Made Safe

by Francis Sparks

"Francis Sparks' MADE SAFE is a gripping, fast-paced and hard hitting thriller. Sparks' depiction of the gritty underbelly of the heartland will grab you by the throat and not let go. Hold on tight for a wild ride." Heather Gudenkauf ~ NYT bestselling author of The Weight of Silence

For Private Investigator, Moses Winter, the job just got more complicated. His adultery case has taken a violent turn landing the subject of his investigation, Fred Dunsmore, in the hospital and Moses in jail. Moses is held for questioning along with his erratic client, Sharon Dunsmore, and Fred’s mistress, a Bosnian refugee who just happens to be related to the DCI agent investigating the case, Raif Rakić.

After Rakić secures their release, Fred goes missing, and Moses Winter finds himself compelled to find him. With the assistance of Rakic, Moses unravels Fred's ties to Des Moines's underworld and is forced to confront the most heinous crimes of his career.

Genres: Fiction

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 17, 2017

Reviews

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Private detective Moses Winter is working on what looks to be a straightforward case but he’s getting more than he bargained for. He’s been hired by a woman, Sharon, who wants to know if her husband, Fred, is having an affair. They end up at a cabin where the irrefutable proof is splayed right in front of them. But things take a violent turn as Fred ends up in hospital and Moses in jail. As it turns out Fred’s mistress is related to the local DCI Rakic, the situation becomes a bit murky. But then Fred goes missing and things are about to get a whole lot more complicated.

Set in the middle of winter in Des Moines, Iowa, Moses quickly finds himself in the dark and chilling underbelly of the criminal world and human trafficking. No matter how many times this topic pops up, it remains incredibly disturbing and sadly all too relevant. Moses and Rakic make an unlikely team. Moses is not perfect and often makes mistakes but he’s determined to figure out what’s going on, even if he’s not getting paid for it. Rakic’s first priority is his family, who as Bosnian refugees have seen more than their fair share of pain. And yet, I couldn’t warm to him at all.

Made Safe has a well-thought out and executed plot but I did find it a tad repetitive at times. However, there was a brilliant twist I didn’t see coming and overall the story is a well-paced read, full of action. If you like your old school detective stories, I have no doubt you will enjoy this mystery but for me, it needed that little something more to truly keep me gripped.

[Michael McLellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, I don’t read a lot of detective novels these days. I sort of burned myself out on them back in the nineties, and find myself seldom getting around to reading them when someone recommends one to me.
I’m glad I took the time to read Made Safe.
Familiar, but not crammed with predictable turns and worn-out tropes, Francis Sparks debut is a crisp page-turner that had this reader interested from chapter one.
The well-drawn protagonist, Moses Winter is an imperfect person and an imperfect detective. I like this as it makes him actually seem human. The secondary characters have decent depth, particularly Majka, and the subject matter is, unfortunately, very real. (even in Iowa)
All in all Made Safe is well worth the read, and I feel that Sparks' writing is only going to get better in future works.

[T.R. Horne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sparks gives readers a glimpse into the underworld of human trafficking in his novel, Made Safe. We follow a cast of characters that are flawed and courageous as they fight to first understand what crime is being committed, then stop the heinous act from happening. All the while, the larger implications of such a scandal does not escape the reader. Human trafficking is happening everywhere, even in Des Moines, Iowa. We start the story with Moses Winter, a private investigator, helping to catch a cheating husband in the act. Little does Winter know, the angered wife has more up her sleeve when she finds her husband bedding down a Bosnian immigrant. Sharon, the wife, pulls a gun, threatens the lives of both adulterers and then in a scuffle to maintain control, her husband, Fred is subsequently stabbed. When the cops come, Rakic is introduced to the story, as he is the agent in charge of homicide. Ironically, when he steps in the room and notices his scantily clad cousin (the mistress) in the corner...he tries to quiet the case in order to ensure she isn't imprisoned for attempted murder of Fred. Rakic soon realizes there are three stories, not including the truth with what happened in the room.

Rakic wants the case to go away so he can protect his cousin. Moses is a curious guy that feels something is going on that he missed with the husband. So Rakic tries to distance himself from the case while Moses dives deeper in and finds that what's going on is actually far worse than he anticipated or was prepared for. The readers are taken on car chases, stake outs, spying, foot chases, break ins and lots of falling in the snow/smoking cigarettes and other small redundancies.

I enjoyed the story up until the very end. Throughout the story, I felt there were many different storylines and liked how they tied in together later in the story. Unfortunately, the ending was a bit far fetched in certain scenes and I rolled my eyes a time or two when people would escape pretty dismal endings. Moses Winter is a likeable main character but as smart as he was in his fact finding, he was equally as dumb about Majka and using her for answers. It grated my nerves that he would sleep with someone then not grill them on a case he is totally invested in. That didn't translate to good sense in my opinion. Also, I thought throwing Claudia in was a bit rushed and forced.

Another thing, could just be me since I'm not a smoker but...there was a hell of a lot of references to smoking in this novel. I despise smoking so it just made me grimace each time it was brought up and unfortunately, that was very often. That's a personal preference though. I've read some books that use smoking and don't explain it in much detail and I much prefer that method. Other than that, I really liked Sejla and the Wildcat and wished that we'd felt more of their personality in the story so that when it came to the end, we as readers, could really feel triumphant for them. Majka was very well written. I knew her as a character by the end and could understand the kerfuffle she was in coming from another country and wanting to be successful, albeit in the wrong area. Overall, I enjoyed the story and give it a strong 3.5 because it is fast paced, action packed and a solid detective story.

Raging Book Reviews Recommended

*This book was sent by the author for an honest review.

Review on www.ragingbookreviews.wordpress.com

[Karen Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy books that have a strong sense of setting and Made Safe certainly does that. Previously only really known to me as the childhood home of Bill Bryson, Des Moines is brought chillingly (literally so, the snow and ice of the Iowan winter certainly play their part here) to life. It's not just the location that provides the shivers here though, Private Investigator, Moses Winter and DCI Raif Rakić find themselves working together on a case that uncovers a truly odious criminal ring. A reluctant hero, Moses Winter is thrown into danger after taking on what should have been a simple investigation into adultery. However, once involved he will not give up and it's his tenacity, even when his life is at real risk, that makes him such an engaging character. He has his fair share of flaws too, not least his tendency to act first and think later but he is a likeable, principled man who has a dry wit about him too. This is just the first book in what will be a series of books featuring Moses, and with such a strong protagonist I certainly think Francis Sparks will be gaining plenty of fans. Raif Rakić is a rather refreshing police officer in a mystery involving a private investigator because he works with, rather than against Moses. Their working relationship has a somewhat rocky start but as events proceed they develop a mutual respect for one another. Rakić has his reasons for wanting the villains they are investigating put behind bars beyond just a simple desire for a police officer to solve a case. His past in Bosnia and his family ties mean he has a special interest in the criminal underbelly they uncover in Des Moines.
Faced paced from the start, Made Safe builds towards a really tense finale. With an all too contemporary mystery at the heart of the book and some really unsavoury villains, this is a taut, atmospheric thriller and a really solid start to a new series. I look forward to meeting Moses again.
My grateful thanks to the author for sending me a copy of Made Safe.

[Dennis Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

The streets of Des Moines are just as mean as Spenser's Boston in this impressive debut.

In the first casebook of private detective Moses Winter, Francis Sparks exposes the underbelly of immigrant culture in a gripping, noir novel.

Made Safe, while listed on the cover as the first adventure of Des Moines-based detective Winter, is just as much the story of Raif Rakíc, the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) investigator who crosses paths with Winter, as the two strike up an uneasy alliance.

Winter takes what should be an easy case of getting proof of a cheating husband, but before he knows it, he and Rakíc are neck deep in a fight against a Bosnian crime ring leaving a trail of bodies on the streets of Iowa's capital city.

Sparks advances the various threads of a complicated mystery with facility, utilizing multiple points of view as a tool, not a cheat, as is often the case. Both of the story's heroes are damaged men, whose histories and personalities lead them to make mistakes and trust the wrong people.

The story takes many delightful twists and turns, but again, Sparks always plays fair with his reader, expertly hiding the clues that only become obvious after the plot is revealed.

An impressive debut from a talented writer. Sign me up for the next adventure of Moses Winterl

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Private Investigator Moses Winter was hired by Sharon Dunsmore to find out if her husband was having an affair, he got way more than he bargained for. What had seemed like a straightforward infidelity case turns into something much darker when Sharon and Moses confront Fred Dunsmore and his girlfriend, Šejla, a Bosnian refugee. Sharon has a gun, which happened to belong to Moses, Šejla has a knife and Fred ends up in hospital fighting for his life, while Moses winds up in jail. When Fred goes missing the case takes on a whole new slant.

DCI Raif Rakić is the officer in charge of the investigation, which becomes personal when he’s confronted with the knowledge Fred’s mistress is his cousin. He’s not above manipulating the evidence to protect Šejla from the law, while continuing to do his utmost to solve the case.

Moses is totally committed to his job, leading him to sometimes make unwise and dangerous decisions as he tries to unravel and follow information received. And as the case develops, Raif and Moses uncover something much more complicated and sinister than they anticipated. Raif thought he’d left all the bad stuff behind when he came to America but evil has tendrils everywhere. The characters, especially Raif and Moses, develop well as the story progresses and more is revealed. Moses is flawed, tenacious and sympathetic but I wasn’t sold on the romantic connection between him and Majka and didn’t think it added to the story.

Adding to the atmosphere, the book is set during a freezing winter in Des Moines, Iowa. Made Safe is a fast paced and gritty crime thriller, with several threads running through the narrative which tie up satisfactorily towards the end. Written in the third person from several viewpoints, with twists I didn’t see coming make this an enjoyable debut.

The subject matter makes compelling if horrifying reading. No matter how many times this topic comes up in storylines, it’s nevertheless appalling to realise it’s still relevant today.

I chose to read and review Made Safe for Rosie Amber’s book review team, based on a digital copy from the author.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this is a novel that impresses. I like nothing better than skimming what a book is about just to make sure that it is my kind of read and then when I actually start reading I am going in quite blind. All I know is that at the time something grabbed me about it. I am so glad that I followed my instincts because this novel is thoroughly entertaining from the first page to last.
Take one Private Investigator, Moses Winter, well I am already smiling because what a bloke he is. I loved his commitment not only to his client, where he would take a fall for if necessary, but also to the beyond the call of duty just because it is the right thing to do, the people he is dealing with matter it is not just a job to him. Unfortunately, Moses is a very trusting bloke, which seems to leave him in some pretty dire situations. You can see them coming and Francis Sparks can certainly create the atmosphere to go with it, which makes for quite compelling reading. So things go drastically wrong, from a bad decision by Moses to let a client come along to witness her two timing husband in the act. It then leads to being part of the most horrendous criminal acts being committed that he could possibly  imagine. One thing is for sure though Moses Winter is in it for the duration.
As Moses moves from being involved in a simple marital problem case to much worse the police also play a large part in this story. Raif Rakic is Bosnian and in charge of this case. He has  moved to the USA for a better life, with quite a proportion of his family, including his cousin Sejla, The third party in the love triangle of Moses' case before it went belly up. Rakic is very much a man that will bend the law to protect his family and this case is no different. Rakic and Moses make to formidable team. Rakic may be prone to bending the law but he still wants to get the bad guys.
Frances Sparks novel has a little bit of everything. I do like a criminal novel to have some humour in it and this book provided that for me along with a cracking story line that just kept expanding. A long with the good guys there has to be the crooks too and well they certainly know how to dish out the violence. I got the feeling that some of these characters really did enjoy their work!   It always amazes me to what depths people will go to for money and how life has little meaning. Francis Sparks captures this perfectly in his novel. It has been a pleasure to read this book, thanks to the author. I have chosen to review this book.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chilling read – literally as the book is set in the depths of an Iowan Winter. This really added to the atmosphere of the book including at one point the body of a young girl frozen to the street. I was glad to be reading it tucked up under a blanket at home!

Moses Winter is the private investigator that gets drawn into the criminal underworld of Des Moines and deeper into a situation that is out of his league. I liked Moses as a character; his determination to get to the bottom of what seemed like a straight forward adultery case gone wrong was laudable.

DCI Rakic is the agent in charge of the case that evolves from Moses’ adultery case taking a violent turn. This ends up being the tip of the iceberg and he helps Moses unravel the tangled web of deceit which results in them stumbling upon the most heinous crimes of their careers. Rakic has family ties to the case and his dedication to trying to keep them safe whilst bringing others to justice was admirable.

A hard hitting thriller with intriguing characters, a must read for fans of this genre. Four stars from me!

[D.J. Adamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flawed investigator Moses Winter takes on the criminal underground of Des Moines, Iowa. Yes, even in the Midwest, crime rears its ugly head. Sparks gives the reader a protagonist not yet jaded, willing to courageously take crime on.
This noir thriller by Francis Sparks won’t be the last in the hands of those readers who want credible characters and a story that runs through the novel like a roller-coaster of dips, turns, and welcomed surprises. -Review can be found at Le Coeur de l'Artiste http://www.djadamson.com/le-coeur-de-...

[Brian Cohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with mystery and intrigue in the middle of Iowa, Made Safe is a thrilling ride. When PI Moses Winter took on the typical "man cheating on wife" case, he didn't expect anything too complicated. But when the case goes south, he's drawn into the seedy underbelly of Des Moines, Iowa. As he gets drawn deeper and deeper into the mystery, he finds himself left with no choice but to help those who are unable to help themselves. A mystery filled with twists and turns, Made Safe is sure to please anyone ready for a roller coaster ride.

[Sarah Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made Safe is a must read for thriller lovers. PI Moses Winter finds himself investigating a series of crimes colder than the Iowa winter shrouding his every move in ice and snow. He finds himself an unexpected partner in DCI Rakić, and together the two of them proceed to crack open a case bigger than either imagined. Throttling forward with a killer plot, well-drawn and intriguing characters, and a sense of place that immerses you in the Moses' world, you won't be able to put it down.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I have to admit that I live in the Des Moines, IA area where this story takes place, so it was really fun visualizing where all the action was taking place. But beyond that, it was a good story.

The story opens with Private Investigator, Moses Winter, working for a woman whose husband, Fred, is having an affair. Sharon wants to confront her husband and his mistress and talks Winter into going to a cabin where the couple is staying. Soon a fight breaks out, Fred gets stabbed, and all four end up in jail while they wait to be interviewed. One twist is the mistress is related to Raif, the DCI agent investigating the case, both are Bosnians. There is a Bosnian community in Des Moines and much of this story revolves around them.

I started out unsure of Raif as he hides evidence and tries to point the blame to anyone other than his cousin. There are hints of crooked cops, but no one is ever outed. I didn't understand Winter, but once he felt a responsibility to find the truth, nothing could stop him. The final few pages confused me and felt unnecessary, but I guess it was the author's way of tying up one loose end.

[Matt Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I certainly hope this book makes Francis Sparks one of the faces of neo-noir, Moses Winter deserves a seat at that table. For anyone, such as myself, who has an undying love for the shadowy world of Hammett and Chandler and Mosley, this book will hit you like a warm trench coat in the middle of a snow storm. I feel like writers should seek to write a book that only they can write. I think Sparks has done exactly that. The Des Moines setting becomes every bit as real as Chandler's or Mosley's L.A. There is this defining of place based on a refocusing through a dark eye which makes noir ... noir. I loved every page.

[Penni Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made Safe is a fast-paced gritty mystery with twists I never saw coming. Can't wait to read the next book in this series!

[Kris Verdeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading mostly historical fiction and non-fiction over the past year, it was great to change it up and read in the crime/thriller/mystery genre. Francis Sparks debut is a fast-paced, page-turner of a crime novel and a bonus that it took place in Des Moines, Iowa as I could picture the locations described. Knowing that the crime involved in this novel is an issue hitting all across the nation, I finished the book wondering if there was some truth in the story. I'm looking forward to the release of the next installment of the series to find out what Sparks has his characters uncover next!

[mzbeastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, it starts out relatively sedate, almost predictable, until...it isn't predictable at all anymore! Fast paced, lots of action, totally unpredictable and entering nail-biting territory relatively quickly. Looking for more in this series!

[Amy Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be prepared to get lost!

This book is very gritty and intense. I love a good thriller and this is one of the good ones. Add in an intriguing PI, Moses Winter, and you've got yourself a hit. I really liked this story, and it was a very raw and amazing journey of solving the case. I love the complications and the connections between the characters. Sparks writes a good story and I was finally able to put it down when the story concluded.

[booksofallkinds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moses Winter is a Private Investigator that gets a lot more than he bargained for when he takes on what should be a straightforward adultery case, when the cheater in question, Fred Dunsmore, ends up in the hospital with a stab wound, while the wife and girlfriend battle it out between them. But when Fred goes missing, Moses will find himself in much murkier waters than he thought possible. Joining forces with DCI Raif Rakic, who has a personal interest in the case as Mr. Dunsmore girlfriend is his cousin, they are determined to uncover the truth. But as they dig deeper they will uncover darker crimes than they ever thought possible. With excellent characterisation, a swelteringly intense atmosphere, and elements of humour scattered throughout the plot MADE SAFE by Francis Sparks is a crime fiction novel with a difference, and well worth reading.

*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the author

[Andy N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank the author Francis Sparks for reaching out and allowing me to review his book.​

One word for this novel: Intense! I absolutely love the type of story where the main character gets involved with something, falling into it blindly. It just adds spice to the story!

A novel starts out with private investigator Moses Winter is working on a cheating-husband case. Things start to get complicated when the cheated wife discovers that her husband has been with a Bosnian immigrant. When a fight breaks out, the husband ends up being stabbed, and when the police finally arrives on scene, Rakic, the agent from the homicide department, recognises the mistress as his cousin. While trying to protect his cousin, Rakic realises that finding the truth will more come complicated than he was expecting. When Moses feels there’s something amiss with the story, he investigates and ends up finding out the shocking truth, something that runs a lot deeper than a mere cheating investigation.

It gives me great satisfaction to see all the story lines come together perfectly in the end with no stings left hanging. The story line is great and the style of writing made it very easy to follow the different perspectives and the development of the case. The description of the global problem of human trafficking served as reminder of the level of desperation people have to reach to undergo such conditions, just to have a chance at life. I think Sparks addresses the problem in a very good way and it definitely puts this novel in a whole other level.
The characters are well developed, especially Moses, a likeable character with a great level of determination and curiosity.

Unfortunately the romantic part didn’t do much for me. His connection with Majka, a suspect, and the fact that he uses her didn’t sit well for me. I so admire the determination of Rakic and his family loyalty. The references to smoking came too often, in my opinion. I’m not a smoker but I think it was too much detail for an addiction.

Overall, it’s a fast-paced detective story that I enjoyed immensely.

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder comes to Des Moines in Francis Sparks’ Made Safe. And things are just getting warmed up at that point in this wintry Midwestern neo-noir debut.

Made Safe by Francis SparksMade Safe starts with the familiar elements of crime. Moses Winter, a middle-aged, down-on-his-luck private detective gets in over his head while investigating a cheating husband.

He forges an unlikely, and sometimes too trusting, partnership with Raif Rakić, a Bosnian immigrant who’s earned his way to detective on the city police department. Rakić steals the show at first. He bends the rules to protect his cousin, who is the dead husband’s mistress. He stifles anger and old trauma from atrocities in the old country.

Winter seems flatter at first, stumbling from one clue to another and taking a beating for it along the way, but his depth and drive blossom as Sparks reveals more of the Des Moines locale and Winter’s native born familiarity with it. He’s less familiar with the Bosnian underworld he discovers, including the vampy Majka, who has more to do with the conspiracy than Winter wants to admit when she starts up a love affair with him. Winter is sharp and good hearted, and he grows into an likable guy.

Winter’s relationship with Majka mirrors his with Rakić. They warm to Winter a little too abruptly, but they’re necessary strands to make the mystery drive on. Drive on it does. Winter discovers a human trafficking ring — young girls from Europe herded literally like cattle with a chilling amorality. There are surprises here, though at the expense of a too-connected string of characters.

Winter time Des Moines provides a unique backdrop. Sparks crafts what seems at first a plain city and straightforward place, but becomes a murky setting that takes on the sturdy grays of film noir, suffering, and uncertain resolution. His ending teases readers a little too harshly, but the crime story holds up.

[Kara Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I knew what Made Safe was going to be about, and then it did a total 180 on me (in a good way!). This was one of the few thrillers I have read that kept one step ahead of me the entire time I read it. As soon as I thought I knew what was going to happen, it took a surprise turn. I never thought of Iowa as a place of crime.

I have never read about Bosnians before but Raif Rakić was one of my favorite characters that I have read. Raif was an alpha male but didn't have the snarky attitude. I found him really likable. I also enjoyed Moses Winter, he seemed like a very typical normal guy who got himself into a heap of strange situations. I never really stopped to think how refugees come over to America, and all that they have to encounter and adjust to.

I give Made Safe 5 out of 5 stars, and recommend it to you, especially if you like a story that will keep you on the edge, and up for many hours. You can't put this one down! I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

I received a copy of Made Safe from the author for my honest review.
First posted here: http://karatheredhead.blogspot.com/20...

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sparks expertly weaves noir crime fiction with a modern sensitivity that breaths fresh air into the genre. One foremost deviation and appeal is that our protagonist is not yet hardboiled by a career of cynicism, which makes for a fascinating narrative as the reader often has the same first-time experience as does our leading man. In this way, Sparks writes an instantly relatable and even sympathetically familiar character, making this feel like the long-awaited prequel to an established saga you haven’t yet read. To anyone who has never seen a murder victim frozen to the street in a deep Midwestern winter, the visceral imagery is astounding and the internal monologue, accessible and engaging. In Made Safe, we are treated to a drama that picks up speed with each page and will ultimately leave you rewarded and satisfied, yet simultaneously wanting more from this author. I’m truly looking forward to the next one from Sparks.

[Lori Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever wonder what happens behind the huge oak door of the elegant house on the swanky street? Francis Sparks gives us a peek- and you won’t look at that house the same way again. In this tale of Heartland Noir, he takes us behind the façade of a Midwest town to shine a light on what happens in the shadows. While the rest of us are getting ready to celebrate Christmas, there are those who are just struggling to stay alive.

I did get an ARC of this to read. Even better, we were in the same writing group at one time. So it’s fantastic to follow the journey. He spins a great story, fast paced and gritty. This disturbing tale will stay with you for some time and you’ll never stop wondering what happens behinds those doors that you drive by. I’m excited to see what he offers up next!

[Dana Faletti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually read crime thrillers, but I received an ARC copy of Made Safe from the publisher and couldn't put this book down. MC Moses Winter - probably my favorite MC name in a book - is your typical hard-nosed PI at first. He throws himself into his case with full force, and as the case becomes increasingly tricky, Moses' tough layers peel away to reveal a flawed yet caring man with a complicated history, He becomes obsessed with solving the mystery of one man's disappearance and ends up being hurled into his community's Bosnian underworld of crime, risking his own safety and sanity. Definitely recommended for readers of Kyle Mills and David Baldacci.

[Cheri Champagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made Safe is a thrilling read that kept me on my seat and eagerly turning the pages for more. I would happily pick it up and read it again!

[Steph Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good opening to what I hope will be a continuing PI/mystery series. The Iowa setting/"winter" theme in particular helps to make Moses Winter and Made Safe stand out in what can often be a sea of detective, mystery and noir levels and also thought the inclusion of the Bosnians' story lines added something a bit fresh to the novel.
Overall, if you're looking for a gritty PI novel with a dark, brooding atmosphere, you'll enjoy Made Safe. I'm interested to see where Sparks takes the series from here...

[Jeff Messick]

This book started off at an extreme pace, and never really let up, until the end. Well written mystery with a twist you'll tell yourself you saw coming a mile away, and you'd be lying to yourself. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.