Fractured Souls
by T.A. Ridgell
Published by Echelon Press (June release)
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Reviewed by Stephanie Boyd
Dr. Benita Kyser loves her work as a preeminent geologist; she has a natural affinity for rocks that makes her ability to find the gemstones she is hunting seem uncanny. But along with success comes the pressure to achieve more–and of course, jealousy. Someone on Beni’s latest dig in Sardinia seems to want it to fail.
Private investigator, Sean Turner is sent in to try to figure out who is sabotaging the dig and why. Is it a radical environmental group who just doesn’t want anything removed from the earth. or a fellow American crewmember–and it’s personal? Sean thinks it is most likely one of the crew but they are all people Beni has worked with several times and Dr. Kyser thinks he’s wrong. Can they figure it out before someone is seriously hurt and the dig ruined?
I loved Dr. Kyster (Beni); she is strong willed, driven, intelligent, and yet caring and kind too. She is truly one of those people that is beautiful inside and out and doesn’t even realize it. When hunky Sean arrives at the dig, he recognizes that there is a sexy body underneath the lose clothing but Beni has him pegged as a playboy that is only interested because she is the only available woman around. No matter what they think about each other, they can’t deny the chemistry is there, but Sean needs his energy directed to finding the bad guy before it is too late.
I enjoyed the hints the author injects into the story to give the reader clues as to the saboteur’s identity, but it is still a puzzle almost to the end. The plot is twisted and fun and keeps the story moving along at a good pace. This is not a story you will fall asleep reading! I would love to read more about these characters in another book, so I hope will be a sequel. If you are looking for a quick-paced suspense/thriller that also has intriguing mystery with some romance, and interesting characters, then you will enjoy Fractured Souls!
Armchair Interviews says: A well-told story that mixes several genres.
Author’s Web site: http://www.TARidgell.com