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!

Detective Amara Alvarez from the SAPD (San Antonio Police Department) Homicide brings us a great new case in Network of Deceit. From the first page, I was hooked on this story. I was a big fan of Collision of Lies the first book in this stand-alone series, for the character development Tom Threadgill uses, and how he walks us through the case just as if we were there asking the questions to figure out the case right along Detective Alvarez. Detective Alvarez has a light sense of humor, and she is a bit of a quirky character take this for instance: “[Detective Alvarez] heading home to Larry, her three-foot-long pet iguana”. I also love Tom Threadgill’s use of dry sarcastic humor and wit in the conversations between Detective Alvarez and Detective Jeremiah “Starsky” Peckham is it fun to read and adds another layer to the story.

This particular case was rife with speculation, suspense, and unanswered questions that left me guessing until the end. A true mystery in every sense of the word. We are shown every step in the case and it is not tv fast paced, it is realistic. Tom Threadgill gives accurate timelines for the turnaround on things like autopsy reports and toxicology reports, unlike most tv shows. I also really enjoyed the cybercrime aspects of the story and I thought that it was explained in an easy-to-understand way for anyone, even if you do not have any previous knowledge of cybercrimes.

I would suggest that you go back and read Collision of Lies before this one as it gives you more background on the characters and you would have a better understanding of the case the previous book covers that is mentioned a few times in this one. But this one can be read as a stand-alone since the whole case is started and wrapped up in this book. Overall, I truly loved this book, and the way Tom Threadgill moved the case along, and I am looking forward to what other adventures that Detective Alvarez takes me on. 5 out of 5 stars.

*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

I loved the first book in the Amara Alvarez series and was pretty happy when the second one released. Thankfully, my anticipation for Network of Deceit was rewarded.

After her explosive leap onto the murder investigation scene, we now see Amara navigate her first case as a homicide detective. Of course nothing is straightforward with an overworked CSI department, some hostile characters within the team, and not even a desk to call her own.

Add in an unpredictable social life and family drama, and before chapter five, the pressure is mounting. As readers of Threadgill’s previous work would expect, the plot it tight, well researched and intelligently thought out.

The case revolves around the death of teenager Zach Coleman, at a busy San Antonio waterpark. What at first seems to be a simple case of heatstroke soon turns into a tricky murder inquiry.

Amara juggles to uncover the truth behind what happened, picking up an education in online gaming, hacking and ransomware at the same time. But to make matters more difficult, there’s a frightening diagnosis within Amara’s family and a personal attack on the novice investigator. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would hurry to pick up another Tom Threadgill story in a heartbeat. 

Connect with Tom Threadgill’s website here…

To buy a copy of Network of Deceit, click here…

Want to read the first in the series first? Here’s my review…

I like how the author quickly captures the reader’s attention by dropping them in the same room with Detective Alvarez who is watching a security tape, “How long could a human being scream? Three times through the video so far and Amara’s appreciation for the woman’s lung capacity grew with each viewing.”

This is book two in a series featuring Amara Alvarez. I did not read book one and I did not feel lost as the author does a great job of having readers get to know Alvarez off and on the job through her co-workers and family. The novel reminded me of the TV series Blue Bloods, which shows cops/detectives as real people fighting crime and how their families deal with a loved one being in this line of work.

Alvarez heads to the water park because something bothers her about these teens who at first glance appear to be ordinary kids from different high schools…”None of them had accounts on social media.… But four teenagers who weren’t active online was beyond interesting.” She had to take a closer look.

I enjoyed the authors well timed humor, and the relationship Alvarez has with co-worker Starsky. Amara heads to Cannonball water park to check out the crime scene when Starsky calls. He wants to join her, Amara says, “No” ... “I’ll only be here a couple of hours. Wait Is this an excuse to see me in my swimsuit?”

“There’s no right answer to that, is there? But I’d go with a strong maybe.”…”No. Absolutely not. If I see you here, no dinner tonight. No dinner ever. You listening, Starsky? I mean it.”

“Just trying to help,” he said. “A tall, pasty redhead in a Speedo would do a lot to deflect attention from you. Let you look over the place without being bothered.”

I was fascinated by the complexity of these relatable characters and the intricate web these young people weave as they think they have pulled off the perfect crime.

This is the first book I have read by this author it will not be the last. This is an intriguing read and one I took my time to enjoy. It would work well for your book club experience.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

I was under the impression that Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill was the first book in the series, from the way the synopsis read and since there is no indication on the jacket that this is a series. So I was a bit surprised when Threadgill started mentioning a previous case. There was enough context that I didn’t get confused, I was just expecting to be introduced to the character more… but that was already done in Collision of Lies. You don’t have to read the first book (obviously, since I didn’t), but I think it is advisable since Threadgill excels at in depth character writing.

Threadgill really was able to capture a detective’s life not just at the station, but her everyday. The way he incorporated her relationship with her fellow detectives, love interest, and family was phenomenal. While I was interested in the case and the mystery, at times I found myself more drawn to her personal life.

As far as the case went, at first I was a bit… not bored, but concerned with the style of writing. So many police procedurals are fast paced. While they are trying to solve the case there is still a lot of action, but Threadgill really focuses on every step of the case. Once I realized this was how the book was going to read, it was much more enjoyable. 
I thought Threadgill did a very good job with making cybercrimes easy to understand for someone who isn’t an expert on them or who may not be into technology. He was able to do this by incorporating interesting characters with believable emotions. 

Network of Deceit was a great read, especially if you enjoy strong characters with realistic lives. I would suggest reading Collision of Lies first since I think you’ll get even more out of the story. And I look forward to seeing how Amara handles her bully at work, how her relationship with Starsky progresses, and how her family continues to support each other in upcoming books.

Network of Deceit follows Amara Alvarez, homicide detective with the San Antonio police department, as she gets her first case. Readers could probably start with Network, but it helps to have read Collision of Lies just to get some of the character history. 

Amara’s first case seems pretty cut and dry, but she begins to suspect that a death at a local water park might be foul play. I like the author’s style of writing. There’s not a lot of life-and-death action, but the story unfolds in such an intriguing way that it definitely kept my interest from start to finish (different that Collision which was on the intense side – be sure to check this one out. It’s fantastic!) Amara is relentless in her pursuit of suspects which adds to the tension, but this novel explores more of her personal life. She tries to balance her relationship with her mother, plus explore a romance with Starsky, her quirky but adorable co-worker. Of course, Larry the lizard makes an appearance or two!

I’ve been a fan of the series and hope to see other stories in the future. I highly recommend to readers who like detective-style mysteries.  

Overall Rating: 
5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)

Suspense Rating: 
5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through Revell and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the second book in the Amara Alvarez series, but great as a stand alone. Seriously, you will not feel like you're missing out on part of the story if you haven't read the first book in the series. But, I do recommend the first one!
Amara has recently been promoted to the Homicide Division in the San Antonio police department and is quickly learning that she'll have to prove herself to be accepted by her coworkers. She doesn't even have her own desk, and is using a card table. She is very capable and a hard worker.
Her first case involves the death of a teenage boy at a water park. Was it alcohol or drug related or murder? Amara is dedicated to finding the answers. While looking in his bedroom (with the permission of the parents), she discovers money. A lot of money hidden under the flooring in the closet. His parents have no clue where he would have gotten it from as he only has a part time job and doesn't spend much money.
Her investigation takes her into the world of gaming and online activities that were far beyond anything I'd ever heard of until now, and quite frightening to realize what criminals are able to do to unsuspecting people and businesses.
The story had so many twists and turns that it kept me soooo interested and waiting to see what would happen next. I felt like I personally knew Amara, her momma and Starsky.
I really liked Starsky and how his relationship with Amara is developing. He seems like a really nice man!
The ending was something I could have never guessed! Such a nice thing from stories where you know within five minutes of reading how it's going to turn out. Then, there was the huge shocker at the very end! Certainly didn't see that one coming.
If you, like me, like action, suspense, a little romance and criminals brought to justice, then you have to read this book!
My only disappointment was that it's supposed to be Christian fiction, but I found nothing related to that in this story. Too bad.
I was given an advanced copy by the publisher, Revell and Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

NETWORK OF DECEIT. Thomas Threadgill
Amara is now in Homicide given her first case of a death at a water park of a young teen, the medical examiner saying death happened before he was in the water. The tox report would take a month and that could close the case if she didn’t have leads before then. 
A father’s only child Zachary had a few friends, loved technology, .
He made bad choices, wanting out. Not an option, when greed was a strong motive. The roles of his friends even his grandmother led to his death. Being in Homicide wasn’t what she thought, does kick boxing, and has a three foot pet iguana, and a special friend Starsky.
A plot showing Amara, wanting to prove she could do the job, to herself she sometime questions how to answer. The advise is not that she couldn’t , just sometimes one needs another eyes and ears on a case. The case and the death had a number of twists and tied up in a surprising ending. The author has given us a second book in this series that was well done and enjoyable.
 Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

When I first met Detective Amara Alvarez in Collision of Lies,I knew I wanted to read more of her novels. Thanks to Revell and Netgalley, I had that opportunity before Tom Threadgill officially released his second novel in the Alvarez series, Network of Deceit. Once again, I was able to watch as Alvarez fought not only to solve a crime, but to prove herself as a detective.

Solving a cold case in Cotulla, Mexico brought her a bit of fame, and with it, a promotion to Homicide. But as she soon learned, Amara would have to earn her place in the department along with the respect of her fellow detectives. And her own desk. For the entirety of the novel, Amara had to make use of a folding table in the corner, usually covered with crumbs by the time she came to work.

Tom Threadgill created a character who was so real, one who I would have loved to meet in real life. She was strong yet caring and had so much sass and sarcasm. There were many times throughout the novel when I found myself cheering (out loud) for whatever quip had just come out of her mouth.

As with any great character, Amara was not one-dimensional, nor was she static. With the help of Starsky, fellow detective and friend (and perhaps more), Amara slowly learned the ropes of what it took to be in Homicide. What to pursue, what to let go. Of course, she had to take Starsky’s advice and do with it what she decided, learning from her mistakes as she went.

The case itself was interesting as it revolved around teenagers who dealt with computer hacking. First of all, reading about the victim, 17-year-old Zachary, was a little personal for me as my Zachary is just a year younger. Also, a lot of the computer jargon has been heard in my house at different times, and I found myself asking my husband if he knew about X, to which he would say, “Yes, it’s….” No, there are no hackers in my family, just those who know a thing or two (or more) about computers.

I liked the idea that this novel took place right in San Antonio where Amara lived, and that it was at a place as “simple” as a water park. It was also a crime that could have easily gone undetected if not for one very observant medical examiner and a detective who wanted to take on her first case after her promotion and prove herself.

The twists and turns that occurred throughout the book, trying to figure out who was guilty, who to trust, who to be skeptical of, kept me reading straight to the end. I had to stay up late to finish it. I had to know how it all turned out. Oh, and that one final twist near the end was unexpected.

If you love a fun (yet serious) Christian suspense novel, one with a female detective who knows who she is, then you need to read Network of Deceit. It is the second book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. However, I would also recommend reading Collision of Lies, the first book in the series, whether before or after to get more of a back story of certain characters, and to learn about the Cotulla case which is mentioned in this novel.

I received a copy of Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill thanks to Revell and Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

Network of Deceit is a very well written novel.  Great character and plot development.  I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley.  This is my unbiased review.

“How long could a human being scream?” (location 41). I loved this book. It started out with an eery scene and kept my attention locked on the action all the way to the end. It was great suspense and I enjoyed seeing how Amara worked the case.

After a very publicized rescue of 50 kidnapped children, Amara has moved on to a homicide division where she is the “new guy” without even a desk of her own. Her first case leads her into an intricate world of online gaming and cyber crimes. I thought it was very interesting without getting too technical.

As in the first book, I enjoyed Amara’s relationship with Starsky. They have a fun, easygoing way about them yet he is there for her when she’s in need.

I would highly recommend this book. It had great action and intensity along with a big twist or two. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Amara Alvarez series:

Book 1: Collision of Lies

Book 2: Network of Deceit

I did not find this police procedural novel a compelling one. Most novels of this type have suspense. This one really does not. Amara does experience some irritation from hackers but her life is never in danger nor are there any threatening situations. The plot moves at a slow and methodical pace and is not really engaging. The murder takes place at a water park and much of the plot deals with areas in the park and whether the areas could be seen by monitoring cameras. There was also much reviewing of recordings of the day the murder happened, slowing the plot pace.

Amara is new to homicide and her investigation seems to be sort of hit and miss. We do get to learn a great deal about cybercrimes, especially ransomware. We also find out much about online adventure games, such as how people remain anonymous.

I am always a bit leery when a male author writes a female lead. While his first novel featuring Amara was good in that respect, I felt this time it was a little off. I felt there was just too much emotional intrusion from her family. That did yield an in depth exploration of her personal life, especially her relationship with her mother. It really slowed the pace of the investigation.

There is next to no mention of Christianity or one's relationship to God other than on the mother's part. 

This is the second novel by Threadgill featuring Amara. While it can be read on its own, it would be appreciated more by reading the first in the series.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Fabulous read!  Threadgill knows just how to tighten the suspense, keeping you reading until the final page is turned. Each book is better than the last, and I’m eager for more!

An interesting second novel by Tom Threadgill.  I didn't find myself engrossed in the story and ended up just skipping to the end to discover all the details.