Mike Nappa offers another amazing suspense thriller with “The Raven,” the second in his series featuring investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill.
Taking place about a year and a half after “Annabel Lee,” “The Raven” finds Samuel now working as an Atlanta PD detective and ex-wife Trudi continuing with their investigating business. As Samuel gets wind of a potential homegrown terrorist plot called Nevermore, he must scramble to learn of the plot’s validity.
The Raven is a young twentysomething who calls himself a “deception specialist” — a magician, mind reader and pickpocket. When he takes something blackmail-worthy from the wrong client, the Raven finds himself swallowed into a crazy scenario filled with beatings, missing body parts and the Ukrainian mafia.
Will the Raven’s troubles and Samuel and Trudi’s investigation into Nevermore tie together? If so, what — or who — is the connection?
Nappa fills his novel with twists and turns, revealing surprise after surprise. His pacing will keep readers on the edge of their seats, keeping them guessing until the very end. He also does a great job of developing his characters. Of course Samuel and Trudi are great, but you will fall in love with the precocious Raven. Secret Stash store owner Mama Bliss is filled with intrigue. She is strong and brave and full of moxie, but like the name of her store, is filled with secrets. And the trio of mobsters — Viktor, Pavlo and “Scholarship” — are a real hoot.
But “The Raven” is more than just a great suspense thriller. It’s filled with many life-lesson gems, like stopping to listen to God’s voice, realizing that God is the source of all joy, not only believing in God but also believing that He truly cares about us, dealing with blame, and giving and accepting forgiveness.
After a great start with “Annabel Lee,” Mike Nappa definitely didn’t disappoint with “The Raven.” I know I’m looking forward to book number three!
Five stars out of five.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.
“The Raven” (Coffey & Hill series, #2) by Mike Nappa