Hitchin

First, I am grateful to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is my first novel by this author, although I understand she does have one other book in print, Between Nowhere and Lost, which seems to be a romance.

This story is initially set in East St. Louis, a bad neighborhood, in the 70's before cell phones and social media. The tale starts with newspaper reporter, Cassie, who decides to hitch into these run-down areas in search of a story. I didn't like her much at first. In fact, she was downright annoying. She meets up with a drug dealer who also didn't move me at all, although for whatever reason Cassie is romantically attracted to him (and he to her). Go figure. Romances are just not my cup of tea. But the mob, the FBI, and crime perk me up, and the story moved into these. It took me a long time, maybe more than one third of the book, before I was really on board and enjoying it. There were lots of characters and some had two names, so it was difficult, at first, to keep everyone straight in my mind. This novel, I think, is too wordy and definitely needs editing to tighten it up.

I realized after I was far into it that the plot is a combination of mafia, undercover cop, crime and headstrong journalist/photographer sub-plots (with some romance thrown in). I started loving it by the time I was a bit more than halfway through. The research seemed spot-on except for the Atlantic City segment. Atlantic City just didn't have so many casinos back then - I'm a Jersey girl, and remember the first one (Resorts) in 1978. So that part didn't ring true for me.

The last one third of the book is amazing, well researched, and a real page turner. I wasn't keen on the "which man will she end up with" angle, mainly because I don't like romance stories at all; others may enjoy that part of the plot. But the denouement was very well written and the ending tied up all the loose ends. I very much admire that in an author; I believe that refusing to utilize cliffhangers shows that the author respects her readers. If there is another Michael Reyes novel to come, I will probably pick it up.

Thanks to Netgally and The Wild Rose Press for allowing me to read and review this amazing book.

The author has done an fantastic job of transporting the reader back to the 70's and providing a look at the underworld and investigators of the period. It was so well written that even though, being Australian, I struggled a little with slang words I wasn't familiar with, I could get a true feeling for the period and life they chose to live.

The story moves along at a brisk pace, and builds all the way through to a very satisfying ending. The characters are strong and well defined and I have to say the writing is exceptional. If 70's US underworld and FBI agents are your thing, you will love this book - I did.

Well done, Alexandra, I look forward to more from you

This book was an intriguing story of a young reporter that has decided to try hitchhiking for a story. Boy does she get a story, it is just not the one she thought she was going to get. Wonce she gets to the city everything goes seriously wrong or is it right? She meets a drug dealer that saves her form someone that is much worse. That is where the adventure begins. It becomes even more interesting the more time she spends with him and the way his actions are showing that he is so much more.

A little different from the type of books i usually read. I wanted it because it's set a couple of hours away from. It didn't disappoint. I would recommend it to others and will most likely gift a couple. I would recommend.

This is the first I have read from this author and hopefully not the last.

Hitchin is about reporter Cassie Philips. She is impulsive and headstrong and finds herself hitchhiking across Missouri to find that perfect story. What she does realize is that ends up alone and abandoned in East St Louis.

There is intrigue, suspense and of course murder. The characters are very believable as is the storyline. This book had enough twists and turns to keep me interested until the very end. Very well done!