Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Crime Scene Connection by Deena Alexander

CRIME SCENE CONNECTION
GENRE: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
PUBLISHER: Love Inspired Suspense
RELEASE DATE: January 1, 2021
PAGES: 224

Her writing was fiction,

until a killer made the danger very real…

A serial killer’s imitating crime scenes from Addison Keller’s bestselling novel, determined to make her the final victim. But with former police officer Jace Montana and his dog at her side, Addison might just be able to unmask the murderer. With time running out as the killer closes in, she must confront her past and unravel long-buried secrets…and hope they can all escape with their lives.

I’m always simultaneously excited and nervous to read a debut novel – excited because “what if i find a new fave author?!?” and nervous because “what if I really don’t like it?”. Well, any anxiety I might have felt about Crime Scene Connection by Deena Alexander flew out the window with the first chapter. The immediately-intense suspense drew me in completely, and I think I barely breathed until the end.

Both Addison and Jace are deliciously layered characters with sobering backstories, yet they remained relatable at the same time. I really liked both characters – and of course enjoyed watching them fall in love. But the star of the show for me was Jace’s loving & fiercely protective dog Phoenix. The author did a great job of giving him such personality while not taking away from the guard dog he is. That’s a fine line to walk sometimes but i thought it was perfectly done here.

The suspense elements in Crime Scene Connection were excellently written as well, and I couldn’t put it down until everyone was finally safe. Not only did we have the immediate danger of someone killing people based on Addison’s book – and trying to kill her too – but we have the larger backstory involving the murder of Jace’s wife and the corrupt behavior of Addison’s ex-husband … and whether either of those are related to what’s going on with Addison right now. These were all so well-plotted out that I kept going back to make sure this was the author’s debut novel because the backstories of Addison, Jace, Conner, and Maris felt like I should have been able to find these events in another book.

Bottom Line: Wow! What a fabulous debut! Intense, fast-paced suspense with layered characters and a multidimensional plot too. I was completely engaged from beginning to end, and you won’t be able to put it down either. The romance is sweet & swoony, too, but Phoenix the dog stole my heart even more. This is definitely a must read for fans of Lynette Eason, Jessica Patch and etc. I can’t wait for Deena Alexander’s next novel!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4.5 stars / fantastic!

KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion

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Deena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, where she met and married her high school sweetheart. She recently relocated to Florida with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Now she enjoys long walks in nature all year long, despite the occasional alligator or snake she sometimes encounters. Deena’s love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night, and she now works full time as a writer and a freelance editor.

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What about you? What makes you want to read Crime Scene Connection by Deena Alexander?