This was actually a good book! Not that I thought it would be bad, but it was honestly better than what I expected.

First off, I wish I knew beforehand that Network of Deceit was #2 in a series. If I had known, I would have first read book#1 for a clearer understanding of what was going on with some of the characters and their stories. But despite that mishap on my part, It was easy to read this as a standalone. With a complex but interesting storyline, this novel had a strong Law And Order vibe to it. So much so that at certain points I felt like I was watching an episode. All due to how good the author did in making the story feel real. As to the heroine of the story, Detective Amara Alvarez? I think she was what kept Network Of Deceit interesting. It’s very rare to see a character like her in christian fiction, so reading about her was somewhat refreshing.

Fast-paced, eventful, even funny at times, Network Of Deceit was a nice read. Although I could not follow along with most of this novel (the gaming lingo, the backstories, etc), what I could follow along with was good. Now on to reading book#1! 😉

THANKS TO REVELL FOR PROVIDING A FREE COPY FOR MY HONEST REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN.

A seemingly accidental death at a waterpark turns into a full blown homicide investigation.

I wasn't aware that this book was the second in a series going into it, and it had a slower start. Amara finds herself challenged by the case, that has startling personal risk as well. The stake raise as the story unfolds and I liked that it had that chilling element to it, and that she has a good friend to lean on.

Once it got going, it kept picking up speed. I think that the book does a great job of following Amara and showing the things that she faced as part of her new job. This book has a strong focus on the case, and less on Amara's personal life, though I liked her relationship with her mother.

Overall, this was a solid read, though I did get the feeling that I had come in on the middle of something. I would probably recommend reading the first book in the series to better understand the situation and Amara's life. Though in the end I really enjoyed it, and liked how it looks at the dangers online.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I wasn't sure I'd like this one as I hadn't read the first in the series and it looked kind of dense. But I was wrong! It's a fabulous story and there's enough background so you aren't missing anything. Amara is called to the scene of a teenager's death at a waterpark, but there are too many suspicious loose ends to believe it was accidental. SO much going on in this novel! Cybercriminals, ransomeware an very savvy teen hackers, but Amara is one of those women who doesn't give up. A very satisfying read!

Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill is book 2 in the Amara Alvarez series. I loved the first book in this series and I have to say that this book exceeded my expectations. I loved it even more than book 1! Mr Threadgill will grab your attention from the very first sentence. You will not be able to put this book down once you get started. The never ending plot twists, the unexpected discoveries, the authentic feel to the police work-- there's so much to love about this book. Readers of clean suspense will love this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Before going into my review, I want you to know that you can enjoy Network of Deceit without having to read the first one in the series, Collision of Lies (though, you should). I say this because, one of my many quirks is that I cannot read books out of order and, just in case you are like me, I wanted to let you know that. Now, onto the review.

We find police detective Amara Alvarez on a suspicious case involving a teenager found dead on a raft. What follows is an unpredictable mystery with plenty of suspense! There was a lot I enjoyed about the story - the fact that it was set at a great pace and that I didn't find it to be cookie cutter were probably the best things for me of course. The writing flowed perfectly for a suspenseful tale; I didn't feel it was stilted at any point. In fact, I found the injected humor in places to be really refreshing - a great contrast to the heavier moments.

I am also very much a character-driven reader, and I like for characters to be somewhat grounded in reality (could I meet someone like this? is a question I often ask myself). Because of this, I enjoyed Tom Threadgill's take on making Amara a "real" character. One who makes mistakes - one that has flaws!

Now, for those who notice - this book's publisher, Revell, is Christian-focused. Network of Deceit is definitely a "clean" tale for readers who do not want "colorful" scenes and language in what they are reading. This is more of a note for readers who would not usually see themselves picking up something from a Christian publisher: if you enjoy mystery and suspense, and a great story that has you guessing at every turn - do yourself a favor and pick up this book!

This was an exciting story and I learned so much about cyber crime and how it is dealt with. The characters were so realistic and I enjoyed the backstories. Page turner.
Many thanks to Revell and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Classic Tom Threadgill. Another thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Fast paced. Suspenseful. And a very satisfying read. You will be cheering for Amara Alveraz in this second novel dedicated to her detective skills. Five stars.

Network of Deceit is another strong, suspenseful work of art. Amara Alvarez, the main character is one resilient, spunky individual who is more than entertaining. I loved Threadgill’s first, Collision of Lies and this second book in the Alvarez series did not disappoint.

I did enjoy that such a heightened level of suspense did not have to be synonymous with vulgarity, gore, torture, or rape. There was not a single curse word throughout this book and that right there makes this book a unicorn. Threadgill does not use the crutches and overused tropes so many books now use. He gave Amara so much dimension by having her face such different circumstances and interactions, creating a very well-rounded character. She had everyone from a sun-loving lizard to a mean coworker to show the reader who she was.

I loved that Amara was a “noob” in a new department. It allowed for a chance to see her grow and find herself, draw her lines she did not want to cross, and have those awkward realizations as she finds her prioritizes and sees who is really there for her. She was very open with her emotions and thoughts while processing each decision and hang up, and I think it brought the reader into the story that much more and made sure everyone was rooting for her!

I will say the first few chapters were filled with references to things that happened in Collision of Lies and to be honest, I would recommend reading that first novel before starting this one. The foundation of the characters was so strongly built in that one. Network of Deceit does a great job continuing those storylines, but I really did want to go back and be reminded of just how Wylie and Starsky came into Amara’s life since they were such huge influences in this second novel.

Thank you Lonestar Literary Life for the free, review copy of a Network of Deceit. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone from those who enjoy gaming, cyber tech, and cryptocurrency to the mystery lovers like myself that think the more suspense the better. This was a fun, relevant book about cybercrime that was seen through a character’s perspective who was better off using a flip phone, so it was easy to understand but fun to learn.

I read the first book in this series and quite enjoyed it, also knew it would be very hard to top. This sequel finds a very different direction to take the story, but makes it work while delivering the same mix of suspense and adventure we got before. Well worth reading!

Amara Alvarez is back! I loved, loved, loved this book! I am a big fan of Tom Threadgill's books and this did not disappoint. Network of Deceit is sort of a continuation of Tom Threadgill's previous book, Collision of Lies.....however it is a new story, just with the same characters.

This book has suspense, mystery, and action as well as romance. All entirely appropriate without foul language or unnecessary sexual situations. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more Amara Alvarez books!
You can find this book on Amazon.com as well as other retailers.

Detective Amara Alvarez made her bones in a rescue mission of many abducted children. For her efforts she was rewarded with what she wanted ... to be part of the Homicide Division.

The first case she's assigned is the death of a teenage boy in a local water park. At first glance, it looks like a case of drug overdose, or drinking while sunning and died when he became too dehydrated. But the medical examiner is sure that the boy was dead before he was ever placed in the water.

While searching the victim's room, she finds something that takes this case to a whole new level. This boy may not be the only death that occurs unless Amara can find the killer ..soon.

Well-written with an intricate plot, there are twists and turns with plenty of suspects to follow. The characters are solidly drawn. I especially liked Amara. She's determined to do her job well and bring some kind of closure to the victims. She also feels she has a lot to prove as being new, and being a female, and one who got to jump the line to Homicide Detective. She's not afraid of being a little different, a little bit of a maverick to close a case. I liked how her professional life blended with her personal life. She's definitely not a cardboard character.

Many thanks to the author / Revell Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill

Amara Alvarez is a new homicide detective who is charged with finding the murderer of Zachary Coleman, who died at a water park with some friends. As she digs into the case, she discovers that the teenager was involved in a serious crime spree, which his parents were unaware of. Amara keeps investigating and discovers that even Zachary’s friends aren’t what they seem to be. Can she find the truth despite the deceit?

This is the second book in this series by Tom Threadgill and I followed it fine, despite not having read the first one. I enjoyed the understated humor presented by Amara and her co-worker, Starsky. I liked Amara for her quirkiness—how many detectives do you know that have a pet iguana—and her gutsy-ness. She had a compassionate side, which was endearing, too.

This book left some questions unanswered: what about her mother’s cancer diagnosis? What happens when she is assigned to be Rutledge’s partner? Will her relationship with Starsky continue? And just why is he nicknamed Starsky? So obviously, I hope there is another book to answer these questions. And while I am at it, I think I will need to read the first one, Collision of Lies.

Readers who enjoy suspense with a touch of humor and romance will enjoy this book. I am grateful to the publisher for a free digital copy in return for my honest review.

Network of Deceit is the second Amara Alvarez book and the first Tom Threadgill book I've read. I started the book with no expectations since I hadn't really heard much about this author and so I was just hoping for the best. I'm so happy to say that it was unbelievably good and I am eager to read the next book whenever it releases.

The suspense was amazing. I had so much fun trying to figure out who the killer was and what was really going on. There were several twists and the ending was satisfying.

All in all, with a great storyline and believable characters, Network of Deceit was a very good read and I recommend it.

*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/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and 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.*

What an Amazing mystery!

This is the second book in a series about detective Amara Alvarez. More suspense, mystery, and all of that! This story definitely takes off with a bang!
Amara is trying to find her place at the San Antonio Police Department, and gets assigned a case that doesn't seem like much...until she starts investigating!
I very much enjoyed watching Amara try and solve this mystery. On the surface, this death she is investigating seems to be a simple death by heatstroke, but there are some things that just don’t quite match up. And then there is the matter of cyber crimes...why is she being targeted in this way? Someone is wanting Amara to see they can get to her accounts and passwords however they jolly well please.

In addition to the mystery, Amara also has some difficult things happening on the personal side of things. Her family and those issues are written into the story in a beautiful way.

And then there is her other relationships. Especially the one with Starsky. This was a bit humorous to watch at times, but added so much to the story.

This story has lots going on, and the mystery kept me guessing the entire way through the book.
If you enjoy reading mysteries than I highly recommend this book!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

It’s a while since I’ve been excited about a new-to-me suspense author, but that’s how I’m feeling about this series featuring detective Amara Alvarez. Part of it may be that this series is written by a male author, whereas the majority of the authors I read are female. Men always bring a different perspective to their writing, and that can feel fresh in and of itself. Further, this male author is writing about a female protagonist, which is even more unusual (but he did it well, so bonus points). But I think the thing that has really sold me on this series is the combination of good old-fashioned detective work and the fact that we get to see both the professional Amara and the private Amara.

I loved that Amara had to do so much legwork as well as inductive and deductive reasoning to solve the case. I’ve always been a puzzle solver, and the who, why, and how of this investigation presented a real challenge to Amara. At the same time, there are things happening in her personal life that I won’t share here but which really made me invested in Amara as a character. What I will say on that point is that I enjoyed the light romantic thread. Quite understated, and yet it came across as very natural and kind of sweet. And grew out of a friendship—my favourite kind of romance.

I’m definitely hoping to see more of Amara in the future!

In Network of Deceit, Tom Threadgill takes us on another fast paced, action packed trip with Amara Alvarez. As in the previous book, A Collision of Lies, I love the chapter lengths! The character development keeps right along at a wonderful pace and the plot line moves along at a brilliant pace that keeps the reader engaged and the book hard to lay down!

This book is definitely a recommended read for the fast paced reader in your life!

Amara Alvarez is a homicide detective that has heart and feels the need for the truth of the victim to be revealed. Faced with a new job where she is not quite welcome, bullied by other detectives, and not even a permanent working space, her first case is a bit tricky.

A young seventeen year old male has been found dead floating on a ride at a fun water park. What happened to him everyone assumes is heatstroke and while waiting for the toxicology reports, Amara feels she needs to start investigating before the evidence grows cold. What she discovers in the evidence is that he most assuredly was murdered, but why? And can she prove enough evidence to this that her case can go forward? She works with both a tenacity to solve the crime and with empathy for the family.

On top of all of her work issues she is also kind of dating a fellow detective and trying to probe her feelings on whether she wants more. Also she has been hit with some devastating familial news. All of this is on this one woman's shoulders who is trying very hard to balance both her personal and career life. In this second in the Amara series, Amara proves herself to be a good detective against all that she must stand up against.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

This is the second book in this series and I think even better than the first. I really like Amara and Starsky. There is a lot of suspense and we get some romance. I enjoyed the computer stuff a lot. Amara has her first case in Homicide and it is interesting to see how she goes about solving this case. We also learn a lot more about her family. This has a lot of twists and turns. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This second book in the Amara Alvarez series was just as enjoyable as the first. You do not need to read the first book, however, there is a lot of character growth from book 1 to book 2.

This is the second book I've read by this author, and am enjoying his writing so much, that I went and bought his entire first series.

The murder mystery will be enjoyed by both readers who loves thrillers, but also those who enjoy cozy mysteries. I enjoyed following the clues with Amara into solving, one, if Zach was murdered, and two, why. There was a few things I guessed before the reveal, but the who and why remained a mystery. I must confess, after reading this, I did seriously wonder again about how we can protect ourselves from hackers - this book again emphasised how vulnerable we could be.

There was also a great balance between suspense, emotional connections and some funny, lighter moments which had me laughing out loud.

I was surprised by the ending (which is a good thing). I did not see the revelation of the murder. The murderer had me fooled as well.

I am looking forward to following Starsky and Amara's story in book 3 (confirmed by the author one is in progress.)

Amara Alvarez's first case as a homicide detective begins with a clue based on wrinkled toes. Perhaps young Zachary Coleman's death was not an accident after all. With tenacity, grit, courage, and wisdom, Detective Alvarez pursues the clues one at a time until she unwinds the knots and discovers the truth.
But in the process, Amara finds herself under attack by cybercriminals. And the attacker knows more about her and her family than she wants. To protect herself and her family - and find a killer - she resorts to unconventional methods.
I like Detective Alvarez's spunk. She doesn't give up. And she's human at the same time with worries and concerns. I appreciate how she uses coping skills (exercise, her pet lizard Larry, friends) to manage her experiences. And even though she breaks the rules sometimes, she does try to do the right thing most of the time - as I said, she's human and relatable.
I also like that it's not preachy. In fact, there are only a few references to God and prayer, but Amara tries to do the right thing most of the time.
There is a lot of technical language in this book about cybersecurity. Much of it would make more sense for someone with more computer knowledge than me.
Author Tom Threadgill does a good job of weaving information from the first book into this one, but it probably would make more sense to read the books in order.
One thing I didn't like was the author's perspective and insensitivity that a mother who just lost her teen son should not take prescription pain meds. He says that this action short-circuits the grieving process, but I see it as a temporary solution that can be life-saving.
Overall, this book is a clean mystery that's also human. I can't wait for the next installment!