#1: Deadly Encounter

Diann Mills is one of my favorite authors. I gave this book 4 stars because I did not enjoy it as much as her other books, but it is still a good read.

Book was very good I enjoyed it very much

Diann Mills is one of my favorite authors and the one who helped me dive into the world of suspense and intrigue books. Even after all these years she still amazes me in her ability to write. She is able to suck you into a book and not let go till the last chapter. So when I heard that she was coming out with a new book, I knew I had to get my hands on it as soon as possible. If you like Diann Mills/cop books, then youll love Deadly Encounter. The only problem I have with this book is this; I have read a lot of suspense books and a lot of cop books and I feel like this read was just like all the other ones. I wanted it to be a little more diverse and less like all the other books that Ive read. For instance, the romance between Stacy and Alex was so predictable. If youve read any contemporary book you know exactly how its going to play out. Sadly, I started to get board at about the halfway point. Even though I didnt know who the bad guys were or why the victim was murdered, I knew how the book was going to end. I dont want to discourage you from reading this book because I did enjoy it, it just wasnt my favorite. If you are new to suspense books or you love Diann Mills, I would totally recommend this book to you. I would also recommend you check out the Crime Scene Houston Series by Diann Mills, that was my favorite series by her.

What a ride! This novel was full of intrigue, mystery, suspense, murder, deadly disease and terrorism. What more could one want? Oh yeah, it also had a female vet, FBI agent and twelve yr old genius, abused by his parents. Love, trust and faith also played a big part. The plot kept getting more and more complicated at every turn with more victims and suspects than you could shake a stick at. But to me those are the best kind, the stories where the "bad guy(s)" are not always obvious. Kept me guessing for sure. I think my favorite character was Whitt. I just wanted to squeeze him and hug him and cry with him. Who wouldn't love a young genius, with an inquisitive mind and a great chef to boot? I guess that answer is his parents! I've read other books by Diann Mills and they just get better and better!

I received this book from the publisher through Bookfun and was not required to give a review, positive or otherwise

There are some authors whose novels I simply anticipate certain things of; Diann Mills is the kind of author who I know will bring breath-taking suspense and challenging mysteries faced with varying degrees of faith. In Deadly Encounter, first of the FBI Task Force series, the author exceeded my expectations again and woven a plot with tremendous creativity and characters that the reader cares about.

Dr. Stacy Broussard, a veterinarian, volunteers a few hours periodically at the airport in Houston as an Airport Ranger, horseback riding around the perimeter of the airport to check for any illegal activities. Her partner for this day isnt able to come, so she goes solo. Unfortunately, this is the day she encounters trouble that would change the course of her life. She finds the body of a man who had just been murdered. The leash of a friendly yellow Lab was in his hand, and the Lab had an injured paw. A shot-down military drone is found nearby. Two men from the FBI arrive, one who sternly who asks most of the questions and one who is kinder.

Stacy is in the process of getting custody of Whitt, a 12-year-old genius who frequently stays at her place as his parents are active alcoholics. Whitt has a backup plan if CPS gets involved for any reason. He helps at Stacys veterinary clinic, and is happy to see the Lab, who has no ID or a microchip. The events occurring over the next several days are beyond anything Stacy could anticipate, and without the assistance of FBI Special Agent Alex and his partner, she and Whitt could both lose their lives. The big picture of who shot the man at the airport, who left the dog and why, and why the drone stolen from the military was shot down there could be at least two unrelated eventsas well as the danger posed by the drone as it has a laser capacity to blind a pilot of incoming or outdoing planes and cause the demise of hundreds. When Stacy and several of her neighbors become deathly ill, the stakes rose exponentially.

The author expertly develops her characters throughout; most are drawn with increasing complexity so the reader can identify with and/ or care about them. The reader also learns enough about a few as to hope they either get their act together or disappear this novel. Whitt, Stacy, and Alex are among the most likable folks, and the ones it is hardest to say goodbye to when the last page is turned.

The plot is intricately woven, a challenge for the reader to figure out who the bad guy(s)/ gal(s) might be, which appeals to this reader. There is a depth to deceptions enacted by some of the characters. I would not have anticipated some of the twists and turns that add to the novel and increase the suspense. The hazard faced by Stacy and others is not one I could have imagined and it is handled so well that it seems real. The explosive final chapters leave no loose ends, and is very satisfactory. It is refreshing to see the faith struggles of the characters; Stacy shares without being preachy, as do her parents. Seeing where Whitt and Alex are, it demonstrates how one persons witness and sharing her doubts and how she handles them can help another. I highly recommend it to those who appreciate Christian fiction that is well-written and incredibly suspenseful with a dash of romance. This is one of Diann Mills finest.

From a grateful heart: I was given the book by Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and here is my honest review.