Linda's Review of Sting

by Sandra Brown

Number One New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with another suspenseful thriller

When Jordie Bennet and Shaw Kinnard lock eyes across a disreputable backwater bar, something definitely sparks. Shaw gives off a dangerous vibe that makes men wary and inspires women to sit up and take notice. None feel that undercurrent more strongly than savvy businesswoman Jordie, who doesn't belong in a seedy dive on the banks of a bayou. But here she is . . . and Shaw Kinnard is here to kill her.

As Shaw and his partner take aim, Jordie is certain her time has come. But Shaw has other plans and abducts Jordie, hoping to get his hands on the $30 million her brother has stolen and, presumably, hidden. However, Shaw is not the only one looking for the fortune. Her brother's ruthless boss and the FBI are after it as well. Now on the run from the feds and a notorious criminal, Jordie and Shaw must rely on their wits - and each other - to stay alive.

Miles away from civilization and surrounded by swampland, the two play each other against their common enemies. Jordie's only chance of survival is to outwit Shaw, but it soon becomes clear to Shaw that Jordie isn't entirely trustworthy, either. Was she in on her brother's scam, or is she an innocent pawn in a deadly vendetta? And just how valuable is her life to Shaw, her remorseless and manipulative captor? Burning for answers-and for each other-this unlikely pair ultimately make a desperate move that could be their last.

With nonstop plot twists and the tantalizing sexual tension that has made Sandra Brown one of the world's best-loved authors, STING will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the final pages.

Praise for Sandra Brown

'Suspense that has teeth'
Stephen King

'Lust, jealousy, and murder suffuse Brown's crisp thriller'
Publishers Weekly

'An edge-of-the-seat thriller that's full of twists . . . Top stuff!'
Star

This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
What a twisty turny mystery Sting was - there was no way for me to guess the who, the why or the how, and so the pages turned fast!

It really is difficult to talk about Sting and not give anything away, because the mystery is so multi-layered and the characters kept their cards so very close to the chest. Jordie was in the worst predicament, going to meet with someone - hoping it might be her brother, only to witness a murder and then end up kidnapped. Because the narrator shared little bits of the characters' story, kind of like the breadcrumbs Hansel and Gretel left behind. Finding the right crumbs and following them in the right direction proved more complicated than I had anticipated.

The characters in Sting are complex, and that added to the suspense in a big way. Jordie tried to think of ways to escape Shaw, but he always seemed to be one step ahead of her. Feeling both isolated and afraid, she vacillated between wanting to do what she could to survive and not really caring, as long as that bad situation would just be over with.

Written in third person point of view, in past tense, the narration is so well done because some information is kept from the reader in a brilliant way, all the while making sure I stayed interested and invested in the story from start to finish. The dialogues were well executed and always well timed, so I definitely had a great time with Sting, happy I was unable to figure things out.

With unconcealed scorn, Shaw gave the other man a once-over, thinking that in this instance, experience amounted to a stupid and dangerous complacency. "I'm not exactly a rookie at this," he said.

Her wristwatch was a basic tank style with a no-nonsense brown alligator strap, more practical than pretty, but you could probably buy a good used care with what she'd paid for it.

Upon waking, her first thought had been amazement that she was still alive.

Sting

by Sandra Brown

Reviewed by Linda on Nov 24, 2016

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