Tuesday, July 13, 2010

DAMAGED: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
DAMAGED

A MAGGIE O'DELL NOVEL

BY ALEX KAVA

ABOUT THE BOOK:

On Pensacola Beach, the Coast Guard prepares for a Category 5 hurricane that has entered the Gulf of Mexico. When the air crew patrols the waterways, they spot a huge fishing cooler about a mile offshore. Drug traffickers have been known to dump coolers with smuggled product to avoid detection and pay fishermen to retrieve them. But when the crew open this cooler, they’re shocked by what they find: body parts tightly wrapped in plastic.

Though she is putting herself in the projected path of the hurricane, Special Agent Maggie O’Dell is sent to investigate. Eventually, she’s able to trace the torso in the cooler back to a man who mysteriously disappeared weeks earlier after a hurricane hit Port St. Lucie, Florida. Only Port St. Lucie is on the Atlantic side. How did his body end up six hundred miles away in the Gulf of Mexico?

Cliffhanger chapters, behind-the-scenes forensic details, colorful characters, and satisfying twists have become the trademarks of Kava’s psychological thrillers. In Damaged, she ratchets up the suspense a notch by sending Maggie into the eye of an impending monster hurricane to track down a killer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ALEX KAVA’s two stand-alone novels and seven novels featuring FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell have been published in more than twenty countries, appearing on the bestseller lists in Britain, Australia, Poland, Germany, and Italy. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. Alex divides her time between Omaha, Nebraska, and Pensacola, Florida.

MY REVIEW:

Alex Kava’s DAMAGED is another thriller built around the adventures of FBI Profiler Maggie O’Dell which is this time set along the Florida coast. With a hurricane heading toward the peninsula, and its first waves stirring the sea into a frenzy and beginning to pound the shoreline, the Coast Guard Commander orders a crewmate to dive in to investigate what looks like a floating cooler. Liz Bailey accepts and completes her dangerous task only to find a human foot inside.

Here is where Maggie O’Dell comes in as she is called to come investigate the gruesome findings and just as the wind picks up, so does the action. With her is the Department of Homeland Security Deputy Director, Charlie Wurth. When their forensics team finds that the foot belonged to a Vince Coffland, they also learn that he had disappeared during another hurricane from Port St. Lucie which is along the coast…on the east side of the state meaning the body part came all around the peninsula to wind up on the west coast of Florida?
Meanwhile, Colonel Benjamin Platt, Maggie O’Dell’s boyfriend, is also in Florida investigating a case where soldiers in hospitals are dying from some kind of mysterious bacterial infection. Maggie and Benjamin find themselves together, under very odd circumstances, as their two cases have a great deal in common. Maggie is trying to find out about a missing body part and Platt about his bacterial death mystery when both point to the funeral parlor owned by Scott Larsen who just happens to be Maggie’s brother-in-law! It gets even more interesting when they find that a certain Joe Black has been paying him to harvest body parts at the funeral home. If all of that isn’t enough, the hurricane is now a very real threat as it bears down on them and as it closes in, the cases do as well!

Readers should enjoy the cliff-hangers though out the story that keep you reading that “one more chapter”. Although O’Dell has been in a series of Kava’s novels, and it is nice if some background is known, it isn’t necessary as this little thriller stands tall on its own. It is a quick read (for one reason because you can’t put it down) and all the surprises begin to look more like the swirling eye of the hurricane than a normal mystery twister. As the storm threatens, readers are washed away with an ending most don’t see coming. Kava’s descriptive narrative holds the reader’s attention and the characters are fleshed out nicely so that you care about them. I, for one, know I will be looking for more of her work and especially the Maggie O’Dell series.


GIVEAWAY

THANK YOU TO JUDY AND FRIENDS

AT DOUBLE DAY, I HAVE ONE COPY OF
THIS VERY EXCITING BOOK TO

GIVE AWAY TO ONE LUCKY WINNER!




--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT THE INFORMATION AND REVIEW FOR DAMAGED ABOVE THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO READ THIS BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY:
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND THEN COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY
:
COMMENT ON ONE OTHER CURRENT GIVEAWAY YOU HAVE ENTERED. ONLY ONE THIS TIME, PLEASE!



GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JULY 27!

65 comments:

Margie said...

+4 Swag
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I entered for Between Two Worlds.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

This sounds like an exciting book....the kind with lots of twists and turns. I like a book that holds your interest so much that you can't put it down!
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Teresa said...

This is a new to me author and having lived in Pensacola twice I am intrigued by this story. Please count me in.

teresasreadingcorner at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I entered the Private audiobook giveaway

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I love the idea of numerous cliffhangers that keep you reading.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

debbie said...

I entered the farm to fork giveaway.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

It sounds like a very good suspense novel. I have read her pervous books, and they are good,also. I would love to read it.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

LoveMyCoffee said...

I entered To Kill A Mockingbird giveaway.

Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

LoveMyCoffee said...

I'd love to give this book a try. This would be a new author for me. I'm always looking for a book that I can't put down. It sounds like this book has alot going on, hurricaine, murder, mysterious infections. Count me in.

Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

rubynreba said...

Entered One Season of Sunshine
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I like the aspect that you always want to read "one more chapter". That makes it so interesting!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Unknown said...

This sounds like a very good and interesting book that will definitely hold my interest. Please enter me in contest. Thank you. tore923@aol.com

traveler said...

I entered Between Two Worlds. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I have read all of this author's novels and they are great. This one sounds thrilling. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered From Farm to Fork. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am intrigued with this book and enjoy suspense. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Benita said...

Your review makes me interested in this book. When you say you'll be looking for more from this author, I know I want to read this book. Thanks for the possibility!

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I entered April and Oliver.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

tawndam said...

I love books that you just don't wanna put down! I always seem to find myself at the end of a chapter and saying 'I'll just read a few lines...' yeah, right... lol

Edna said...

I am a follower



mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Edna said...

everything was interesting about this book

mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Edna said...

I have entered almost all the giveaways here on your site



mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Cindy W. said...

I love thrillers and the fact that this is one about an FBI profiler makes it a book I would love to read. Thank you for the opportunity to win it.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Cindy W. said...

I entered To Kill a Mockingbird giveaway.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

gcpeach17 said...

I also, entered the "One Season of Sunshine" givaway.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

gcpeach17 said...

So many twists & turns! I cannot believe her brother-in-law involved, too. This may be hrd to put down, like you say, and those books cause problems. lol Please, enter me in this giveaway. i cannot wait to read it.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

Steve Capell said...

How could someone not want to read this book … a torso in a cooler and forensics … sounds like a perfect plot for a great mystery. I haven’t read any of this author’s books, but after reading this review I am game. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.

steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

Latsyrc728 said...

I entered the To Kill a Mockingbird Giveaway!
Latsyrc728@yahoo.com

Latsyrc728 said...

I find it interesting that they were harvesting body parts from a funeral home. I also live in Florida and I love thrillers, so I would love to win this one!
Latsyrc728@yahoo.com

Latsyrc728 said...

tweet: http://twitter.com/Latsyrc728/status/18590605868
Latsyrc728@yahoo.com

Pamela Keener said...

This book sounds very suspenseful and just my type of book. I love it when you just want to read one more chapter which leads to another. I also ove discovering new to me authors.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I entered Cowboy & Willis giveaway.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Misusedinnocence said...

I love exciting books and I think this one definitely fits that description from what I've read. ;)


misusedinnocence@aol.com

Misusedinnocence said...

I entered the Hatchette Beach giveaway.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

bison61 said...

wow- paying to harvest body parts at the funeral home. Sounds like an exciting book

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Allison said...

Thanks for having your giveaways. I have entered a few!

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Allison said...

This sounds like such a great book. I can't wait to read it!

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I have heard a lot of great things about this book and i would love to give it a try. It's interesting that she has had bestsellers in Britain, Australia, Poland, Germany, and Italy. Her books must be pretty amazing.

bookventuresbookclub AT gmail DOT com

MRWriter said...

I entered the "To Kill a Mockingbird" giveaway.

AlexDean03(at)yahoo.com

MRWriter said...

I like that it is taking place during a Category 5 hurricane, as if her detective heroine needs that. (-:

AlexDean03(at)yahoo.com

Unknown said...

+4swag chirth7@yahoo.com

Jeff H said...

+4swag jeff72768@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

+4 swag shundelt@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

https://twitter.com/Romantic73/status/18968180317
chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000641625482&v=wall&story_fbid=133852863319234&ref=mf#!/profile.php?id=100000641625482&v=wall&story_fbid=139268642769900&ref=mf

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/chirth7/review/44084491/

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://bulletins.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bulletin.read&authorID=533391661&messageID=6676722219&hash

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I entered ONE SEASON OF SUNSHINE GIVEAWAY chirth7@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

https://twitter.com/Grandmamaof10/status/19283672708

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100001087052807&v=wall&story_fbid=136914066341105

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/shundelt45/review/44175614/

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://bulletins.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bulletin.read&authorID=540593519&messageID=6676145292&hash

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I entered: COWBOY & WILLS GIVEAWAY

shundelt@yahoo.com

Ruthie said...

Love a good thriller

ruthiekb72@yahoo.com

Ruthie said...

Entered One Season of Sunshine

ruthiekb72@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I like murder mysteries and thrillers - sounds like a good read

misaacmom at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

entered lemon cake

misaacmom at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

It sounds like a great book! I live only 1hr and 30min from Penescola Beach and have been thru larger Hurricanes such as Ivan and Katrina so it holds a personal touch for me as well as the great plot.

I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/pams00/status/19607498664

I entered Candace Camp Giveaway.

Pam S
pams00@aol.com

holdenj said...

I really like suspenseful books and the characters sound really good. And it's hurricane season, right, so it's very timely too!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I entered the Take Hatchette to the Beach giveaway.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

CherylS22 said...

I want to read this book because of the description - "cliffhanger chapters, behind-the-scenes forensic details, colorful characters, and satisfying twists". Sounds right up my alley!

Thanks ~ megalon22 at yahoo dot com

CherylS22 said...

I entered the Take Hachette to the Beach giveaway
megalon22 at yahoo dot com

Latter-day Saint Mom said...

Would like to find out more about the mysterious body that was found and to read the forensic details.
cparkins14 AT teancum.net

Latter-day Saint Mom said...

Entered the Rita Nominee Giveaway.
cparkins14 AT teancum.net

CLICK HERE TO
SEE MY POLICY