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Dani Britton #2
Redemption Key
Her narrow escape from blue-eyed assassin Tom Booker has made former data analyst Dani Britton question all of her choices—like trusting “good guys” who carry badges. On the run and haunted by the government-sanctioned massacre of her coworkers, Dani finally settles in remote Redemption Key, Florida, at a bar where strong drinks and shady deals are the norm.
The bar owner, a local operator with a past of his own, gives Dani a job, no questions asked, and soon Dani’s ability to “read” the sketchy characters doing business at the bar proves invaluable. The libations flow, and the Key’s laid-back vibe and warm waters start doing their therapeutic work. But as the mercury rises, a twisted deal starts to go down—threatening to take Dani with it. Like sharks smelling blood, players on both sides of the law circle for the kill. And when charming apex predator Booker joins the frenzy, he may turn out to be the only one on Dani's side.
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2014
397 people are currently reading
705 people want to read
About the author
S.G. Redling
14 books313 followersS.G. Redling, a graduate of Georgetown University, has spent fifteen years waking up the good folks of Huntington WV and its environs on the WKEE-FM morning radio show. She recently wound up her headphones for the last time and is focusing on thrillers, mysteries and urban fantasy. When S.G. isn't writing, she loves to paint, travel and embarrass herself by speaking wretched Italian.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
June 16, 2014
In The Widow File: A Thriller, S. G. Redling introduced a young data analyst named Dani Britton who worked for an exclusive and secretive security company near Washington, D.C. One afternoon, while Dani was away from the office, virtually all of her co-workers were murdered in an effort to conceal some of the work that the company was doing. The villains behind the attack on Dani's firm then sent a savage hit man named Tom Booker to finish the job by eliminating Dani. Booker failed in the effort, and both he and Dani wound up badly injured in the course of his attack on her.
Nine months later, Dani is now mostly healed, but she still bears both the physical and psychological scars of the attack. Determined to put her past as far behind her as physically possible, Dani takes a job at a fishing camp called Jinky's on Redemption Key in south Florida. She's basically doing grunt work--cleaning rooms, making repairs, wrangling kayaks and tending bar. She's also vigorously working out, attempting to get back into shape and otherwise trying to keep her head as far down as possible.
A place like Redemption Key naturally attracts a lot of odd, strange and curious characters. Many of them, like Dani, are on the run; not all of them live within the strict confines of the law. The owner of the place where Dani works is a guy named Oren Randolph. Randolph is basically a good guy and a good boss, but he does provide a service to various criminal elements. His fishing camp, far off the beaten track, is an excellent place for people to do deals that they'd rather not consummate in the light of day. For a fee, of course, Randolph provides the meeting room and serves as a facilitator, keeping the peace between and among parties who are not always peaceful and who do not always trust each other.
Dani's area of expertise while working for the security company involved her uncanny ability to "read" people. Randolph soon recognizes her talent in this regard and begins assigning her to tend bar and serve food and drinks at the meetings he's facilitating. She can read the mood of the room and of the meeting participants and help Randolph keep things on an even keel.
Inevitably, though, sooner or later one of these complex negotiations is bound to blow up, causing major problems for everyone involved, Dani included. And when it does finally happen, it couldn't come at a worse time, because other dangerous threats from the life Dani fought so hard to leave behind are suddenly converging on her once again.
It would not be fair to say any more about the plot, but Redling has created here a cast of very intriguing, off-beat characters and dropped them into a well-drawn setting and a riveting story. The tension mounts with every page, and the climax is as unexpected as it is heart-pounding. This is another excellent entry in this young series.
Nine months later, Dani is now mostly healed, but she still bears both the physical and psychological scars of the attack. Determined to put her past as far behind her as physically possible, Dani takes a job at a fishing camp called Jinky's on Redemption Key in south Florida. She's basically doing grunt work--cleaning rooms, making repairs, wrangling kayaks and tending bar. She's also vigorously working out, attempting to get back into shape and otherwise trying to keep her head as far down as possible.
A place like Redemption Key naturally attracts a lot of odd, strange and curious characters. Many of them, like Dani, are on the run; not all of them live within the strict confines of the law. The owner of the place where Dani works is a guy named Oren Randolph. Randolph is basically a good guy and a good boss, but he does provide a service to various criminal elements. His fishing camp, far off the beaten track, is an excellent place for people to do deals that they'd rather not consummate in the light of day. For a fee, of course, Randolph provides the meeting room and serves as a facilitator, keeping the peace between and among parties who are not always peaceful and who do not always trust each other.
Dani's area of expertise while working for the security company involved her uncanny ability to "read" people. Randolph soon recognizes her talent in this regard and begins assigning her to tend bar and serve food and drinks at the meetings he's facilitating. She can read the mood of the room and of the meeting participants and help Randolph keep things on an even keel.
Inevitably, though, sooner or later one of these complex negotiations is bound to blow up, causing major problems for everyone involved, Dani included. And when it does finally happen, it couldn't come at a worse time, because other dangerous threats from the life Dani fought so hard to leave behind are suddenly converging on her once again.
It would not be fair to say any more about the plot, but Redling has created here a cast of very intriguing, off-beat characters and dropped them into a well-drawn setting and a riveting story. The tension mounts with every page, and the climax is as unexpected as it is heart-pounding. This is another excellent entry in this young series.
January 23, 2016
Very good book.I would of read this in a single night if other things never got in the way!(work,sleep,eating-damn you!!)It was well written once again and had me fully entwined in the story.
I'm interested to see if there's a third book, or rather more like need a third book.I need it,I need to know!I need to know about Dani and Booker!Please!
Anyway, I would highly recommend.A lot of suspense that keeps you reading to the very end.
I'm interested to see if there's a third book, or rather more like need a third book.I need it,I need to know!I need to know about Dani and Booker!Please!
Anyway, I would highly recommend.A lot of suspense that keeps you reading to the very end.
June 13, 2014
When S.G. Redling wrote “The Widow File,” Amazon offered it in advance of publication through their Kindle First program. The blurb sounded good, far better than the other three offered, in fact, so I chose it, paying well under the price at which it would soon be offered.
That book was absolutely riveting. I was totally taken in by both the plot and the characterizations of Dani Britton, Choo-Choo Charbaneaux and Tom Booker. I put a five-star review out on all my retail venues and on my blog. I have even referred to Redling’s excellent characterization of the hired assassin, Tom Booker, in other reviews, using it as a comparison to the villain in the book that was being reviewed.
When I received notice that Redling was publishing a sequel to “The Widow File,” I put it on my to-purchase list and did so the very day it was first offered. And I gladly paid full price for it. In the middle of another book at the time, I quickly finished it and jumped immediately to “Redemption Key.” Not often do I push a newly offered book to the top of my TBR list, but the chance to read more about Britton and Booker was just too intriguing and enticing.
And I was not disappointed – not even close. It was all I could do to close the iPad long enough to handle the required chores and appointments of my daily life. In less than 24 hours it was done and what a ride it was!
First off, even though Redling does a good job of summarizing Dani’s backstory and some of the major events from “The Widow File,” there is no way I’d consider “Redemption Key” as a standalone novel. No matter how good Redling’s synopsis is, there is no true way to understand just how Dani and Choo-Choo suffered at the hands of Tom Booker without reading that first book. A synopsis simply cannot explain why Dani, Choo-Choo and Tom think the things they think and do the things they do now. And the details of the emotions and events of the first book are paramount to understanding the oft-used phrase in this book of “I want and I hate.”
The storyline of this book plays out over a little less than 72 hours. We find Dani Britton in a Florida Keys back island fish camp, tending bar, cleaning cabins, killing rats and rebuilding her shattered body. Six months earlier, the CIA had literally dumped her on a sidewalk after releasing her from a 3-month stay in a medical/interrogation facility. She fled to the farthest point she could get from Washington, D.C., and still be warm – Key West, Florida.
She had hoped to hide among the thousands of tourists that swarm that Key on a daily basis. But the groping hands of the drunken visitors in the bar where she worked, and the all too frequent appearance of Agency teams sent to check up on her, got to be too much. So, again, she fled. On her way up the only road out of the Keys, she accidentally found Redemption Key and Jinky’s Fish Camp. And there she found a job and a safe haven amongst a motley crew of other misfits.
Day by day, she has worked her job and then jogged, swam and rope-climbed to rebuild her strength in her shot-up leg and her ripped up shoulder. Finally, feeling strong physically and better mentally, she fears her whole new world will crash around her when she spots a plainclothes federal agent talking to her boss.
For almost two decades, Jinky’s Fish Camp has served as a place where various underworld groups would gather to make and conclude deals. Oren Robinson, Jinky’s owner, is simply the meeting facilitator. He provides the meeting room, the drinks and the introductions of one group to the other. He also establishes and maintains civil order between the parties. Oren, himself, is not dirty; he’s not a player, just an innkeeper with good connections and an ear to the ground. And Dani’s skills as a data analyst, her petite physical size and her ability to hide in plain sight during meetings make her an excellent asset to Oren’s need to maintain order and remain alive.
And then, with the snap of a closing cell phone, it all begins to fall apart. A scheduled deal between the Wheelers, a local duo of brothers who smuggle anything that makes money, and a Canadian mobster by the name of Bermingham is postponed by the Wheelers minutes before the exchange is to be finalized. Bermingham is reputed to be a vicious predator, the cargo to be exchanged is heat sensitive on a day that is already in the 100’s, and tempers are flaring. Oren knows, from experience, that death is on the way.
But in the midst of her fears of the federal agent and the as-yet-unseen Bermingham, Dani finally locates Choo-Choo in Martha’s Vineyard. With the help of a local pilot/smuggler, she quickly retrieves Choo-Choo, convincing him to return with her to Redemption Key. Physically damaged by the horrible scars on his chest from the gunshot wound and the surgeries he received, Choo-Choo is also emotionally damaged also. While incarcerated in the same medical/interrogation facility as Dani, the CIA had addicted him to an exotic cocktail of drugs. Then they threw him into a men’s room at Penn Station, writhing from withdrawal, just so his wealthy and politically connected family would think him no more than a junkie and stop investigating his earlier disappearance. And it is here, during the telling of his story to Dani, that she – and the reader – come to hear and understand the meaning of the words that will guide their actions to the end of the 72 hours: I want and I hate.
And at the same time that the action is being kicked off in Redemption Key, Tom Booker discovers Dani’s whereabouts. While in the same facility with Dani and Choo-Choo, the CIA had “convinced” Tom to forego his free-lance status and become an employee of the Agency. They fixed his face and his vertebrae and even taught him how to crochet so that the fine motor skills of his gun hand and his knife hand would return.
And this “repair” job becomes the second catalyst to the execution of the storyline. While Redling does not use these exact words, you get the impression that, because Dani and Choo-Choo were of no lasting use to the CIA, their surgeons sewed them back up with the equivalent of fishing line and a darning needle. Their scars are vicious and visible, intended as both punishment for their lack of “cooperation” and reminders of what they have to lose if they ever break their silence.
However, Tom has no scars; the CIA used plastic surgery and advanced techniques on him so that he would be just as handsome as ever and, thus, of practical use to them in the future. These scars, or the lack thereof, are constantly woven into the storyline. They are, by no means, the equivalent of a “sight gag” but are a literary device that Redling weaves throughout the entire story – right to the very last page. They cement together the decisions made and the actions taken by every character in the book, not just Dani, Choo-Choo and Booker.
Now, the third catalyst is in place. Dani, Choo-Choo and Booker are all in the same place at the same time – again. And the deal between the Wheelers and Bermingham has gone so far south that nothing is going to stop that train wreck. And neither the Wheelers nor Bermingham know just who or what Booker is.
This is one wild ride of a thriller. It is visual, it is detailed, it is realistic, it is emotional and it is incredibly well written. And six pages from the end, you will be clinching your fists and screaming out loud, “No! Booker, no!”
In “The Widow File,” Redling wrapped up the storyline successfully, and, even though there are always more tales to tell, more consequences to explore, as a reader, I felt that it was over. But “Redemption Key” is not the same. Redling does not really end this tale; she just stops at a convenient place. There is no cliffhanger, not by any means, but she does end it with a couple of hooks dangling in the waters of Jinky’s Fish Camp.
That book was absolutely riveting. I was totally taken in by both the plot and the characterizations of Dani Britton, Choo-Choo Charbaneaux and Tom Booker. I put a five-star review out on all my retail venues and on my blog. I have even referred to Redling’s excellent characterization of the hired assassin, Tom Booker, in other reviews, using it as a comparison to the villain in the book that was being reviewed.
When I received notice that Redling was publishing a sequel to “The Widow File,” I put it on my to-purchase list and did so the very day it was first offered. And I gladly paid full price for it. In the middle of another book at the time, I quickly finished it and jumped immediately to “Redemption Key.” Not often do I push a newly offered book to the top of my TBR list, but the chance to read more about Britton and Booker was just too intriguing and enticing.
And I was not disappointed – not even close. It was all I could do to close the iPad long enough to handle the required chores and appointments of my daily life. In less than 24 hours it was done and what a ride it was!
First off, even though Redling does a good job of summarizing Dani’s backstory and some of the major events from “The Widow File,” there is no way I’d consider “Redemption Key” as a standalone novel. No matter how good Redling’s synopsis is, there is no true way to understand just how Dani and Choo-Choo suffered at the hands of Tom Booker without reading that first book. A synopsis simply cannot explain why Dani, Choo-Choo and Tom think the things they think and do the things they do now. And the details of the emotions and events of the first book are paramount to understanding the oft-used phrase in this book of “I want and I hate.”
The storyline of this book plays out over a little less than 72 hours. We find Dani Britton in a Florida Keys back island fish camp, tending bar, cleaning cabins, killing rats and rebuilding her shattered body. Six months earlier, the CIA had literally dumped her on a sidewalk after releasing her from a 3-month stay in a medical/interrogation facility. She fled to the farthest point she could get from Washington, D.C., and still be warm – Key West, Florida.
She had hoped to hide among the thousands of tourists that swarm that Key on a daily basis. But the groping hands of the drunken visitors in the bar where she worked, and the all too frequent appearance of Agency teams sent to check up on her, got to be too much. So, again, she fled. On her way up the only road out of the Keys, she accidentally found Redemption Key and Jinky’s Fish Camp. And there she found a job and a safe haven amongst a motley crew of other misfits.
Day by day, she has worked her job and then jogged, swam and rope-climbed to rebuild her strength in her shot-up leg and her ripped up shoulder. Finally, feeling strong physically and better mentally, she fears her whole new world will crash around her when she spots a plainclothes federal agent talking to her boss.
For almost two decades, Jinky’s Fish Camp has served as a place where various underworld groups would gather to make and conclude deals. Oren Robinson, Jinky’s owner, is simply the meeting facilitator. He provides the meeting room, the drinks and the introductions of one group to the other. He also establishes and maintains civil order between the parties. Oren, himself, is not dirty; he’s not a player, just an innkeeper with good connections and an ear to the ground. And Dani’s skills as a data analyst, her petite physical size and her ability to hide in plain sight during meetings make her an excellent asset to Oren’s need to maintain order and remain alive.
And then, with the snap of a closing cell phone, it all begins to fall apart. A scheduled deal between the Wheelers, a local duo of brothers who smuggle anything that makes money, and a Canadian mobster by the name of Bermingham is postponed by the Wheelers minutes before the exchange is to be finalized. Bermingham is reputed to be a vicious predator, the cargo to be exchanged is heat sensitive on a day that is already in the 100’s, and tempers are flaring. Oren knows, from experience, that death is on the way.
But in the midst of her fears of the federal agent and the as-yet-unseen Bermingham, Dani finally locates Choo-Choo in Martha’s Vineyard. With the help of a local pilot/smuggler, she quickly retrieves Choo-Choo, convincing him to return with her to Redemption Key. Physically damaged by the horrible scars on his chest from the gunshot wound and the surgeries he received, Choo-Choo is also emotionally damaged also. While incarcerated in the same medical/interrogation facility as Dani, the CIA had addicted him to an exotic cocktail of drugs. Then they threw him into a men’s room at Penn Station, writhing from withdrawal, just so his wealthy and politically connected family would think him no more than a junkie and stop investigating his earlier disappearance. And it is here, during the telling of his story to Dani, that she – and the reader – come to hear and understand the meaning of the words that will guide their actions to the end of the 72 hours: I want and I hate.
And at the same time that the action is being kicked off in Redemption Key, Tom Booker discovers Dani’s whereabouts. While in the same facility with Dani and Choo-Choo, the CIA had “convinced” Tom to forego his free-lance status and become an employee of the Agency. They fixed his face and his vertebrae and even taught him how to crochet so that the fine motor skills of his gun hand and his knife hand would return.
And this “repair” job becomes the second catalyst to the execution of the storyline. While Redling does not use these exact words, you get the impression that, because Dani and Choo-Choo were of no lasting use to the CIA, their surgeons sewed them back up with the equivalent of fishing line and a darning needle. Their scars are vicious and visible, intended as both punishment for their lack of “cooperation” and reminders of what they have to lose if they ever break their silence.
However, Tom has no scars; the CIA used plastic surgery and advanced techniques on him so that he would be just as handsome as ever and, thus, of practical use to them in the future. These scars, or the lack thereof, are constantly woven into the storyline. They are, by no means, the equivalent of a “sight gag” but are a literary device that Redling weaves throughout the entire story – right to the very last page. They cement together the decisions made and the actions taken by every character in the book, not just Dani, Choo-Choo and Booker.
Now, the third catalyst is in place. Dani, Choo-Choo and Booker are all in the same place at the same time – again. And the deal between the Wheelers and Bermingham has gone so far south that nothing is going to stop that train wreck. And neither the Wheelers nor Bermingham know just who or what Booker is.
This is one wild ride of a thriller. It is visual, it is detailed, it is realistic, it is emotional and it is incredibly well written. And six pages from the end, you will be clinching your fists and screaming out loud, “No! Booker, no!”
In “The Widow File,” Redling wrapped up the storyline successfully, and, even though there are always more tales to tell, more consequences to explore, as a reader, I felt that it was over. But “Redemption Key” is not the same. Redling does not really end this tale; she just stops at a convenient place. There is no cliffhanger, not by any means, but she does end it with a couple of hooks dangling in the waters of Jinky’s Fish Camp.
September 5, 2014
I love her character driven stories and REDEMPTION KEY did not disappoint
This is the fourth book I've read by author Redling, after one sci fi offering DAMOCLES, one post-apocalyptic FLOWERTOWN and the first book in the Dani Britton series THE WIDOW FILE. Redling is quite an author. I love her character driven stories and REDEMPTION KEY did not disappoint.
Small in stature but big in heart and courage, Dani Britton is back again. After recovering from her devastating injuries from THE WIDOW FILE, she wants to get far away from Washington D.C. and government agencies and ends up at Jinky's Inlet Fishing Camp on Redemption Key, Florida. She becomes a bartender/handyman/maid and does whatever needs to be done around the bar and camp. But trouble seems to follow Dani and it's not long before she's in the middle of another mess.
I like the quirky characters the author populates her stories with and in this case some of the ones from the last book are back in Dani's life. Plus she's made new acquaintances at Jinky's.
Great characters, convoluted twisty turny storyline, colorful descriptions of Redemption Key - all are wrapped together in one very pleasurable reading experience. Redling is quickly becoming an author who I will start buying without reading a book description. She's that good - and in all kinds of genres.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is the fourth book I've read by author Redling, after one sci fi offering DAMOCLES, one post-apocalyptic FLOWERTOWN and the first book in the Dani Britton series THE WIDOW FILE. Redling is quite an author. I love her character driven stories and REDEMPTION KEY did not disappoint.
Small in stature but big in heart and courage, Dani Britton is back again. After recovering from her devastating injuries from THE WIDOW FILE, she wants to get far away from Washington D.C. and government agencies and ends up at Jinky's Inlet Fishing Camp on Redemption Key, Florida. She becomes a bartender/handyman/maid and does whatever needs to be done around the bar and camp. But trouble seems to follow Dani and it's not long before she's in the middle of another mess.
I like the quirky characters the author populates her stories with and in this case some of the ones from the last book are back in Dani's life. Plus she's made new acquaintances at Jinky's.
Great characters, convoluted twisty turny storyline, colorful descriptions of Redemption Key - all are wrapped together in one very pleasurable reading experience. Redling is quickly becoming an author who I will start buying without reading a book description. She's that good - and in all kinds of genres.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 12, 2014
An author worth following
A fast, startlingly good read. This one grabbed my attention and held on tight, with complex characters and a plot whose ending defied guessing, a real plus for someone who is often disappointed by books that have "surprise" endings that can be surmised halfway through.
A fast, startlingly good read. This one grabbed my attention and held on tight, with complex characters and a plot whose ending defied guessing, a real plus for someone who is often disappointed by books that have "surprise" endings that can be surmised halfway through.
August 26, 2014
I am so glad I received this book from Goodreads in exchange for a review. It was a wonderful thrill ride.
As the temperatures ratchet up on Redemption Key, so does the tension. Dani Britton is about as far off the grid as she can get, living on remote Redemption Key. All she wants as to be left in peace. She’s tired of the government-types who periodically check in on her. She thinks she’s found that peace at a little bar, where all she needs to do is sling drinks and clean the occasional toilet. Oh yeah…and help her boss on the occasional shady deal. Dani is real good at reading people, and her boss uses her services every once in a while. Dani re-connects with Choo Choo, a co-worker from her past, and about the only one who can understand what she is going through and what she is running from. Well there is one other person…assassin Tom Booker, who was there the night Dani’s world went crazy.
But now she is keeping a low profile, or so she thought. Until Dani’s boss Orin has asked her for some help with his latest dealings with the Wheeler brothers. These guys are low level thugs, but this time they seem to be into something much bigger. And much scarier. Between the ‘good guys’, the ‘bad’ guys, and, oh yeah, the assassin, who do you trust?
This book was fast paced with great characters and a believable plot. I could almost feel the sand
between my toes and the salt water on my skin, as I read S.G.Redling’s latest book.
As the temperatures ratchet up on Redemption Key, so does the tension. Dani Britton is about as far off the grid as she can get, living on remote Redemption Key. All she wants as to be left in peace. She’s tired of the government-types who periodically check in on her. She thinks she’s found that peace at a little bar, where all she needs to do is sling drinks and clean the occasional toilet. Oh yeah…and help her boss on the occasional shady deal. Dani is real good at reading people, and her boss uses her services every once in a while. Dani re-connects with Choo Choo, a co-worker from her past, and about the only one who can understand what she is going through and what she is running from. Well there is one other person…assassin Tom Booker, who was there the night Dani’s world went crazy.
But now she is keeping a low profile, or so she thought. Until Dani’s boss Orin has asked her for some help with his latest dealings with the Wheeler brothers. These guys are low level thugs, but this time they seem to be into something much bigger. And much scarier. Between the ‘good guys’, the ‘bad’ guys, and, oh yeah, the assassin, who do you trust?
This book was fast paced with great characters and a believable plot. I could almost feel the sand
between my toes and the salt water on my skin, as I read S.G.Redling’s latest book.
July 30, 2015
Dani Britton has landed in Redemption Key after the events of The Widow File (highly recommended to read before this book). Broken, dumped, Dani is working on building herself back up. Jinky's Bar is the haven for all the castouts.
The Wheeler Brothers, Juan and Joaquin, two wild and crazy guys in completely not the Steve Martin way, have used the bar's proprietor, Mr. Randolph, to arrange shady deals over the years, but this latest deal will set them up as the rulers of the land, second only to their boss, Mr. Vicente. And there's Bermingham, the ruthless man who has cut a wide swath of death and destruction between the Keys and Canada and points between. But who is Caldwell?
The Widow File was very intense, relentless in pace. The author has continued in that vein in Redemption Key, though different facets are lit here. The characters are wonderful, and while I wouldn't want to know the Wheelers personally, I know them literarily, and that stinks. I'm not a bar kind of guy, but I feel as though I've spent years at Jinky's.
And Dani is a superstar. not because she's great but because she'sfearless courageous and battles despite the odds. She wants her life back that she knows will never be hers again.
Loved the book. Highly recommended.
The Wheeler Brothers, Juan and Joaquin, two wild and crazy guys in completely not the Steve Martin way, have used the bar's proprietor, Mr. Randolph, to arrange shady deals over the years, but this latest deal will set them up as the rulers of the land, second only to their boss, Mr. Vicente. And there's Bermingham, the ruthless man who has cut a wide swath of death and destruction between the Keys and Canada and points between. But who is Caldwell?
The Widow File was very intense, relentless in pace. The author has continued in that vein in Redemption Key, though different facets are lit here. The characters are wonderful, and while I wouldn't want to know the Wheelers personally, I know them literarily, and that stinks. I'm not a bar kind of guy, but I feel as though I've spent years at Jinky's.
And Dani is a superstar. not because she's great but because she's
Loved the book. Highly recommended.
August 13, 2014
just found out i won this june 10 2014, thanks goodreads, cant wait to get it
update: july 21 2014, never got the book and cant contact the publisher to find out why
good reads got it for me!
aug 2014 just got book and started it
she was wounded by bullets and almost drowned. her friend was shot as well, she thought by trying to save her
she disappeared to fl tho she knew the govt agency had tracking device on her car. she ran and swam to get her body back in shape
she hates people who work for the agency
she flew to marthas vineyard to see her friend and he was cold to her, but accompanied her back to her job at the bar in fl where she lived in a shed.
it all came together with what she thought was a drug or arms deal , but it was really child selling. she put the screwdriver thru who she thought was a bad guy, turned out to be agent working under cover for 2 yrs to crack the ring . they got the kids out in the end. pretty violent ending tho and she never got the yellow blanket the killer crocheted for her
update: july 21 2014, never got the book and cant contact the publisher to find out why
good reads got it for me!
aug 2014 just got book and started it
she was wounded by bullets and almost drowned. her friend was shot as well, she thought by trying to save her
she disappeared to fl tho she knew the govt agency had tracking device on her car. she ran and swam to get her body back in shape
she hates people who work for the agency
she flew to marthas vineyard to see her friend and he was cold to her, but accompanied her back to her job at the bar in fl where she lived in a shed.
it all came together with what she thought was a drug or arms deal , but it was really child selling. she put the screwdriver thru who she thought was a bad guy, turned out to be agent working under cover for 2 yrs to crack the ring . they got the kids out in the end. pretty violent ending tho and she never got the yellow blanket the killer crocheted for her
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2015
What a page turner! Redemption Key is a fast-paced suspenseful story about a woman with a mysterious past who is hiding out in the Florida Keys. Dani keeps to herself and does her job as server and all-around handyman, housekeeper of the cabins and bar that she works at. Every day she runs a long distance and swims far into the lake and jumps off a bridge and climbs up a rope to keep in major physical shape. It's obvious she's wanting to be ready for whatever, or whoever comes. As the story goes, there are surprises in store for Dani, and the reader will be shocked at who shows up and the events that unfold. Does she trust her boss? Or his friend who starts hanging around, the obvious agent? I recommend you read to find out what happens...it's a bumpy, amazing ride. Thanks to Goodreads and the author for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
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July 17, 2018http://celebrityreaders.com/2018/07/1...
Favorite Quote:
Juan punched the number into his phone, settling back in his seat and giving Oren a wink. Oren hated winks. Nothing good ever followed a wink.
I really wanted to like this book but it kinda just drug on with not a lot to keep me interested. Things moved too slowly for me. I liked the bar where she worked and the fact that it was a bit off the grid. All the players were a tad bit dirty so that made them more likable too. If I had more patience I’m sure I would have liked it, but alas, it was never my strong suit.
Favorite Quote:
Juan punched the number into his phone, settling back in his seat and giving Oren a wink. Oren hated winks. Nothing good ever followed a wink.
I really wanted to like this book but it kinda just drug on with not a lot to keep me interested. Things moved too slowly for me. I liked the bar where she worked and the fact that it was a bit off the grid. All the players were a tad bit dirty so that made them more likable too. If I had more patience I’m sure I would have liked it, but alas, it was never my strong suit.
August 27, 2014
I received this book in a GR Giveaway.
S. G. Redling's Redemption Key was trite and predictable with little suspense and characters drawn without depth or nuance. The characters' motivations and actions made little sense. The plot begged more questions than can be recounted and every flicker of development was preceded by a protracted and tedious lead-up. The reader must reach Page 151 of a 218 page novel before the direction of the story is belatedly revealed. One Star is required by GR, but my sincere recommendation would be: Don't bother.
S. G. Redling's Redemption Key was trite and predictable with little suspense and characters drawn without depth or nuance. The characters' motivations and actions made little sense. The plot begged more questions than can be recounted and every flicker of development was preceded by a protracted and tedious lead-up. The reader must reach Page 151 of a 218 page novel before the direction of the story is belatedly revealed. One Star is required by GR, but my sincere recommendation would be: Don't bother.
July 5, 2014
Had to read this book right after I finished THE WIDOW FILE, and I usually don't do that. So glad I had it on hand. Another fast-paced thriller, with some great characters as well as the clever, careful, resourceful Dani. I'll be looking forward to the next chapter.
June 11, 2014
Read in one day! Excellent!!! Read The Widow File first though
June 20, 2014
S.G. Redling has outdone herself with this second book in the Dani Britton series! OMG, can't wait to see what happens next!
June 8, 2016
Two-haiku review:
Dani's in the Keys
Trying to forget bad stuff
More bad stuff finds her
Beginning low key
'Till explodes into action
Should read first book first
Dani's in the Keys
Trying to forget bad stuff
More bad stuff finds her
Beginning low key
'Till explodes into action
Should read first book first
July 18, 2021
A second outing for my new favourite lead character and it didn’t disappoint.
Trouble just seems to follow Dani around. And she’s not one to back away when the going gets tough.
Despite running as far away from civilisation as she can, Danni cannot out run her FBI watchers. But where are they when they are actually needed? Organised crime festers even in the middle of nowhere in the Florida Keys, where Danni has wound up, and rival crime lords are upping the stakes. As the climax approaches, mis-reads and mistrust add to the risk and danger. And then Tom Booker shows up, just another psychopath to add to the mix.
I was gripped by this story from the get go. Great pace and action, great dialogue, and a smart, kick-ass woman in the middle of it all. Loved it!
There were hints of mystery to Dani’s past in this book. I really hope this means there will be more books in this series. Sign me up, if there is!
Trouble just seems to follow Dani around. And she’s not one to back away when the going gets tough.
Despite running as far away from civilisation as she can, Danni cannot out run her FBI watchers. But where are they when they are actually needed? Organised crime festers even in the middle of nowhere in the Florida Keys, where Danni has wound up, and rival crime lords are upping the stakes. As the climax approaches, mis-reads and mistrust add to the risk and danger. And then Tom Booker shows up, just another psychopath to add to the mix.
I was gripped by this story from the get go. Great pace and action, great dialogue, and a smart, kick-ass woman in the middle of it all. Loved it!
There were hints of mystery to Dani’s past in this book. I really hope this means there will be more books in this series. Sign me up, if there is!
September 10, 2017
Review for The Widow File and Redemption Key.
This book came as a big surprise! I bought this and the sequel just to fill a order.
Yes both of them sounded interesting but i was not expecting much.
Then i started reading and i could not put them down!! Finished The Widow File in one sitting then gave the book to my mom and said READ THIS and she finished it in one go as well. Then i picked up Redemption Key and flew through that also.
Believable characters
Awesome action
Did i enjoy reading this? Immensely
Do i want more? Absolutely
The biggest and most important question of all - WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE COMING OUT?????
This book came as a big surprise! I bought this and the sequel just to fill a order.
Yes both of them sounded interesting but i was not expecting much.
Then i started reading and i could not put them down!! Finished The Widow File in one sitting then gave the book to my mom and said READ THIS and she finished it in one go as well. Then i picked up Redemption Key and flew through that also.
Believable characters
Awesome action
Did i enjoy reading this? Immensely
Do i want more? Absolutely
The biggest and most important question of all - WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE COMING OUT?????
July 8, 2014
This review was originally posted on Bewitched Bookworms
That alluring sunset over the calm, warm waters just pulled me in on the cover and had me eager from page one to see what data analyst Dani Britton was up to after the events of the first book, The Widow File . After her coworkers at a high end security company were brutally gunned down by highly skilled military team, a brutal assassin is sent to take out of Dani. His attempts nearly killed them both, and they wound up in government custody. In the latest book, Redemption Key, we pick right up with Dani's point of view in a book that can be read as a stand alone and be enjoyed thoroughly. While this one was more of a straight up mystery/thriller and less of a cat and mouse chase than the first book, I definitely enjoyed the ride throughout this book.
Dani's wounds were roughly patched up in the government facility that she was held in for months as she was debriefed, but when they could get no more information out of her, they dumped her back into society with $5000 and the order to never speak about her former occupation, employer, or what happened to her. After moving around a bit, she finally settles in Redemption Key in the Florida Keys, finding a job in a fishing camp and working wherever she's needed. But she's unwittingly walking into danger since the owner Oren Randalph provides a meeting room to some unscrupulous criminal folks, and soon she's firmly in the middle of a brewing turf war between two sweaty drug smuggling thugs and a brutish pretty boy Canadian War Lord looking to break into the Miami market. And the items that they are pushing are so fragile and heat-intolerant that the entire deal can go rotten at any time in the 100 degree heat of the Keys in summer while tempers flare as everyone double crosses and suspects each other of subterfuge.
Dani is still hurting from her experiences in book one, but she's trying to overcome her weaknesses. She's working out to become stronger, she's well-prepared to run if needed, and she just might find an unlikely ally in the person that she least expected: Tom Booker--the assassin with the striking blue eyes that still haunts her dreams. He's still infatuated with Dani, and now that he's working as an assassin for the government, he can't get much downtime between jobs. But he sneaks away when he gets the chance, and his unexpected presence at the fishing camp makes both Dani and the criminal element downright nervous.
I give Redemption Key a 4.5 out of 5. With an interesting cast of well-drawn characters, including a not-so-undercover FBI agent that is friends with the fishing camp owner, Dani's coworker Choo-Choo (who the author thankfully has everyone call by his real name Sinclair), the various bar workers and patrons, as well as the drug smugglers, this book is tightly plotted and fast paced. I couldn't tell who the bad guys were until the bigger reveals came towards the end, and like Dani, you never knew who to trust when no one trusts anyone. Tom Booker has some point of view chapters that give a chilling look into his motivations and outlook on life, and I really can't wait to see what S. G. Redling has in store for Dani and Tom in book three.
That alluring sunset over the calm, warm waters just pulled me in on the cover and had me eager from page one to see what data analyst Dani Britton was up to after the events of the first book, The Widow File . After her coworkers at a high end security company were brutally gunned down by highly skilled military team, a brutal assassin is sent to take out of Dani. His attempts nearly killed them both, and they wound up in government custody. In the latest book, Redemption Key, we pick right up with Dani's point of view in a book that can be read as a stand alone and be enjoyed thoroughly. While this one was more of a straight up mystery/thriller and less of a cat and mouse chase than the first book, I definitely enjoyed the ride throughout this book.
Dani's wounds were roughly patched up in the government facility that she was held in for months as she was debriefed, but when they could get no more information out of her, they dumped her back into society with $5000 and the order to never speak about her former occupation, employer, or what happened to her. After moving around a bit, she finally settles in Redemption Key in the Florida Keys, finding a job in a fishing camp and working wherever she's needed. But she's unwittingly walking into danger since the owner Oren Randalph provides a meeting room to some unscrupulous criminal folks, and soon she's firmly in the middle of a brewing turf war between two sweaty drug smuggling thugs and a brutish pretty boy Canadian War Lord looking to break into the Miami market. And the items that they are pushing are so fragile and heat-intolerant that the entire deal can go rotten at any time in the 100 degree heat of the Keys in summer while tempers flare as everyone double crosses and suspects each other of subterfuge.
Dani is still hurting from her experiences in book one, but she's trying to overcome her weaknesses. She's working out to become stronger, she's well-prepared to run if needed, and she just might find an unlikely ally in the person that she least expected: Tom Booker--the assassin with the striking blue eyes that still haunts her dreams. He's still infatuated with Dani, and now that he's working as an assassin for the government, he can't get much downtime between jobs. But he sneaks away when he gets the chance, and his unexpected presence at the fishing camp makes both Dani and the criminal element downright nervous.
I give Redemption Key a 4.5 out of 5. With an interesting cast of well-drawn characters, including a not-so-undercover FBI agent that is friends with the fishing camp owner, Dani's coworker Choo-Choo (who the author thankfully has everyone call by his real name Sinclair), the various bar workers and patrons, as well as the drug smugglers, this book is tightly plotted and fast paced. I couldn't tell who the bad guys were until the bigger reveals came towards the end, and like Dani, you never knew who to trust when no one trusts anyone. Tom Booker has some point of view chapters that give a chilling look into his motivations and outlook on life, and I really can't wait to see what S. G. Redling has in store for Dani and Tom in book three.
December 29, 2024
Completely took me away from it all
Wow!! What a great and unexpected exciting read!! I loved reading the backstory, the current story, and yet another money wrench to a carefully crafted plot!! There were a lot of interesting local characters as it seems you can find in Florida. And the way the story took off at the end was explosive and impressive! Kudos to the author. Thanks for such an enjoyable read!
Wow!! What a great and unexpected exciting read!! I loved reading the backstory, the current story, and yet another money wrench to a carefully crafted plot!! There were a lot of interesting local characters as it seems you can find in Florida. And the way the story took off at the end was explosive and impressive! Kudos to the author. Thanks for such an enjoyable read!
January 13, 2018
Nice mystery
It's a little confusing, considering I never rad the first book, but I was able to follow most of it pretty well. It was the references to three events pig the first book that really threw me, but I guess that's my fault for skipping ahead. It was a really good story though. Maybe I'll go find the first one and catch up.
It's a little confusing, considering I never rad the first book, but I was able to follow most of it pretty well. It was the references to three events pig the first book that really threw me, but I guess that's my fault for skipping ahead. It was a really good story though. Maybe I'll go find the first one and catch up.
September 1, 2024
you never knew who was involved with spy’s.
Sometimes you get a job and it just wasn’t what you expected at all. Dani and her friend ended up shot, nearly drowned then interrogated and tortured over and over when they were completely innocent of any crime. After they ran to find a safe , unknown place to live. Problems and bad guys turned up anyway.
Sometimes you get a job and it just wasn’t what you expected at all. Dani and her friend ended up shot, nearly drowned then interrogated and tortured over and over when they were completely innocent of any crime. After they ran to find a safe , unknown place to live. Problems and bad guys turned up anyway.
July 8, 2025
Awsome book!!
Dare I say even better than the 1st book?!! Yes, it's better than the 1st book. The whole crew is back, at least those tbat survive the 1st book. Lol. I love Booker. This book was chalk full of laughter, action, slight suspense, mystery thriller? Lol and a lot of laughter for me. Can't wait to read the 3rd book. I might not sleep to night!!
Dare I say even better than the 1st book?!! Yes, it's better than the 1st book. The whole crew is back, at least those tbat survive the 1st book. Lol. I love Booker. This book was chalk full of laughter, action, slight suspense, mystery thriller? Lol and a lot of laughter for me. Can't wait to read the 3rd book. I might not sleep to night!!
February 21, 2018
Good Read for a day at the beach
A number of interesting characters, looking for them to be developed further in future books.
Interesting story lines purposely vague about some agencies the characters were part of.
A number of interesting characters, looking for them to be developed further in future books.
Interesting story lines purposely vague about some agencies the characters were part of.
April 25, 2018
This book grabbed my attention right out of the gate. Very interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat!
This book grabbed my attention right out of the gate and kept me on the edge of my seat all the way to the end. I really enjoyed it.
This book grabbed my attention right out of the gate and kept me on the edge of my seat all the way to the end. I really enjoyed it.
July 23, 2019
A Hot Book
I didn't like this one as much as I enjoyed the first one. The quirkiness of Dani and Choo Choo was missing in this one. It didn't have the same thrill that I got while reading the first book. All in all, it's still a good book and I enjoyed it.
I didn't like this one as much as I enjoyed the first one. The quirkiness of Dani and Choo Choo was missing in this one. It didn't have the same thrill that I got while reading the first book. All in all, it's still a good book and I enjoyed it.
October 5, 2019
Couldn't put it down!!!
This is the second in the series, and amazing!!! Excellent twists, great writing, and fast paced. I love the characters, all flawed and believable, and funny and charismatic.
This is the second in the series, and amazing!!! Excellent twists, great writing, and fast paced. I love the characters, all flawed and believable, and funny and charismatic.
August 4, 2022
Another wild ride, too much angst and internal dialog at times and some very funny dialog lead to another enjoyable listen. I don't see Trigger as an audio book so it will be some time before I get to read it.
November 19, 2017
I love any book by S. G. Redling, and the Dani Britton books are especially thrilling. I highly recommend them!
January 20, 2018
I really liked this book. It had another surprise ending which both made me happy but a little sad.
January 22, 2018
Really enjoyed this book
I really enjoyed the added detail in the story, put me at the scene, great fun page turner. Only negative, it ended too soon.
I really enjoyed the added detail in the story, put me at the scene, great fun page turner. Only negative, it ended too soon.
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