A Dream within a Dream by Mike Nappa and Melissa Kosci is a great work of Christian suspense. This is the first book that I have read in the Coffey & Hill series and reading it has made me wish I had read the other ones. These authors are masterful at injecting suspense at every turn and creating interesting characters. You'll keep turning the pages to find out more. Readers of suspense will love this book. It can definitely be read as a standalone novel, but I think it would be even better in conjunction with the previous books in the series. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

A Dream within a Dream is the third installment from the Coffey & Hill series and my introduction to the talents of Mike Nappa. I thought it was a good read and would love to read more by this author in the future. Four stars.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book as confusing and exhilarating as A Dream Within A Dream. Talk about a book that’ll make your head spin! I’m not exaggerating when I say I felt like I was dreaming while reading this, mostly because it was so strange. Which I guess means this book stayed true to its title. 😉

The first chapter of this novel had me instantly hooked into the story. It was hard to pull away as I tried to figure out who or what “Dream” was. By the time I reached the third chapter, questions about Trudi and Samuel urged me to finish reading this in record time. Another thing that really urged me on was the Edgar Allan Poe theme, and the slight way it reminded me of National Treasure. In sum, this novel had a good story, a well written cast of characters, and great energy. I only wish that it didn’t end on a cliffhanger!

My only regret about reading A Dream Within A Dream is that I didn’t know beforehand that it was part of a series, so I read it as a stand-alone. Because of that, I sometimes couldn’t follow along with the story or fully connect with the main characters. And it’s probably why I found it mostly confusing. Nevertheless, it was a good book!

A Dream within a Dream
by Mike Nappa; Melissa Kosci
Revell
Christian
Pub Date 02 Jun 2020


I am reviewing a copy of A Dream within a Dream through Revell and Netgalley:






It isn’t until the FBI shows up asking questions that Trudi Coffey realizes she hasn’t seem Samuel Hill in weeks. After she has a strange encounter with a man who was armed and demanding her help and an attack by a member of the Boston mob looking for someone named Dream, Trudi manages to find Samuel--or rather, he finds her.





Samuel has made some pretty powerful enemies, but right now his full focus, is on protecting Dream from the mob. They are focusing on Dream, because he has something they want the map that will lead them to the location of the artwork stolen from The Garden Museum during the infamous heist in 1990.







Trudi and Samuel will have to call on their allies to keep Dream safe and discover with danger closing in all around them and they must find the identity of those who are hunting down Samuel. But the question they must ask and answer is who can they trust? And who is going to make it out alive?



I give A Dream Within A Dream five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

A Dream Within a Dream" is the third and last book of Mike Nappa and Melissa Kosci’s Coffey and Hill series. Trudi Coffey and her ex-husband, Samuel Hill are the two halves of Coffey and Hill Investigations. Although the two have parted ways, their lives mysteriously intertwine in dangerous circumstances. Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, this book is true to its name. It is a dream within a dream, and nothing is as it seems. Dream is an artist with a flawed memory but he has a potential clue to solving the theft of paintings from the Gardner Museum - which has a staggering reward of five million dollars. This dream within a dream story is a conflicting kaleidoscope of life-or-death interests centered around one man and his responses to an almost impossible situation. I urge you to read this book to find out why!

A Dream Within A Dream is the long awaited third Coffey & Hill novel and I truly hope there is a fourth because the ending just left me SO confused!

I loved the way this book was written. It was interesting to get to see the story from different characters' viewpoints and I was fascinated by "Dream". The mystery was very good and I had a blast trying to figure things out.

All in all, A Dream Within A Dream was a solid read and one that I enjoyed reading. Do I wish that the ending was a bit more clear? Yes, but I'm hopeful that this means there will be another book in the series.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Third in the Coffey & Hill series, this is the long awaited sequel to Mike Nappa's Annabel Lee and The Raven. Told from multiple points of view, the return of private investigator Trudi Hill and FBI agent Samuel Hill, her ex-husband and sometime business partner, does not disappoint.

Missing art, a traumatized artist, the Irish Mob and danger from various other directions all add up to a compulsively readable thriller. Beyond the excitement of the intrigue and adventure, I particularly enjoyed the expanded role of Trudi's assistant Eulalie and developments in the relationship between Trudi and Samuel continues to be a high point for me.

With the seamless addition of co-writer Melissa Kosci for A Dream Within A Dream, this is a book and a series for the re-read shelf. Highly recommended for those who enjoy can't-put-it-down action-packed thrillers that center on strong leading characters.

This review refers to a finished paperback that I voluntarily read courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Okay, first things first: What was that ending?! Second: when will the next book be out?

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let me tell you one of the main reasons I’ve enjoyed each of the books in this series so far: the characters. Not just Samuel Hill and Trudi Coffey (in fact, Trudi had to grow on me a bit) but the other primary characters in each of the books. They’re definitely not your run-of-the-mill characters, but neither do they feel like they’re deliberately unusual. They just are who they are, and that’s a key part of what has made each story an intriguing read.

In the case of Dream, part of the intrigue lies in the fact that he’s blocking some of his memories as a result of the trauma he’s experienced. He also comes across as lost, vague, down-and-out, and a passive victim of circumstance, and yet as the story goes on, we find out he’s actually stronger than he appears. And then that ending… I don’t want to give anything away, but, come again? I really do need to read it again to try and sort out what happened. But anyway, as with Annabel Lee and The Raven from the previous books in the series, I loved the uniqueness of his character.

Samuel Hill and Trudi Coffey remind me a little bit of Nick and Nora with their banter, except that while Nick and Nora are happily married, Sam and Trudi are happily divorced. Kind of. At least, that’s what Trudi has been telling herself. I’m not sure Samuel was ever really on board, but he can’t blame her, either. He’s created quite the mess, and that’s part of what this story is about, even if it’s largely in the background. I have a feeling that will change in the next book… And as flawed as he may be as a human being, he’s a fascinating character to watch when he’s in his element as an agent/private detective. Bold, brash, cheeky, and just downright entertaining. And Trudi and Eula (her assistant) don’t pull any punches either.

When it comes to the stories themselves, you kind of just hang on for the ride once you start, and you never know what’s going to happen next. I did feel as though the story got a little bit muddied at times, as there were references to people they’d encountered in previous stories whom I didn’t remember particularly well, and I wasn’t sure exactly how they fitted into this story. I get the feeling there’s a bigger picture I’m not quite seeing yet, but I’m not sure whether that’s deliberate on the part of the authors or just me needing to read the stories again to take in all the relevant details. Or maybe I’m just wrong altogether. It has been known to happen. 😉

In any case, I’m eager to know what comes next for Hill & Coffey.

Wow. This was an intriguing novel and ended too quickly for me.
The Dream is an artist who appears at the beginning of the novel in a slam bang opening scene. For the majority of the book, we’re not certain of his real name or how he got it. All we know is that he is of value to the FBI and has some sort of connection to a decades old unsolved art theft.
The poor man has lost his memory and we catch glimpses of what really happened in the past as he struggles to remember. We begin to see his true colour and a reader can’t help but to root for him.
Trudi is a private investigator who is divorced from Samuel, an ex-CIA operative turned Atlanta Police Detective. Samuel has gone missing and the FBI think Trudi knows where he is. What begins as a simple conversation turns into pages of intrigue, action and adventure as Trudi races to find Samuel and protect Dream from those trying to kill him.
Yeah. The connections aren’t clear until the end and just when the reader figures it out, another twist is thrown in our direction leaving us with more questions than answers. I’m assuming there is another book coming, since there are quite a few loose ends left untied. BUT if in fact it is the end of the line for these characters, I will be hugely disappointed. I didn’t want it to end the way it did. But I’m an optimist so I’m hoping for an explanation of what really happened in the Boston Common at the end of A Dream Within a Dream.
The narrative is well done. We receive a first hand account from Dream, but everyone else is in third person so it’s relatively easy to follow. I enjoyed how the reader experiences the discovery of memories with Dream.
There is a ton of action in this book. Lots of fight scenes and lots of chases – though one scenario seemed to be a bit of a stretch. Oh yes, and no one is trustworthy. People aren’t who they always appear to be.
Edgar Allan Poe is key to unlocking the mystery. One of his poems is referenced quite a bit, and is where the title of this novel is taken from. Poe fans would enjoy the connections made.
The spiritual thread was really weak (in fact, the Poe thread was much stronger). The only person who seemed to have faith was Dream, but then it was only glimpses from the past, not a solid faith by any stretch of the imagination. At one point there is a church scene where Trudi prays a quick, God forgive me for doing what I’m about to do, kind of prayer, but that’s it. So don’t count on having a solid message if you pick up this book.
What you will get is a book that will keep you turning the pages.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through Net Galley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this third installment of the Coffey and Hill series by Mike Nappa. While this is the 3rd book, it can be read as a stand-alone. The prior books are referenced, but you wouldn't be lost without having read them. However, the relationship between Trudi and Samuel has been developed throughout the series, so you get more depth to that element if you've read the prior books.

Samuel Hill (Atlanta PD, ex-CIA) has dropped off the grid and Trudi Coffey (ex-wife extraordinaire, private detective) has been hunted down by several people who are looking for him. And so, she ends up caught up in the things he has going on, helping him to protect a young man who goes by Dream, whose memory loss prevents them from knowing exactly why the Irish mob wants to find him. This story line was fraught with action, mystery and fun characters.

One thing I love most is when authors give characters over-the-top quirks. Dream has one such quirk as he spouts off random facts that he has memorized when he's under pressure (I even fact-checked one by checking my deck of cards and the king of hearts is truly the only king without a mustache). Some of his factoids were so incredibly random, some were very interesting and some were absolutely hilarious. It broke up some of the intensity of the situations they found themselves in. This book had a great story-line, a mystery that kept me on my toes, and relatable and likable characters. Fans of Edgar Allen Poe will also enjoy the numerous reference in not only this book, but the whole series, to Poe. While the ending was satisfactory, there was one mystery left outstanding and I hope there is a book 4 (and soon!) so that can be unraveled. Though it's classified as Christian, there is not a lot of faith content (though there is some), but it is a 100% clean read. This is one I'd highly recommend to fans of clean action/adventure and mystery/suspense novels.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Revell Publishers for an e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

I didn't realize this was part of a series. For me, it worked as a stand-alone story.

In the beginning I almost gave up because I had no idea who had been abducted. Was it a woman? I assumed it was, though I don't know why. It really bothered me that I didn't know whose thoughts I was reading and trying to decipher. It really was confusing trying to figure out what in the world was going on.

But I stuck it out, because the writing was good. And I'm glad I did!

Although it was still a bit confusing as we went along, things cleared up bit by bit. Though I don't know if I could tell you much about Dream's background. I guess it doesn't really matter though. He ended up with Sam and Trudi, and that's what's important in most of the story.

I didn't know any of the back story to Trudi and Samuel, and I kept hoping that what was eluded to as an affair was actually something undercover that he couldn't disclose, but it seems that is not the case. Too bad. I really wanted them to work out and make amends and get back together.

The pacing was good, the story line was good. Things got a little muddy on the scavenger hunt part in Philadelphia and it felt like a cheap version of National Treasure. But other than that part, I really enjoyed the book. I think the ending leans toward another book in the series perhaps. I would read the next one.

I tried to twice to find my rhythm with this novel but I couldn’t. I gave up before reaching 25%. I found the flipping between past and present and multiple characters sharing the same happenings confusing and disruptive to the story. The violence was too brutal for me, I had anticipated it being a mystery book around art but not as harsh as it is. I see the series has several positive reviews and I’m sure fans will thoroughly enjoy this one. I had not read the previous ones.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

I really thought I could finish this book, but it was too much. It is somewhat hard to follow the events as the character Dream goes back and forth from his past to present. The story line seemed to be good. However, I choose not to read torture scenes. I thought the first one was going to be it. But more came. I read for pleasure and love a good suspense mystery. But I don't like to read torture scenes. I quit at about 70%. I won't find out if Dream is rescued, but I really don't care.

A Dream within a Dream by Mike Nappa and Melissa Kosci

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

______________________________________________________________________________

Story Notes

Mike Nappa is back again, this time with Melissa Kosci, bringing readers a tangled web of a story that hits the ground running and doesn’t stop until the last word on the last page.

Mystery/Suspense is my favorite genre to read and I’m always excited to find another book that fits into that preference. And when those books also include some literary connections to a well-loved author, then it’s a guarantee that I’m going to really enjoy reading it. This third book in the Coffey and Hill series was amazingly well done. I’ve loved getting to know Trudi and Samuel through the first two books and was very excited to read this next one. This one begins as the others did, with a glimpse into the thoughts and actions of the main person that Trudi and Samuel will be working to help on a case. Dream has been taken from his comfortable existence as a budding artist by a “mobster type” who gives him no explanation but lots of orders to follow. Fearing for his life, Dream goes along but looks for possible escape routes. Finding none viable, he settles for planning what he might do at a later time, hoping he will get a chance soon. Cut to seven years later and PI Trudi Coffey who is attending a basketball game featuring her favorite Atlanta Hawks. She has been in Boston for the past two weeks consulting on a movie set about investigation and the finer details of a PI’s life. She is looking forward to both the game and going home the next day so she can get back to the work she really enjoys. But her enjoyment will be spoiled by the appearance of an FBI agent looking for her ex-husband, Samuel Hill. Trudi and Samuel have become friends once again over the past few cases they have worked together and while she is not sure that she will ever trust him with her heart again, Trudi is definitely not handing his info over to a random agent looking for an easy mark. Agent Tama Uribe is looking for Samuel in connection with an art heist from the early 1990s. She has been tracking him and followed him to Boston, hoping he would lead her to the elusive person know as Dream, a known connection to the heist. Since Samuel has disappeared, Agent Uribe wants Trudi’s help to find him. Trudi is smart, however, and quickly realizes that there is more to the story than Agent Uribe is telling. Refusing to give her even a hint of where Samuel might be, Trudi leaves the game early and heads for her car, only to be confronted by a man with a gun. Dream has come to find Trudi at the recommendation of an old associate, hoping she will help him. But Trudi doesn’t jump on the opportunity, given that Dream is apparently from Boston and she lives in Atlanta, plus he also pointed a gun at her. Now Dream is stuck trying to decide what is best to do now. Enter Samuel Hill with a plan to keep Dream safe. He seems to know what he is doing so Dream agrees to accept his help. Meanwhile, Trudi returns home and begins a search for the elusive Samuel Hill herself. Her search leads her to Samuel’s captain at the Atlanta PD and further to Samuel’s home looking for answers. Finding nothing but old memories of their marriage, Trudi is now both annoyed and scared by Samuel’s absence. His sudden reappearance with a request for help pulls Trudi into the middle of a case that will involve the Boston mob, the FBI and some very greedy people looking for an easy way to make some money. Trudi and Samuel will have to use all their logical prowess and investigative skills to keep themselves and Dream safe until they can solve the puzzle that apparently stems from Edgar Allen Poe’s poem, “A Dream within a Dream”. This case will draw them closer than ever before and they will have to completely trust each other if they are to come out alive. My, oh my! Was this book ever good! I loved the incredibly complicated case and how Mr Nappa slowly revealed the details at just the right moments. There was a perfect amount of tension buzzing through all the pages that flowed well with the pacing of the plot and the conversations. The psychology of the case was also very well done and completely believable. Additionally, I really love these characters that he has created and am very anxious to see how things will sort out between Trudi and Samuel. They have been through some very tough challenges that led to their divorce but I’m hoping that will get resolved soon. But this story was definitely well crafted and so very fun to read. The conversations were both snappy and smart and that made me a bit sad to get to the end. I’m certainly going to be adding this book to my shelves along with the previous two and very much looking forward to the next book. I will also be highly recommending this book to others as I know they will be as fascinated and intrigued by it as I was while reading.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Revell Publishing via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

The best of the Coffey and Hill series has arrived! Mike Nappa and Melissa Kosci deliver a stellar story, which readers will love to the very last page.

Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill have an interesting relationship, they are divorced but continue to work together running their private investigator business. Even though they work together, they don’t interact on a daily basis and it’s not unusual for them to go for a while without seeing each other. When the FBI shows up asking about Samuel, Trudy realizes he hasn’t been around in a few weeks and she hasn’t heard from him either. Normally that wouldn’t mean much, but in this case, Trudy knows that Samuel has gotten into something he can’t handle on his own. Samuel has been making some powerful enemies and working to protect a man named Dream from the Boston mob. Dream has the location of stolen artwork from a famous art heist and the mob will stop at nothing to get the information from him. Trudi and Samuel will have to work together and call on a few allies to help keep Dream safe and stop those out to get them.

The Coffey and Hill series just keeps getting better and better. I have loved each one I’ve read, and this newest edition is no different. The focus is more on Trudi than Samuel and I loved seeing her as the lead. Dream was a very interesting character and I loved the different ways he interacted with each member of the team. This story flows so smoothly and kept me guessing. I loved the ending! Each of the characters have their own unique quirks that readers will enjoy and be able to relate to in one way or another. As the third in the series, it continues the story with little tie-ins to the previous giving readers a continuation but not making it difficult for anyone who hasn’t read the previous two. Mike Nappa has a way of creating characters that are unique yet relatable and easy to follow. Even the dynamic of Trudi with Samuel’s son is so interesting and well-done that readers will fall in love with that side of her even more. I don’t know if this is the last in the series, but I sure hope not! The ending was left open for more to come but also closed loose ends if it is the last in the series. I recommend this book to those that love a great mystery and characters they can’t help but fall in love with.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A Dream Within A Dream by Mike Nappa & Melissa Rosci
6/20/20200 Comments

Picture
This book is one that you just can't put down when you start reading it. It has great suspense and mystery. I read this book in a couple of days and it kept me up until 2:00 am. Trudi is a strong, independent woman who is a successful private detective, but has she gotten in over her head? I have not read the first 2 books of this series, but the relationship between Trudie and Samuel is interesting and unique, and makes me want to go back and read the first two. I also really liked Eula and would like to see more of her. The main reason I am giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that I am not really sure what happened at the end. I even went back and re-read parts of it. Is the ending what it seems to be? I have no idea.

Trudy is a private detective while in Boston a young man who called himself Dream try to kidnap her but fails.
She learns by an FBI Agent that her ex-husband a police officer has disapeared and try to find him.
In a quest to find her husband she will have to investigate an art heist and realize that Dream is the one who knows the secret about it.
I don't usually read suspense novel but mostly historical books,I think this one was just not for me I could not get through this book.

This book was so good! I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a lot of great suspense. There were funny moments and sad moments. Part of it reminded me of the movie “National Treasure” as Trudi and Eula go on a hunt through historical Boston buildings.
The main characters are all so likeable. They’re trying to do the right thing even at great personal cost to themselves. They’re creative and have some memorable escape scenes. There is one section when Dream is going back and forth between the past and the present frequently that can get a little confusing, especially if you’re trying to listen to the book. Trudi and Eula are wonderfully, strong women. It was comical when someone was trying to best Trudi and she really had the upper hand.
I enjoyed the writing style in this book. There are great images like this one. “There’s no sun in the sky that I can see, yet there’s still some kind of half-light, as if day is resisting night, refusing to go to bed like an ill-tempered child” (location 62).
I’d highly recommend this book. It was hard to put down and I loved the subtle ending. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Nappa is joining the ranks of one of my favorite authors. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book for the purpose of this review.
Coffey & Hill Book 1: Annabel Lee
Book 2: The Raven
Book 3: A Dream Within A Dream

“A Dream Within a Dream” by Mike Nappa is a great read! This is part of the Coffey & Hill series. I have read all the other books and loved this one as much as I loved the others. It’s so easy to pull for Trudi and Samuel. They are very likeable characters. This story has non-stop action and mystery. It had a twist at the end that totally surprised me. I am hoping that there is another book after this one.

I definitely recommend this book especially if you enjoy good, clean, mystery and suspense.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

A very well written inspirational book. Mystery and intrigue filled plot. Well developed characters. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.