“Evil Without a Face” by Jordan Dane

Genre: Thriller / Mystery

Rating: 3.5 WaterTowers (First of the “Sweet Justice” series.)

Nikki Archer is like many 17 year olds (as I am finding out with one of my own) unhappy, restless, and needing adventure.  Nikki found a friend on the Internet (a Russian girl nicknamed SnowMaiden) with similar angst and, better yet, a way for Nikki to escape the humdrum of Talkeetna, Alaska for a a better life.   The tickets have been purchased and Nikki’s escape from home has been planned.

Nikki leaves and her life changes more than she could ever imagine.  Globe Harvest has just acquired another teenager.

Jessica Beckett is a bounty hunter (with a difficult past) in Chicago.  She is chasing Lucas Baker a small time hoodlum she has been trying to nail for a long time.  This time she almost gets him.  Almost.  Lucas escapes one more time, but, not without losing his precious laptop computer to Jessica.

He will kill to get it back.

In the meantime, Jess hands the laptop to her colleague, the mysterious, Seth Harper…computer whiz extraordinaire. Seth discovers that the laptop files have been encrypted. But, he manages to break the code and gather some information from it. In addition to visits to a Globe Harvest owned web site, one message in particular is disturbing (from an Ivan Andreyevich Krylov) and touches a nerve in Jessica:

“Delivery from AK on its way to Chicago as agreed. ETA two days.”

Jessica realizes that the time frame for arrival is now…and she immediately sets out to intercept the delivery.

In Alaska, Nikki’s Uncle Payton Archer (and ex-pro QB) is on Nikki’s trail with the help of retired Alaska policeman, and long time friend, Joe Tanu. They know (after an investigation) she is on her way to Chicago and hope they can get there in time.

Back in Chicago, Seth is kidnapped and beaten by Lucas. To get Seth back, Jessica is forced to return the laptop, but, not without some enhancements installed by Seth that will enable Jess and Seth to track it’s location.

As Lucas is recovering the laptop, he is murdered, and all heck breaks out.

Alexa Marlowe, working for a secret organization called the Sentinels, witnesses Lucas’s murder and she, Jessica, and Payton join forces to try to find Nikki.

In a deserted warehouse complex, they almost succeed in rescuing Nikki and several other girls. But, Stas Petrovin, had planned for this eventuality with an escape plan that is literally……explosive.

“Evil Without a Face” is the second book I have read by Jordan Dane. The action is fast and furious, the plot is intriguing and the characters are flawed, likable, mysterious, and tough. I highly recommend picking up a copy!

Oh yeah….the reason the girls are kidnapped will shock you out of your seat. Needless to say…teach your 17 years olds not to go to far from home with people they know nothing about! Evil can indeed come without a face.

Also….it looks like “Evil Without a Face” is (? Jordan Dane can confirm ?) the first of a new “Sweet Justice” series, with an excerpt (and answer to what happened to one of the “Evil” characters) of “The Wrong Side of Dead” at the back of this book.

“No One Heard Her Scream” by Jordan Dane

Genre: Mystery / Romance

Rating: 3.5 Water Towers

“No One Heard Her Scream” is a First Look early reader edition from HarperCollins. It was delivered to stores this month.

Mixing romance with mystery, Jordan Dane introduces characters that jump off the page and land, vividly, in your imagination. The heroine, Rebecca Montgomery, is a troubled police detective assigned to investigate a possible arson where skeletal remains have been discovered. As Rebecca uncovers clues, her life is surprisingly and dramatically altered. “No One Heard Her Scream” is an exciting, easy-to-read, debut novel that leaves the reader craving more. I am definitely looking forward to reading Jordan Dane’s next novel.

Rebecca Montgomery is a San Antonio detective suffering from the disappearance and apparent murder of her younger sister, Danielle, five months earlier (Danielle’s body has never been found, but, a blood stained motel room proves she had died there). Unhappy with the pace of the investigation into her sisters’ murder, Rebecca has gotten herself in trouble by interfering with the case when she has been ordered to stay away.

Instead of forcing Rebecca to take vacation, her boss, Lieutenant Santiago assigns Rebecca to investigate a suspected arson case at a local theater where a body (or rather skeleton) has been found behind a wall.

Arriving at the scene, Rebecca notices a mysterious man watching her as she enters the building. Inside, she starts her investigation and vows to solve the case so that the family of the dead person can reach closure. Rebecca also asks for video to be taken of the people watching outside, and license plate numbers. After leaving the theater, she follows mystery man (he knows she is following him). They have coffee and the heat intensifies……

The license plate information identifies the mystery man as Diego Galvan. He works for Global Enterprises with super rich Hunter Cavanaugh who, coincidently, used to own the theater where the skeleton was found.

Verrry interrresting.

The skeleton is tentatively identified as Isabel Marquez and the list of suspects grows as Rebecca digs deeper. And more girls disappear. The FBI suspects human trafficking by one of the suspects, but, the evidence does not point in the right direction for Rebecca to be convinced.

We find out that Diego is not what he seems as he an Rebecca ignite the passion.

Eventually, Rebecca and Diego’s world is turned upside down and the action and danger increases exponentially.

Does Rebecca find out who killed Isabel? Is Diego bad? Does Hunter figure into the mix? Who lives, who dies?

Like I always say: You’ll just have to read the book to find out.