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Justice Buried

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Member Reviews

Security consultant Kelsey Allen is just doing her job - she is trying to find the holes in the Pink Palace Museum´s security settings (well, it includes a wall climbing during the night), when a man shoots a bullet after her. And this starts the unraveling of the forgotten murder - of someone Kelsey knows well, whose past acts has put a lot of shame on her shoulders. But are the things really as thez seem to be?
Certainly, not always - as Detective Brad Hollister realizes when he is called to the cold case to meet his high mainteance classmate again - only to realize that Kelsey is anything but. And that she could be dangerous - to the peace of his heart.

After a weaker start of the series (for me), here we are for the trademark Ms Bradley - high tensions, smart and believable mystery, raw and real characters and the couple to very much root for! This one is a swift, catchy read and I have enjoyed it to the last page.
Brad Hollister has been introduced to us in the first installment (and his sister Andi, the heroine of said installment, gets a cameo here as well) and I have been caught by his rugged charms even there, but here he owns his place and he does it well. And independent, smart yet vulnerable Kelsey is truly a match made in heaven for him. I can see the adventurous future ahead of them!

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Patricia Bradley is in my top five when it comes to romantic suspense writers. Her books crackle with both romantic sparks and intense suspense. Justice Buried, book #2 in the Memphis Cold Case series, begins with security expert Kelsey Allen rappelling down the side of a 14-story building. Tasked with finding the security weaknesses in the building, she swoops in as The Phantom Hawk, and proves that the seemingly unbreachable, is actually vulnerable. As she pulls herself back up the building after leaving her calling card, she stops at a lighted window that was dark on the way down. She can't see the person in the room - other than that it's a man - but he sees her, and comes after her with a gun. She gets away, barely, and breathes a sigh of relief, until she learns that a murder was committed in that room, that night, and the Phantom Hawk is being blamed.

When a second murder occurs at The Pink Palace as Kelsey investigates the theft of several artifacts, the Phantom Hawk again catches the blame. She knows she hasn't killed anyone, but someone - possibly near and dear to her - has. As she works to uncover a killer, can she keep herself out of harm's way?

Detective Brad Hollister has decided to make the move from Homicide to the Cold Case unit, but on his last night as a homicide detective, a murder occurs that ties into a 25-year-old cold case. The gun used matches one that was stolen from the Pink Palace at the same time Kelsey Allen's father disappeared, supposedly having stolen a number of other artifacts. When Kelsey approaches him and asks him to look into her father's disappearance, he's willing to look but doesn't expect to find anything. Could it be that the assumption made years ago was wrong? Artifacts are still disappearing from the museum but Kelsey's dad has been gone a long time.

When the director of security for the Pink Palace Museum, and Kelsey's new boss, is found murdered at a museum fundraiser, Brad sees Kelsey leaving the building by climbing down the side of it. Is it possible that the Phantom Hawk is a woman? And what possible reason is there for what he just saw?

Can Brad win Kelsey's trust? Will they be able to find the killer before they are each placed squarely in his crosshairs?

This book was un-put-downable! Once I started it, the action was so fast paced that it felt like a new clue was dropped on every page, and none of those added up to the culprit until the very end. Readers of romantic suspense will love this book. While it is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. (I read book 3 first, and still haven't read book 1, although I will!) I highly recommend!

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I love the idea of this series and pulling up cold cases with it! Patricia does a fabulous job with the mystery. I enjoyed the characters immensely.

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A fast-paced and interesting mystery-thriller. While the mere idea of hanging off the side of a building makes my palms sweat and my head get light, but this young woman won’t let even heights stand in her way.

It’s a page-turner with all the action, and it was a nice twist to have so many plausible suspects. An entire handful of people have motive and opportunity, and it’s one that definitely kept me guessing for awhile.

Brad was a character I really liked in the first book, and I had definitely been looking forward to his story. It did not disappoint me and he definitely is the heroic type of guy we got glimpses of in the previous book.

It would probably be fine to read this book as a standalone, except that you might get a piece or two of info that could be spoilers for book one. The mystery is entirely confined to this volume, though.

I gobbled book three up within the week and am now eager for book four.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free review copy. I ended up actually reading a finished library copy, though.

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Full of action and suspense this book will keep you guessing until the end who the villain really is. I long the strong, lead female characters and that Kasey's job is a non-traditional female profession.

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5 Stars!
Patricia Bradley is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors and this book confirmed yet again why she has a permanent spot on my list of favorite authors! I have been looking forward to Brad's story since meeting him in Justice Delayed, and I was immediately hooked on this story from the first page, I think actually the first sentence! Brad was every bit as fabulous a hero as I knew he would be! I really liked Kelsey and felt like she was a perfect match for Brad, I liked how she was the perfect mix of sweet and tough and that she was independent but not so much that she put her safety at risk just to prove a point (which it seems like romantic suspense heroines sometimes do)
The plot in this story was very unique, I thought it was so cool how it was set at the real Pink Palace Museum (I even found myself googling photos of it because I was so curious to see what it looked like) usually the locations in novels are mostly fictional so it's always super cool when you can see the exact place that the characters are in the story, and I loved that!
The suspense in this book was great and built to an absolutely fabulous climax! I absolutely loved everything about this book and can't wait to read the next in the series, I have my fingers crossed that David and Maggie will be the stars of one of the stories in this series (I still want to know how you get Maggie from Madeline!) LOL!
Highly recommend! I think this one can stand alone if you haven't read Justice Delayed but they are both so awesome that you should grab yourself copies ASAP!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. No review required. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

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It was just last fall when I picked up my first Patricia Bradley novel. Sometimes it feels forever ago (as it’s taken me ages to get time to read my second one!) and sometimes it feels like the blink of an eye. If you remember last September when I read ‘Justice Delayed‘ there were a lot of changes going on in my work life. Well, I finally got around to picking up ‘Justice Buried’ at another time of massive changes in my work life. I finished it this morning in the parking lot before work, and right as the dust finally settled (in a good way!). As much as I enjoy this author I am almost afraid to read the next one, you know what I mean? I have to say that I didn’t struggle with the characters, as much, this go round but then again I read the book in about 24 hours. There were a few characters to have to learn and we know how well I do with names. . .

Let’s face it, you have to get up pretty early in the midnight to pull one over on me. I’m jaded by years of mystery reading and a mind that likes to figure out why people do the things they do. If a mystery can truly keep me guessing (and I don’t mean I have it narrowed down to just this or that) then it gets bonus points and kudos bows from me. There were a couple of different mysteries within the mystery and the big one, the one behind the whole shebang, kept me somewhat in the dark. I had suspicions but I wasn’t certain enough to stake my life on it. Back to the little mysteries for a minute. One of them was just too perfectly obvious that I knew before I knew. And it was just a teaser in the bigger story, but I knew. It didn’t ruin the story but just for the record – I knew.

Kelsey and Brad share an amazing story of reconnection, dodging bullets, uncovering sinister plots, and catching the creeper. With a multi-layered story of suspense and intrigue these characters bring it all together with a touch of romance as well. Characters with strong, well-developed personalities, make this book another winner for me. Personally, I can’t wait to come back to this community and embed myself into another cold case, which apparently isn’t as cold as they think. ‘Justice Betrayed’ releases June 5th!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

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Justice Buried is the second suspense in the Memphis Cold Case series written by author Patricia Bradley. Thanks to NetGalley and Revell Publishing for the advance copy.

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Another winner by Patricia Bradley. JUSTICE BURIED is full of twists/turns/mystery plus romance. Five stars!

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Romantic suspense books are my favorite to read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were plenty of twists and turns in the plot that kept me reading far past when I should have been in bed :)

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Mystery and suspense makes this novel hard to put down. Kelsey was an unusual character with so many unique talents. I loved her spunk and commitment to her family. I loved Brad's wholesome character. Looking forward to reading the next in this series. Highly recommended!

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Justice Buried is a great mysterious phenomenal story in fact she – Kelsey – thrives and succeeds at whatever she does , it is thrilling because of the murder and how Kelsey and the Detective get's into trouble but will they get out ? And love where , the good Detective and Kelsey eventually start to see each other through different lenses . Kelsey was trying to make her job of showing companies there's security weaknesses one place she found herself over her head – you have to read what all happened she'd seen the major twist you've won't believe it – that is where the detective enters the scene and the two maybe they lose their hearts.

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What a fantastic novel from Patricia Bradley. I did not read Justice Delayed (first book of series) but didn't feel that I missed out. Andi and Will from Justice Delayed make several appearances in this book, but Justice Buried can definitely be read as a stand-alone. I love contemporary inspirational romantic suspense/mystery as a genre and Ms. Bradley does an excellent job weaving a bit of romance into an intricately woven plot full of action and suspense (just the way I like it!).

The book is well-written and fast-paced. There is plenty of adrenaline flowing through the plot as Kelsey dodges that mysterious someone intent on killing her and Brad tries to protect her to the best of his ability. The storyline is well-crafted and the details regarding the linked cases expand exponentially and purposefully to keep the reader guessing as to which one of the characters is the perpetrator. Honestly I couldn't figure it out until the very end when the person was revealed!

The thread of faith and prayer, though not overt, was definitely present in the characters' lives.

As for the characters, Ms. Bradley has created some awesome ones in this book.
Brad, a detective, is strong, loyal, compassionate, stubborn, and so swoon-worthy. I mean, who could resist a man devoted to protecting the innocent and rendering justice and devoted to his three-legged dog rescued from a shelter and the children/youth in need around him? The only flaw he seems to have is his indecision about his love life and what he truly wants out of his life outside of work.
Kelsey, a security expert and a museum conservator, is fiercely loyal, stubborn, compassionate, strong and super-intelligent but has a huge chip on her shoulder.....or maybe her heart....about getting too close to people. Perhaps that stemmed from her past with her father....maybe not. Ms. Bradley doesn't delve too deeply into Kelsey's psyche about her past but all the drama and action surrounding her daily existence probably overshadowed this minor detail. She's quite prickly but lovable once you see the softer side of her nature.

Now I must go and start reading Justice Delayed. I'm hoping for another book in the series soon....

I received a review copy of the book from Revell via NetGalley. I was not required to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

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Can I say I loved it!?! First off, I related to the main character, Kelsey Allen. She was a woman after my own heart, in that she was a hacker trying to start her own security company. She was smart and fun to watch. I also related with her snarky attitude.

The story grabbed me from the beginning and kept me guessing throughout. I always enjoy it when the author allows the reader to solve the mystery along with the characters. Bradley kept me guessing. The chemistry between Kelsey and Brad was extremely fun. I loved the interactions.

I was also impressed with how she covered the hacking parts of the story. She kept it simple enough that the computer novice wouldn’t be lost, but for those of us that have experience should find Kelsey’s actions plausible.

This is a book 2 in the series but is not dependent on book 1. You see many of the same characters from book 1 in a supporting role.

Disclaimer: I did receive a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, I was not required to give a review and the opinions here are my own.
Video Review: https://youtu.be/gGWpGXW3U4s

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An engaging read with an interesting hook. Definitely a nice way to spend a few hours especially if you like romantic suspense/mystery.

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I enjoyed Kelsey's character and how she was interested in computers but also old things. I could relate to the contradicting interests and it made her more likable. I liked Brad's character well enough, although the situation with Elle, his ex-fiancé, was a little frustrating and off-putting. I also didn't entirely like how it concluded itself. The suspense in the book kept me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed constantly trying to figure out who was behind the murders but never quite being sure until the climax. It made for an enjoyable cold case turned active investigation.

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A fast-paced romantic suspense with a tough female lead and a mystery brought back from the grave makes for a combination that can’t be missed!

Kelsey Allen has decided to start her own security business. In an effort to prove herself, she has been scaling buildings and entering through windows to show local businesses the vulnerabilities they have and how she can improve their security. When the Pink Palace Museum calls asking her to test their security after they have several important artifacts disappear, she poses as a conservator and sets to work. Her investigation quickly turns from looking into the disappearances of artifacts to finding a murderer. Kelsey suddenly finds herself in more danger and knows she needs help. Brad Hollister is a detective she has known for years and when he is put in her path Kelsey finds that she herself is vulnerable of falling for Brad, hard and fast.

With the second book in the Memphis cold case series, Patricia Bradley has crafted a tight fast paced story that will leave readers guessing as to who the killer is and what their possible motive could be. The relationships that developed were very natural and played out well. Kelsey is shown to be fearless and on top of everything she faces, even when she finds herself in a bad spot without any foreseeable way out. The only issue I had was at the very ending, I don’t want to give away anything but the last few pages and the way the relationship between two characters progressed was not at all reasonable for me. I enjoy books with a strong female lead and Kelsey was a great one to add to my list of favorite female characters. The relationship between her and Brad was enjoyable to watch play out. I liked how there was another woman in his life and he had to decide what to do, which wasn’t made out to be an easy decision either. Other than the one problem at the very end the book, it was very enjoyable and I will recommend it to readers that enjoy a good clean suspense read with a mystery that is deep and not will keep them guessing until the very end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

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Kelsey Allen is a vastly talented woman, and her uses her skills as a cat burgler, testing security systems for businesses. When the head of a leading security agency hires her to go undercover at a museum, she finds herself in the unique position to clear her father's name. Her father used to be a curator at the museum until he and a number of valuable pieces disappeared, naturally it was assumed that her father was the thief, but pieces are still going missing.

Will Kelsey be able to catch the thief and clear her father's name?

I thought it was funny how Kelsey's mom finds her a date to the museum fundraiser by talking to the guy's mom. Brad Holister is a police detective who is moving into the cold case division, they were acquaintances in high school, but were never close. When they find a dead body the case heats up and Brad agrees to look into her father's disappearance.

Kelsey is close to her family, she get's along well with her half sister and step father. Kelsey is incredibly talented, she can think on her feet, and is terrifically brave and caring. She isn't so sure about where she stands with her faith, but is willing to talk about it.

Brad is a great officer, and is a great compliment to Kelsey as they both bring different skills to the investigation. Brad is dedicated to his job, and is strong in his faith. I like how quickly he is willing to jump in and help Kelsey with her mission.

This is an action packed read with a lot of great character interaction. Filled with mystery, and plenty of surprises, this makes for a definite page turner! I really like how Brad and Kelsey work together to solve the mystery and find Kelsey's father. Fantastic read!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

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I've never encountered a woman with so much ambition to start a business as Kelsey has! Her ingenuity and bravery are amazing. I've always loved books with strong female leads that can keep up with the guys - or even do better than them. I also really liked Brad. I like that he seeks justice but also can seem to see the bigger picture too. But most of all I love how protective he is.

I think what I liked most about this book was the unique combination of skills that Kelsey has. I loved her adventurous side combined with her computer and tech savvy side. I also loved that she was so willing to work hard for what she wanted.

This book had some unique side characters too. I really appreciated the change of pace one of them threw into the story and liked the little twist she added.

In the end I found the story quite intriguing. I never did figure out who the bad guy was and was surprised by a lot of Bradley's twists. This was definitely a page turner.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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