Surprise is the word that best sums up my reaction to Criminal Actions, fifth book in the DI Hero Nelson crime series by NY Times and USA Today best-selling author MA Comley.

It was altogether darker and more twisted and nastier than expected.

Does that matter?

That’s a toughie.

A crime novel is, by definition, about horrible things happening to people. And I’ve read lots of other thrillers where the body count and the violence ratio has been much higher.

Somehow, though, based on reviews I’ve read elsewhere about other books by Comley, I’d expected something a little more cozy – not a description that, in any shape or form, could be applied to Criminal Actions, which explores some very dark themes. Continue reading →