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Close Call
by
Mistaking a killer’s phone for her own, Sydney Ellison is drawn back to a past she thought she’d left behind for good
After living through the media shaming of a political sex scandal when she was in college, Sydney Ellison fears notoriety above all. So when she stumbles onto a plot to assassinate a senator, she resists contacting the police. Before she can make herself do ...more
After living through the media shaming of a political sex scandal when she was in college, Sydney Ellison fears notoriety above all. So when she stumbles onto a plot to assassinate a senator, she resists contacting the police. Before she can make herself do ...more
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Susan Hermer
Close Call was a fabulous mystery. I could not put it down!
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I have never read any books by this author but was tempted by the description. What a great thriller this was-in fact I could not put it down and I shall certainly be looking for other titles by Laura DiSilverio.
The novel contains two strong female protagonists; Sydney and Reese who are estranged sisters. When Sydney suddenly becomes the target of a hitman after accidently picking up his phone Reese rushes to help her and the sisters work together to find out what is going on. This all starts wh ...more
The novel contains two strong female protagonists; Sydney and Reese who are estranged sisters. When Sydney suddenly becomes the target of a hitman after accidently picking up his phone Reese rushes to help her and the sisters work together to find out what is going on. This all starts wh ...more
This book is fantastic! It is very well written, fast paced, and full of suspense! It was very difficult to put down. The main characters are great, we follow Sydney through the streets of DC after she accidentally swaps cell phones with a hit man. She enlists the help of her estranged sister Reese to track down the hit man, at the same time putting her own life in danger. Lots of twists and turns in this book!
It has been awhile since I have read a suspense novel, and after reading this one, I ...more
It has been awhile since I have read a suspense novel, and after reading this one, I ...more
This was my first book by this author but it won’t be the last, I hope. Laura DiSilverio writes with ease so the reader is immediately drawn into the book. I really liked the main characters; Sydney who turns out to be much stronger than she thinks; Reece, who finds it in herself to reach out and try to end the family feud; and even the killer, because part of the story is told from his view.
It was hard to put down once I started reading and I really hope that this book is the start of a series ...more
It was hard to put down once I started reading and I really hope that this book is the start of a series ...more
Close Call by Laura DiSilverio begins with something that could happen to any of us - Sydney Ellison picks up the wrong phone in a deli. She doesn’t realize her mistake until she gets a call on that phone talking about murder. Sydney’s first reaction is to just ignore the call; it must be a prank, right? And suddenly she is drawn back to a past she thought she’d left behind for good and that innocent mistake of picking up the wrong phone – and the possible confusion of the caller about her name
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I will say it had a different ending than most cozy mysteries but I liked the characters. A mistake during a frenzied moment in a deli causes Sydney Ellison to become involved with a "hit man" and putting her life in danger. When her fiance gets killed Sydney believes the bullet was meant for her but can't convince the police so she takes it upon herself to solve the crime. Joined by her sister Reese the two try to uncover the mystery while they reform their sister bond that was broken years ago
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From the very first page, the plot just sticks to the mind easily and with every single page turned, you can easily feel the temptation and curiosity about what’s going to happen next.
The story begins when Sydney changed her phone by mistake and got a phone call which gives her a chance to earn money by murdering someone. As she ignores the call, a series of murders and incidents happen through which she gets the surety that the call which she took for a wrong call was for her.
This is one of the ...more
The story begins when Sydney changed her phone by mistake and got a phone call which gives her a chance to earn money by murdering someone. As she ignores the call, a series of murders and incidents happen through which she gets the surety that the call which she took for a wrong call was for her.
This is one of the ...more
LOVED IT!!
I love Laura DiSilverio's writing! It has an intriguing and old-style gritty quality that I love! Great edgy/cool characters, great story, and the narration was amazing. I've listened to The Reckoning Stones prior to this one, and can see her talent in both. This is one that I could not stop listening to, I found myself in the slow lane (which I HATE as a long commuter LOL), wanting to get to work or back home just a few precious minutes later so I could listen to more. I love stories ...more
I love Laura DiSilverio's writing! It has an intriguing and old-style gritty quality that I love! Great edgy/cool characters, great story, and the narration was amazing. I've listened to The Reckoning Stones prior to this one, and can see her talent in both. This is one that I could not stop listening to, I found myself in the slow lane (which I HATE as a long commuter LOL), wanting to get to work or back home just a few precious minutes later so I could listen to more. I love stories ...more
I think this is one of the best premises I've read for opening a mystery novel. A stressed and frazzled woman picks up the wrong phone in the bustle and rush at a deli counter on her way home from work. When it rings, and she answers it, she hears what sounds like plans for an assassination.
You'd go to the police, right? Even if you had very good reasons for wanting to avoid the limelight. You'd go to the intended victim, right? Even though he knows your sordid past (as does everyone with a tel ...more
You'd go to the police, right? Even if you had very good reasons for wanting to avoid the limelight. You'd go to the intended victim, right? Even though he knows your sordid past (as does everyone with a tel ...more
3.5. I enjoyed this suspense novel, my first by this author. It was a quick read. Readers learn quite a bit about all of the main characters, both the good and the bad.Although I sometimes found Sydney rather naive about some things, and even a little whiny about her past, she grew a lot during the course of the story.
The mystery part of the story developed well. We knew who was the hit man, but who hired him and what exactly was going on remained open until towards the end. There were even some ...more
The mystery part of the story developed well. We knew who was the hit man, but who hired him and what exactly was going on remained open until towards the end. There were even some ...more
This was good. A couple of snide "right wing" remarks and I didn't like her link between Oral Roberts and white supremacists (What exactly are you implying Ms. Disilverio? A follow up appearance of the bible and a visit to the Episcopal church doesn't mitigate that, really.) Otherwise, I enjoyed the plot. Pacing was brisk and the characters pretty well developed, though I thought the back story of the family dynamic (parents) could have come into play a bit sooner. All in all, a read worthy of l
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Have you ever picked up the wrong mobile phone? One that's just like yours? If so, did it lead to murder? When Sydney Ellison does just that, quite by accident, she's quickly drawn into a situation that causes her personal tragedy, but it also unleashes a past that she's tried to bury for years. DiSilverio has written humorous, traditional, and cozy mysteries to acclaim. She's equally deftly adroit with edge-of-the-chair thrillers. CLOSE CALL is aptly named!
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If there's a lesson to be learned in Laura DiSilverio's thriller, Close Call, it's to keep close watch on your cellphone. Accidentally picking up a hired killer's phone instead of her own leads to a fast-paced story of Sydney Ellison's attempts to avoid getting killed herself while avoiding any publicity because of an unfortunate chain of events that occurred when she was young and stupid. I enjoyed this book so much.
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Surprisingly excellent story!
This is the first book I have read from this author. I found the pace of the story line was just the right speed with no dull or shallow moments. I highly recommend you take the time to read this. I doubt you will be left disappointed!
This is the first book I have read from this author. I found the pace of the story line was just the right speed with no dull or shallow moments. I highly recommend you take the time to read this. I doubt you will be left disappointed!
Good storyline and a fast read
First one I have read of hers. Would give a 3.5.
I really enjoyed the story. One of the best novels that I have read for a while. I liked that the chapter titles were names. Very well paced with a credible conclusion.
LOVED this book and the author. Can't believe I've never read anything by her before. Looking forward to the next one.
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A thriller with so many twists and turns you will enjoy the ride. A case of mistaken identity leads to murder and Sidney Ellison needs to solve the murder to clear herself.
Super twisty, page-turner of a thriller. A lot of fun. Definitely worth your time. Looking forward to her other stand alones since I have exhausted her mystery series (under all her names).
A fast-paced read that kept me flipping the pages.
A good read. Nice to have a story flow well and keep my interest.
Excellent read. Moved quickly and kept me guessing. All the threads came together in the end.
I really liked this book. The story kept me enthralled and was an enjoyable read. The story had enough twists and turns to keep the reader very interested.
Wow what a book to start the year off. This is an edge of your seat, hold your breath, fantastic, suspenseful book. I loved it and once I started I couldn't put it down. I found myself caught up in the story and when Sydney was caught in the cross hairs of an assassin I found myself holding my breath willing her to move and not get shot. I am a big fan of Tom Clancy books and Robert Ludlums Jason Bourne and this book is right up there with them.
When Sydney inadvertently picks up the wrong ce ...more
When Sydney inadvertently picks up the wrong ce ...more
CLOSE CALL is a thrill a minute, intense ride from the first sentence to the last. I am impressed.
I enjoy Laura Di Silverio’s cozy mysteries so I jumped at the chance to read this political thriller. I did not know what to expect, but I surely was not disappointed. I could not put this book down once I started reading. You know those rare books that you keep reading while you are doing other things, like cook dinner? Yep, this is one of those kinds of books. From the moment Sydney realizes that ...more
I enjoy Laura Di Silverio’s cozy mysteries so I jumped at the chance to read this political thriller. I did not know what to expect, but I surely was not disappointed. I could not put this book down once I started reading. You know those rare books that you keep reading while you are doing other things, like cook dinner? Yep, this is one of those kinds of books. From the moment Sydney realizes that ...more
Not quite non-stop suspense as some reviewers have suggested, but mostly. The author has firm handles on the story line, the characters and the setting. She manipulates all with a deft hand. If things are a little more complicated than is the usual case in thrillers of this kind, well. It’s up to we readers to pay more than casual attention, right?
The title of the book might have effectively been pluralized. We are with the main character, Sydney Ellison, through most of the book and while she w ...more
I typically do not read modern mysteries and thrillers. I was sent this book by the author to review, and loving many of DiSilverio's books, I went for it. The moral of the story is: hang on to your cell phone. Sidney Ellison accidentally switching her cell phone with a stranger's ends up with four people dead and several others injured. Sidney feels like she has finally gotten past the mistakes she made years earlier, and is ready to marry and spend a year in Indonesia with her new husband, but
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I’ve read many cozy mysteries by Ms. DiSilverio (The Charlie Swift Mysteries, Mall Cop Mysteries, and the first in The Readaholics series), but Close Call is very different. It’s fast paced and full of suspense.
The majority of the book alternates between Sydney’s perspective, and hired killer Paul’s. Even though you are getting information from the killer’s perspective, there is still plenty of mystery – who hired him and why? Sydney is frantically wondering the same thing – whose phone does she ...more
The majority of the book alternates between Sydney’s perspective, and hired killer Paul’s. Even though you are getting information from the killer’s perspective, there is still plenty of mystery – who hired him and why? Sydney is frantically wondering the same thing – whose phone does she ...more
Author DiSilverio has stepped away from her cozy series ("Charlie" Swift, Mall Cop, and Readaholics Book Club) to deliver a decidedly non-cozy thriller. Sydney Ellison trains young women to improve their job prospects by dressing for success and improving interviewing skills. After becoming engaged she inadvertently swaps phones with a hit man and receives a call telling her to kill a senator. When the error is discovered by the hit man, he is told to kill Sydney. You just know her fiancé is goi
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Sometimes not making a decision is a decision in itself. Sydney Ellison has made some bad choices worse by choosing not to make changes. Her sister betrayed her 15 years earlier, her mother blames her for her father's stroke, and she lives with the constant apprehension of press attention.
Then Sydney picks up the wrong phone and gets a call that sounds like authorization of an assassination plan. She dithers about what to do, and after finally deciding to mail the phone with a note about the cal ...more
Then Sydney picks up the wrong phone and gets a call that sounds like authorization of an assassination plan. She dithers about what to do, and after finally deciding to mail the phone with a note about the cal ...more
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I'm the author of the Swift Investigations, Mall Cop and Readaholics mystery series.
After twenty years as an Air Force intelligence officer – serving as a squadron commander, with the National Reconnaissance Office, and at a fighter wing – I retired to parenting and writing full-time.
Spying was easier.
(Laura DiSilverio is also Ella Barrick.) ...more
After twenty years as an Air Force intelligence officer – serving as a squadron commander, with the National Reconnaissance Office, and at a fighter wing – I retired to parenting and writing full-time.
Spying was easier.
(Laura DiSilverio is also Ella Barrick.) ...more
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