‘Fan Mail’ is the second instalment in Daryl Wood Gerber’s Aspen Adams Suspense. This is my introduction to Daryl Gerber’s work and after reading this book I can confidently say I am now a fan.

This book follows Aspen, a former-child-psychologist-turned-private-investigator, as she deals with the sudden murder of her doctor. Things seem even stranger when another victim is found murdered soon after. Despite Nick’s attempts at stirring Aspen away from the murders, she finds herself being more drawn to catching the likely serial killer in town. However things take a turn for the worst when Gloria, a popular TV news anchor, calls Aspen for help insisting that she received letters that are somehow connected to the murders that have been happening. Aspen decides that she needs to start solving the pieces of this puzzle before things get even more sinister.

The mystery was extremely well written. I had a hunch about who the real perpetrator was behind the murders during the first half of the book, but decided to change my guess halfway- turns out my first guess was correct. Little hints and clues are scattered as the plot goes on and you find yourself questioning whether the piece of information that was just revealed is even related to the case or not- and I loved that.

Another thing I really enjoyed was that I didn't feel the need to read the first book in order to understand what was going on. There are some instances where Aspen talks about the previous case, I assume is the plot of the first book, but this book can ultimately stand on its own.

The characters are well-written, the plot is nicely developed and keeps the mystery element the focal point of the book but does allow for minor storylines such as Nick and Aspen’s relationship to have its own spotlight at times.

Overall I enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking out for more of Daryl Wood Gerber’s future works.

4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of ‘Fan Mail’ by Daryl Wood Gerber’

This is a strong thriller with well-written characters, and some nice surprises. This is a very talented author and it shows here. Recommended.

I really appreciate the advanced copy for review!!

This book is the second in the Aspen series and even better than the first. This story deals with the sudden murder of Aspens doctor. Another body shows up shortly after. Aspen teams up with a local news anchor to connect the dots in this very well crafted mystery story. It can read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading both and then eagerly awaiting the third as I am. Thank you NetGalley for advanced readers copy for review.

Aspen Adams works for the Maxine Adams Detective Agency, owned by her aunt. Her gynecologist has been murdered and Aspen was waiting for results of a recent medical test. Her lover, Detective Nick Shaper with the sheriff’s office has asked her to stay out of the investigation. When another similar murder takes place, Aspen is contacted by news anchor Gloria Morning. Gloria has received two notes from a fan alluding to their possible involvement in the murders and asks Aspen to investigate. Along with the worry about her possible medical condition and caring for her teenage niece, Aspen knows she should stay out of the case, but will she? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

I enjoyed Fan Mail. It’s very suspenseful and it kept me guessing throughout the whole book. I look forward to reading more in the series.

There is a new genre out there - robust female lead but with attendant detective fiance/lover/boyfriend and
a child/teenager/dog who inevitably answers friend's plea to solve a murder because said friend is either a suspect, being blackmailed or targetted; she solves said murder/s in her own inimitable way, usually off-piste and against wishes of said detective.. 'Fan Mail' is definitely one of those. The story is well-written though and the murders not too gory, although are unpleasant. There are plenty of suspects as the story revolves around murders done for the glory of a local celebrity news reader, Gloria Morning, amidst a whole set of colourful news' type characters, many of which seem to be left-handed. The lead female, Aspen, is more than usually annoying however in that she keeps breaking into offices and the like and rummaging through personnel files, at midnight of course. I kept hoping that Security would discover her. As a wannabe PI she obviously has no idea about chains of evidence and that sort of thing let along illegal breaking and entering. It lost at least a star for that reason. She has a teenage niece and ward as her companion and she comes true in a pleasant naive way - a 'nice' teenager. who seems to accept being taken round to the neighbours at will when Aspen goes off on one of her journeys of discovery. The boyfriend pops up every now and then but is also busy with real detecting of the same murders and doesn't seem that fussed above Aspen's interfering. There is the predictable getting herself into trouble at the end and almost becoming another victim. The 'bad guy' was rather predictable too but his motive for some of the murders complex and not completely convincing. but maybe I'd just had enough by then. Although the story was generally ok I just felt as if it was another one of the same old. Obviously other reviewers feel differently and loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Daryl Wood Gerber's new suspense series continues with Fan Mail, the second Aspen Adams Novel of Suspense, which starts off swiftly and just keeps going! This incredibly thrilling page turner follows Aspen as she searches to discover the link between several seemingly unconnected murders and her friend, Gloria Morning. Suspects and motives are everywhere, and Aspen must use both her detecting and psychological skills to stop the murderer before they strike again. Loved it!

In this next book of the series Aspen and her niece are getting into a routine and all seems to be back to normal for the pair. Aspen is back to working cases at her Aunt's P.I. firm and she is happy to be dating Nick. When local news anchor Gloria Morning starts receiving some weird fan mail that seems to coincide with recent murders she asks Aspen to look into things for her. Aspen is on the job when another murder occurs and another note is sent. Aspen has little to go on and an abundance of people to look into. who could be killing all these people and what connection do they have with Gloria. Aspen realizes that she is going to have to delve deeper into the people on her suspect list to find the answers she seeks. Not one person seems to be the front runner when it comes to suspects which is making it harder for Aspen. She really wants to help her friend and doesn't like that she has been unable to come up with any real clues or suspects. Follow along as Aspen never stops in her quest to find a killer, will she do so before someone else ends up dead or find herself in danger along the way. I loved this book and was excited to read it, the characters are well developed and I already feel as if I truly know them. I hope there will be another book!!!

I love a well written murder, and this book lived up to my expections. The characters are all well defined, and you can’t help but like the main character. Aspen is a therapist turned PI, who has adopted her 14 year old niece. Aspen is hired to find the person sending anonymous notes to a local news celebrity. As numerous murders occur, she searches for clues, much to the chagrin of her detective boyfriend. She also worries about her niece who wants to help Aspen with her sleuthing. The book is a fast moving and realistic murder mystery. Definitely a book I would recommend, even without reading the first two books in the series.

Fan Mail is the second novel in the Aspen Adams Suspense series by Daryl Wood Gerber. It was published in 2019, and I previously read the first book in the series over the summer. I was introduced to Gerber's work through a few of her cozy mystery series and wanted to read her latest release from a different genre. It's becoming a strong series that I highly recommend.

The books takes place in Colorado and focus on Aspen, a former child psychologist who's become a private detective. It's a little over a year since the last book ended, and this time, Aspen has become friendly with the reporter from the previous book. So friendly that Gloria Morning begs Aspen to figure out who might be trying to kill her or protect her. You see... random notes show up about saving Gloria from certain bad people in her life, and then those people end up dead. The issue: those people haven't hurt Gloria in any way, so she's confused! Is she doing this to herself?

The mystery plot is strong. I changed my guess a few times in the first 50% of the book and when I finalized the guilty party, I was correct. I only realized it because of an early clue, but it is hidden well and makes perfect sense. There is a lot of backstory to come out before we truly understand the complexity of everyone's relationships at the tv studio. The first victim, a gynecologist, has a lot in her past to unveil.

Gerber writes really well. The book reads easily and absorbs you from beginning to end. I never wanted to put it down, and it had lots of great scenes above and beyond the mystery. We get to know how Aspen and Nick's relationship progresses, her niece's maturity (and immaturity) since Aspen adopted her, and the growth in Aspen's skills as a detective. I look forward to the next installment. 4.5 stars.

An interesting read to say the least! Aspen has been working as a PI in Lake Tahoe, Nevada but has experience as a therapist, also. Also, she has been guardian for her niece, Candice, who is 14 years old.

Many possible suspects in this story! This book begins and ends with a lot of intrigue and twisty suspense!

Aspen is brought into a case by a popular TV news anchor, Gloria, with whom Aspen had been acquainted. She gets both assistance and a bit of interference from her boyfriend, Nick (a detective with the county).

The problem becomes connecting three murders to a single suspect because a letter is written, with the same wording, to Gloria at the time of each murder.

All suspects seem to be the perpetrator at any given point. The reader is constantly wondering and guessing at who is responsible for the murder of; a gynecologist, a restaurant owner and a special education teacher.

The possibilities are endless. Yet the read is quick and very enthralling !

RECOMMEND!

Many Thanks to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for a superb read!

This is the first book I’ve ever read by this author and it was a great book. Aspen is working as a PI and taking care of her niece. She is dating the sheriff. When her Dr is murdered she can’t let it go. She is hired to solve several murders. This is the second book in this series and I’m sure it won’t be the last. The characters are likable, the mystery is suspenseful and intriguing. Looking forward to more books in this series.

This is a solid thriller that builds some good suspense, has an interesting premise, and went between sympathetic characters in a way that forced me to keep reading later than planned each night.
I am unfamiliar with this author and didn't realize it was the 2nd book in a series but that did not make the story hard to follow. Gerber is clearly a talented writer and someone I will seek out in the future. I did feel that I was missing a little backstory, but that only made me want to find the first book. The plot was not lacking without having read it. It was refreshing to see such strong relationships between aunts and nieces, a dynamic that can sometimes be stronger than mother and daughter. This book has a female powerhouse of characters who strive to find their inner strengths while hunting a killer. Overall, I recommend this thriller that doesn't give it all away too early and even when you think you know, you'll question yourself.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me an ARC for my humble opinion. It was a joy.

Link to BookBub Review: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1221183942?source=twitter_share via @Bookbub

Link to Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3000271736?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Fan mail is an intriguing story with lots of twists and turns that will keep you reading until the end. Diverse characters with complex traits that will keep you changing your mind as to who done it and who will be next. Enjoyable suspense story.

'Fan Mail' absolutely lives up to the billing of a 'Novel of Suspense.' I was gripped by the tension from the very beginning, and it didn't let up. Aspen and Candace are both wonderful characters and are surrounded with an equally exceptional surrounding cast. I am completely invested in Aspen's world and can't recommend this one highly enough. Do yourself a favor and go back and get the first of the series to help with background. I know there is so much more to come and I couldn't be more excited about hearing from Daryl Wood Gerber.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Aspen Adams is working for her Aunt Max’s PI Agency and raising her teenage niece, Candace, in Lake Tahoe. Having given up her career as a therapist in the big city after a patient committed suicide and her divorce she’s doing her best to make a new life. When one of her new friends asks her to find out who is sending her letters claiming that recent murders were done to protect her, Aspen steps up to help, even if it means putting herself in harm’s way.

As the body count rises, Aspen isn’t quite sure who the killer is, but there are quite a few suspects on her list and she needs to clear them all to save her friend and hopefully stop the murderer from killing again.

A true page turner that will have you feeling the heat, smelling the pines, and the uncertainty of who the murderer is. Daryl Wood Gerber is a fantastic writer and I have enjoyed quite a few of her series over the years and look forward to more from her in the future. If you love a good mystery, this is an author to add to your reading list!

I absolutely loved this book. The story was engaging from beginning to end and I could not put it down.
I love the relationship between aunt and niece, they are both unsure of how it will play out, but I see them forming an unbreakable bond.
I am looking forward to reading more in the thrilling series.

This is the 2nd book in the series. Loved reading it and the characters are great. Daryl wood Gerber is a great writer and this book is worth the read. Avery is the best main character and her niece. I would give this book 10 stars if I could