Posts

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Corine Lombardi-Quiles

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book, it seemed like a good reference to the court process.
It was informative and entertaining.
I give this four stars only because it seemed a bit slow in the middle.
This kept me guessing the entire time though and the character development in our female MC.
Oh the secrets that emerge,
Let’s just say she handled it well.
I personally would have minded my business cause it got real.
Most of the book she gave me Kate Beckett vibes.
The twists and turns can’t be explained without spoilers but you definitely need to read this.
I didn’t read the first book but I wasn’t lost.
I love the defense attorney, I would definitely read I book from his point of view.
This author keeps you on edge and I love the legal plot.
It wasn’t over dramatic it was just enough.
I would read this again and recommend it for book club.

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Lindsay Peck

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The mystery level is great in this book! I really enjoyed reading this one. I kept thinking I knew who it was but I was wrong. You learn a few legal things in this book and definitely makes you think about what’s going on. I recommend this read and can’t wait for the next!!

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Jaimie Salmon-Colburn

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lauren is a struggling Stenographer who becomes desperate for free lance work. She ends up taking a job with her ex husband and she dreads the very idea working for him. A job is a job though, so she pushes through. She is reporting on the biggest murder trail in the town, but it’s not her job to prove a man’s innocence. Against her own judgment she starts looking into the case a bit more. She ends up discovering things about her past that she wishes she hadn’t. Will she be able to prove who the real killer is? Will the real killer find her before she has a chance to save the man on trial? Her search has put many people in the line of fire and with a second death, she knows she’s running out of time. Will she put a stop to killer or will the killer put a stop to her! If you like mystery crime thrillers you have got to read this set! I haven’t read to many myself, but I will now! I hope for a book three!!

View all my reviews

Reviewed by: @jaimie0459

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Amanda DelFemine

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lauren is working freelance at the moment taking depositions and then takes a job helping out her ex husband in court. How bad can that be right? The trial is for a hot murder case and she has to report on it. As Lauren is going through the trial she thinks that they may be trying the wrong person. The story unravels as she finds out about her mother and why her father kept her leaving such a secret.

I cant wait to read more from these author she kept me entertained and guessing.

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Samantha Bassett

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shadows of Doubt: A Crawford Mystery by Merissa Racine is a very interesting story. I really like Lauren and her fun way of getting into the trouble she finds as a court reporter.

I was slowly pulled more and more into this story, wanting to see how things would turn out. I thought Lauren was such a good man character. For me, she brought the story to life and added so much to it. She was engaging throughout and just a likable character.
The book is full of twists and turns, which really keeps you involved in the book. This is a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Vanessa Watts

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you made it to this book hopefully you read the first one titled, “Silent Gavel” first. The book can be a standalone but it ways make more sense if you read the first one before this. You can get a better feel for the characters and understand why things are happening as they are.
In this second installment we once again follow Lauren Besoner as she tries to rebuild her life after past events left her with too much trauma and needing to seek professional help. This time she is doing freelance work after leaving her last post of official court reporter due to the fact that she could not see working under her ex-husband Tony. She gets called in to report for a deposition of contested mental capacity of the chief of police’s mother regarding the ranch and all her assets. Shortly after she receives a call because the report is no longer needed to to the death of Ms. Archer. The police arrest a suspect quickly but after talking to her friend Dominick Lauren believes that once again the police have the wrong person. Lauren gets called in to be court reporter for her ex-husband in the case as the official reporter is on maternity leave. From the start things are not adding up for Lauren and she decides to do some sleuthing because she believes justice is owed and won’t rest if someone innocent is locked up. Throughout this book things about Lauren’s past are brought to light and she must learn that they do not define her, and she shouldn’t be judged for the actions of others. In this case is Lauren right about the accused? Can she make it through this trial without getting put on another killers hitlist? Put your sleuthing hat back on for this installment to see if you to can figure out who the killer is in time!

View all my reviews

Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Merissa Racine – Review by Vanessa Watts

/0 Comments/in /by

Silent Gavel (Crawford Mystery #1)Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is something to be said about an author who can make a necessary yet often overlooked court stenographer job and turn it interesting. This was a homerun by the author as an intriguing whodunnit with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster.
We start out meeting Lauren Besoner an extremely likeable and relatable character who finds herself in a bit of a jam after finding Judge Murphy’s body. Once again thrust into drama that she has tried to avoid since divorcing her ex-Tony. She now finds herself the primary suspect in the middle of the murder investigation by detective Sam Overstreet and his boss chief of police Ray Newell. She knows she didn’t commit the murder but now she must launch her own investigation since the police do not seem to be looking at anyone else. Is she being set up and if so by whom? What will happen if the killer believes she is getting to close to the truth? Can Lauren make it out unscathed or become victim number 2? This book will leave you on the edge of your seat with many predictions on who the killer might be. Can you figure it out before the police do? Read this book to see just how good your detective skills are!

View all my reviews

Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Merissa Racine – Review by Nina Maes

/0 Comments/in /by

Great mystery and suspenseful story. Keep my on the edge of my seat, did not want to put the book down. Written well, enjoyed being pulled into the story with the authors use of great detail. Legal thriller with lots of twist and turns, with a dash of romance.
Silent Gavel (Crawford Mystery #1)Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great mystery and suspenseful story. Keep my on the edge of my seat, did not want to put the book down. Written well, enjoyed being pulled into the story with the authors use of great detail. Legal thriller with lots of twist and turns, with a dash of romance.

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Jennifer Gordon

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An intriguing and engaging murder mystery thriller, and once again the author had me gripped from page one. I enjoyed being back with Stenographer Lauren Besoner, and in this story she goes from reporting the words in a murder trial to trying to prove that the man on trial is actually innocent. Lauren is reporting on the biggest murder trial that Crawford has ever seen and the judge also happens to be her cheating ex husband, Tony. Lauren’s instincts are that the wrong person is on trial for the murder, and she soon has to decide whether to put her job and her life at risk to ensure that justice is served, or carry on and say nothing.
Lauren decides to discover the real murderer and when a second murder occurs she realises that there is more to the case than even she thought. As she searches for the truth secrets from her own past are exposed, but she’s determined to find the real killer. This legal thriller had me fully immersed, as the courtroom setting and all its drama was brought vividly to life by the authors knowledgeable and descriptive narrative. Lauren is once again a realistic and likeable main character who brings the story together. The exciting storyline and plot twists kept me guessing until the end as to the identity of the killer. This was a real page turner of a read and I really hope there will be a third book in this series.

View all my reviews

Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Merissa Racine – Review by Jennifer Gordon

/0 Comments/in /by

Silent Gavel (Crawford Mystery #1)Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, crime thriller which had me hooked from page one. Court stenographer Lauren Besoner has returned home to Wyoming hoping to put her broken marriage behind her. Lauren’s newfound stable life comes crashing down around her when she arrives to pick up Judge Murphy for work, only to discover her murdered in her own home. After calling the police and answering routine questions Lauren realises that she has become their prime suspect. Her case is not helped by the fact that there seems to be a link between the dead judge and Lauren’s cheating ex husband. Lauren is determined to prove that she is innocent even if it means solving the case herself. In trying to track down the killer, Lauren puts herself at risk of becoming their next victim.
I was gripped by this fast paced novel, the murder, crime storyline was full of suspense and the plot kept me guessing until the end. I loved Lauren as a main character and felt she brought the story together. The characters and setting were brought to life by the authors descriptive narrative, and you could tell that the author has a background in the legal profession by the small details she’s added which made the story have a very real feel to it. I felt immersed in the story and was happily turning the pages late at night to discover the killer’s identity. A great first book in a new series, and I look forward to book two.

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt: A Crawford Mystery by Merissa Racine – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stenographer Lauren Besoner is back and this time she is working freelance, but she is desperate to earn some money, so when an opportunity comes up to report on murder trial in her own home town of Crawford, she jumps at the chance. The only drawback is that she has to work with her ex husband and she isn’t looking forward to that in the slightest, she only hopes that she can put her negative feelings aside so that she can do her job successfully.

As she arrives at the courthouse ready to set up, she has to go to her old office and with it her ex colleague, who seems to be as useless as before, however, eventually, she sorts out the paperwork, powers up and connects her machines. She is surprised to hear who the victim and accused are and how quickly it has been brought to trial and as the testimonies start, she is wondering whether they have accused the right person.

The more she thinks about it, the more things start to not add up and as she starts to investigate further herself, she is more than sure of her convictions, especially when a second murder occurs. As she asks her own questions and puts together her own evidence, she has to ask herself whether it is really worth jeopardising her job to prove somebodies innocence and are the secrets it is dredging up from her past life going to remain hidden to all but her?

Will Lauren be able to convince anyone of her way of thinking, or is she going to find herself another heap of trouble? This is another thrilling mystery full of hidden truths and contentious behaviour which will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Finley K. James

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Much like the first book, this one is just as engaging. The characters are as well-crafted and written as they were in the prequel, and the story keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. There was the same amount of depth and research that went into this book as in the first. I spent no time being bored with this book—it was all non-stop thrills and intrigue. I didn’t want to stop reading! The chemistry between the characters and the turns along the way make for a very entertaining story. The fact it can be read as a standalone is simply a bonus.

@finleykjames

View all my reviews

Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Merissa Racine – Review by Finley K. James

/0 Comments/in /by

Silent Gavel (Crawford Mystery #1)Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book immediately draws you in. There is no other way around it—it’s a real page-turner from the word ‘go’. Lauren is an interesting character; honestly, her reactions to the events in the book are just incredibly realistic. It’s easy to lose yourself in the story. The portrayal of police work was engaging (though I’m not sure how accurate it is—I’ve never dealt with the police before!). It was just a fantastic example of suspense and intrigue to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. I give this book 4 stars and a place on my Re-read shelf.

@finleykjames

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine- Review by Taylor Bell

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! This is the second book in the series and although I haven’t read the first one, I really enjoyed this! It kept me hooked from page 1 and I couldn’t wait to get more into it. I was completely invested in the story and I loved the courtroom feel to it. I definitely hope for a third book at some point! Highly recommend for any mystery/thriller lovers!

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Donna Dawkin

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 2 finds Lauren free-lancing as a court stenographer after the events of Book 1, if you have the chance, read them in order to understand exactly what she went through.

When she finds herself temping with her ex-husband residing as judge over another murder in town, Lauren starts questioning staying on in Crawford… Even though she keeps trying to make healthy choices, continuing to work alongside the ex might not be one of them.

Romantic interest simmers along beside the twisting plot full of suspects and intrigue.. we keep hoping. Though you won’t get any spoilers out of me.

An excellent second book in what I hope will be just the beginning of many adventures for Lauren.

View all my reviews

Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Merissa Racine – Review by Donna Dawkin

/0 Comments/in /by

Silent Gavel (Crawford Mystery #1)Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The best thing about this story, it had me rooting for the main characters!
Told from the point of view of a court stenographer, the author introduces a widening cast of likeable characters and believable suspects. I enjoyed the moral dilemma Lauren faces, privy to all the details of a crime, we have a front row seat to see how she manages that information.. intrigue ensues!!
This a great Book 1 of a promised series!

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine – Review by Jennie Betchel

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a sequel, but can be read without reading the first book. This book is a suspenseful mystery that kept my attention and made me want to keep reading. The author describes characters and settings with enough detail I could picture the scenes in my mind. I especially loved the attention given to food; I felt as though I were dining and experiencing the meals with the characters. As far as the mystery, I was happy the author kept me guessing who the killer was. Pick this one up if you are looking for a great mystery with a shocking ending.

Reviewed by @jrussia82

 

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Paula R Sayers

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lauren is a court reporter for a deposition that catches her attention. Lauren ends up as the court reporter for the trial the deposition was taken for. She cannot get over the feeling that Daniel is innocent of murder and someone else is out there. When Maverick, Lauren’s Border Collie, discovers a dead body in the woods, things begin to heat up. This second installment in the Crawford Mysteries kept me hooked. It is a definite page turner!

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Anantha Rusum

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this book a very enjoyable mystery read. Lauren Besoner is a free lance court reporter. Her financial situation lands her with a job of a substitute stenographer, with her ex-husband , a judge. Handling one of her cases, she finds herself drawn to a certain murder case, where an elderly woman is murdered. Is the accused truly guilty? Lauren senses something is not right and begins her own investigation. Hidden ugly secrets are revealed. Are the secrets ready to be spilled out in open, or some of them are best kept buried?
This is a very nice mysterious read, I loved every bit of it. I like courtroom mysteries and this was
real fun !

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Dani Honeycutt

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first book definitely made me want to read this book. This book was packed with a lot more law and politics than I really prefer to read. Even though I don’t like much law, the author really did a good job about keeping the story line moving along and keeping me interested. I really love how the story and characters pick up almost right where they left off in the first book. Im excited to see how the author continues to evolve the characters. I can’t wait for the next book.

Reviewed by @danihoneycutt

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Liz Vrchota

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Crawford Mystery series and I would recommend that you read book one before devouring this one as that one sets up our characters and gives us a bit of the low down on what to expect as far as the mysteries and the way things will go. I love how this examines mysteries from the court stenographers point of view. It is kind of the unsung part of the court process that has always intrigued me a bit. I really enjoy reading about it and how this plays into things. I am a huge crime thriller person so these books are always a thrill for me to read and have lots of my favorite things in them. I would highly recommend them for the true crime junkie. I look forward to seeing what else is to come in the series.

Review by @lizaileen
View all my reviews

Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Merissa Racine – Review by Paula R Sayers

/0 Comments/in /by

Silent Gavel (Crawford Mystery #1)Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Silent Gavel kept me guessing. Lauren is a court stenographer who finds Judge Murphy’s dead body. Lauren is the number one suspect and needs to prove her innocence. At the same time her cheating ex-husband may replace Judge Murphy which would mean Lauren would be out of a job. This book is the first in the Crawford Mystery Series. I am ready to read the second one!

View all my reviews

Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Merissa Racine – Review by Dani Honeycutt

/0 Comments/in /by

Silent Gavel (Crawford Mystery #1)Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WOW! I usually don’t read books that have too much to do with law, but this book blew me away. It wasn’t at all what I thought it might be. I am really looking forward to reading book 2 in the series. I was hooked in the very first chapter. This book is more of a who-done-it type read and less to do with law. I loved that!

Reviewed by @danihoneycutt

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Jo Frizzell

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was just as amazing as the first one! Lauren’s continued growth and her attitude and sass just kept me, and all the other characters, on our toes. Seeing the development in the relationship between Lauren and Sam from the animosity in Silent Gavel to the flirtationship and friendship they build is so real. I adore the relationship between Lauren and Kate, familial relationships like that are amazing because everyone needs that person they can look up to. This author is phenomenal with the relationships she builds between her characters and I look forward to reading more about Crawford, and Lauren especially.

View all my reviews

Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Merissa Racine – Review by Jo Frizzell

/0 Comments/in /by

Silent Gavel (Crawford Mystery #1)Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was amazing! The author does an amazing job of world-building! The characters are so relatable and watching the growth throughout the story, especially in the midst of the conflict was excellent! Lauren is so strong and intelligent and her wit and sass kept me engrossed in every little bit of the story. Her thoughts on coworkers and other characters in the story were so realistic, because everybody works with those people who don’t pull their weight. Watching her try and figure out what happened was amazing seeing how she worked it through in her head.

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Amanda Swindle

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

No spoilers, but DEFINITELY pick up Silent Gavel (Book 1 in this set) before reading this one, you will thank me. This book continues where the last left off, with Lauren, the court stenographer. Lauren is in a predicament and lack of finances leads her to accept work under her ex-husband, who is a new judge. Now she is faced with past conflicts and things may not be as they appear to be at face value. When Lauren realizes the wrong the wrong person is being accused, she must decide if she will do the job she was hired for, or try to seek out the real killer. Hang in there with the lengthy court testimonies, it will be worth it, and make sense later! I will be awaiting the next one for sure! Well done!

Review by: @zoltrixes

View all my reviews

Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Merissa Racine – Review by Amanda Swindle

/0 Comments/in /by

Silent Gavel (Crawford Mystery #1)Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This one started off a little different than I thought it would, but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. Lauren Besoner is a court stenographer and I enjoyed learning a bit about the proceedings and the life behind the scenes of a courtroom. She is also the lead suspect in a recently murdered judge that she happened to work for. As an innocent that has come across the body of her former employer (and more history to be found out later), she starts her own investigation into the crime. The story progresses in a realistic way, not flying from suspect to suspect as some stories do. I particularly liked that it was easy to immerse myself into. My only drawback, if one is to be found, was the unnecessary “extra” conversations that were not important to the story. (But could be seen as character building, so I understand why the author may have included them) Well done for this author and I will surely be reading more, including the follow up book!

Review By: @zoltrixes

View all my reviews

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Sarah Vanscoy

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Shadows of Doubt” by Merissa Racine is very intriguing mystery novel. Lauren is a court stenographer who freelances. Due to financial stress, she temporarily begins working with her ex-husband, the judge, while his regular stenographer is on maternity leave. As trial begins for a very high profile case, Lauren begins to doubt that the accused is guilty and begins to search for answers. This is the second book in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone novel. I enjoyed the character development and the mystery, and look forward to reading the other books in this series!

View all my reviews

Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Merissa Racine – Review by Jaimie Salmon-Colburn

/0 Comments/in /by

Silent Gavel (Crawford Mystery #1)Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ever have a moment in your life where EVERYTHING is going wrong? Like you are on a ship that is sinking and everything you try to help it just makes it worse? Yeah, that is how the main character in this book (Lauren) feels like. She is sick of the drama that has become her life. She is trying to change her life. She moved back to her hometown, she got a new courtroom job, and she has left her love life (or lack of one) behind. But her life comes to a crashing halt when she goes to pick up her boss and finds her dead! Now she’s the number one suspect in the murder and her ship is sinking even faster! So much for her new life right? Lauren starts to investigate herself to prove herself innocent. So, will Lauren go to prison for the murder? Will she be able to find the Judge’s killer before anyone else gets hurt? Or will she end up another victim of the real killer? Silent Gravel is the first murder mystery book in this series and I can’t wait to read the next one!! If you love fast paces murder mystery action books this one is for you!!

View all my reviews

Reviewed by: @jaimie0459

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine – Review by Carrie Rowland

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery)Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stenographer Lauren Besoner can’t catch a break! In the second book of this series, Lauren gets into another murder investigation when she fears the wrong person may be on trial. This book brings more secrets and more suspense. An added complication: the judge is her ex-husband…How does he fit into this crime?

View all my reviews