Dangerous Mistakes: A Leah Nash Mystery (Leah Nash Mysteries) Paperback – November 21, 2015

Review: DANGEROUS MISTAKES by Susan Hunter(Leah Nash Mysteries Book 2)DANGEROUS MISTAKES is the second in an intriguing series set in small-town Wisconsin on the declining edge of a failing economy, starring a smart, dedicated, obstinate, sarcastic, protagonist with whom I readily identified. Leah Nash is a journalist in her early 30's, a native of Himmel, Wisconsin, with a university degree, who has worked at print journalism in Grand Rapids and Miami. Probably still would be, except she does not suffer fools gladly (not at all) and refused to let a neurotic boss unjustly accuse her of a potentially criminal act. So Leah finds herself back home in a shrinking community, covering small-town events. The six months she allotted herself for a stay in her home town has extended to more than a year, and metaphorically, a ton of water has passed under the bridge. Seems like nearly the entire town has been upended; folks have died, others moved away, secrets and horrifying crimes were revealed. Some things, though, never change: the Sheriff's Deputy and the chauvinistic police officer with whom Leah constantly butts heads, and her lifelong friendship with police Lieutenant Coop, suddenly increasingly unavailable. Fellow reporter Miguel is still trying to fix Leah up...and suddenly there's an unexpected and intrusive blast from the past.Leah is writing a True Crime account of her youngest sister Lacey' s life and untimely death, and is suddenly presented with a new investigation, one which once again will place her at odds with the local municipal police department and Sheriff's Department as she determines to find the truth about a supposed suicide. Before she can succeed, Leah will repeatedly go "where angels fear to tread," finding herself in multiple dangerous situations and facing sociopaths with criminal connections and a remarkably clever killer who just can't resist taunting Leah as she uncovers more and more of the truth despite the killer's continued misdirections.I found this mystery totally compelling, as I did the first in the series, DANGEROUS HABITS, and the third, DANGEROUS PLACES. If you're looking for convoluted, emotionally involving, and psychologically compelling, Susan Hunter' s Leah Nash Mysteries is a superb choice.

I was greatly tempted to give it less, but the author writes reasonably well and the editing was acceptable. However, it took me much longer to finish this book because I kept falling asleep because the book just couldn't hold my interest.. Just did not grab me in any way. I did not care for Leah in the least. Not the kind of person I would like for a friend. She was often rude and disrespectful. She leaped to wrong conclusions and for the most part titled at windmills. Most of the characters were not well developed. The only one that seemed to have any substance was the priest. And her Hispanic friend, Miguel? Maybe Hispanics behave differently where the author is from, but I have spent my whole life in the southwest with a lot of Hispanic friends, co-workers, etc. Not a single one of them goes around inserting a Spanish word into every sentence with the English translation immediately following. Not one, Zip. Nada. It didn't take long before this became very annoying. But the most annoying part of the book? It is one of those "continued next book offerings". Which I dislike intensely. I feel it's a cheap trick and would not have read the book had I known. But, rest assured, I will not read another book by this author. Arrrrgh!

Just when you thought you had it figured out she throws you for a loop. Really would like to see Leah realize that she loves Coop.

Just as the first book from the same author, Dangerous Habits, I read this one in one night, staying awake till morning just to see who is the killer. I still suffer from that decision, but it was worth it.The main story is interesting as much as the back-side stories and I really enjoy reading Leah Nash Mysteries Book from Susan Hunter. She, the author, has a peculiar way to write a bunch of interesting side-stories which do and do not collide with the main story, and at the end, you are really not sure which one of those stories will lead you to the real killer.Great characters, well-written dialogues, good stories, mysteries, some old and some new, some connected to the crime and some not, everything very nicely packed in another first-class thriller.Strongly recommend.

4.5 Stars rounded up to 5.0 StarsI bought this book when it was a Bookbub freebie, and loved it so much I went out and bought books one and three long before I finished reading it (this is book two in the series, although each book can be read as a standalone).Having now completed reading all five books in the series, all I can say is...wow. Each one is a powerful, well-written story, and I have to figuratively tip my hat to the author, Susan Hunter.I don't want to get into the specifics of DANGEROUS MISTAKES' storyline, and I definitely don't want to disclose any spoilers. Suffice it to say that the ending will knock your socks off even if you see it coming (which I did and didn't). The twists and turns of the plot and the heroine's thought processes are compelling, which kept me reading long past my bedtime. Leah Nash is a snarky, far-from-perfect heroine, but I couldn't help thinking I could be friends with her.DANGEROUS MISTAKES is a classic whodunit, and even though I now know the ending, I can easily see myself re-reading it the way I re-read Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, and Dorothy L. Sayers. It's that good.

Leah Nash is an investigative reporter who, still recovering from a broken marriage, is now back home living with her mother and working on the local newspaper, The Himmel Times. Whilst the setting is small town America with all that entails, Himmel is no sleepy backwater. The newspaper may be small but it's high tech and like most of the print media, struggling to survive. Cue Rebecca, the mean, heartless new editor tasked with downsizing and possible overseeing the paper's inevitable demise. When Leah is approached to investigate the death of prominent physician, her past experiences heavily influence the decisions and choices she makes as the death begins to look increasingly like murder. Very early on, I was in no doubt at all who was going to emerge as the true villain of the piece. In fact, Leah's inability to recognise the truth in this respect was possibly the only real irritant in what was otherwise a cracking good story. I loved the vividly drawn characters. They absolutely leapt off the page for me in their realism. I was particularly taken with Courtnee who made me laugh so much with her total inability to relate to anyone around her. She came out with the most wonderful statements I really looked forward to her encounters with Leah. Whilst it was pretty clear how the story was going to, none of that really mattered as I thought it was so well told and so involving. A thoroughly good read, beautifully put together that leaves you wanting more.

Back in Himmel, Wisconsin with impetuous journalist Leah Nash. A doctor has apparently committed suicide, the police see nothing to suggest otherwise, but the doctor's daughter thinks otherwise and asks Leah to investigate. Her decision has repercussions for her friendships and her job, but soon she has found other suspicious deaths that are seemingly linked. As a whodunit I'm afraid this fails miserably, I worked out the murderer very early, although the motivation was less obvious. The story ends with Leah facing an interesting moral dilemma that will split opinion pretty much down the middle.

The way it was written and the way it played out as really good . Could not put it down had to finish it same day as I started it can't wait to next book.

I didn't realise I'd started with book 2, but I loved it, and could easily enjoy it as a standalone book. Great characters and storyline. Now buying book 1 to read the start :-)

I have read both books, each one in one sitting. They are extremely well written, good plot and great characters. Written in the first person which I prefer. Looking forward to the next book in the series.