I was so pleased to be granted this early release. Although my first author, Victor Methos and book #2 in the Desert Plains series, I didn’t feel lost in this story. It was a page turner immediately.
In " A Killer’s Wife" The story centers on Prosecutor Jessica Yardley trying to make a normal life for herself and her daughter after her artist husband Eddie Cal is sent to prison for a series of brutal murder.
This story picks up with Jessica Yardley investigating a set of murders inspired by a series of grotesque paintings called “The Night Things”. True this story has some very disturbing descriptions but it is not all nasty. In fact, when Jessica meets reporter Jude Chance at a restaurant and he wants an “in” on a story and asks Jessica to help him. She states she has no jurisdiction. He replied “I thought you and Brittney belonged to some “Sisterhood of the Special Victims Traveling Pants”.
I busted out laughing at this. I loved [author: Ann Brashers] 2001 “Coming of Age” YA series with [book: The
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants] the first and thus the name of the series ~ four friends share a thrift
store pair of jeans that fits each friend perfectly. It struck me funny that this guy would even know that
series!! Enough of THAT as this is NOT a cute YA story. As I mention they are some very disturbing
graphic descriptions of sexual assault,, rape and child abuse.
I love psychological thrillers and one would think I would be getting better at figuring them out. Well I sort of got “part” of it.
I am sure there will be a Jessica Yardley Desert Plains Book #3 with more about daughter Tara and ex-husband Eddie Cal.

Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this early release granted in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 2, 2021

Was really enjoying this book but couldn't shake the feeling that I knew who the killer was and that the ending would be predictable. It was actually anything but! Really enjoyed the twists and turns at the end. Another success from Methos.

This is the 2nd book in the Desert Plains series, and it’s a winner! It reads as a stand-alone, but it definitely helps if you read the first in the series, A Killers Wife, for some background. In this installment, federal prosecutor Jessica Yardley gets involved in the search for another serial killer who is killing his victims using an artists’ paintings as templates. This is another suspenseful story that keeps you off balance, with constant action, and excellent courtroom drama. I am hopeful the author continues the series, as I really enjoy the characters, and the stories are great.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Suspect you know who dun it but then maybe it was someone else. I kept thinking I knew, but then it was just a little something else. Methos, and I am a fan, keeps his twists and turns going. I have enjoyed every book of his that I have devoured and can't wait for more of these. Hooked from the start and tied up in knots til the resolution untied me. Nice to visit with Eddie's daughter and ex in this tale of murder and mayhem.

The first book in this series, "A Killer's Wife," was a really unexpected yet phenomenal five-star listen for me. So when this one came out, I screamed. And once again, Victor Methos gave me everything I ever wanted in a thriller.

Where do I start? There is so much going on in this book, and yet the pieces come together flawlessly just like in book one. Jessica Yardley, a prosecutor and a mother who has been though unimaginable in her life with more than one psychopath, is taking up her last case before retiring. Little does she know that she will become entangled in a dangerous and abusive situation yet again. The case is actually a series of murders inspired by horrific paintings, and perhaps no one can help her solve it other than... her ex-husband. A serial killer ex-huband.

THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE, PLEASE READ THIS SERIES.

I just can't get over the things Jessica is going through, both as a prosecutor and a victim. And if that wasn't enough, twists just keep coming at you incessantly, right when you think this book is about to end. I really liked the pacey story as much as the characters.

It's getting 5 chilling stars from me.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those authors that I was lucky enough to discover on kindle unlimited. I downloaded the 1st book in this series and read it in one sitting. I was so excited to see book 2 come up on netgalley and even more excited when I was approved for the earc. Fingers crossed I wasn't going to be disappointed with the expectations I had when I started reading.

I was not!!!!

This is the 2nd in the series, and just like the first, it did not disappoint! This book has everything I love - serial killers, lawyers, drama ... Love how the characters are evolving and look forward to seeing what happens next.

Thank you #netgalley and #thomasandmercer for the eARC.

This book grabbed me from the beginning pages and I finished my first legal thriller very quickly. I wish I had known sooner this book was part of a series. Left me wondering what I had missed in the previous book, however, a great standalone book.

District Attorney Jessica Langley and FBI agent Casey Baldwin get called into a crime scene at Crimson Lake Road. The book dives right into the investigation of this case with the developing relationship between Jessica and River, while unexpected ever so intriguing. Jessica's day to day is pretty action-packed and keeps you on the edge of your seat to see if they catch the Executioner.

There was just enough of a teaser from the history of Jessica's history with a serial killer and her fight to catch the killer. Jessica seems to have a lot of real-life battles in this book as you read and learn more about her character. Her background is quite complicated and I feel motivates her even more into catching the bad guy. The development of Tara's character (Jessica's daughter) leads me to believe there could be more that comes forward in book 3, fingers crossed.

I will have to try some of Nathan Victor's method other reads as well as dive further into legal thriller reads.

This was the second Victor Methos legal thriller that I have read and I have to say that I am getting to like the Jessica Yardley series.

She is a complex character with an interesting back story to say the least and I am enjoying the relationship between her and her daughter, Tara.

This was a rollicking good read and the plot was cleverly thought through with some excellent twists and turns.

All in all an excellent legal thriller and well worth a read.

I have never been more excited to receive a pre-released book than I was for Crimson Lake Road. Thank you to both NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this opportunity!

Victor Methos has quickly become one of my favorite legal fiction authors. After reading A Killer’s Wife earlier this year, I promptly devoured several of his other novels. Two of the main characters in Crimson Lake Road are introduced in A Killer’s Wife. Do not be deterred by this fact, however, because it is not necessary to read one before the other (though I highly recommend it!). Okay, I think am I finally done fangirling over Victor Methos, now on to the actual review…

The action in Crimson Lake Road starts by the time you reach the end of page two. Yes, two (2). That is not a typo. The chapters are extremely short, so even during lulls in the plotline, the reader should have no trouble pressing onwards.

Unfortunately, this novel did not live up to the hype of its description (at least not for me). As aforementioned, Victor Methos is one of my favorite legal authors. He writes beautifully, offers intriguing opinions about the justice system, crafts scenes grounded in reality, and is never sloppy about the logic of how a character and their intentions correspond.

Given all of his usual talent, it seems as if this novel was written by a ghost writer or in a rush. Chapters of the book seemed misplaced and I did not feel the normal spark of excitement I experience while reading one of his novels. Also, this could just be me, but I thought it was fairly predictable and usually his books are not. Even the rhythm and word choice employed in the novel felt like an entirely different author wrote it.

The one portion that did stay true to Methos’s standard works were the court scenes. He is incredibly talented at making you feel as if you are in a courtroom and are inside the minds of the representing attorneys. Fingers crossed that I never have to argue in front of a judge like Judge Weston!

Another element that he seems to include in all of his novels is the concept of how difficult it is for women in the legal field to gain respect. In Crimson Lake Road he drives this point home more so than usual and applies it to every female character mentioned in the novel regardless of their job this time around (e.g., tech intern, federal prosecutor, yoga instructor, police officer, etc.). The spirit of championing working women runs rampant throughout the text.

Additionally, aside from it being a quick read, the second half of the book does eventually make up for some of the duller parts of the first. It also concludes in a manner that leads me to believe that this is not the last time readers will encounter these characters and that we may be receiving a third installment in the near future.

I cannot address the two reasons as to why I strongly believe there will be a third novel in this series here without ruining some of the story. If there is a third book and it ends up being as good as A Killer’s Wife, then finishing Crimson Lake Road will be well worth it.

A final note to any readers who are easily upset by graphic descriptions or have undergone related traumatic experiences, some of the passages regarding the murders in A Crimson Lake contain vivid imagery. Also, there is a heavy theme running throughout of sexual assault, rape, and child abuse.

What an excellent thrill ride!!! We have district attorney Jessica Yardley and FBI investigator Cason Baldwin called to Crimson Road where they find Angela River bound to a table in a black tunic, bandages around her head, and cut between her eyebrows mimicking a painting . But Angela lives, unlike previous victim Kathy Pharr. Jessica develops a friendship with Angeja and finds evidence that Angelas boyfriend is the killer and thus starts the trial, but all does not seem to be what it is. Story is very well constructed and written, characters are strong and intelligent with many layers. Awesome read.

This is the first time I have read a book by this author. I had trouble getting drawn into the book but as I kept on, it pulled me in. Because I have not read the first book in the series, I was missing some background information on Yardley, her daughter and her husband on death row. However, as this thriller unfolded I found I could not put the book down towards the end as I attempted to put all the pieces together.

Victor Methos delivered with this book about a serial killer who kills accoring to paintings. Retiring US attorney Yardley teams up with FBI agent Denham to try and catch him. There are a couple of suspects but are they on the right track? Yardley was the most developed as a character if you ask me and I liked her, most of the time. She has a traumatic past, a highly intelligent daughter and we get the most insight in her motivation and thoughts during the book. In the end all storylines come neatly together and I could close the book after a satisfying read.

*** an ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review ***

This book is a thriller story of an art obsessed serial killer on run and a retiring lawyer who tries to solve the case. Unlike other thrillers, this book focuses on the motives and psychology of the killer and they try to solve the case using such insights.

I really enjoyed this book. I love Jessica Yardley and hope there will be many more books in this series.

The only part of this series I don’t love is the storyline around Yardley’s daughter, Tara. Her character is just a little unrealistic. Obviously all geniuses were 17 once, but for some reason this one just doesn’t sound believable.

Having read most of the author’s books, including the first in this series, I was eager to start this book. I found the book to be entertaining, but not “unputdownable”. Several situations seemed to stretch the limits of credibility, but nevertheless it is worth the time to read and be entertained.

Suspenseful? Yes, at times. Unbelievable? Yes, at times. Yardley, as a D.A., is not the brightest in her profession. She so quickly befriends a victim of a crime she’s investigating? Calls her a “soul mate?” Really? I’ll give this read three stars. There’s not much else I can say or else I will interject spoilers. I’m shaking my head. Thank you Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Crimson Lake Road is another entertaining crime thriller. The characters from The Killers Wife return investigating two murders that are connected by a series of grotesque paintings.
The culprit is soon arrested but I’d already decided who was involved in this crime, but there was a good twist that surprised me. The court scenes as usual with this author are excellent, great legal arguments with prosecuting and defence attorneys doing a great job, their arguments, cross examination, cut and thrust and humour were sublime.
One small moan, I kept being confused by the use of the characters surname being used then changing to their first names, make up your mind please, use one or the other, just couldn’t understand the point of this.
That said a really good read, flows beautifully and a good cast of characters, I hope to see more of Dylan the defence lawyer in the future.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

All in all, I enjoyed this story, and plowed through it quickly. Though I guessed the culprit of these crimes from the character’s first appearance (and in fact thought our protagonist, Jess, seemed like a bit of an idiot for her lack of awareness), the twist at the end made for a satisfying surprise. I like Jess, Cason and Tara, as well as Dylan and Lily (in fact, for much of the book, Dylan was more of a hero and a much more dynamic character than Jess), so I’m inclined to keep reading this series. I do agree with other reviewers who noted that the author’s use of last names for characters is cumbersome. For me, the story would have flowed better using their first names....but that’s a quibble.

Enjoyable courtroom scenes with irascible judges, but I could not get over the lead character's maddeningly poor judgment and lack of insight. Yardley (aka Jess and Jessica, which gets confusing) repeatedly fails to see the threat right in front of her. The identity of at least one of the culprits was obvious early on, which made the protracted blind alleys and red herrings annoying, not suspenseful.

The defense attorney's shenanigans before the federal grand jury seemed like implausible wish fulfillment for the author. The detailed grand jury description and jurisdictional battle didn't really make a difference to the plot.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book! It started out great, then faded a bit. .I was confused with the names - first and last names and nick names were used interchangeably. So who was who? Yardley or Jessica, or Jess? River or Angie, or Angela? So there were more people to remember. SO annoying. I figured out what was going on, then thought I was wrong, then thought I was right again. I was right, but never expected the ending. Fix the names and this would be a 5 star book.