Deadly Business

A couple of months back, I had the chance to participate in the cover reveal for Anita Dickason's Deadly Business. So I was delighted to have the opportunity to participate in the blog tour and review the book. And boy, am I glad I read it!

The book opens with our protagonist, U.S. Marshal Piper McKay, on a raid. As the raid wraps up, she gets word that her grandmother, Jen, was seriously injured when she was thrown from her horse. Jen took Piper in after her parents were killed, and Piper is skeptical that any horse could throw Jen. When she gets back to the ranch where she grew up, Piper talks to Grady, the ranch foreman, and does a little investigating of her own. She soon realizes that something is out of line. And then we're off and running.

I could not love this book more if I were twins. It grabs you by the heart and the throat from the beginning, and it does. not. let. up. The action is intense, the emotion Piper and Grady feel over Jen's injury and whether or not she'll recover is wrenching, and the characters are vividly drawn. I'd love to know how much of Piper is drawn from the author's own life experiences in law enforcement, because the book sure reads like Ms. Dickason is writing what she knows.

I love Piper, of course, because who doesn't love a strong woman who takes no crap and does a great job in a typically male-dominated field? Her relationship with her boss and co-workers is excellent – she says she needs help, and she gets it, no questions asked. We should all have such great working relationships! Grady is wonderful, too. He helps Jen keep the ranch running smoothly, and he's a great cook, too. If there are more books in Piper's world, I'd love to see some of Grady's recipes added in at the end! Jen is the heart of the story. Everyone revolves around her, and their care and concern for her is palpable.

While romance can sometimes be a distraction in a good thriller, the chemistry between Piper and Cade Tanner works here. It isn't insta-romance. It's a slow burn that hints of romance and fireworks yet to come. I hope we see more of their relationship in later books.

And I learned some things in this book, too! The information included about cattle breeding and certain characteristics that make one animal more desirable over another was fascinating to me. I didn't grow up a rancher's daughter, but I was a farmer's daughter, so anything that can relate back to what I learned in 4-H, I'm all about learning more on the subject. I loved the factual details included in the book.

If I hadn't had to work while I was reading Deadly Business, I probably would have stayed up and finished it all in one night. It's that good. I nearly got myself in trouble by reading past my lunch break at work. It's a well-written, engaging, hair-raising ride with a plot that rings true and characters you either love or love to hate. Give me more.

Five bad-guy butt-kickin' stars. If you enjoy a good thriller, go grab this one. Quick. (Or scroll down and enter the giveaway and see if you can get yourself a copy for FREE!)