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Annie Ogden
Collateral Damage: An Annie Ogden Mystery
A love story.
When Annie Ogden's ex-boyfriend Michael Garcia reappears, she has to confront a lie dating back to her time in Iraq. Will she go back to hot, passionate Michael, who has developed a disturbing interest in meth, or stick with her pudgy PI partner and fiance, Salvatore?
A murder.
The calculus changes when Michael is arrested for murder. When Salvatore refuses to help investigate, Annie is forced to try to find the killer herself. Meanwhile her sister's creepy husband, Todd, is making more of an ass of himself than usual.
An obsession.
Annie's problems with three obsessive men suddenly pale in significance when she realizes the killer has set his sights on her. Having changed his mind about helping her, Salvatore finds himself in a desperate race against time, the only man capable of finding the killer before it's too late.
When Annie Ogden's ex-boyfriend Michael Garcia reappears, she has to confront a lie dating back to her time in Iraq. Will she go back to hot, passionate Michael, who has developed a disturbing interest in meth, or stick with her pudgy PI partner and fiance, Salvatore?
A murder.
The calculus changes when Michael is arrested for murder. When Salvatore refuses to help investigate, Annie is forced to try to find the killer herself. Meanwhile her sister's creepy husband, Todd, is making more of an ass of himself than usual.
An obsession.
Annie's problems with three obsessive men suddenly pale in significance when she realizes the killer has set his sights on her. Having changed his mind about helping her, Salvatore finds himself in a desperate race against time, the only man capable of finding the killer before it's too late.
- GenresMystery
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2013
1 person is currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Frederick Lee Brooke
12 books425 followersFrederick Lee Brooke launched the Annie Ogden Mystery Series in 2011 with Doing Max Vinyl and following with Zombie Candy in 2012, a book that is neither about zombies nor sweets. The third mystery in the series, Collateral Damage, appeared in 2013. The first book in Fred’s entirely new series, the Drone Wars, is called Saving Raine and appeared in December 2013.
A resident of Switzerland for the last 20 years, Fred has worked as a teacher, language school manager and school owner. He has three boys and two cats and recently had to learn how to operate both washing machine and dryer.
When not writing or doing the washing, Fred can be found walking along the banks of the Rhine River, sitting in a local cafe, or visiting all the local pubs in search of his lost umbrella.
A resident of Switzerland for the last 20 years, Fred has worked as a teacher, language school manager and school owner. He has three boys and two cats and recently had to learn how to operate both washing machine and dryer.
When not writing or doing the washing, Fred can be found walking along the banks of the Rhine River, sitting in a local cafe, or visiting all the local pubs in search of his lost umbrella.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 28, 2013
Great to pick up a book that I couldn't put down again.
I do enjoy Mr Brooke's books (try saying THAT quickly after a few of your favourite tipple!), and this third story in the Annie Ogden series really displays his ability to understand different psyches. It doesn't matter what you write, how good your descriptions of the countryside are etc, if the people don't seem somehow authentic, then you're going to struggle to keep your audience.
What I love about Mr Brooke's books is that while his characters are a shade different from the mainstream, they ARE authentic, they ARE modern, and reading about them helps open the mind about the different types of people we might come across in the world. Apart from that, having such interesting characters just makes the whole read more enjoyable!
Harking back briefly to Zombie Candy, the character of Roberta was so realistically and painfully drawn, that I had great feeling for her. Fast forward to Collateral Damage and he's done it again - brought out in Annie and Michael that obsessiveness that comes with an unhealthy love. And as for drawing in the character of Todd - well, I would clearly have left HIM on the side of the road if he'd been in MY car!
The story is also modern in that as a minor part of the storyline, it talks about coeliacs and gluten free foods. Having a close friend, different neighbours and meeting countless others over the last few years who suffer from this debilitating medical issue, it was great to see it being used as a story line and a way to easily (and surreptitiously!) educate people.
Mr Brooke's research, or else his general knowledge, is astounding. I learnt bits about sink holes, weapons, Iraq, getting info off mobile phones and laptops - you name it. He either has a great imagination ... or great sources :)
Like most stories which build, you will need stick with the early chapters. And it probably won't appeal greatly to men - it is not a boys' own adventure. But this is quality fiction, the third in a series, yet with a change of location, new characters, more depth into old ones, and subliminal learning along the way.
I do enjoy Mr Brooke's books (try saying THAT quickly after a few of your favourite tipple!), and this third story in the Annie Ogden series really displays his ability to understand different psyches. It doesn't matter what you write, how good your descriptions of the countryside are etc, if the people don't seem somehow authentic, then you're going to struggle to keep your audience.
What I love about Mr Brooke's books is that while his characters are a shade different from the mainstream, they ARE authentic, they ARE modern, and reading about them helps open the mind about the different types of people we might come across in the world. Apart from that, having such interesting characters just makes the whole read more enjoyable!
Harking back briefly to Zombie Candy, the character of Roberta was so realistically and painfully drawn, that I had great feeling for her. Fast forward to Collateral Damage and he's done it again - brought out in Annie and Michael that obsessiveness that comes with an unhealthy love. And as for drawing in the character of Todd - well, I would clearly have left HIM on the side of the road if he'd been in MY car!
The story is also modern in that as a minor part of the storyline, it talks about coeliacs and gluten free foods. Having a close friend, different neighbours and meeting countless others over the last few years who suffer from this debilitating medical issue, it was great to see it being used as a story line and a way to easily (and surreptitiously!) educate people.
Mr Brooke's research, or else his general knowledge, is astounding. I learnt bits about sink holes, weapons, Iraq, getting info off mobile phones and laptops - you name it. He either has a great imagination ... or great sources :)
Like most stories which build, you will need stick with the early chapters. And it probably won't appeal greatly to men - it is not a boys' own adventure. But this is quality fiction, the third in a series, yet with a change of location, new characters, more depth into old ones, and subliminal learning along the way.
July 10, 2013
I had never heard of this author before. Then I received a complementary copy of Collateral Damage. Now my only regret is that Brooke has only written 2 other books. This story completely sucked me in and held my attention. It reads like a roller coaster, the first 100 pages pulling you up and up, just waiting. Then, out of nowhere, you are flying through twists and turns and loops just trying to keep up.
Damage was truly a joy to read, and I look forward to my next Annie Ogden mystery!
Damage was truly a joy to read, and I look forward to my next Annie Ogden mystery!
July 9, 2013
This is the third book I've read in the Annie Ogden series. I'd like to say I'm not really a serial person, but the truth is, if the series is good, I'll keep reading and reading and pestering for more.
This was good. So here goes:
Frederick Lee Brooke, keep writing.
Here's why.
Not only did you bring me a few hours of enjoyment, you gave me a story that made me laugh (sadly at times) at the story that was spun, and the mystery and the love that follows around Annie, Salvatore and Michael.
Reading a series is different than reading a stand alone book. You might say OBVIOUSLY, but I constantly see people griping about character development being slow, or not following the story and the necessity of reading each book in order. The truth is, none of that takes away from a good book.
I thought about re-reading Max Vinyl and Zombie Candy before reading this book, but then decided to see what it would be like to just dive in. Turns out, Collateral Damage stands just as well on its own.
I'm not saying don't read the other two books at all, just that it doesn't matter which one you start with. Each takes place chronologically, but you can enjoy Collateral Damage before Zombie Candy of vice versa. Of the three books though, this one is my favorite so far. I'm now invested in the characters, and I'd like to get to know Salvatore more. I'd also like to see where he and Annie wind up, but I suppose that's anther tale...
Sadly (or ironically and humorously if you're me) it read much like my past. Minus the army, because I sure didn't do that - but the love life escapades, the crazy ex's and crazy other people's ex's that I did.
Minus the Meth. (But plus some other questionable substances.)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="461"]
There's a reason this duck is F*&^%ng terrifying, and it isn't because it's doused in oil. (Sadly) From Wikicommons[/caption]I hold great admiration for anyone who can write a novel, and even greater admiration for someone who can pace a series properly, and keep the reader both satisfied and wanting more. Brooke manages to do all this in three books, and unlike many movies - makes me want to read/see the fourth.
The characters are easy to identify with, complicated, and most importantly human. I do want to get to know them more, in fact, I want an entire other series centered around Salvatore and his past. He has secrets. I must know them.
There's a certain beauty to having chapters titled after the character narrating them. It allows for a little more freedom, and for the reader to hone in on what's happening without having to remember who was where doing what and being jarred from chapter to chapter. I loved being able to follow the story from different perspectives in much the same way a tv series (or soap opera) is filmed in scenes. Sometimes the main characters are together and sometimes they're not, but it's a very good way to know what's happening all over. Somehow, it can also make the reader feel like they know more than character A or B, and results in yelling at the book and/or TV whatever the case may be.
All in all, it was a fun, well written read, and a great way to spend a day outside by a pool. There were also a lot of other little tidbits like the gluten free bake shop that got me thinking, and reminded me of the gluten free baking mix I got from SwiftMix at the Market the other day. I'd share the recipe, but you'll just have to come to the market if you're in Brandon to buy it, and then let the deliciousness waft into your nostrils. My family isn't gluten free exactly, but cautious about how much gluten we eat, and frankly if someone can make a pizza mix that I can bake and involves yeast and isn't literally a flop then I'll buy it. SwiftMix was a total success - and I'll remind you again, yeast hates me, or my oven, or something.
Great pizza, a pool and a great book. You want this one. Or Doing Max Vinyl, or Zombie Candy. Hell, just go get all three.
So allow me to pester once more - Brooke - don't make this a trilogy. You're better than that.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="244"]
Use the Force. That is all.[/caption]
About Collateral Damage
A love story.
When Annie Ogden’s ex-boyfriend Michael Garcia reappears, she has to confront a lie dating back to her time in Iraq. Will she go back to hot, passionate Michael, who has developed a disturbing interest in meth, or will she stick with her pudgy PI partner and fiancé, Salvatore?
A murder.
The calculus changes when Michael is arrested for murder. When Salvatore refuses to help investigate, Annie is forced to try to find the killer herself. Meanwhile her sister’s creepy husband, Todd, is making more of an ass of himself than usual.
An obsession.
Annie's problems with three obsessive men suddenly pale in significance when she realizes the killer has set his sights on her.(Goodreads)
About the Author
Frederick Lee Brooke is the author of the widely-acclaimed Annie Ogden mystery series, which includes Doing Max Vinyl, Zombie Candy, and Collateral Damage. The books do not have to be read in order.
Having lived in Switzerland for the past two decades, Brooke has taught English, run a business and learned French, German and Italian. You can find him online at www.FrederickLeeBrooke.com. Sign up for his newsletter and read all about his travels, recipes, and upcoming works!
June 28, 2013
Collateral Damage has a very nice book cover. It shows Annie Ogden, the main character of this book and a man being stabbed. The diamond ring is of significance too. The title is not only intriguing, it’s also apt for this book. The author actually showed 2 possible book covers with slight differences, on his Facebook page and asked his fans to choose one. I am so glad that the final cover that got chosen was the one I had voted for!
The story revolves around Annie, her fiancé Salvatore and her ex lover Michael. The characters are excellently created such that they are flawed and thus makes them people that you could easily have associated with, in real life. Their emotions are real and tangible. Annie is a very bold, beautiful yet complicated person. She complicates everything. Salvatore is a person who loves Annie so much, is jealous of Micheal but at the same time is downright understanding. Michael is a passionate and weird person. I say weird because he does things that no one would normally do, yet in his eyes it’s perfectly normal. He is so obsessed with Annie. The love between him and Annie is described really well and you totally understand what a passionate and close relationship they had. Without being graphic, the author excels in conveying their burning desires and I think that’s a mighty achievement!
The book is written in first person narrative from the point of view of two people, Annie and Salvatore. I love first person narrative!. There is absolutely no confusion here because each chapter heading contains the name of the person whose point of view is discussed in that chapter. I liked this approach.
The murder is set in such a way that you would think it’s ABSOLUTELY impossible to find the killer. Each step during the investigation, only toughens the case rather than making it easy. I loved the book to bits for that. I love tough cases because finding a killer in such cases keep the whole book intriguing and unputdownable (my crazy computer thinks it’s not a legit word!. There is a red underline for spell check. Jeez!). The author has really built a case that is believable and takes us step by step towards solving the case piece by piece until the whole puzzle is completed and the killer is found.
Thrillers being my favorite genre and having read many a mystery by several top-notch authors, I take pride in the fact that I am able to solve cases and find the killer (most of the time) before the book ends . But that was not the case here. No no, my friend!. I couldn’t put my finger on who that person was and finally when it was revealed, I was shocked, to say the least!. This book also makes you sit up and think about how much information about yourself you put up on the internet and how much access into your life, you are giving to anonymous people around you. It’s creepy.
The other significant characters are also built very well. I usually don’t like it at all, if there are unanswered bits in a book. After reading, I had one single yet important question on my mind. I couldn’t come up with an answer to that. So I wrote to Frederick. He wrote back promptly and answered the question for me. It perfectly made sense. I won’t reveal the question here because it’s like a spoiler. This book is *mind blowing*, I tell you. You have got to read it. Add it to your ever increasing pile of TBR right now. But put it right on top of the pile so that you read it first!!
Frederick has officially made it to my favorite-authors-of-all-time list!. I give this book 5 stars, which by Goodreads standards mean ‘it was amazing’.
The story revolves around Annie, her fiancé Salvatore and her ex lover Michael. The characters are excellently created such that they are flawed and thus makes them people that you could easily have associated with, in real life. Their emotions are real and tangible. Annie is a very bold, beautiful yet complicated person. She complicates everything. Salvatore is a person who loves Annie so much, is jealous of Micheal but at the same time is downright understanding. Michael is a passionate and weird person. I say weird because he does things that no one would normally do, yet in his eyes it’s perfectly normal. He is so obsessed with Annie. The love between him and Annie is described really well and you totally understand what a passionate and close relationship they had. Without being graphic, the author excels in conveying their burning desires and I think that’s a mighty achievement!
The book is written in first person narrative from the point of view of two people, Annie and Salvatore. I love first person narrative!. There is absolutely no confusion here because each chapter heading contains the name of the person whose point of view is discussed in that chapter. I liked this approach.
The murder is set in such a way that you would think it’s ABSOLUTELY impossible to find the killer. Each step during the investigation, only toughens the case rather than making it easy. I loved the book to bits for that. I love tough cases because finding a killer in such cases keep the whole book intriguing and unputdownable (my crazy computer thinks it’s not a legit word!. There is a red underline for spell check. Jeez!). The author has really built a case that is believable and takes us step by step towards solving the case piece by piece until the whole puzzle is completed and the killer is found.
Thrillers being my favorite genre and having read many a mystery by several top-notch authors, I take pride in the fact that I am able to solve cases and find the killer (most of the time) before the book ends . But that was not the case here. No no, my friend!. I couldn’t put my finger on who that person was and finally when it was revealed, I was shocked, to say the least!. This book also makes you sit up and think about how much information about yourself you put up on the internet and how much access into your life, you are giving to anonymous people around you. It’s creepy.
The other significant characters are also built very well. I usually don’t like it at all, if there are unanswered bits in a book. After reading, I had one single yet important question on my mind. I couldn’t come up with an answer to that. So I wrote to Frederick. He wrote back promptly and answered the question for me. It perfectly made sense. I won’t reveal the question here because it’s like a spoiler. This book is *mind blowing*, I tell you. You have got to read it. Add it to your ever increasing pile of TBR right now. But put it right on top of the pile so that you read it first!!
Frederick has officially made it to my favorite-authors-of-all-time list!. I give this book 5 stars, which by Goodreads standards mean ‘it was amazing’.
September 13, 2013
I have a love-hate relationship with this book. There were things I really disliked about it and other things I really enjoyed, hence the reason I am awarding Collateral Damage a three and a half star rating.
First off – I dislike the cover. The girl on the cover, looks pissed off and it’s almost like she is giving the readers the finger (am I the only one who did a double take???).
I liked that the chapters in the book were from the point of view of either Annie (the main character) or of Salvatore (Annie’s fiancé). The book was fast paced and the reading was smooth through-out.
What I really disliked about the book – was the believability factor. There were SO many things, that were way too far-fetched. A few examples:
•Annie’s ex-boyfriend breaks into her sister’s apartment, lies in wait for several hours and then emerges from a closet when Annie comes over to visit her. It is also discovered that this same ex-boyfriend, Michael, was the masked person who attacked Annie on the street as she was jogging the previous day (Michael claiming it was all so he could put an invitation into her pocket to go to a reunion party with him). If those aren’t two HUGE red flags that this guy isn’t playing with a full deck and to avoid him like the plague – I’m not sure what is. Then Annie is stalked by Michael to her cabin hideout in the woods… so what does she do? She decides to hop in Michael’s car with him, to drive for hours and hours… crossing State lines to go to his reunion party. All of this, without Annie even going home to grab some clothes, grab a toothbrush or speak to her fiancé about the trip. Seriously – who would do that???
•At the reunion party, Michael’s buddy and roommate is murdered (in his bedroom, with over a hundred people present at this house party). Michael is arrested for murder because his prints were on the murder weapon, which was his very own bayonet. What does Annie do? Plunks down $10,000 as a retainer for a lawyer. This just hours after, she discovers Michael had stolen her engagement ring off her finger, then lets her stress and worry about it and then announces to the entire reunion party that THEY (Annie and Michael) are engaged and slips the ‘missing’ ring back on her finger. (I don’t know about all of you… but that sort of behavior would creep me out).
•After Annie and her friend June, are attacked, drugged unconscious, rolled up in carpet and thrown down a Florida sinkhole, where they are left for dead – the very next day they are catering a charity event.
It was these types of things… the believability factor – that I just couldn’t get over, which was frustrating as a reader because the rest of book was really good. The characters were interesting, the plot was fast paced and interesting.
If this author worked on the believability factor of certain things - I would have rated this MUCH higher.
So, if you don’t care that much about believability (like I do)… and you like fast paced, modern who-done-its, you’ll love this book.
April 3, 2015
My actual rating is 3 1/2 stars . . .
I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It took me a while to finish it because I stopped reading before giving it another chance. I just couldn't get into it at first, but I'm glad I did give it another shot. Overall, Collateral Damage is a good novel with a decent plot and interesting characters. However, as much as I wanted to give this book a higher rating, I just couldn't because of a few nagging details.
First of all, the point of view threw me off at first. Collateral Damage is written in first person POV, but from the perspective of two different characters, Annie and her fiancee Salvatore. To the author's credit, he clears this up by giving each chapter a title (i.e. Annie or Salvatore, depending on whose perspective it is). This my first time reading a novel with that type of style. Don't get me wrong, it does work, and the author does a decent job, but as a reader it just confused me at first. I had to go back and re-read a few pages before noticing the change in chapter titles and realizing what the author was doing.
While I enjoyed the story overall, some parts it just had me rolling my eyes. I thought Annie Ogden made some unbelievably bad choices. I don't want to spoil anything, but lets just say if an ex-lover of yours suddenly resurfaces and then does some really creepy things to you, why the hell would you just hop into his car and drive to Florida with him? This is after this creep did a couple of really cruddy things to you. Red flag, anyone? She makes a series of very poor choices with this guy, which is why, sadly, I just did not like Annie's character. Annie is a private investigator and Army veteran, so I expected her to have a bit more common sense. There's also a part of the story where she experiences a traumatic event and then the next day is helping a friend cater a charity event. Really? Just not very believable. That's really my main complaint of the story.
There were also a few other minor issues in the writing, such as the occasional typo here and there, but I'm not a grammar cop, so I just read what the author meant. No biggie. However, and this is coming from someone who is a Corvette enthusiast, you would think that Chevrolet sponsored this novel by the amount of times "Corvette" or "Vette" was mentioned in the story. All it needed was the Chevy bow tie on the cover. I'm not exaggerating. I love Corvettes, but even I got a bit tired of seeing the brand. Just some friendly advice to the author . . . just say "car" after it's been established that the vehicle the character is driving is a Corvette. Also, unless the car is repainted, we don't need to know it's black after the first couple of times.
If you can overlook some of the distracting issues I pointed out, I would recommend Collateral Damage, because it really was entertaining, flowed well, and easy to read.
I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It took me a while to finish it because I stopped reading before giving it another chance. I just couldn't get into it at first, but I'm glad I did give it another shot. Overall, Collateral Damage is a good novel with a decent plot and interesting characters. However, as much as I wanted to give this book a higher rating, I just couldn't because of a few nagging details.
First of all, the point of view threw me off at first. Collateral Damage is written in first person POV, but from the perspective of two different characters, Annie and her fiancee Salvatore. To the author's credit, he clears this up by giving each chapter a title (i.e. Annie or Salvatore, depending on whose perspective it is). This my first time reading a novel with that type of style. Don't get me wrong, it does work, and the author does a decent job, but as a reader it just confused me at first. I had to go back and re-read a few pages before noticing the change in chapter titles and realizing what the author was doing.
While I enjoyed the story overall, some parts it just had me rolling my eyes. I thought Annie Ogden made some unbelievably bad choices. I don't want to spoil anything, but lets just say if an ex-lover of yours suddenly resurfaces and then does some really creepy things to you, why the hell would you just hop into his car and drive to Florida with him? This is after this creep did a couple of really cruddy things to you. Red flag, anyone? She makes a series of very poor choices with this guy, which is why, sadly, I just did not like Annie's character. Annie is a private investigator and Army veteran, so I expected her to have a bit more common sense. There's also a part of the story where she experiences a traumatic event and then the next day is helping a friend cater a charity event. Really? Just not very believable. That's really my main complaint of the story.
There were also a few other minor issues in the writing, such as the occasional typo here and there, but I'm not a grammar cop, so I just read what the author meant. No biggie. However, and this is coming from someone who is a Corvette enthusiast, you would think that Chevrolet sponsored this novel by the amount of times "Corvette" or "Vette" was mentioned in the story. All it needed was the Chevy bow tie on the cover. I'm not exaggerating. I love Corvettes, but even I got a bit tired of seeing the brand. Just some friendly advice to the author . . . just say "car" after it's been established that the vehicle the character is driving is a Corvette. Also, unless the car is repainted, we don't need to know it's black after the first couple of times.
If you can overlook some of the distracting issues I pointed out, I would recommend Collateral Damage, because it really was entertaining, flowed well, and easy to read.
October 22, 2013
Review to come!
This was my first Annie Ogden mystery and holy moly what a book it was! Annie Ogden pissed me off SO BAD! I wanted to reach into the book and shake her madly to knock some sense into her!
What she had been hung up on for the past 532 days, as she points out repeatedly, wasn't love. (The affair in Iraq while deployed there in the armed services.) Why else would she have to consider the proposal? One who is so "madly in love" wouldn't have to think about it for a moment! She wouldn't be thinking about what kind of home they would able to afford, what kind of job he would hold, where they would live, how they would pay their bills, etc. All of those practical matters wouldn't have crossed her mind! Obviously, even back then, she's had doubts about Michael and her relationship. Had she been madly in love as she claims, she would've jumped at Michael's "marry me, right now, right here, at the camp" where they were stationed, especially within the confines of life-and-death risks present day in and day out in Iraq.
What Annie and Michael had was mostly lust and excitement. Their relationship, being together, adventuring on the crazy, impulsive, and fun things made both of them feel alive, and filled the gap of loneliness while they were far away in a foreign country. The intimacy and deep sharing of thoughts during such times made them think it was love, but not really. When Annie finally realizes this, there's been a few regrettable mistakes.
Annie eventually realizes that what she has with Salvatore is genuine love, and of the kind that a mature person falls into. She also learns that she is happy with Salvatore, for he is genuine, honest, fun, reliable, protective, and considerate, as well as much, much more.
By the time she is certain and is ready to move on and finally be rid of Michael from her system, events occur which keep her rooted in Florida. Author Frederick Lee Brooke keeps you guessing with this good old-fashioned "who done it?" mystery, and one can't help but to keep guessing on the perpetrator.
At it's beginning, I did not like this book and couldn't get into it. However, in a matter of a few more pages turned, I was hooked! The plot is genuine, current, and believable with a mystery that is acceptable and deeply involving. There aren't any hitches upon which you stumble because the prose is that well-written. The characters are realistic - so much so that, like I said at the start, I wanted to shout at Annie for being an idiot.
I'd recommend to this to anyone who likes to read, I don't care what genre is your normal! I feel like I've been missing out, not having met Annie, frustrating as I found her in the beginning, earlier and want to pick up the other two earlier books Doing Max Vinyl and Zombie Candy. Easily a 5 star read!
This was my first Annie Ogden mystery and holy moly what a book it was! Annie Ogden pissed me off SO BAD! I wanted to reach into the book and shake her madly to knock some sense into her!
What she had been hung up on for the past 532 days, as she points out repeatedly, wasn't love. (The affair in Iraq while deployed there in the armed services.) Why else would she have to consider the proposal? One who is so "madly in love" wouldn't have to think about it for a moment! She wouldn't be thinking about what kind of home they would able to afford, what kind of job he would hold, where they would live, how they would pay their bills, etc. All of those practical matters wouldn't have crossed her mind! Obviously, even back then, she's had doubts about Michael and her relationship. Had she been madly in love as she claims, she would've jumped at Michael's "marry me, right now, right here, at the camp" where they were stationed, especially within the confines of life-and-death risks present day in and day out in Iraq.
What Annie and Michael had was mostly lust and excitement. Their relationship, being together, adventuring on the crazy, impulsive, and fun things made both of them feel alive, and filled the gap of loneliness while they were far away in a foreign country. The intimacy and deep sharing of thoughts during such times made them think it was love, but not really. When Annie finally realizes this, there's been a few regrettable mistakes.
Annie eventually realizes that what she has with Salvatore is genuine love, and of the kind that a mature person falls into. She also learns that she is happy with Salvatore, for he is genuine, honest, fun, reliable, protective, and considerate, as well as much, much more.
By the time she is certain and is ready to move on and finally be rid of Michael from her system, events occur which keep her rooted in Florida. Author Frederick Lee Brooke keeps you guessing with this good old-fashioned "who done it?" mystery, and one can't help but to keep guessing on the perpetrator.
At it's beginning, I did not like this book and couldn't get into it. However, in a matter of a few more pages turned, I was hooked! The plot is genuine, current, and believable with a mystery that is acceptable and deeply involving. There aren't any hitches upon which you stumble because the prose is that well-written. The characters are realistic - so much so that, like I said at the start, I wanted to shout at Annie for being an idiot.
I'd recommend to this to anyone who likes to read, I don't care what genre is your normal! I feel like I've been missing out, not having met Annie, frustrating as I found her in the beginning, earlier and want to pick up the other two earlier books Doing Max Vinyl and Zombie Candy. Easily a 5 star read!
September 17, 2013
Annie Ogden's life has had its ups and downs. She's put up with a lot of things, and is finally settling into a semblance of normalcy. She now has a stable life, and a fiance she adores. Salvatore means everything to her, and she'll do everything she can to make him happy. In her mind, her life is going exactly how she wants it to, until the moment an unexpected attack one day throws everything she knows into limbo.
To Annie's surprise, her ex-boyfriend, Michael Garcia, is back from the 'dead'. Though she'd love to tell everyone the truth surrounding Michael's supposed death, she knows that's a story she'll never be able to divulge. There's a reason she lied about the fact that he was still alive. Unfortunately, it's a secret she'll have to take to the grave.
As details about Michael's sudden reappearance emerge, Annie soon realizes just how much her life has changed. Deep inside, she never stopped loving Michael. Though she may be tempted to reexamine her relationship, if you could call it that, with him, she knows there's no chance, whatsoever, of their ever becoming more than what they are now. She's in love with Salvatore. There's nothing she wouldn't do for him. So why is it difficult to let go of what she feels for Michael?
When Michael is implicated in a murder, Annie comes to the realization that there's more he's not telling her. Getting to the bottom of the situation, unfortunately, is easier said done. Opposition comes at her from every corner, something she should have been used to from the get-go. Her life soon takes a different turn when the killer turns his attention to her. If she's to succeed in helping clear Michael of the charges, she'll need to play the killer's sordid game. The question is, can she do that without losing a piece of herself in the process?
I've got to admit that I started this series out of turn, but that's ok. The way Frederick wrote this story makes it stand alone as its own novel. From the moment you open the book, you're caught up in Annie's tumultuous life. She's gone through so much, and has started to rebuild what's left of it that you can't help but to stand in a corner and root for her. Frederick has created such an intriguing world that anyone can relate to. The suspense certainly doesn't disappoint. I've a little catching up to do with books one and two, but I honestly can't wait. I look forward to more of Annie in the future.
To Annie's surprise, her ex-boyfriend, Michael Garcia, is back from the 'dead'. Though she'd love to tell everyone the truth surrounding Michael's supposed death, she knows that's a story she'll never be able to divulge. There's a reason she lied about the fact that he was still alive. Unfortunately, it's a secret she'll have to take to the grave.
As details about Michael's sudden reappearance emerge, Annie soon realizes just how much her life has changed. Deep inside, she never stopped loving Michael. Though she may be tempted to reexamine her relationship, if you could call it that, with him, she knows there's no chance, whatsoever, of their ever becoming more than what they are now. She's in love with Salvatore. There's nothing she wouldn't do for him. So why is it difficult to let go of what she feels for Michael?
When Michael is implicated in a murder, Annie comes to the realization that there's more he's not telling her. Getting to the bottom of the situation, unfortunately, is easier said done. Opposition comes at her from every corner, something she should have been used to from the get-go. Her life soon takes a different turn when the killer turns his attention to her. If she's to succeed in helping clear Michael of the charges, she'll need to play the killer's sordid game. The question is, can she do that without losing a piece of herself in the process?
I've got to admit that I started this series out of turn, but that's ok. The way Frederick wrote this story makes it stand alone as its own novel. From the moment you open the book, you're caught up in Annie's tumultuous life. She's gone through so much, and has started to rebuild what's left of it that you can't help but to stand in a corner and root for her. Frederick has created such an intriguing world that anyone can relate to. The suspense certainly doesn't disappoint. I've a little catching up to do with books one and two, but I honestly can't wait. I look forward to more of Annie in the future.
September 27, 2013
I am admitting upfront that I have NOT read the first two books in this series. The nice part about this series is that readers really do not need to read the other books. Yes, it helps some to know more information about the characters, BUT it is not required.
When Annie’s ex-boyfriend and fellow Army friend comes back into her life everything is turned upside down-inside out and just a mess. A mess of trouble that is. Michael is a friendly out going person who loves to play jokes/pranks on people. To do the outrageous, Michael even sit in a closet just to see/talk to Annie again. He is a little stalkish in behavior.
Annie is getting her life back together after the army and being dumped by Michael. She now helps to run a successful PI business with her fiancé. This fiancé is a little unusual, he does not seem the possessive or jealous type. He seems very laid back and casual in his relationship with Annie.
When Michael is accused of killing his roommate Annie steps up to help clear his name. What she did not know is how far she reaches into her own family to get the true killer.
To this reader this is one of those books that is easy to read, keeps you attention but does not drag on. It has just enough characters to keep everything interesting while providing the perfect balance in story/plot. I enjoyed that Brooks did not worry about adding needless sex scenes to this mystery (boarding on drama) story.
I say it is boarding on drama because it seems that all the characters are very familiar with each other. They all have a connection from the past. Brookes provides just enough information to enlighten readers to characters past but does not overwhelm readers with the useless information/details that are not needed. At slightly over 336 pages this is a page turning book to keep you up late at night until finished.
The bunnies and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this third book in the series and have moved the first two up on our TBR pile.
The bunnies and I give this book
carrots.
Please be aware that the review is my personal opinion. This is not a paid review. To form your own opinion please support the author and acquire your own legal copy of the book. I was given this book for an honest review.
When Annie’s ex-boyfriend and fellow Army friend comes back into her life everything is turned upside down-inside out and just a mess. A mess of trouble that is. Michael is a friendly out going person who loves to play jokes/pranks on people. To do the outrageous, Michael even sit in a closet just to see/talk to Annie again. He is a little stalkish in behavior.
Annie is getting her life back together after the army and being dumped by Michael. She now helps to run a successful PI business with her fiancé. This fiancé is a little unusual, he does not seem the possessive or jealous type. He seems very laid back and casual in his relationship with Annie.
When Michael is accused of killing his roommate Annie steps up to help clear his name. What she did not know is how far she reaches into her own family to get the true killer.
To this reader this is one of those books that is easy to read, keeps you attention but does not drag on. It has just enough characters to keep everything interesting while providing the perfect balance in story/plot. I enjoyed that Brooks did not worry about adding needless sex scenes to this mystery (boarding on drama) story.
I say it is boarding on drama because it seems that all the characters are very familiar with each other. They all have a connection from the past. Brookes provides just enough information to enlighten readers to characters past but does not overwhelm readers with the useless information/details that are not needed. At slightly over 336 pages this is a page turning book to keep you up late at night until finished.
The bunnies and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this third book in the series and have moved the first two up on our TBR pile.
The bunnies and I give this book
carrots.Please be aware that the review is my personal opinion. This is not a paid review. To form your own opinion please support the author and acquire your own legal copy of the book. I was given this book for an honest review.
August 17, 2013
I have changed my original score from 3 stars to 4. I can't stop thinking about the story. Annie still aggravates me but I keep thinking that she annoyed me because the story was so well written. Plus, the story was complex but actually made sense. I will definitely read the next book I the series.
Annie Odgen is a war vet and a private investigator. At the beginning of the story she is attacked while out jogging. Right after the attack her boyfriend asks her to marry him. And then her day just gets weird!
I really wanted to love this story. I like Annie's backstory. I like her boyfriend Salvatore. I even liked Annie's bossy, obnoxious sister. I thought the writing was really good. So why the three star review? I can't quite pinpoint why the book didn't connect with me. I found myself finding things to do other than read. I really feel that it was because I never fully connected with Annie. Her thought processes actually made me angry. She wasn't too stupid to live just selfish and self centered to root for. Through the course of the story Annie disregards Salvatore's feelings and needs because she "knows" he will always be there for her. She makes assumptions about Salvatore's actions without actually talking to him. Of course, she does the same thing with her ex-boyfriend Michael. So, I give the author credit that he made the character react consistently. I hated the end. Plain and simple, it was abrupt and offered no closure at all. I don't mind a cliff hanger but this was all cliff hanger and no completion.
I plan to read the next book in the series because I need that closure. Also, I want to give the author another chance because the writing was quite good.
Quote:
"I never doubted myself for an instant. I knew if Salvatore found out he would be hurt. But he had to understand. We weren't married yet, and Michael was just plain special in my life. page 91
"'I love that you're changing. Keep right on changing. You are so much more than hot, Annie. I want to change right alongside you, every step of the way.' It was hard arguing with a poet." page 153
copy received from author
Annie Odgen is a war vet and a private investigator. At the beginning of the story she is attacked while out jogging. Right after the attack her boyfriend asks her to marry him. And then her day just gets weird!
I really wanted to love this story. I like Annie's backstory. I like her boyfriend Salvatore. I even liked Annie's bossy, obnoxious sister. I thought the writing was really good. So why the three star review? I can't quite pinpoint why the book didn't connect with me. I found myself finding things to do other than read. I really feel that it was because I never fully connected with Annie. Her thought processes actually made me angry. She wasn't too stupid to live just selfish and self centered to root for. Through the course of the story Annie disregards Salvatore's feelings and needs because she "knows" he will always be there for her. She makes assumptions about Salvatore's actions without actually talking to him. Of course, she does the same thing with her ex-boyfriend Michael. So, I give the author credit that he made the character react consistently. I hated the end. Plain and simple, it was abrupt and offered no closure at all. I don't mind a cliff hanger but this was all cliff hanger and no completion.
I plan to read the next book in the series because I need that closure. Also, I want to give the author another chance because the writing was quite good.
Quote:
"I never doubted myself for an instant. I knew if Salvatore found out he would be hurt. But he had to understand. We weren't married yet, and Michael was just plain special in my life. page 91
"'I love that you're changing. Keep right on changing. You are so much more than hot, Annie. I want to change right alongside you, every step of the way.' It was hard arguing with a poet." page 153
copy received from author
June 25, 2013
Collateral Damage gave me exactly what I was craving from Frederick Brooke’s mystery series: more Annie. I wanted to know about her past with Michael and what happened when she was on that fateful second tour in Iraq. Throughout the series, I think that was the greatest mystery of all. The twists and turns of this latest book take the reader deep inside Annie’s head and heart.
It’s very hard to review this book without any spoilers. There are moments when we learn things about Annie that are shocking, but they also make her seem so truly human that you think she might walk right off the page. In this book, Brooke continues to paint his characters brilliantly. The kind you can relate to. Totally but beautifully imperfect. She has met the challenges of being a female soldier at war. Now she must be courageous enough to take on her personal demons.
One of them being Michael. Throughout the series, Michael has been an enigma. We know Annie’s hurting and we know he is the cause. Finally, their story is told. I wanted to like Michael so badly. I confess I spent a few chapters angry with him. But when he is accused of murder, Annie takes on the case, even after all he has done. In that sense, Annie is the bravest she has ever been. She puts her personal feelings and her own safety aside to seek justice and fight for what she knows is right.
Collateral Damage is raw. It cuts to the bone. It’s an amazing thrill ride. I couldn't put it down until I was finished at 4 AM. The title says it all. It’s about the consequences of our decisions and who gets hurt in the wake. Collateral Damage gave me the closure I was looking for in Annie’s story. Brooke has created a true hero in Annie Ogden.
It’s very hard to review this book without any spoilers. There are moments when we learn things about Annie that are shocking, but they also make her seem so truly human that you think she might walk right off the page. In this book, Brooke continues to paint his characters brilliantly. The kind you can relate to. Totally but beautifully imperfect. She has met the challenges of being a female soldier at war. Now she must be courageous enough to take on her personal demons.
One of them being Michael. Throughout the series, Michael has been an enigma. We know Annie’s hurting and we know he is the cause. Finally, their story is told. I wanted to like Michael so badly. I confess I spent a few chapters angry with him. But when he is accused of murder, Annie takes on the case, even after all he has done. In that sense, Annie is the bravest she has ever been. She puts her personal feelings and her own safety aside to seek justice and fight for what she knows is right.
Collateral Damage is raw. It cuts to the bone. It’s an amazing thrill ride. I couldn't put it down until I was finished at 4 AM. The title says it all. It’s about the consequences of our decisions and who gets hurt in the wake. Collateral Damage gave me the closure I was looking for in Annie’s story. Brooke has created a true hero in Annie Ogden.
September 25, 2013
I was really excited to read this book because I loved, Zombie Candy, so much. Brooke has a way of getting into the female psyche like no other man ever has, and he writes endearing and believable characters. He also puts them through their paces, and throws in some bizarre occurences, adding to the intrigue.
This book certainly had me entertained from the very beginning. Annie is such a strong female MC, so I was a little surprised when she so willingly allowed Micheal to take over her life. I understand the shock of having him return, especially with his sudden devotion to her, but I would have expected her to kick his ass to the curb, not matter what emotions his return evoked. Okay, so she didn't just fall into his arms, she was adamant that she was with Sal, but some of her actions just made me want to reach into the book and slap some sense into her.
I wasn't really sure where this story was going, but the minute murder stepped in, the entire game changed. The plot thickened with each turn of the page and as certain revelations were made, so the suspense grew. I was on the edge of my seat, just waiting for that moment when the bubble would burst and all the crazy theories circling my brain would start to makes sense. But, boy, oh boy, was I blind-sided. The perp was a real sleazeball but never had I imagined the part he'd truly played in this tale of lies and deception. Quite the shocker.
Brooke skillfully crafted a story full of excitement and intrigue, giving just enough away to keep me wanting more, but never to the point where I, for one second, thought a really knew what was about to happen.
This book will delight readers of murder mysteries.
This book certainly had me entertained from the very beginning. Annie is such a strong female MC, so I was a little surprised when she so willingly allowed Micheal to take over her life. I understand the shock of having him return, especially with his sudden devotion to her, but I would have expected her to kick his ass to the curb, not matter what emotions his return evoked. Okay, so she didn't just fall into his arms, she was adamant that she was with Sal, but some of her actions just made me want to reach into the book and slap some sense into her.
I wasn't really sure where this story was going, but the minute murder stepped in, the entire game changed. The plot thickened with each turn of the page and as certain revelations were made, so the suspense grew. I was on the edge of my seat, just waiting for that moment when the bubble would burst and all the crazy theories circling my brain would start to makes sense. But, boy, oh boy, was I blind-sided. The perp was a real sleazeball but never had I imagined the part he'd truly played in this tale of lies and deception. Quite the shocker.
Brooke skillfully crafted a story full of excitement and intrigue, giving just enough away to keep me wanting more, but never to the point where I, for one second, thought a really knew what was about to happen.
This book will delight readers of murder mysteries.
August 15, 2013
I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I have enjoyed this book, which mixes the right doses of mystery, thriller, and romance as to keep you hooked reading while you turn the pages and the hours pass by and then you realise you should have gone to bed long time ago, but you don't care because it was totally worth it.
Annie Ogden is an ex combatant in the Iraq War who works as a sleuth with her boyfriend, Salvatore. Things seem to go in the right direction for the couple, but when Annie's ex-boyfriend comes back, everything is going to get too complicated. How can Annie cope with an ex-boyfriend with stalkerish tendencies and a very jealous fiancé? What if things get even more complicated by a bossy sister and an obsessive brother-in-law? What if we add murder to this? We get a very thrilling book that is worth reading.
We get to see the story told at different points by different characters, so we learn things from different points of views. I don't really like it when books are written using the first-person narrator, but in this case it was very well done and you don't get lost because every chapter tells you who the narrator is. The character development is fine, since all the characters are quite complex and not stereotypical.
I found very few typos and the ones I did find didn't interfere with the reading of the story. However, I predicted the ending when I had read a bit more of half the book, so that's my reason for removing one star (one penguin in my blog).
I have enjoyed this book, which mixes the right doses of mystery, thriller, and romance as to keep you hooked reading while you turn the pages and the hours pass by and then you realise you should have gone to bed long time ago, but you don't care because it was totally worth it.
Annie Ogden is an ex combatant in the Iraq War who works as a sleuth with her boyfriend, Salvatore. Things seem to go in the right direction for the couple, but when Annie's ex-boyfriend comes back, everything is going to get too complicated. How can Annie cope with an ex-boyfriend with stalkerish tendencies and a very jealous fiancé? What if things get even more complicated by a bossy sister and an obsessive brother-in-law? What if we add murder to this? We get a very thrilling book that is worth reading.
We get to see the story told at different points by different characters, so we learn things from different points of views. I don't really like it when books are written using the first-person narrator, but in this case it was very well done and you don't get lost because every chapter tells you who the narrator is. The character development is fine, since all the characters are quite complex and not stereotypical.
I found very few typos and the ones I did find didn't interfere with the reading of the story. However, I predicted the ending when I had read a bit more of half the book, so that's my reason for removing one star (one penguin in my blog).
July 15, 2013
I was lucky enough to be an early reader for ‘Collateral Damage’. I loved Annie, the kick-ass heroine, from ‘Doing Max Vinyl’ and it was great to see her again doing what she does best, taking matters into her own hands to ensure the bad guys get what’s coming to them.
From the first scene, we are thrown into the action and the story keeps up the pace from there, moving seamlessly through a love triangle, an innocent being accused of murder and on to an obsession that puts Annie in mortal danger.
We get to learn more about our favourite heroine and her past with Michael, but I wanted to shake her for putting up with him and his antics. She is too good for him. I particularly enjoyed getting to know Salvatore. He was a very interesting, believable character and his investigations were pacey and exciting. I could easily see him in a spin-off series but am hoping Annie Ogden #4 will see Annie and Salvatore working together.
Annie’s friend June was another enjoyable supporting character with depth. My favourite heart-racing scene was when Annie and June got themselves in ‘too deep’ – prepare yourself for that one. As for the ‘whodunnit’ part – I had no early ideas as to who the baddie might be. It was definitely a tough case to crack and played out well. Overall this book has engaging characters and an intriguing mystery to unravel that will keep you busily turning the pages.
From the first scene, we are thrown into the action and the story keeps up the pace from there, moving seamlessly through a love triangle, an innocent being accused of murder and on to an obsession that puts Annie in mortal danger.
We get to learn more about our favourite heroine and her past with Michael, but I wanted to shake her for putting up with him and his antics. She is too good for him. I particularly enjoyed getting to know Salvatore. He was a very interesting, believable character and his investigations were pacey and exciting. I could easily see him in a spin-off series but am hoping Annie Ogden #4 will see Annie and Salvatore working together.
Annie’s friend June was another enjoyable supporting character with depth. My favourite heart-racing scene was when Annie and June got themselves in ‘too deep’ – prepare yourself for that one. As for the ‘whodunnit’ part – I had no early ideas as to who the baddie might be. It was definitely a tough case to crack and played out well. Overall this book has engaging characters and an intriguing mystery to unravel that will keep you busily turning the pages.
September 6, 2013
When Annie Ogden’s ex-boyfriend Michael Garcia reappears, she has to confront a lie dating back to her time in Iraq. Will she go back to hot, passionate Michael, who has developed a disturbing interest in meth, or stick with her pudgy PI partner and fiancee Salvatore? The calculus changes when Michael is arrested for murder. When Salvatore refuses to help investigate, Annie is forced to try to find the killer herself. Meanwhile her sister’s creepy husband, Todd, is making more of an ass of himself than usual. Annie's problems with three obsessive men suddenly pale in significance when she realizes the killer has set his sights on her. Having changed his mind about helping her, Salvatore finds himself in a desperate race against time, the only man capable of finding the killer before it’s too late.
This is a well written, easy to read book, it is full of suspense, action. It will keep the reader on the edge of their seat, with this book that will grab your attention, and not put the book down. On the downside, this is a secular book, not recommended for Christians to read. It is full of language, and moral issues.
I received this book free from the Novel Publicity.com . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This is a well written, easy to read book, it is full of suspense, action. It will keep the reader on the edge of their seat, with this book that will grab your attention, and not put the book down. On the downside, this is a secular book, not recommended for Christians to read. It is full of language, and moral issues.
I received this book free from the Novel Publicity.com . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
September 1, 2013
Collateral Damage is the first book that I have read in the Annie Ogden series, and I found it to be an enjoyable read. I really liked Brooke's writing style which was easy to read and gave the reader the opportunity to switch characters point of view between Annie and Salvatore. The character development of Annie is well done as the character finds her world turned upside down with the arrival of her ex just as she becomes engaged to Salvatore. There were some moments that I became frustrated with the Annie character as she made a choice that came back to bite her later, but overall she was a good character that captures your interest and makes you want to follow her. Salvatore however proved to be my favorite character in the book so I was thrilled to get the chance to get inside his head and get his feelings on what was going on. He was also well developed and while he too made some mistakes he helped add to the overall story with giving the reader two sides of the case. Brooke develops a good mystery, and I enjoyed how he ended up tying things together into a compelling mystery with a satisfying ending. Overall this was a great read that I would most definitely recommend if you want a good mystery that also includes humor, action, adventure, and some romance.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2013
Collateral Damage is the 3rd book from the series "An Annie Ogden Mystery", and have to say its just amazing. Giving the cover a 5 stars but it doesn't really work for me with the content so i will give an overall a 4 stars out of 5. Unfortunately i have only read the last 2 books never had the chance to read the first one, but i can imagine how good it could be.
The book i just got it today to do a review on it for the blog post so please bear with me i will do my best to not reveal to much but to make you understand what it is about.
The series are about Annie, but Collateral it explain more about her past and what happen in Iraq. She seams to have created a normal and good life since she came back until her ex comes after her (when everyone else though he was dead). Now she is cut between him that does not leave her alone and her actual fiance that everyone likes. Michael (the ex) is trying to get Annie back trying to be Romantic writing her a poem, but the bad side of him keeps on coming to the surface. Also what is wrong about him that he acts he does not know what he is doing wrong, or that is just a joke to him. Salvador is a prince compare with Michael, he treats Annie very nice, trust her, protective and romantic.
Hope that will get you into reading, how it got me i was like hiding all the time from my boss to read few more pages is just wow, love it.
The book i just got it today to do a review on it for the blog post so please bear with me i will do my best to not reveal to much but to make you understand what it is about.
The series are about Annie, but Collateral it explain more about her past and what happen in Iraq. She seams to have created a normal and good life since she came back until her ex comes after her (when everyone else though he was dead). Now she is cut between him that does not leave her alone and her actual fiance that everyone likes. Michael (the ex) is trying to get Annie back trying to be Romantic writing her a poem, but the bad side of him keeps on coming to the surface. Also what is wrong about him that he acts he does not know what he is doing wrong, or that is just a joke to him. Salvador is a prince compare with Michael, he treats Annie very nice, trust her, protective and romantic.
Hope that will get you into reading, how it got me i was like hiding all the time from my boss to read few more pages is just wow, love it.
September 13, 2013
Apparently, I read this book out of order as it is the first I've read by Mr. Brooke and there are two other mystery stories before this one. But it didn't really matter as I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery as a stand alone story and was able to understand fully all of the characters and their backgrounds as the story progressed. I really liked the format with two alternating points of view by Salvatore and Annie. The dialogue and action sequences were excellently done, at times endearing Salvatore and/or Annie to me, and at other times making me dislike Salvatore's reasoning or Annie's emotions and feelings. The secondary characters (Michael, Todd and Annie's sister) were also very cleverly done so as to really get my ire up over their shenanigans. And all through the story and action I could really feel the mystery and had questions buzzing in my brain until all became clear to me just as things became clear to Salvatore and Annie. In short, the story and mystery grabbed my attention from the outset and kept it all the way through to the very end. And it wasn't really a cliffhanger of an ending, but this reader could definitely tell that there would be other stories following this one--and that was pretty smart writing by Mr. Brooke because I'm definitely interested in what comes next.
August 27, 2013
When, I started reading "Collateral Damage" by Frederick Lee Brooke, was skeptical of it. As, I started reading more, it drew me into it. Annie, has got her life back in order(She was in the war, has scars from it), now engage to live in boyfriend Salvatore. Out of the blue, her suppose dead boyfriend Michael(Annie boyfriend during the war) is alive & well. Michael want Annie to come back to Florida with him, to have a reunion party(Collateral Damage) with her old Army buddies. Well, Annie refuse but Michael got her to go with him. During, the party Michael room mate & Annie army buddie get stab. Annie & Michael was at a private dinner, when they heard of it. So, when got back to the party, Michael was arrest for the murder of his room mate. The cops, did not believe he was out to dinner, someone pay off the place they eat, inform the cops that he & Annie was not there. Annie, place call to her boyfriend ask if he come down help clear Michael name. Ok, that all going to say, you will not want to put the book down, until you are on the last page. I give "Collateral Damage" four stars.
November 26, 2013
I really like this book. Annie is a strong character and I like that she thinks and does what she can to help others. She finds herself in really difficult situations but she is more than able to solve them. Like every woman she doesn't really know what to do when Michael, her ex boyfrien, reappers and she doesn't see things clearly as Salvatore, her fiancee.
To complicate matters there is Todd, her sister's ex husband, who I really loathe because I think is an opportunistic bastard.
Everything is preatty much complicated as it is, but of course then the murder happens.
It's a fast paced story and I like that there are 2 point of view, Annie and Salvatore's.
By the way, I like Salvatore the most. He is really good, caring, intelligent and he is fantastic with Annie.
I'm sure I'll be reading other books by Frederick Lee Brooke.
"I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review."
To complicate matters there is Todd, her sister's ex husband, who I really loathe because I think is an opportunistic bastard.
Everything is preatty much complicated as it is, but of course then the murder happens.
It's a fast paced story and I like that there are 2 point of view, Annie and Salvatore's.
By the way, I like Salvatore the most. He is really good, caring, intelligent and he is fantastic with Annie.
I'm sure I'll be reading other books by Frederick Lee Brooke.
"I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review."
August 30, 2013
This is the 3rd book in the Annie Ogden series but the first one that I have read.** I was never lost to any references, therefore I would say that it works as a stand-alone as well. I'll start out with the format. Nothing I love more in a format than short chapters! I need a convenient place to stop reading, if I'm so inclined to do so. This book definitely made me want to get to the next chapter quickly. The character descriptions were well thought out but the actions lacked a bit of believability. While the plot was similar to many stories, it still had you guessing who the murderer was up until the end. I usually like to feel something for the characters I read about. I had no real connection with any of them. That being said, it still didn't stop me from reading and staying engaged in the story.
**I received a copy of Collateral Damage (An Annie Ogden Mystery) in exchange for an honest review.
**I received a copy of Collateral Damage (An Annie Ogden Mystery) in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2013
I received a copy of the e-book in exchange for my review.
I found the characters in this book to be adolescent. It just wasn't believable that Annie would jump in a car and drive to Florida with a man who had attacked her on the street and hid out overnight in her sister's closet. Salvatore, her fiancé, takes time to think about renting cool vehicle (a Hummer!) when he goes to Florida to find out what is happening with her. And please, don't get me started on Annie and June escaping death and then catering a huge event the next day. By the way, Annie's rescue from that near-death experience was a bit over the top. None of the characters was especially likeable and everyone seemed to have a hair-trigger so that they were always going off in a snit. I only finished this because I had promised a review, and I'm rounding my rating up from 1.5 stars.
I found the characters in this book to be adolescent. It just wasn't believable that Annie would jump in a car and drive to Florida with a man who had attacked her on the street and hid out overnight in her sister's closet. Salvatore, her fiancé, takes time to think about renting cool vehicle (a Hummer!) when he goes to Florida to find out what is happening with her. And please, don't get me started on Annie and June escaping death and then catering a huge event the next day. By the way, Annie's rescue from that near-death experience was a bit over the top. None of the characters was especially likeable and everyone seemed to have a hair-trigger so that they were always going off in a snit. I only finished this because I had promised a review, and I'm rounding my rating up from 1.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2013
I loved this! I think what I liked so much about it came down to two things: compelling storytelling and fantastic characters. The story pulled me in right away. It didn't matter that I hadn't read the first two books in the series. I didn't realize I was missing anything. I just wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next. The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing. And the characters were so real and believable and imperfect. They didn't always do the right thing, but it always made sense. Now I have to go back and read the first two books because Annie Ogden is a great character. She is an Iraq vet and there is just so much to her. I definitely want more.
July 22, 2013
This is an intense, can't put down book, that clearly shows the problems of returning Vets to mainland USA life. Even though this is primarily a well written mystery book, with P.I.'s at the forefront, this also shows the reality of PTSD of returning Veterans and the intense disfunctionality they, and we, have to deal with. The descriptions on all fronts are top notch, this writer definitely keeps you on the edge, waiting for the next craziness to hit. 5 Stars enthusiastically given to a very well done work.
September 15, 2013
This is an intense read. It shows clearly the problems Vets face when they return home. Annie Ogden is a war vet and a private investigator. From the first we are brought into the action and the story flows from there, moving seemlessly through a love triangle, an innocent person being accused of murder, onto an obsession that puts Annie in mortal danger. I enjoyed reading doing Max Vinyl. I haven't read Zombie candy but you don't need to read all the books to keep up to the plot. Collateral Damage takes the reader deep into Annie's heart and her head.
September 3, 2013
This is an awesome book! It's thrilling and intriguing, even if you can guess early on who done it. The characters are great, and realistic. The plot is clear and has some nice twists. The writing is generally good, but there are a few things I could complain about. There were definitely times that I was like, "Wow! What great imagery!" (Check out my comments and my blog for more details et cetera.)
September 1, 2015
I read this book last year and it was a page-turner.
Actually it was one of the best I read last year. I highly recommend it, don't miss it. Mystery, suspense and some romance, the storyline puts you right in the scene.
Actually it was one of the best I read last year. I highly recommend it, don't miss it. Mystery, suspense and some romance, the storyline puts you right in the scene.
September 19, 2013
Enjoyed the last half much better than the angst-filled first half. Once the bodies start piling up, the story is much more interesting and quick-paced.
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