Detroit crime reporter Julia Gooden is piecing her life back together after her recent reconciliation with her husband David, an assistant District Attorney. She is covering the trial of Nick Rossi, a local businessman allegedly involved in illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and dealing in stolen goods. David is the prosecuting attorney, though he is unwilling to share any information with her. When Julia’s story is scooped by another reporter, she is determined to gather more details, and calls some sources, planning to be at the courthouse by 12:30 to participate in her son Logan’s field trip to the courthouse.

As Julia nears the courthouse, what appears to be a bomb detonates, killing the primary witness for David’s trial, and killing and injuring many others. Julia manages to fight her way to the courtroom where she last saw David, and is heartsick when she discovers he and the judge are trapped inside as the floor gives way. In that instant, the case becomes personal for Julia, and although she is no longer covering the story, she calls on her friends in the police department and her secret sources to learn everything she can about Nick Rossi and his business empire.

I can’t even imagine the horror of seeing a bomb detonate and knowing my husband, and possibly my child, were in harm’s way. Julia’s insistence on learning the truth leads her into some dangerous and frightening situations, putting herself and her colleagues at risk. The storyline has many unexpected twists, interesting characters, and strange situations, showing the reader just how far some people are willing to go to protect themselves and their secrets.

I did enjoy the first book in the series, and I'm glad I stuck with it because this one is even better. At this rate, the next will be a 5 star! Action packed and intense. A couple of things I wished would have happened in the first book happened in this one, I'm happy with it. Julia is again a ridiculously brave risk-taker, throwing herself in precarious situations over and over. I would have liked a little more about her kids and home life, but the first book did have more of that. A very likeable character and absorbing story.

Julia is still trying to repair her fractured relationship with her assistant district attorney husband. She's determined to work things out if it ends up being what's best for their two young children. Things between them are going very well. They're soon thrown together in their professional lives as well as she covers a major trial that David is the prosecutor for. He firmly resists her attempts to get inside info on the major player on trial, but he's not her only source... the story is coming along when tragedy strikes. A bomb at the court house explodes, killing several adults and children. By chance, Julia wasn't there, but her husband David was. He lays in the hospital unconscious while Julia works on figuring out who is responsible and how it may relate to the initial case. This is the beginning of a wild and dangerous ride... for Julia, and others close to her. She thinks career criminal Rossi is behind it, and won't stop until she helps bring whoever is responsible to justice.

I received an ARC of this novel from Net Galley and Kensington Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased

Of course I hadn't realised this was the second in a series when I requested it, but thankfully it didn't really matter as author Jane Haseldine updates readers quickly on the backstory... though it probably means I don't need to go back and read the first in the series (The Last Time She Saw Him) given I kinda know what happened. Or at least, what didn't.

The book opens just before the trial starts and Julia discovers the prosecution has a witness whose testimony will sound the death knell for Rossi. Of course their identity is a closely guarded secret given Rossi's history and even though Julia's in the midst of reuniting with her husband David (who's leading the prosecution's case) she struggles to get any clues as to their identity. It was interesting that Julia and David are so good at compartmentalising their lives and neither are tempted to share information with the other. I couldn't help but wonder if it was actually that healthy... to have to worry about slipping up when talking about your work, with the person you love.

Anyhoo... Julia hopes to get some info from former sweetheart Navarro or his partner, but mostly fails on both accounts... and then of course it's too late anyway.

Julia takes the bombing (in which David's injured) as a personal affront and it seems the usually-inquisitive journalist is (even more) determined to bring Rossi to justice.

I liked Julia and enjoyed meeting her and her boys along with Navarro. We don't spend as much time with David however, who's sidelined for much of the book.

The Rossi case and the bombing is all a bit twisted - in more ways than one - and there are a few surprises. As I haven't read the first book I may be less surprised than most, but I can imagine it would be a bit shocking otherwise. (And I'll say no more for fear of offering spoilers!)

Haseldine sets a good pace and this is an easy read, although I did wonder why Julia didn't call on some of the resources / sources she uses here earlier as part of her role reporting on the case. Perhaps the stakes weren't high enough at that point?

The book ends on an interesting note and sets up a few changes so I'm interested to see where Haseldine takes the series in future installations.

3.5 stars

"Duplicity" by Jane Haseldine is Book #2 in the Julia Gooden Mystery series. It can be read as a stand-alone book, but of course there is some background that won't be as deep.

Julia Gooden is a crime reporter, a mother, and a wife working on rebuilding her marriage to Assistant District Attorney David Tanner. Trying to carefully maintain her professionalism while reporting on David's current case against Nick Rossi, it all erupts when a key witness' name is leaked to the media and a bombing at the courthouse follows.

With the key witness killed in the bombing, David critically injured in the hospital, and one of her children so close to being part of the tragedy, Julia decides to uncover proof that Rossi ordered the bombing and get him brought to justice. She joins up with detectives Navarro and Russell and they all work to get to the bottom of the deep corruption, blackmail, payback, and political ambition that has enabled Rossi to live his criminal life unscathed.

There are many twists and turns to the plot, and it held my interest from beginning to end. There were several occasions in the book that the main character seemed to make odd choices in her actions, but overall I really enjoyed it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley, and am offering my honest opinion in return.

I really enjoyed this book! I give it 4/5 stars, because I wasn't aware it was a "book 2" of the Julia Gooden series. Not that it wouldn't work as a standalone, but I didn't feel as invested in Julia, or the other characters from book one, as I probably would have been if I had read it. Overall, I loved the suspense. I like seeing these kinds of suspense novels from a different perspective. So coming from a crime reporter was a refreshing change to the typical police procedural!

Julia Gooden is a successful crime reporter, she covers the grittiest stories in the city while raising her two young boys in the suburbs. But beneath that accomplished façade is another Julia, still consumed by a tragedy that unfolded thirty years ago when her nine-year-old brother disappeared without a trace.

Julia’s husband, Assistant District Attorney David Tanner, is about to bring Nick Rossi to trial for crimes that include drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and bribery. But the story becomes much more urgent when a courthouse bomb claims several victims—including the prosecution’s key witness—and leaves David critically injured.

Though Julia is certain that Rossi orchestrated the attack, the case against him is collapsing, and his power and connections run high and wide. With the help of Detective Raymond Navarro of the Detroit PD, she starts following a trail of blackmail, payback, and political ambition. This may be the riskiest case of her life, and could put her children in jeopardy!

I enjoyed the suspense and all of the aspects. The characters were well developed as well! I feel like I need to go back and read the first book with Julia Gooden in it, then maybe I'll appreciate this one more! I would still highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys thrillers.

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I received a free copy of the book via Netgalley.

I wasn't sweet on this at the beginning; the tense and the writing being very odd for me and not something I am accustomed to. However, the more I read, the more I invested in the story.

Julia Gooden is covering the trial of Nick Rossi, a gang lord who is accused of many crimes, which her husband is prosecuting. On the first day of the trial there is a bomb that kills the key witness and severely injures her husband. Gooden then tries to find evidence that Rossi is behind the attack so he can finally be put behind bars.

I devoured this book and I found it a very easy read in the end. It is not as gritty as many other crime novels, but did have many twists and turns that kept me engaged.

There were a few reasons why this did not score a 5 for me: blatant sexual harassment that is ignored and accepted as the norm (not cool), many unbelievable elements of the story (e.g. the rapper remembering exact distances, co-ordinates etc of a map he saw once ages ago), and the ending which made no sense considering Isabella's confession.

I will read the next in the series (if there is one) as I enjoyed the characters.

An easy to read gritty story that makes you think about who you should trust and who you shouldn't. Not everything or everybody is as they first seem. Plenty of action and worth a read.

Jane Haseldine's new novel of riveting suspense, Detroit newspaper reporter Julia Gooden is up against the city's most devious criminal--and her own painful past.
Julia Gooden knows how to juggle different lives. A successful crime reporter, she covers the grittiest stories in the city while raising her two young boys in the suburbs. But beneath that accomplished facade is another Julia, still consumed by a tragedy that unfolded thirty years ago when her nine-year-old brother disappeared without a trace.
Julia's marriage, too, is a balancing act, as she tries to rekindle her relationship with her husband, Assistant District Attorney David Tanner, while maintaining professional boundaries. David is about to bring Nick Rossi to trial for crimes that include drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and bribery. But the story becomes much more urgent when a courthouse bomb claims several victims--including the prosecution's key witness--and leaves David critically injured.
Though Julia is certain that Rossi orchestrated the attack, the case against him is collapsing, and his power and connections run high and wide. With the help of Detective Raymond Navarro of the Detroit PD, she starts following a trail of blackmail, payback, and political ambition, little imagining where it will lead. Julia has risked her career before, but this time innocent lives--including her children's--hang in the balance, and justice may come too late to save what truly matters...

What did I think of it:
Unlike the the first book in this series it took me awhile to get into the story, but the more I read, the more I needed to see what was going to happen​ next . Will definitely be picking up a copy of this and of book one when I can. With that said I would love to say thinks to NetGalley for giving me the chance at reading and reviewing Duplicity I'm change for my honest opinion.

This is my first time reading Ms. Haseldine, but I doubt it will be my last. This was a fast-paced story, full of intrigue, drama, suspense, and double crosses. I really enjoyed this book, but I think I would've enjoyed it more if I had read the first in the series before hand. You don't really need to in order to get the story, but there was a lot of background info that was missing between Julia, Navarro, and her husband.

All in all, this was a great book, and I look forward to reading more in this series.

Julia Gooden is back, this time reporting on the trial of a local Detroit crime lord, Nick Rossi, who has been caught bribing officials to cover up his criminal empire focused on drug trafficking and gambling in the greater Detroit area. She is hampered by a possible conflict of interest in that her estranged husband, David Tanner is the ADA trying the prosecution’s case again Rossi. Gooden and Tanner are working on renewing their relationship but Julia is moving slowly on a possible reconciliation. When a bomb blows up on the steps of the courthouse killing David’s best witness and injuring David, Julia is pulled off the story by her newspaper. There are many underworld elements at play and Julia, with the help of Detective Ray Navarro attempts to track down who is responsible for the bombing and prove that the slippery Rossi is guilty of the crimes for which he has been charged. She knows she is getting close to finding answers when it becomes clear that her investigation is endangering her husband, herself and her children.

This story takes a while to get going. Once Julia begins to sniff around the right bad guys and use her many unnamed sources to stay ahead of the police investigation there is lots of action, some generated by Julia herself. My biggest beef with the book is manufactured danger thanks to the risk taking actions of our cub reporter. I recognize that thrillers, to be successful need to ooze tension. Tension created because the heroine repeatedly puts herself in harm’s way only to be rescued at the last moment loses its intended punch. There were times when I wished she didn’t have children knowing how reckless and single focused she was at obtaining the truth. She was busy unmasking the duplicitous nature of those she thought she knew, racing off to prove her suspicions while her kids were left at home with a caregiver. At the hospital, even though she sees some shifty character in the hallway outside her husband’s room she worries about his safety for a millisecond and then abandons him to track down another clue. It’s hard to buy in to a story when the main character is someone you struggle to admire.

Duplicity has lots of action, layers of intrigue and unexpected twists that keep you interested in who did what to whom. It is unfortunate that the star of the series appears to be oblivious to those around her and the potential consequences of her actions.

eARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.

Julia is trying to put her life back together after her son's kidnapping and a separation from her husband. She and David still have a fragile marriage that is tough to piece back together. David, the Assistant District Attorney, is working on a high profile case when a bomb goes off in front of the courthouse. David is critically injured and unable to tell the police what he knows. Julia is convinced the bomb was placed under the orders of Rossi, the man her husband is trying to convict. Julia uses her experience as a reporter to untangle the web of evidence and prove that Rossi is responsible. Loyalty runs deep in the criminal world and Julia puts her own life in danger to solve the case.

In my opinion, this book was better than the first book. I wasn't thrilled with the conclusion of the first book because it seemed too coincidental. In this one, however, I loved the flow of the evidence leading to the conclusion. It was suspenseful with an unsuspected ending. I recommend this one to fans of crime thrillers.

I received this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley.com, to Kensington Books, and to Jane Haseldine.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Duplicity by Jane Haseldine that I read and reviewed.
This book was full of all kinds of twist and turns that had you going oh wow throughout the entire book. I was a bit surprised with some of the paths the author decided to take with the characters but in the end I was very happy with the ending and I can't wait to see if Haseldine comes out with another book after some of the things that took place.
Julia grew as a character by leaps and bounds from the first book and because of that I really loved this story so much more then the first one in the series. I was so happy with the way things turned out in this book as well. I am not going to give spoilers but things ended up the way I wanted them too.
I am giving Duplicity four out of five stars.

Great book! Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!

I was immediately drawn into the storyline. Even though there are a multitude of characters they are each well developed and I found myself choosing favorites, waiting to see what happens next to the characters. The ending was great and Jane Haseldine is a fantastic author and I hope she does a sequel to Duplicity!

Julia Gooden is a journalist who has the connections to write the biggest story of her life and she can't write a word about it. The story involves her husband, the Assistant District Attorney who is prosecuting Nick Rossi a major gangster for crimes including drug trafficking, gambling and bribery. Of course, this is killing Julia, but she must stand by her husband and hold back on her career.

Meanwhile, during the trial, a secret surprise witness is coming forth to testify against the gangster. Rossi has received word who it is and is ready. He has made arrangements for a sniper to take the witness out as he walks up the courthouse steps. At the same time, Julia's husband is meeting the witness. Also, Julia's son's class is taking a field trip to see justice in action. They will also be at the courthouse at the same time. Julia will also be at the courthouse to as a room mother to help chaperone the students. Out of nowhere a bomb explodes. . .

This was such a great read. Finding out who perpetrated the bomb and everything that happened behind the scenes was extremely rewarding as a reader. There are absolutely no spoilers above. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Once I started reading the book and the burning clues started melting that iceberg, the bottom was slushy and absolutely polar bear enjoyable. This was my first book by Jane Haseldine and it won't be my last.

Huge thanks to Kensington Books for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

The title of the book is fitting for the story. The characters aren't what they seem so pay close attention. There is more lies and deceit and backroom dealings then in anything political. It is a end of seat nail biting mystery with twists and turns that keep on come.

This was a fascinating study of corruption, murder, and gangsters, with a small amount of good people thrown in. It was fast moving and grabbed the reader's interest from the onset. This was the first of Ms Haseldine's books that I've read. It won't be the last. Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington for an ARC for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Duplicity lives up to it’s title! This suspenseful mystery is filled with deceitful characters, tons of action, and some surprising twists and turns. No character is to be trusted and no one is safe.

When criminal reporter Julia Gooden is tasked with finding out the details of a case her husband, David, is prosecuting, things get a little too close for comfort. The couple, who has recently reconciled, doesn’t need a case coming between them. Little does either know that this case will change their lives in a rather dramatic fashion.

David is the prosecuting attorney for the trial of mobster Nick Rossi. When a bomb detonates at the courthouse as the same time a surprise witness in Rossi’s case is being brought in to testify, it appears that it was set off in retribution for the witnesses’ testimony. Numerous people, including David, are critically injured. Julia makes it her mission to prove that Rossi was behind the bombing.

This is book two in a promising new series that I think is going to get even better as Julia’s character develops more. The city of Detroit also plays a significant role. I will definitely be keeping up to see how things play out for Julia in the future.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this great book!

This is the second in this series of mysteries involving Julia Gooden, a crime beat journalist in Detroit. The first book, The Last Time She Saw Him, was a great story and highly recommended that you start with that book to get the background of these characters and the story. However, it would read well as a stand-alone novel also.

In this story, Julia's husband, David, an Assistant District Attorney in Detroit, is starting a new trial against a crime mob boss, Nick Rossi, accused of drug trafficking, bribery, among other crimes. Just as the trial begins, David has a surprise witness that is set to turn on Rossi and make the case against him stick.

Julia and David are still walking a tightrope in their marriage but things are looking promising that he will return home to Julia and their two sons. Then the unthinkable happens, a bomb goes off at the courthouse just as the surprise witness is being brought in as well as Julia's son, there on a class field trip.

After the dust settles, Julia is intent on proving that Rossi was behind the bombing and she throws caution to the wind to investigate on her own. Returning characters of police detectives Navarro and Russell are back to investigate all the goings-on. In addition, Julia's brother, Ben, who has been missing since he was a child and has had such an impact on her life, is never far from her mind.

This is a high-action mystery with interesting, well-developed characters, realistic action, and great gritty setting in Detroit - wonderful follow up to the first in the series and I can't wait to read the next book!

Duplicity by Jane Haseldine is an interesting stand alone story, but also a follow up to The Last Time She Saw Him. Excellent writing and descriptions. The reader feels like they made a visit to Detroit. Some edge of your seat moments woven into a believable plot. Hoping there will be a book 3 to this series. I was given an early copy to review.