit I loved the first book, Cover Your Eyes, and I found BE AFRAID a worthy sequel to enjoy. The pace is fast; writing top notch and the storyline twists and turns as it weaves a spell around you. Ms. Burton delivers a wild ride from start to finish and as the reader is drawn deeper into this author’s web, they will be surprised as I was who was the murderer and just how much Jenna’s memories will help Rick close the latest string of murders.
We met Rick Morgan in Cover Your Eyes as well as his siblings (Deke, Alex and Georgia). This time we find Rick as well as his retired police dog, Tracker, back in the field as they try to get a handle on a string of murders that cause Rick a major headache even as he is drawn to the forensic artist Jenna Thompson. I loved seeing Rick in th e spotlight as well as Jenna making him learn to live again. Both characters are drawn to one another even as they dance around their attraction. The sparks fly fast and furious between them even as the dead bodies start to pile up, with no end in sight. With the right amount of toughness and vulnerability, Ms. Burton delivers two strong characters who compliment one another. I loved that both Jenna and Rick were independent yet vulnerable. They had issues from their past even as their future looked murky at best. The secondary characters were just as intriguing as well as diverse. All the characters were well written and enjoyable to read.
BE AFRAID left me reeling from start to finish with an ending that had my jaw dropping in shock and I, for one, can not wait to see who is next in the Morgan siblings to find them in the crossfire while trying to navigate murder and relationships. I give Ms. Burton kudos for creating a great series and one I am eager to continue to read. I am now looking to see just what else this author has in her backlist to read while I await the next Morgan book to devour.
January 8, 2019
2.5 stars. It seems like 2019 is starting with lots of bullet point reviews. I'm sorry, but I'm feeling lazy.
What I liked:
1) An h who is in control of her libido, even in her thoughts.
2) An h who has an awesome skill and uses it for good, not evil. Like a super hero(ine). She also doesn't do OTT TSTL things, like revisiting crimes scenes. In the dark. By herself.
3) An interesting mystery, with the bad guy being someone I never would've guessed.
4) No explicit intimate scenes.
5) A safe story. The H doesn't come across as a tomcat and I always appreciate that.
Now for the things that didn't work for me:
1) I never would've guessed the identity of the bad guy since it was . I don't really enjoy mysteries that are written this way since there's absolutely no chance of me guessing the baddie ahead of time.
2) The formula is strong with this one. With Mary Burton, it seems like the premise is always either a cold case or a case that was seemingly solved already. The h has vague memories that have been repressed since her mind is protecting itself. The H is a suspicious sort, quick to judge and slow to accept. The physical intimacy comes near the end of the story, the reveal explains every thing, and the epilogue occurs a month or two from the resolution. It's my own fault really. I was in a hurry to finish this one and return it to the library or else I would've spaced out the Mary Burton books some more.
I will keep reading her books. They don't make me mad and are generally trigger free. However, I won't be finishing this series. The last two books seem either boring to me.
Safety
What I liked:
1) An h who is in control of her libido, even in her thoughts.
2) An h who has an awesome skill and uses it for good, not evil. Like a super hero(ine). She also doesn't do OTT TSTL things, like revisiting crimes scenes. In the dark. By herself.
3) An interesting mystery, with the bad guy being someone I never would've guessed.
4) No explicit intimate scenes.
5) A safe story. The H doesn't come across as a tomcat and I always appreciate that.
Now for the things that didn't work for me:
1) I never would've guessed the identity of the bad guy since it was . I don't really enjoy mysteries that are written this way since there's absolutely no chance of me guessing the baddie ahead of time.
2) The formula is strong with this one. With Mary Burton, it seems like the premise is always either a cold case or a case that was seemingly solved already. The h has vague memories that have been repressed since her mind is protecting itself. The H is a suspicious sort, quick to judge and slow to accept. The physical intimacy comes near the end of the story, the reveal explains every thing, and the epilogue occurs a month or two from the resolution. It's my own fault really. I was in a hurry to finish this one and return it to the library or else I would've spaced out the Mary Burton books some more.
I will keep reading her books. They don't make me mad and are generally trigger free. However, I won't be finishing this series. The last two books seem either boring to me.
Safety
May 5, 2015
ARC provided by the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
There is a fine line between Reason and Madness, especially in the mind of a production planning, psycho murderer. Nashville Detective Rick Morgan is new to the homicide division and he and his partner, Bishop, catch the call that an arson is also the scene of a murder. A murder that has been staged by Madness.
Earlier in the day they were called to Centennial Park where the remains of a child were found submerged in a pond being drained. Since there is no evidence found with the skeleton, Rick's sister, Georgia, a crime scene investigator, suggests using the talents on a street artist she knows to give the child a face. Jenna is a forensic artist and a cop on leave from the Baltimore PD. Even though she is in Nashville battling demons from her past, she agrees to help with the case. Rick has his own demons to battle as well and the two take an instant dislike to each other, but that soon changes.
This is my first book by Mary Burton and it won't be my last. She has a rare gift of blending many different and seemingly random plots into one page turner of a thriller.
There is a fine line between Reason and Madness, especially in the mind of a production planning, psycho murderer. Nashville Detective Rick Morgan is new to the homicide division and he and his partner, Bishop, catch the call that an arson is also the scene of a murder. A murder that has been staged by Madness.
Earlier in the day they were called to Centennial Park where the remains of a child were found submerged in a pond being drained. Since there is no evidence found with the skeleton, Rick's sister, Georgia, a crime scene investigator, suggests using the talents on a street artist she knows to give the child a face. Jenna is a forensic artist and a cop on leave from the Baltimore PD. Even though she is in Nashville battling demons from her past, she agrees to help with the case. Rick has his own demons to battle as well and the two take an instant dislike to each other, but that soon changes.
This is my first book by Mary Burton and it won't be my last. She has a rare gift of blending many different and seemingly random plots into one page turner of a thriller.
April 18, 2016
The story was okay I just found there to be too may inconsistencies. In the first book Buddy died after eating bacon and eggs. In this book, he died after eating a steak dinner. Nothing pisses me off more than an author who can't remember what they've said. It wasn't just with Buddy's death, I noticed the same type of inconsistencies all throughout the series so far. If the author can't keep the story straight it's as though she is telling us she does not care about her story, and if she doesn't care, why should I?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2019
This romantic suspense had a interesting complex plot but the action moved kind of slow and the relationships were not very realistic. Everyone speculating about the heroines past got repetitive and almost every time the hero does something he thinks about his injury. Police sketch artist Jenna is on leave and Detective Rick asks her to help him try to identify a young child.
December 9, 2019
This is the second book in a series. Not realizing this I have read this series backwards. Makes it a bit hard to follow but barring that overall a good read. Jenna Thompson comes to Nashville to try and get answers as to why her family was all killed when she was only 5. She became a cop and a forensic artist after her aunt moved her to Baltimore. When bones are discovered she is asked to try and reconstruct the face for the local police. Somehow this could all lead to the answers she needs.
May 18, 2020
Did not like any of the Morgan family as they were pushy, rude and constantly annoyed that strangers did not give away their secret immediately upon meeting them. Have no idea how anyone could be attracted to or love or even like any of them!!
I give the story 2 stars for the mystery and characters of KC and Jenna.
I give the story 2 stars for the mystery and characters of KC and Jenna.
December 9, 2017
A great, face-paced suspense. I look forward to reading other books in this series.
July 4, 2020
Let's just say Jenna is a heck of a woman
December 23, 2020
3.5 Stars. I enjoyed this and the suspense was well done. I liked the MC's although the romance was just a bit lacking for me.
July 1, 2023
4.5 Stars
July 12, 2023
I love reading Mary Burton books between heavy books. This did not disappoint.
December 10, 2021
Interesting story when a child’s skull is found 20+
Plus years later. The reconstruction of the head and drawings made it possible to identify the girl and catch the murders � I always learn a tidbit or two from her stories!
Plus years later. The reconstruction of the head and drawings made it possible to identify the girl and catch the murders � I always learn a tidbit or two from her stories!
May 2, 2020
3.5 stars
April 27, 2015
4.5 stars.
Opening with a chilling prologue, Be Afraid by Mary Burton is an incredibly riveting read from beginning to end. This second installment in the Morgans of Nashville series is a very intriguing mystery with slight romantic elements that fans of police procedurals do not want to miss. While it can be read as a standalone, I also recommend the first novel in the series to get a better understanding of the characters and their backstories.
Baltimore police officer and forensic artist Jenna Thompson returns to Nashville after a current case triggers long forgotten memories of her kidnapping twenty-five years earlier. She is the only member of her family that survived an attack that left her parents and older sister dead. She was rescued by police after the kidnapper/murderer died from a fatal overdose and the case was officially closed. But Jenna is haunted by hazy memories that seem to indicate there might be more to her case than originally thought and she is working as street artist while she works up the courage to do a little digging in her past.
Detective Rick Morgan and his partner Jake Bishop are working on a couple of cases when they are introduced to Jenna by Rick's sister and crime scene investigator, Georgia. She suggests Jenna use her skills as a forensic artist to help identity the skeletal remains of a young child discovered buried in a pond at a local park. After Jenna's reconstruction is complete, she and Rick take the sketch to the media where she is blindsided during the interview when the reporter brings up the long ago kidnapping.
Jenna's past soon collides with the present when Rick realizes that another investigation of his shares a few startling similarities to the murders of her family. He is currently working on series of murders where arson is used to cover up evidence of the crimes and the alleged killers are later found dead. It quickly becomes apparent to Rick these cases are linked and that the killers did not act alone. This pattern is eerily similar to evidence at the Thompson crime scene but will he uncover the connection between the cases before the killer strikes again?
The mystery aspect of the storyline is very well written and it is fascinating how the different story arcs all eventually tie together. The story is written from multiple viewpoints (including the killers') and this provides valuable insight about the crimes. The most disturbing perspective is that of the mastermind behind the murders and this peek into a very twisted mind reveals a desperate attempt to keep the long dormant murderous impulses under control.
Be Afraid is a suspense-laden and fast-paced mystery that has many unexpected twists and turns. Mary Burton does an absolutely brilliant job obscuring the killer's identity until the novel's rather dramatic and pulse-pounding conclusion. It is a fantastic whodunit that will leave fans of the genre very eager for the next novel in the Morgans of Nashville series.
Opening with a chilling prologue, Be Afraid by Mary Burton is an incredibly riveting read from beginning to end. This second installment in the Morgans of Nashville series is a very intriguing mystery with slight romantic elements that fans of police procedurals do not want to miss. While it can be read as a standalone, I also recommend the first novel in the series to get a better understanding of the characters and their backstories.
Baltimore police officer and forensic artist Jenna Thompson returns to Nashville after a current case triggers long forgotten memories of her kidnapping twenty-five years earlier. She is the only member of her family that survived an attack that left her parents and older sister dead. She was rescued by police after the kidnapper/murderer died from a fatal overdose and the case was officially closed. But Jenna is haunted by hazy memories that seem to indicate there might be more to her case than originally thought and she is working as street artist while she works up the courage to do a little digging in her past.
Detective Rick Morgan and his partner Jake Bishop are working on a couple of cases when they are introduced to Jenna by Rick's sister and crime scene investigator, Georgia. She suggests Jenna use her skills as a forensic artist to help identity the skeletal remains of a young child discovered buried in a pond at a local park. After Jenna's reconstruction is complete, she and Rick take the sketch to the media where she is blindsided during the interview when the reporter brings up the long ago kidnapping.
Jenna's past soon collides with the present when Rick realizes that another investigation of his shares a few startling similarities to the murders of her family. He is currently working on series of murders where arson is used to cover up evidence of the crimes and the alleged killers are later found dead. It quickly becomes apparent to Rick these cases are linked and that the killers did not act alone. This pattern is eerily similar to evidence at the Thompson crime scene but will he uncover the connection between the cases before the killer strikes again?
The mystery aspect of the storyline is very well written and it is fascinating how the different story arcs all eventually tie together. The story is written from multiple viewpoints (including the killers') and this provides valuable insight about the crimes. The most disturbing perspective is that of the mastermind behind the murders and this peek into a very twisted mind reveals a desperate attempt to keep the long dormant murderous impulses under control.
Be Afraid is a suspense-laden and fast-paced mystery that has many unexpected twists and turns. Mary Burton does an absolutely brilliant job obscuring the killer's identity until the novel's rather dramatic and pulse-pounding conclusion. It is a fantastic whodunit that will leave fans of the genre very eager for the next novel in the Morgans of Nashville series.
August 17, 2020
didn't really like this but will probably read the rest of the books from the series
it would have been a better book if the author took out the "romance" part and actually resolved the case of the little girl
and the whole madness/reason thing was annoying, as was "shadow eyes"
and Jenna shows up to find out about her family's murder, she lives there for months and does nothing about it, doesn't talk to the police, doesn't tell them that she thinks there was another person involved
but I probably wouldn't have given it 1 start if it wasn't for a scene where Jenna and Rachel are talking about a rape victim and they (mostly Jenna) sound judgmental about why the woman didn't fight the guy
and in the end Jenna ended up being kidnapped in a very TSTL manner
it would have been a better book if the author took out the "romance" part and actually resolved the case of the little girl
and the whole madness/reason thing was annoying, as was "shadow eyes"
and Jenna shows up to find out about her family's murder, she lives there for months and does nothing about it, doesn't talk to the police, doesn't tell them that she thinks there was another person involved
but I probably wouldn't have given it 1 start if it wasn't for a scene where Jenna and Rachel are talking about a rape victim and they (mostly Jenna) sound judgmental about why the woman didn't fight the guy
and in the end Jenna ended up being kidnapped in a very TSTL manner
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2015
Written in the same style as her last book and carrying over some of the same characters, Be Afraid is a police procedural focused on tracking down a killer whose crimes span decades. Rick, whose brother Deke was featured in the last book, is one of the primary detectives on the case. Much of the drama in the story is centered around Rick's job related shooting injury and his inability to relax and connect with his partner and those around him. Jenna also has trouble connecting with people. A traumatic event in her childhood and an emotionless upbringing have left her scarred. She travels to Nashville in order to search out her past and ends up tied into Rick's murder investigation. As her past is brought to light, Jenna becomes the focus of the killer's attention. Rick steps up to protect Jenna even though she is a cop herself and doesn't see the need for his help. The two have some latent chemistry from the beginning which develops very slowly throughout the story and culminates following the killer's attempt on Jenna's life. I liked the idea behind this story and the details related to forensic artistry. The killer was definitely creepy and unusual. The secondary chemistry between Bishop and Georgia was also interesting. If you like procedurals, you should enjoy this book.
Thanks to Net Galley for providing a copy for review.
Thanks to Net Galley for providing a copy for review.
May 21, 2015
I read the first book last fall and enjoyed it so I requested this as soon as I saw it was available. We get to revisit some of the characters from the first books, learn more about two of the Morgans, and get a mystery that kept me guessing though there was a major coincidence that I had trouble swallowing. The romance is light, even lighter than in the first one, the book is more mystery with a romance sub-plot. It didn't grab me as much as book one, "Cover Your Eyes" did but I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to book three, "I'll Never Let You Go", due out in October.
March 2, 2021
It an ok book. Like Rachel's scenes better. Also when the case is coming together & the attacks on Jenna.
I thought Rick was kind of an idiot to believe a woman she didn't love over his brother, & he didn't even both to get his side of the story.
If they weren't brothers I would suggest to allow Rick to continue to believe the lie while everyone else knew the truth. If Rick wants to be the bad guy then let him. It's obvious he wants to be in pain after the loss of his father then his injury so I would suggest Alex let him suffer since he wants to suffer than know the truth.
I thought Rick was kind of an idiot to believe a woman she didn't love over his brother, & he didn't even both to get his side of the story.
If they weren't brothers I would suggest to allow Rick to continue to believe the lie while everyone else knew the truth. If Rick wants to be the bad guy then let him. It's obvious he wants to be in pain after the loss of his father then his injury so I would suggest Alex let him suffer since he wants to suffer than know the truth.
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