Member Reviews

Fan Mail by Daryl Wood Gerber is the second novel in the Aspen Adams suspense novel series. I enjoyed Desolate Shores, the first novel in this series, and I was looking forward to reading Fan Mail. Fan Mail did not disappoint and I've become a huge fan of the series. Aspen Adams, the main character, is a family therapist who has relocated to Lake Tahoe to work as a process server with her aunt who is a private investigator. Since the last book, she has started a relationship with Nick, a detective with the sheriff's office, and gained custody of her teenage niece, Candace. The novel begins with Aspen receiving a strange call from her gynecologist. Her doctor then turns up dead and Gloria Morning, a local news celebrity, receives a letter saying that the murder was done for her. This starts a rash of murders done for Gloria and she asks Aspen to try to solve the mystery. I'm a fan of a good suspense novel and this book kept me enthralled until the end. I love the character of Aspen and the addition of Nick and Candace added more nuances to her. Nick pretends that he doesn't want Aspen involved in solving the crimes but he values her insight. Even Candace gets involved with helping solve the crime. The other characters in the book are interesting and there were multiple suspects to consider. Also, the setting of Lake Tahoe adds interest to the story. I highly recommend this series and look forward to the next one. (

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My first book in the series and an interesting story overall.
As I haven’t read the first book, it was a bit hard to connect with the main characters but as it’s a suspenseful story, every now and then the author will leave a clue to what’s happening and where this story goes on. Many twists, many characters, some very interesting, some just to fill up the plot in my opinion, but an engaging story overall .

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Fan Mail is the second novel in the Aspen Adams Suspense series by Daryl Wood Gerber.. I am a fan of the author and read the first book in the series. This is a wonderful new series by the author. .I love the setting of this series set in Lake Tahoe. The charcters are well crafted and likable. The sleuth was done to perfection with many twist and turns that kept me guessing from beginning to end. . I highly recommend this cozy mystery for your reading enjoyment. I like the main charcter Aspen as she returns as a strong savvy protagonist. I look forward to the next in series.

Thank you for the ARC to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinion is my own.

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Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

2.5 Hearts I realized this was the second in the series as I got into it and realized there was some missing information. I highly suggest reading the 1st in the series first.

Because of not understanding the characters from book 1 I think I couldn’t connect with the characters. Aspen seems very, well honestly bitchy. I think the author was trying to give Aspen an independent attitude but it came across as rude to me. She figured because she wanted to do something she could. Including going through confidential case files of her boyfriends.

I think the idea of the story was good but it was hard for me to get through it because of the characters.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Enjoyable suspenseful mystery - book two in the Aspen Adams series. Aspen is tasked with a new investigation when a news celebrity begins to receive bizarre and worrying fan mail linked to a murder. Swiftly moving plot, rounded and credible characters and a likeable protagonist in Aspen. An engaging read.

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Thanks go to NetGalley and Beyond the Pages for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have enjoyed several of Darryl Wood Gerber’s previous books, but hadn’t read the first book in this series. I do believe that affected my read of this book somewhat, because I went into it thinking this was a standalone, then Aspen started describing a previous mystery she’d been involved with, and it took a bit to realize I’m missing some backstory. Once that was cleared up, I found the story enjoyable and I’m likely to go back and read the first book. I can’t say there was anything that made the book a standout must-read, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

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And to think I was afraid to start this series since I was (wrongly) thinking that due to its more serious covers, that it would be one of those scary thrillers that I'm not a fan of, but that couldn't be further from the truth. It just moves at a little quicker pace than the cozies I've come to love from this author, the murder scenes while not seriously graphic are a little more defined but still not gross or anything, and some things are just a little more serious, but that's all good.

I've come to really like these characters too! Aspen is amazing how she's taken in her fourteen-year-old niece Candace, and Candace is a really likable kid now that she's away from her mom. It's so cute how she's kind of protective of her aunt Aspen. I love that Aspen and Det. Nick didn't waste any time getting together, and they appear to be in a very good place. He's incredibly patient with her need to investigate but at the same time, he's sweet and protective but not overly smothering, because Aspen is a very independent lady. She and Nick do work well together. Of course, I can't forget good old aunt Max who owns a detective agency and is Aspen's boss while training her in the ways of private investigation.

I honestly had pegged the correct person as the killer, but the motive was so tangled and twisted that it was actually fun winding down all the various paths that led to Aspen figuring it out. I had no idea why I thought this person was guilty, but I just felt that way. The showdown was really exciting, and I was relieved that Aspen had thought ahead to make sure Nick and backup were also stationed near. The ending was a very sweet one for Aspen's bestie Gwen too. It'll be interesting to see where the next case takes these characters.

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Fan Mail is the first book that I have read by Daryl Wood Gerber and I am eager to read more. Fan Mail has great characters, a suspenseful mystery, and a beautiful setting. If you are into mysteries and enjoy a good whodunit, I recommend giving Fan Mail a chance. It is the second book in a series. I have not read the first book in this series, but did not feel confused at all.

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Fan Mail by Daryl Wood Gerber is the second novel An Aspen Adams Novel of Suspense series. It can be read as a standalone for those who have not indulged in Desolate Shores. Fan Mail is a complex novel full of twists and surprises. Aspen Adams quit her job as a therapist to work for her aunt’s detective agency. Aspen has a long way to go before she gets her license, but she is learning the ropes. Then her gynecologist is killed after leaving Aspen two messages that were cut off. A local restaurant owner is murdered soon thereafter. Gloria Manning phones Aspen because she received odd letters after each crime. Gloria is used to fan mail as a news anchor, but these notes scare her. She wants Aspen to get answers. Aspen starts questioning the numerous suspects. Unfortunately, the killer is just beginning. Fan Mail is a fast paced suspense novel that will have you on the edge of your seat. I like that there are cozy moments tossed in. Aspen is learning to be a private investigator by working at her Aunt Maxi’s agency. I like Aunt Maxi with her no nonsense approach. She is careful to give Aspen rules (not that she always pays attention). Candace, Aspen’s niece, lives with her and is now thriving. Candace is mature for her age and provides good insights into the murders. Nick Shaper is Aspen’s boyfriend and a detective with Placer County Sheriff’s office. He has mixed emotions about Aspen’s getting involved in these crimes. He appreciates her helpful information, but Nick does not want anything to happen to her. The characters are developed and realistic. There are multiple murders along with taunting notes and other nefarious activities in Fan Mail. There are multiple suspects for Aspen to wade through, but the clues are meager. Readers will have a hard time pinning down the guilty party unless you pay close attention to the clues. It is a complex mystery that continues to evolve as the story progresses. I enjoyed all the action along with the tense atmosphere. You never knew what the perpetrator was going to do next. I like Daryl Wood Gerber’s descriptive writing which brought the story alive for me. Fan Mail is an absorbing novel with an active adolescent, multiple murders, a dashing detective, a crafty killer, and a resolute rookie investigator.

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Fan Mail by Daryl Wood Gerber is the 2nd book in an Aspen Adams Novel of suspense series, and another great addition. Aspen Adams lives in Lake Tahoe, working for her aunt Max as a private investigator. A local news anchor Gloria Morning, starts receiving fan mail stating he killed the person for her glory. Aspen is determined to solve the murders, and keep Gloria safe. Aspen's estranged sister, who is a drug user, dropped off her teen daughter, and she and Aspen are growing close. This book just kept me enthralled from beginning to end. I have always enjoyed Ms. Gerber's books, and this book does not disappoint. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. This is not a cozy mystery series, but to me it was a nice change. I highly recommend this book for people who enjoy mysteries.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing. Thank you.

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Another excellent thrilling gem, it is exciting gripping and darn right captivating. A true puzzler, that has it all, intrigue, great characters, and an excellent storyline. This book keeps you glued to its every page until the end, with you still wanting more. A gripping captivating thrilling murder mystery with a few puzzling twists which makes you want to read more, a must-read if I do say so.

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This was a twisty and fun read! I found the suspense to be plentiful and the setting of Lake Tahoe was an interesting choice. I hadn't read the first book in this series, but the author did a great job of making sure that new readers weren't missing any relevant information.

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Fan Mail by Daryl Wood Gerber is another in the Aspen Adams books although it is classified as a stand-alone. We find Aspen settling into life in Lake Tahoe. She has officially adopted her niece, Candace, who has settled into a normal life with her aunt and Nick, the police detective she had met earlier has become her boyfriend, a relationship she is very excited about. The biggest problem in her life right now is the lump Dr. Fisher had confirmed in her breast and was currently having tested. That is until she hears from Nick that Dr. Fisher has been murdered. Sad for her doctor and worried about her own test, she visits the Tavern, owned by her friend Gwen, where she shares her concerns, followed by a television interview with Dr. Fisher that her friend Gloria had done in the past. Who could have done this? Before the police could figure that out there was another murder, and another. Would the madness end?

Aspen is a good character, true to life. She was formerly a therapist but after an client killed himself, she ran...a human response, ending up in Lake Tahoe working for her aunt, Max, as a process server and very low level investigator. She is likable but full of human frailties. Her other family is Candace's mother, a druggie with pretty loose morals who she really doesn't care to have come around. She loves Nick but is still recovering from her divorce, and he from his, so it is a pretty simple relationship currently. She is innately curious and single-minded and doesn't always think before she acts. She loves her niece and is very protective. Gerber has developed a good character in Aspen Adams. The plot is good too, giving no hint until the very end, using a plethora of possible suspects and a little mental illness thrown into the mix. I recommend this read if you love a mystery.

I received a free ARC of Fan Mail from Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #fanmail

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FAN MAIL, the second book in the Aspen Adams Suspense novels by Daryl Wood Gerber, is another edge-of-your-seat addition to an intriguing series! The protagonist, Aspen Adams, is a retired therapist turned amateur private investigator. Mostly she’s responsible for acting as a process server for her elderly aunt’s agency which doesn’t give her much hands-on investigating experience. When her doctor is murdered shortly before Aspen’s consultation about a potential health issue, she can’t help but want to become involved. And when her news celebrity friend, Gloria, receives a creepy stalker letter saying the murder was committed for her Glory, Aspen knows she has to stop the killer. As she starts asking questions and prying into the doctor’s associations, more murders pile up. Ms. Gerber captures the terror the stalker’s letters bring to Gloria and to Aspen which ramps up the suspense of the story and carries it through to the very end. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing and several of those that I hoped wouldn’t be the killer. The author’s skill at portraying her characters made me want to read to the very last page to find out what happens.

I also love the relationship that Aspen has with her elderly aunt and with her fourteen-year-old niece that she’s raising on her own. Ms. Gerber has portrayed three very strong women in this small family unit, despite each of them having quirks and serious life issues to deal with. With a cozy mystery author background, the author has managed to meld her expertise of strong character development with a darker-themed suspenseful story. She also forgoes the usual profanity of suspense novels and keeps her stories clean, which makes them quite suitable for young teens but nuanced and suspenseful enough for adults. I’m happy to see that this is a series and look forward to reading more of Aspen Adams’s investigations!

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Fan Mail is the second in the Aspen Adams series and a nice addition. Aspen is a therapist with a college degree from Stanford but after a traumatic event is now working with her Aunt Max as a private investigator, mostly serving papers and such. Aspen is dating a sheriff detective, Nick Shaper, and the two are crazy about each other. Sometimes the two butt heads when Nick thinks that Aspen is digging where she has no business. Aspen is raising her teenage niece Candace because the mother, Aspen's sister, has a drug problem. Her friend and television anchor Gloria Morning hired her to investigate who might have sent her some letters, apparently a killer, who claims to take care of getting rid of individuals for her-not sure why he/she felt the need. Letters arrive just before someone is killed.
As the bodies pile up and letters arrive, Aspen investigates and Candace insists on helping. She actually has some good ideas. There are lots of suspects to check out, at the television station and others, and lots of clues to decipher for motive. Trying to figure out how all the victims are connected is a puzzle. Fan Mail has a great mystery to solve that kept me guessing and is an entertaining read. I am enjoying this series and hope to read more in the future.
Thanks to Beyond the Page Publishing for a complimentary ARC through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

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Aspen Adams realizes she has missed two phone calls from her doctor. However, before she can return Dr. Kristin Fisher's call, Aspen learns the doctor was murdered in her office. Aspen decides the calls Kristin made to her were regarding something personal and not her pending test results. Then Aspen's friend, news anchor Gloria Morning, receives an anonymous letter saying the the doctor's murder was done for her. Gloria asks for Aspen's help in tracing the letter since Aspen is training to be a private investigator. The case becomes even more complicated when another murder occurs and Gloria receives another letter.

Daryl Wood Gerber writes a couple of cozy series, but this is the second in her Aspen Adams series which is more of a suspense series. I loved the first book in this new series, but this one wasn't quite as good. It doesn't have the same suspense as the first book, but this follow-up is still entertaining and has an interesting mystery at its core. The book gets off to a great start but then slows down in the middle as Aspen's investigation goes in circles between several possible suspects. Also slowing down the progress in the investigation and detracting from the story is Aspen and her boyfriend Nick's inability to work together. Nick doesn't take Aspen's contributions seriously enough and Aspen sometimes overestimates her abilities so it's no surprise when they have issues. The investigation and the past of the book does suffer from their arguments, though.

I like Aspen's relationship with her niece, Candace, who is an interesting character. However, Aspen needs to set some serious boundaries with her soon or they will continue to have problems and be putting themselves in unnecessary danger. I really live Aspen's aunt Max who is training Aspen to be a PI. Max has a lot of knowledge and I hope she plays a bigger role in future books. I saw part but not all of the ending coming, but overall I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next in the series.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Beyond the Page Publishing. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

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Aspen Adams is a private investigator who works for her aunt's agency. She is drawn into the serial killings that are happening in Lake Tahoe when a local reporter receives letters from a "fan". The letters are saying that these murders are happening for her glory. This story was action packed from start to finish. Aspen's 14 year old niece, Candace, is spunky and smart. I loved all the main characters. They are all very well written. Even though I figured out who the murderer was, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. With the loss of Sue Grafton and Kinsey Millhone, I was worried that I would never find a female PI that I liked as much. I discovered that fear to be unfounded. I will be reading the first novel in this series to tide me over until the next book. Thank you to Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Edge of Your Seat Action in Lake Tahoe
This is an action-filled murder mystery. This is a complete, stand-alone story that features some great characters. The plot is intense with plenty of motives and suspects. The reveal at the end is pretty spectacular. I have always enjoyed how this author can weave a story. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

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Fan Mail -Daryl Wood Gerber
Aspen Adams, a private investigator is digging into the fan mail a local new anchor is receiving that are mentioning murders that are occurring ‘for your glory’ As aspen strives to uncover who is sending the mail her boyfriend Dectective Nick is tracking down the murdered. Are they after the same person?
A nice easy read that was easy to follow even though I’d not read other books in the series I was able to follow the story plot and get a sense for what has happened to the characters previously.

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Fan Mail is a well written suspense novel with several potential suspects that kept me guessing until the end. I'm loving this series and can't wait for the next Aspen Adams novel.

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