"Unique intersection between local law enforcement and a deeply motivated reporters fight for justice taking into account moral and ethical dilemmas along the way. challenges assumptions about the ends justifying the means, while sweeping you from front to back with excellent dialogue. Fast-paced entertainment."

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. | liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book that I read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

Revenge from the Grave is the second in a series about Caitlin Rourke, a journalist from Broward, Pennsylvania, but this wasn’t clear when I downloaded it from NetGalley, nor is it marked as such here. This didn’t matter too much as there are plenty of references to earlier events, but is still annoying to those of us who feel compelled to read series in order.
It was published in June 2018 but was still available as Read Now.

The happy family life of the Ryans is destroyed forever when their 18 year old daughter hangs herself, the victim of cyber bullying after a malicious boyfriend spreads lies about her. Twelve years later, a plan to ruin his life sets off a domino chain of criminal charges as more and more corruption is exposed in the judicial system, all eagerly documented by Caitlin for her local newspaper, but who is the mysterious shaoiste pulling the strings?

This was an overly simplistic read for me, with short, basic sentences and excessive explanation and repetition - perhaps it is aimed at young teenagers as for the world described, the language and references were coy to say the least. The plot was fine, although quite different from what was suggested in the blurb - there is almost nothing about cyber bullying but a lot about sexting - it read like a morality tale about the evils and perils of sending rude pictures.
There was a cheesy romance thrown in as well as a family Thanksgiving, a wedding and a loveable dog. Even with drive-by shootings, murder and other attempted atrocities, there was no real tension and I was skimming by the end to get it finished. Fortunately it’s quite a short book.

It’s not a bad book, but I have become accustomed to a much higher standard of read from NetGalley. My thanks for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This started off with the bad choices of teenagers leading to the death of one. Thee death follows many around and shapes the future of others. What happens when revenge leads to death, suspense, and murder? This was full of so many unexpected reveals that I did not want to put this book down. Thank you NetGalley.

This book is in urgent need of an editor.

Most mysteries follow a certain pattern. Most begin with the “hook,” to draw the reader into the story. Here’s how Revenge from the Grave begins: “By all outward appearances it seemed like a normal day at the Ryan home.” OK. I’m interested in learning more.
“But it wasn’t, and the family would find out soon.” Well, that suspense didn’t last long.

A little backstory—we are introduced to Patrick and Anne, a successful (also by outward appearances) couple beginning their day with Anne cooking breakfast for her “brilliant lawyer” husband and learn that they have three older but school-age kids kids, two boys and a girl, Alexis.

Let’s read: “Patrick scarfed down is breakfast, kissed Anne goodbye and grabbed his suitjacked and briefcase. He was about to open the door to the garage when he stopped dead in his tracks. “I don’t have my car keys”... After grabbing his keys, Patrick opened the door leading to their garage and walked into a parent’s worst nightmare — his daughter, Alexis was hanging from a beam. “Alexis!!!” he screamed at the top of his lungs. Patrick and Anne acted quickly. There was no time for tears. They would come later. Anne called 911 while Patrick grabbed a sharp knife from the kitchen.”

So—a “hook,” then “backstory,” and then “trigger,” which is “the powerful event that propels the protagonist into crisis.” The trigger here is obviously the “parent’s worst nightmare.” Yet the author treats it almost like an afterthought, separating this “worst nightmare”— “his daughter, Alexis was hanging from a beam” — with an em-dash, which you use “when you want to emphasize the conclusion of your sentence.” And then goes on to TELL us, not SHOW (which is what we want) that Patrick and Anne “acted quickly” and called 911 and cut down the body. (I am not the only reviewer who noticed how the author “‘tells’ rather than ‘shows’.”)

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a worse “layout.” This could perhaps have been saved by ending the first chapter with the discovery of Alexis: “Patrick opened the door leading to their garage and walked into a parent’s worst nightmare” and something like: “Hanging from a beam [“a beam” in their garage? what beam, where in the garage, how?] was his daughter...” Anything but the casual “his daughter, Alexis was hanging from a beam.” And, was she hanging by her neck, her feet, her hands? There is so much more that can be shown without using lots of words.
Then we could have gone on to the next stage, into the crisis, in the next chapter. Perhaps even after the paramedics had gone. We don’t need to be told in exactly so many words how or that they called 911, that Patrick got a sharp kitchen knife to cut down the body; we’re not reading a recipe here. I was going to say I was surprised this book was even published, but when I checked the paperback, I saw it was independently published. Which was not surprising.

Netgalley, you probably won’t publish this “review,” which is OK and fair, since it’s not a review of the book, and one shouldn’t expect a book “review” to be published if one hasn’t read the book! But I’m not going to read this book. What I read of the first chapter indicates it is a colossal waste of time.

I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. The story starts out with a girl committing suicide because she won’t have sex with her boyfriend and he posts about it. Flash forward 12 years and a City Councilman is abducted and run into a hotel’s glass lobby. Turns out he has pictures of teenage girls on he is phone and work computer. He claims to have been set up. This story seemed to have too many parts. Also, this may seem petty, but I don’t care for “alright”. Also, things like DA and ADA we’re defined. I didn’t really need that. This could be the start of a series and I would most likely read it.

Firstly, I would like to thank NetGalley and Susan T Parker for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Revenge From The Grave.
Secondly, thankyou (again) to Ms Parker for writing a storyline that included cyberbullying and suicide. Unfortunately, cyberbullying and suicide are not just a storyline but something that is happening in the here and now.
I could not put Revenge From The Grave down. I had to know whether there would be repercussions for the instigator of the building behaviour and the identity of the master behind the revenge. The plot was easy to follow and did not "waffle on" as some books can do. I read this book in one sitting.
Definitely well worth a read. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

I hated the fact that life kept getting in my way and prevented me from finishing this great read sooner than I did. Yes, this book starts off with a teen committing suicide and then it continues to evolve until revenge is finally achieved. The only reason I didn't give this a five star rating is because for me there were a few instances when the story seemed to drag.

The plot of this book was extraordinary, the characters were fantastic and when I learned the complete truth, I was blown out of the water. I am glad I read it!!

This book was written on such a juvenile level. The author explained way too many terms in her novel such as district attorney and ada. She also explained the witness protection program. I had to stop reading to see if it was a YA novel, which it is not. The author was condescending to the intellect of her readers. I was an early reader thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.