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There's Always Time for Murder #1
Time to Run
When Jax Duncan stumbles across a mob execution, she becomes the next target for the hit man and the prime suspect for Special Agent Lincoln Montgomery. She decides to hide out until the case is solved and her name cleared.
In each new city she tries to make a life for herself, but no place feels safe. She can still hear the violent confrontation, smell the blood . . . she still watches over her shoulder everywhere she goes, terrified of being discovered . . . eliminated.
Now her worst fears have come true. The hit man has found her. And so has Special Agent Montgomery, the one person with the power to either lock her up or clear her name--if only he'll believe her.
Unwilling to take that chance, she must run again. Only this time she has an added burden . . . a wounded FBI agent who depends on her to keep him alive until he's well enough to arrest her.
In each new city she tries to make a life for herself, but no place feels safe. She can still hear the violent confrontation, smell the blood . . . she still watches over her shoulder everywhere she goes, terrified of being discovered . . . eliminated.
Now her worst fears have come true. The hit man has found her. And so has Special Agent Montgomery, the one person with the power to either lock her up or clear her name--if only he'll believe her.
Unwilling to take that chance, she must run again. Only this time she has an added burden . . . a wounded FBI agent who depends on her to keep him alive until he's well enough to arrest her.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2019
764 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
Susan C. Muller
16 books75 followersSusan C. Muller is a fourth generation Texan. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University where she studied creative writing. Her novel, The Secrets on Forest Bend, has won several awards. The next novels in her Occult series,The Witch on Twisted Oak and Voodoo on Bayou Lafonte, have received excellent reviews..
She enjoys speaking to book clubs and writer’s groups.
She loves to travel and has been fortunate to see much of the world. Her favorite places include Kenya, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands. She has been to every continent except Antarctica. She has been spotted shopping for a heavy parka, just in case.
When not writing, she can be found doing volunteer work at a local hospital. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, snorkeling and taking long walks.
She can be found at: www.SusanCMuller.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
November 22, 2020
I really liked this story about a young woman, Jax, who witnessed a murder and is on the run from the mob, the FBI and everyone else. The FBI agent chasing her is named Lincoln and he finds her very interesting, and begins to believer her story that she is innocent. I enjoyed the suspense and the chase scenes, and liked the ending a lot.
June 21, 2019
A book you don't want to put down. A female lead so strong you wish you had half her guts and gumption. You will have to remind yourself to breathe when they are on the run.
From spoiled rich girl to smarter than your average FBI agent, you will find yourself falling for Jax and admiring her ability to carry on.
Don't pick this up when you have made plans for later. Everything else will get put on hold until you find out if Jax will ever be safe again - and that goes for anyone who tries to help her.
You thought you knew who the good guys are. You will think again and never be sure.
From spoiled rich girl to smarter than your average FBI agent, you will find yourself falling for Jax and admiring her ability to carry on.
Don't pick this up when you have made plans for later. Everything else will get put on hold until you find out if Jax will ever be safe again - and that goes for anyone who tries to help her.
You thought you knew who the good guys are. You will think again and never be sure.
May 10, 2020
Time to Run by Susan C. Muller.
One man wants her behind bars. The other needs her dead.
Jax Duncan lives in a world of privilege. But no amount of money can compensate for a distant alcoholic mother and a stepfather with wandering hands. Desperate for freedom, she leaves home only to witness a high-profile mob murder and make herself the next target.
Fleeing both the hitman and the FBI agent who thinks she pulled the trigger, Jax moves from city to city in search of safety. But when they track her down, a bloody confrontation seriously wounds the federal cop, forcing her to care for the man who’s sworn to put her away. And now they’re both in the killer’s crosshairs…
Can Jax clear her name before she’s sleeping with the fishes?
A brilliant read with some good characters. I liked the cover too. 5*.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
One man wants her behind bars. The other needs her dead.
Jax Duncan lives in a world of privilege. But no amount of money can compensate for a distant alcoholic mother and a stepfather with wandering hands. Desperate for freedom, she leaves home only to witness a high-profile mob murder and make herself the next target.
Fleeing both the hitman and the FBI agent who thinks she pulled the trigger, Jax moves from city to city in search of safety. But when they track her down, a bloody confrontation seriously wounds the federal cop, forcing her to care for the man who’s sworn to put her away. And now they’re both in the killer’s crosshairs…
Can Jax clear her name before she’s sleeping with the fishes?
A brilliant read with some good characters. I liked the cover too. 5*.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 13, 2020
3.5 stars
Fast-paced, interesting storyline as well as the characters
Fast-paced, interesting storyline as well as the characters
June 20, 2020
just barely 4 stars, not a fan of throwing all the pets in there for some tension... seems lazy but other than that I enjoyed it
June 25, 2020
"Gripping read"
If you're looking for a page-turning, action-packed, heart-in-the-mouth adventure, then look no further.
If you're looking for a page-turning, action-packed, heart-in-the-mouth adventure, then look no further.
June 14, 2019
What an amazing story. I was on the edge of my seat, just waiting for the next complication. Loved this book. It’s a must read. The characters are lovable and it’s not a cheesy romantic story. It’s a wonderfully written book.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 7, 2019
When Jax Duncan witnesses a crime and runs for her life, she soon has the mob, the FBI, and the killer after her. Unable to trust anyone except herself, Jax evades capture time and again. The action never slows down in the fast-paced suspense novel. What I really enjoyed was the three-dimensional portrayal of the villain, lending enough bits of background to him to make you not completely despise him.
I couldn’t put this book down until I finished it. Another great read by the author.
I couldn’t put this book down until I finished it. Another great read by the author.
May 3, 2020
This is the first book in the There’s Always Time for Murder series and is a classic story of being in the wrong place at the wrong time! Jax Duncan used to live a life of luxury, until she could no longer rely on a helping hand from a stepfather who wanted more hands on than he should and a mother too far gone to fight for herself. A sudden change in her circumstances left her small group of supposed friends and colleagues dropping her when she no longer paid for their every whim. Nearing the end of a work day, she takes a chance to look for a recommendation or a step up, by delivering some important papers that have been left behind in error, to the home of a local senator. What she walks into as she tries to pump herself up for a job opportunity, is a hitman for the mob, making threats to the senator to get what his boss wants, and when the wrong answer is given, he kills him.
So now Jax is a witness to both the hitman and his identity, but more importantly, to who the hitman is connected to and a loose end the mob boss needs cleaning up immediately. Only due to the bloody grip the hitman gets on her arm, is she able to get away and hide. She has run without any thought and tries to go back to her apartment, to find the hitman has already reached it, as her purse was one item she dropped in her panic. Now she has next to nothing and is too afraid to go to the police of the FBI, especially after what she heard the hitman say to the senator about the mob’s influence in those organisations and the high morbidity rate for any witnesses to this mob boss’ case. She has to flee the hitman, the mob and also an FBI agent Lincoln, who is sent to find her. She has left blood smears in her apartment, returning to it after the hitman left, which make her a suspect in the senator’s disappearance or murder, as no body is found. The FBI agent believes from the initial evidence that she had some part to play in this and thinks her guilty.
The case then goes quiet for about four years, until the FBI agent manages to track her down, working as a waitress. She has been hopping around different states, never going back to the same one, ever since she fled. Always looking out for Ponytail, as she has nicknamed the hitman, and whenever she gets a prickly feeling on the back of her neck, or sees someone that looks like him, she is off. She has it down to a fine art now, but this time she didn’t leave quite quickly enough! Lincoln doesn’t believe her, about the hitman following them, nor about any possible FBI agents being involved with the mob, but sons finds out to his cost, that she is telling the truth. Jax has to end up looking after Lincoln after he is injured in a crash caused by the hitman and only her experiences at running are keeping them alive at this moment. She could have just dumped him, but he could be targeted by the hitman and she doesn’t want any more deaths on her hands. All she wanted was to be able to clear her name, but unless they can get the hitman to testify, she has little chance of ever being free to stop running!
Lincoln needs to call on some very trusted friends and colleagues to come and help them get clear of the hitman and to help turn the tables on him and the mob boss, if this nightmare is to ever end. Even the hitman is getting fed up of never being able to get back to his normal life, to see his ailing mother or his siblings. He made sure his younger brother got into a line of work that would never be able to be useful to the mob and this comes into its own, near the end of the book! Someone is leaking Jax and Lincoln’s ever step to the hitman and they need the help to find out who. Even the mob boss is ahead of them, as he clears out before any law enforcement can catch him out. What it will take for Jax to finally be able to have a semi normal life, seems almost like it would need a miracle now. Will her time for running ever have an end, is for readers to discover for themselves.
She is a strong character, placed in an impossible situation and after having to just react, has now got herself together and will keep on surviving, especially with all the skills she has picked up on the way. Lincoln has to examine what his life consisted of before meeting Jax, a rigid rule follower, who has now broken almost all the rules he knew. In the end, they make a great team and a cop who owed him from a former case, and his girlfriend, are strong backup for what comes next. The girlfriend had survived a serial killer, so she and Jax are no wallflowers, and will get themselves stuck into any action! The hitman will do whatever it takes to get back home, but family is important to him also and he shouldn’t be crossed. A great piece of action, flowing storyline and some very determined characters, all mixed up in a mob case for far too long. I certainly want to see what comes next for these characters, as there seems to be a promise of more. I can’t wait. If you want a thriller, with lots of twists, unexpected happenings and a sordid line of moles in high places, then this is for you. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Hitman, a Witness and No-One to Trust
So now Jax is a witness to both the hitman and his identity, but more importantly, to who the hitman is connected to and a loose end the mob boss needs cleaning up immediately. Only due to the bloody grip the hitman gets on her arm, is she able to get away and hide. She has run without any thought and tries to go back to her apartment, to find the hitman has already reached it, as her purse was one item she dropped in her panic. Now she has next to nothing and is too afraid to go to the police of the FBI, especially after what she heard the hitman say to the senator about the mob’s influence in those organisations and the high morbidity rate for any witnesses to this mob boss’ case. She has to flee the hitman, the mob and also an FBI agent Lincoln, who is sent to find her. She has left blood smears in her apartment, returning to it after the hitman left, which make her a suspect in the senator’s disappearance or murder, as no body is found. The FBI agent believes from the initial evidence that she had some part to play in this and thinks her guilty.
The case then goes quiet for about four years, until the FBI agent manages to track her down, working as a waitress. She has been hopping around different states, never going back to the same one, ever since she fled. Always looking out for Ponytail, as she has nicknamed the hitman, and whenever she gets a prickly feeling on the back of her neck, or sees someone that looks like him, she is off. She has it down to a fine art now, but this time she didn’t leave quite quickly enough! Lincoln doesn’t believe her, about the hitman following them, nor about any possible FBI agents being involved with the mob, but sons finds out to his cost, that she is telling the truth. Jax has to end up looking after Lincoln after he is injured in a crash caused by the hitman and only her experiences at running are keeping them alive at this moment. She could have just dumped him, but he could be targeted by the hitman and she doesn’t want any more deaths on her hands. All she wanted was to be able to clear her name, but unless they can get the hitman to testify, she has little chance of ever being free to stop running!
Lincoln needs to call on some very trusted friends and colleagues to come and help them get clear of the hitman and to help turn the tables on him and the mob boss, if this nightmare is to ever end. Even the hitman is getting fed up of never being able to get back to his normal life, to see his ailing mother or his siblings. He made sure his younger brother got into a line of work that would never be able to be useful to the mob and this comes into its own, near the end of the book! Someone is leaking Jax and Lincoln’s ever step to the hitman and they need the help to find out who. Even the mob boss is ahead of them, as he clears out before any law enforcement can catch him out. What it will take for Jax to finally be able to have a semi normal life, seems almost like it would need a miracle now. Will her time for running ever have an end, is for readers to discover for themselves.
She is a strong character, placed in an impossible situation and after having to just react, has now got herself together and will keep on surviving, especially with all the skills she has picked up on the way. Lincoln has to examine what his life consisted of before meeting Jax, a rigid rule follower, who has now broken almost all the rules he knew. In the end, they make a great team and a cop who owed him from a former case, and his girlfriend, are strong backup for what comes next. The girlfriend had survived a serial killer, so she and Jax are no wallflowers, and will get themselves stuck into any action! The hitman will do whatever it takes to get back home, but family is important to him also and he shouldn’t be crossed. A great piece of action, flowing storyline and some very determined characters, all mixed up in a mob case for far too long. I certainly want to see what comes next for these characters, as there seems to be a promise of more. I can’t wait. If you want a thriller, with lots of twists, unexpected happenings and a sordid line of moles in high places, then this is for you. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Hitman, a Witness and No-One to Trust
June 22, 2019
Disclaimer: This is a no-spoilers review of the book - Time to Run. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you Ms. Muller for the Advance Review Copy. The book will be released officially tomorrow, 23rd June, 2019.
The Plot:
Jax Duncan is on the run. An unfortunate witnessing of a mob killing upturns her life and she goes from being an ambitious city girl to an expert on surviving and living a nomadic life. It seems to her the mob never forgets and nor do the authorities. Every time she feels like she has found a home, friends and maybe more… it is time for her to run. She is waiting to find her old self. But, how do you do that when every step you take makes you look more like the guilty one rather than the victim? How long does she have to run before she can prove her innocence, help bring down the mob and finally lead a normal life?
Anything more I write will spoil the thrill and mystery that the plot manages to create. You should read this one to find out how Ms. Duncan fares at the end 😊
What I Liked:
This was an adrenaline filled read which had me on the edge of my seat. The story was well written, and it was packed with thrill, mystery, great characters and an intriguing plot. All the elements needed to make it an enjoyable read. The plot was fast-paced and not too predictable. I was invested in the outcome and the fate of the characters. .
What could have been better:
There was a short period in a chapter halfway through the book where the characters suddenly felt out of character. There seemed a mismatch in the way they were presented earlier, their personalities and how they were behaving. But honestly, that was a short one and the book was back on track again. There were no loopholes in the story which is a very common case for thrillers and mystery books and that made me a happy reader.
Overall, the writing was lucid and thoughtful. An easy read for beginners and for those looking for a quick read and an interesting plot.
The Plot:
Jax Duncan is on the run. An unfortunate witnessing of a mob killing upturns her life and she goes from being an ambitious city girl to an expert on surviving and living a nomadic life. It seems to her the mob never forgets and nor do the authorities. Every time she feels like she has found a home, friends and maybe more… it is time for her to run. She is waiting to find her old self. But, how do you do that when every step you take makes you look more like the guilty one rather than the victim? How long does she have to run before she can prove her innocence, help bring down the mob and finally lead a normal life?
Anything more I write will spoil the thrill and mystery that the plot manages to create. You should read this one to find out how Ms. Duncan fares at the end 😊
What I Liked:
This was an adrenaline filled read which had me on the edge of my seat. The story was well written, and it was packed with thrill, mystery, great characters and an intriguing plot. All the elements needed to make it an enjoyable read. The plot was fast-paced and not too predictable. I was invested in the outcome and the fate of the characters. .
What could have been better:
There was a short period in a chapter halfway through the book where the characters suddenly felt out of character. There seemed a mismatch in the way they were presented earlier, their personalities and how they were behaving. But honestly, that was a short one and the book was back on track again. There were no loopholes in the story which is a very common case for thrillers and mystery books and that made me a happy reader.
Overall, the writing was lucid and thoughtful. An easy read for beginners and for those looking for a quick read and an interesting plot.
June 1, 2020
4, Sacramento, CA. Jacqueline “Jax” Duncan (24, aka The Tornado, city clerk, Stanford) knocked & then went into Senator Cory Sheppard (CA state) house.
BANG! BANG!
The hitmen spied Jax as she took off running.
Nick Ross (aka Ponytail) & Dominic Rossini knew they had to find the girl.
But 1st dispose of the body.
West Monroe, TX. FBI SAC Lincoln Montgomery had finally caught up with Sandy Hoffberg (aka Jax, barmaid, Roy’s Diner waitress).
FBI SA Stu Hawkins (partner) had been shot/killed at Jax’s trailer.
FBI SAC Montgomery got Sandy moved to a new location for now.
FBI SAC Montgomery had called Detective Noah Daugherty (Houston PD Homicide).
Jax’s calls him Ponytail (hitman).
Will she survive?
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written crime thriller
book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an amazingly easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author (s); Stanford Publishing Crime; BookReviewBuzz; BookSprout; Author; ARC; PDF book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
BANG! BANG!
The hitmen spied Jax as she took off running.
Nick Ross (aka Ponytail) & Dominic Rossini knew they had to find the girl.
But 1st dispose of the body.
West Monroe, TX. FBI SAC Lincoln Montgomery had finally caught up with Sandy Hoffberg (aka Jax, barmaid, Roy’s Diner waitress).
FBI SA Stu Hawkins (partner) had been shot/killed at Jax’s trailer.
FBI SAC Montgomery got Sandy moved to a new location for now.
FBI SAC Montgomery had called Detective Noah Daugherty (Houston PD Homicide).
Jax’s calls him Ponytail (hitman).
Will she survive?
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written crime thriller
book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an amazingly easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author (s); Stanford Publishing Crime; BookReviewBuzz; BookSprout; Author; ARC; PDF book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
April 20, 2020
4.5/5 stars
When Jax walked through that red door which was supposed to bring her good fortune, she ended up running for the next four years with red on her hands.
A series of events paints Jax as a murderer and a professional criminal.. No matter where she goes she is tailed by the mob and the FBI who want her for different reasons but perhaps that red door had been somewhat lucky because comically enough, neither can get their hands on her. She just managed to slip through their fingers-literally.
Jax is a strong female character who can take care of herself and adapt to her circumstances as they rapidly change. She is admirable and even the bad guys can't help but be impressed:
"She had shown guts and talent, evading him for so long. If things had been different, he wouldn't have minded working with her."
But being a fugitive isn't the life she wants and the honest Special Agent Lincoln Montgomery seems to be the only one who can help her prove her innocence but before anything they must learn to trust each other and trust is hard to come by when betrayals and corruption are rife. It all comes down to: who will you trust with your life?
This book is a page turner. You'll want to finish this book before doing anything else. The characters are loveable and well developed. The plot is catchy. Nothing is really what it seems.
Grab a meal, some snacks and maybe even take a nap because with Susan C. Muller's vivid imagery you'll be running from chapter one.
You can run but where can you hide?
When Jax walked through that red door which was supposed to bring her good fortune, she ended up running for the next four years with red on her hands.
A series of events paints Jax as a murderer and a professional criminal.. No matter where she goes she is tailed by the mob and the FBI who want her for different reasons but perhaps that red door had been somewhat lucky because comically enough, neither can get their hands on her. She just managed to slip through their fingers-literally.
Jax is a strong female character who can take care of herself and adapt to her circumstances as they rapidly change. She is admirable and even the bad guys can't help but be impressed:
"She had shown guts and talent, evading him for so long. If things had been different, he wouldn't have minded working with her."
But being a fugitive isn't the life she wants and the honest Special Agent Lincoln Montgomery seems to be the only one who can help her prove her innocence but before anything they must learn to trust each other and trust is hard to come by when betrayals and corruption are rife. It all comes down to: who will you trust with your life?
This book is a page turner. You'll want to finish this book before doing anything else. The characters are loveable and well developed. The plot is catchy. Nothing is really what it seems.
Grab a meal, some snacks and maybe even take a nap because with Susan C. Muller's vivid imagery you'll be running from chapter one.
You can run but where can you hide?
May 10, 2020
(4.5)Don't you just love it when you take a chance on a book and it pays out. I have "met" so many new authors through Netgalley that my TBR pile hates them. This first time read for me hit checked a lot of boxes. Thriller, suspense, mystery and connection. If your looking for in your face romance and hanky panky this is not the book for you. If your looking to be entertained, wowed, heart pumping and amused this is the book. I say amused because when Jax lets her mouth run she can put on the snark. Jax is strong, she has endured things you do not find about till later in the book, but they all help make her the woman she is today. On the run from the mob and the FBI, she is quite successful for many years. When Special Agent Lincoln finally catches up with her we are off.
Murder, mayhem, who is the leak, how is ponytail finding them? Through all this Jax and Lincoln build a connection. One that travel slowly trying to earn trust. I highly recommend this read to anyone who loves, thrillers and suspense. A great read. Thank you Susan C Muller , Standford Publishing and NetGalley for the arc.
I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions.
Murder, mayhem, who is the leak, how is ponytail finding them? Through all this Jax and Lincoln build a connection. One that travel slowly trying to earn trust. I highly recommend this read to anyone who loves, thrillers and suspense. A great read. Thank you Susan C Muller , Standford Publishing and NetGalley for the arc.
I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions.
June 27, 2019
Author Susan Muller has delivered another page turner with her latest release, Time to Run. She sets a fast pace right from the start, drawing the reader in immediately with the opening scene. The darkening Sacramento sky is tinged with blood red streaks as the sun slips below the horizon. As Jax Duncan makes her way up the sidewalk to Senator Cory Sheppard’s front door, she’s greeted with even more crimson. And so the foreshadowing begins, setting the mood for the reader.
When Jax knocks on the Senator’s door it swings inward, and once she’s inside, life as she knows it is forever changed.
Jax is violently thrust into a life-threatening game of hide and seek, relentlessly chased by a mob hit man, as well as the FBI and local police. Jax not only learns how to run, she develops marathon skills.
This is a tightly written story, with suspense that never loses pace. Another book by Muller you’ll want to keep on your shelf...in the area you reserve for stories to be read with the light on.
When Jax knocks on the Senator’s door it swings inward, and once she’s inside, life as she knows it is forever changed.
Jax is violently thrust into a life-threatening game of hide and seek, relentlessly chased by a mob hit man, as well as the FBI and local police. Jax not only learns how to run, she develops marathon skills.
This is a tightly written story, with suspense that never loses pace. Another book by Muller you’ll want to keep on your shelf...in the area you reserve for stories to be read with the light on.
October 31, 2021
Thank you, Ms. Muller, for sending me this gift of your enjoyable book (has the same cover photo as the Amazon ebook edition). Actually a 4.5 rating please. If I were a poet or a song writer, I would probably compose a poem or maybe a country song titled "Ode to Jax: Who's Done It More Than You?" Jacqueline (Jax) is an intelligent, clever young lady capable of building a useful, successful career in the public service field. Misfortune places her in the wrong place, wrong time, an innocent witness who appears guilty of the crime. I can't imagine being on the run for years from both the mob and law enforcement, including the FBI--changing identities, barely eking out a subsistence, possessing only what she could carry in her backpack that is always at hand, ready to move on in seconds. [In the end I was reminded that being a master electrician is a useful career.] Jax manages to open straight-arrow agent Lincoln's mind and heart, so we'll see how he moves forward in the next book. The Seasons Pass series also sounds interesting.
July 6, 2024
Jax Duncan finds herself a witness to a mob hit and has to run for her life. Instead of a pampered life of privilege, she has to stay on the run in order to hide out from both the mob and the authorities. This book follows her as she just tries to stay alive.
I usually enjoy books like this but I found this one to be unbelievable a lot of the time. It stretched my belief that a young woman like Jax could hide from trained law enforcement and mob assassins for over 4 years. A lot of the action was fairly repetitious and I felt like the book could have been pared down quite a lot. I would actually classify this as a cozy thriller (if there is such a thing!!).
This was my first time listening to a book narrated by Virtual Voice and I have to say that it wasn't too bad. I have listened to audiobooks for over 30 years, so I guess I am a bit of a snob when it comes to narrators. Readers who are new to audiobooks would probably not notice it, but I found the Virtual Voice to be lacking in emotion and I think this added to my lack of enthusiasm for the book.
I usually enjoy books like this but I found this one to be unbelievable a lot of the time. It stretched my belief that a young woman like Jax could hide from trained law enforcement and mob assassins for over 4 years. A lot of the action was fairly repetitious and I felt like the book could have been pared down quite a lot. I would actually classify this as a cozy thriller (if there is such a thing!!).
This was my first time listening to a book narrated by Virtual Voice and I have to say that it wasn't too bad. I have listened to audiobooks for over 30 years, so I guess I am a bit of a snob when it comes to narrators. Readers who are new to audiobooks would probably not notice it, but I found the Virtual Voice to be lacking in emotion and I think this added to my lack of enthusiasm for the book.
June 23, 2019
Talk about wrong place wrong time. Jax stumbles into a scene she never should have been at. And it changed her life forever. Now she's on the run with no place to go.
A murder, the mob and no one she can trust Jax has counted on no one but herself for four years. Always just one step ahead of Ponytail, the mobs hitman and the one she got away from. But someone is telling him where she's at. And getting caught by Lincoln and the FBI isn't what she had in mind. But now she must make him believe her or pay the cost.
Lincoln has been after Jax for four years. And he's finally got her. But nothing is as he thought. Now they are caught up in a dangerous web, one where he can't trust anyone but his very closest friends. There's a leak somewhere withing the FBI, the police and without them to rely on they run while proving her innocence. But will they live long enough to release themselves from the danger??
A murder, the mob and no one she can trust Jax has counted on no one but herself for four years. Always just one step ahead of Ponytail, the mobs hitman and the one she got away from. But someone is telling him where she's at. And getting caught by Lincoln and the FBI isn't what she had in mind. But now she must make him believe her or pay the cost.
Lincoln has been after Jax for four years. And he's finally got her. But nothing is as he thought. Now they are caught up in a dangerous web, one where he can't trust anyone but his very closest friends. There's a leak somewhere withing the FBI, the police and without them to rely on they run while proving her innocence. But will they live long enough to release themselves from the danger??
June 7, 2020
Good story but could have used some editing
Jax Duncan is angling for a better job as she arrives at a state senator's house to deliver some papers he forgot at the office. Instead of a heartfelt thanks, however, she arrives in time to see him shot. That would have been bad enough, except the shooter sees her, too. She barely escapes with her life, literally. Unfortunately, she dropped her purse, so the killer has her address, money, and credit cards. She flees for her life, embarking in a game of hide and seek that she's not really qualified to play. The mob hitman who's chasing her can't understand why a simple secretary is so hard to pin down—and so does FBI agent Lincoln Montgomery. Each time the hitman or Lincoln gets close, Jax knows it's time to pick up and run again.
Good story with likeable characters. It's not quite as suspenseful as it might have been, but it's a pretty solid read.
Jax Duncan is angling for a better job as she arrives at a state senator's house to deliver some papers he forgot at the office. Instead of a heartfelt thanks, however, she arrives in time to see him shot. That would have been bad enough, except the shooter sees her, too. She barely escapes with her life, literally. Unfortunately, she dropped her purse, so the killer has her address, money, and credit cards. She flees for her life, embarking in a game of hide and seek that she's not really qualified to play. The mob hitman who's chasing her can't understand why a simple secretary is so hard to pin down—and so does FBI agent Lincoln Montgomery. Each time the hitman or Lincoln gets close, Jax knows it's time to pick up and run again.
Good story with likeable characters. It's not quite as suspenseful as it might have been, but it's a pretty solid read.
June 22, 2020
When Jacqueline “Jax” Duncan witnesses the murder of a prominent political figure, she knows her only choice is to run and run far. Barely getting away before the killer hunts her down and after escaping from FBI Agent Lincoln Montgomery she hides out as she travels the country. But killers don’t give up nor do FBI agents and once again she is on the run. When Lincoln is injured while chasing her, she takes the role of protector as she tries to convince him that she did not commit murder. As they try to stay ahead of the killer and not knowing who they can trust, Lincoln seeks assistance from a detective that he has worked with. This is a wild ride from beginning to end! I so enjoyed the character of Jax as she is an unconventional heroine, but living on the run has given her street knowledge that comes in handy. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
May 2, 2020
Jax Duncan is unlucky when she stumbles upon a mob killing of the senator. She escapes, but is on the run from the murderer of the senator, a man she identifies as Ponytail. She flees from town to city with a "go bag" ready at all times because she knows she may need to run at any time. She is not only hiding from Ponytail; she's hiding from dirty cops and FBI agents that she is never sure if she can trust. Her plan is to hide out until the case can be solved and her name can be cleared. That is until special agent Lincoln Montgomery steps in. Lincoln has found Jax at the same time that Ponytail has. What ensues is a terrific, edge of your seat, fast paced novel with a great female character. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
I received an advance copy for review. All opinions are my own.
I received an advance copy for review. All opinions are my own.
May 4, 2020
This is my first book by this author and I am intrigued and definitely looking at reading more. I loved the storyline and the characters.
Jax is a strong woman that adapts to any situation quickly of course you need to when you are on the run for murder. She learns to think on her feet and cover her tracks. Trust is not an option.
Lincoln is a smart FBI agent who has doubts about Jax’s guilt. He quickly realized there is much more to the story than he originally thought. He knows he needs to protect her.
The dynamics between these characters as well as a compelling storyline left me wanting more. I would love to read more about these characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jax is a strong woman that adapts to any situation quickly of course you need to when you are on the run for murder. She learns to think on her feet and cover her tracks. Trust is not an option.
Lincoln is a smart FBI agent who has doubts about Jax’s guilt. He quickly realized there is much more to the story than he originally thought. He knows he needs to protect her.
The dynamics between these characters as well as a compelling storyline left me wanting more. I would love to read more about these characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 8, 2020
This is my first time reading a book by this author and I must say it is a real page turner. My attention was held from the very beginning and I didn't want the story to end.
The characters were well developed and I felt all the emotions of what some of the characters were going through. Especially having to witness a murder that is a Mob hit and being on the run for some years.
I love a good thriller, mystery and suspense with some drama and little romance and this book didn't disappoint me.
I highly recommend this book to read and look forward to reading more books by this author.
Cassandra H.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters were well developed and I felt all the emotions of what some of the characters were going through. Especially having to witness a murder that is a Mob hit and being on the run for some years.
I love a good thriller, mystery and suspense with some drama and little romance and this book didn't disappoint me.
I highly recommend this book to read and look forward to reading more books by this author.
Cassandra H.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 30, 2020
Based on so many of the reviews for this book, I'm asking myself how I could be SOOO off the mark for this book? This book was a chore to get through and I kept telling myself throughout the book to DNF it and move onto something else, something better. However, I kept thinking of all those four and five star reviews and I kept thinking that any minute now, it was going to get better. NOT!!! It never got better.
It's one thing when the supposed long time, highly connected and successful criminals are portrayed as imbecile morons but I absolutely hate stories where law enforcement officers, like FBI AGENTS are sooo incredibly stupid and incompetent. Good grief!!! This read like an incredibly bad, low-rate, straight to video movie.
It's one thing when the supposed long time, highly connected and successful criminals are portrayed as imbecile morons but I absolutely hate stories where law enforcement officers, like FBI AGENTS are sooo incredibly stupid and incompetent. Good grief!!! This read like an incredibly bad, low-rate, straight to video movie.
July 27, 2021
Discovering a new author to read is so rewarding, especially one from my home state. A Time to Run, There's Always Time for Murder Book 1, is the story of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Witnessing a mob hit on a prominent senator, Jax decision to run, instead of going to the police, will result in years of trying to hide, terror, distrust and loneliness. She becomes the prime suspect in the senators murder. Ultimately can she trust the police or FBI to catch the real killer, or will she spend her life in jail for the crime she didn't commit?
There's plenty of action, suspense, interesting characters and varied settings along the way. I already have the next in series on my list to read.
There's plenty of action, suspense, interesting characters and varied settings along the way. I already have the next in series on my list to read.
December 14, 2022
Definitely an engrossing read. I could see this being made into a movie easily, the writing had it playing out in my head like a movie.
I liked how we also got the viewpoint of the chief bad guy, it kind if gave me Stockholm syndrome, because it showed that he wasn't bad through and through. That message came through later in the book too, I liked that, since mostly bad people aren't bad all the way though.
There was just the right hint of humour in this book, not so much as to spoil the thriller aspect of it, but enough to lighten the mood a little.
One editing error I noticed, when an old lady went from white haired to grey haired then back to white.
Overall a good read, and they are in Kindle Unlimited so I'll definitely read more of her work
I liked how we also got the viewpoint of the chief bad guy, it kind if gave me Stockholm syndrome, because it showed that he wasn't bad through and through. That message came through later in the book too, I liked that, since mostly bad people aren't bad all the way though.
There was just the right hint of humour in this book, not so much as to spoil the thriller aspect of it, but enough to lighten the mood a little.
One editing error I noticed, when an old lady went from white haired to grey haired then back to white.
Overall a good read, and they are in Kindle Unlimited so I'll definitely read more of her work
May 12, 2020
It all starts when Jax witnesses the mob murder of a senator. She couldn’t go to the police, the FBI, or her home. What could she do? It was time for her to run.
Four years later, Jax remained hidden in plain sight, working a greasy diner. But then the FBI agent looking for her finally catches up with her—to arrest his murder suspect. He doesn’t believe her story about a ponytail guy killing the senator. But then the hit man strikes and now they both have to run. An intense race to live.
Jax has a determined will to survive. She never gives up and keeps on running.
A fast-paced, action-packed, and invigorating novel! A gripping read!
Four years later, Jax remained hidden in plain sight, working a greasy diner. But then the FBI agent looking for her finally catches up with her—to arrest his murder suspect. He doesn’t believe her story about a ponytail guy killing the senator. But then the hit man strikes and now they both have to run. An intense race to live.
Jax has a determined will to survive. She never gives up and keeps on running.
A fast-paced, action-packed, and invigorating novel! A gripping read!
June 12, 2020
I received an eARC from NetGalley and Stanford Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review, and I’d like to thank them for the advance copy.
A 3.5/5 read. This book would be a great vacation read. Perfect for sitting on the beach and relaxing.
Jax finds herself in the middle of a mob hit on a senator and narrowly escapes, sending her on a four-year run. That’s when an FBI agent finally catches up with her, but little do they know.. Ponytail has found them both, sending them on the run again.
Without giving too much away, this book was not my usual genre and not at all what I thought it would be, but an enjoyable escape. Easy to read, and fast-paced.
A 3.5/5 read. This book would be a great vacation read. Perfect for sitting on the beach and relaxing.
Jax finds herself in the middle of a mob hit on a senator and narrowly escapes, sending her on a four-year run. That’s when an FBI agent finally catches up with her, but little do they know.. Ponytail has found them both, sending them on the run again.
Without giving too much away, this book was not my usual genre and not at all what I thought it would be, but an enjoyable escape. Easy to read, and fast-paced.
Currently reading
August 10, 2020If you witnessed a very powerful man being murdered it IS 'Time to run.'
Trying to return important papers to a Senator, a young women knocks on his door only to find it ajar. She tiptoe inside, but before she can call out a greeting, she heard loud angry voices. She decides the prudent thing to do is set the documents onto a table, but her stilettos catch on a rug's edge and she lands on her bottom with a 'whoof. As she gets her bearings, there a couple of gunshots. Her short squeal as she sees the Senator's upper body in the room ahead brings a very large man running toward her. Now it is definitely time to run.
Trying to return important papers to a Senator, a young women knocks on his door only to find it ajar. She tiptoe inside, but before she can call out a greeting, she heard loud angry voices. She decides the prudent thing to do is set the documents onto a table, but her stilettos catch on a rug's edge and she lands on her bottom with a 'whoof. As she gets her bearings, there a couple of gunshots. Her short squeal as she sees the Senator's upper body in the room ahead brings a very large man running toward her. Now it is definitely time to run.
August 24, 2019
Jax is working for a Senator. She goes to his house to drop off some papers. The door is ajar and she walks in and witnesses someone killing the Senator. The killer tries to grab Jax, but his hands are covered in blood and she escapes. She overhears that the FBI and police are paid off. Jax is on the run for her life with no one to trust. This is a page turner with everyone looking for Jax. The mob wants her dead and the authorities want to arrest her because evidence appears to link her to the murder.
April 24, 2020
This was a fun one! Murder, intrigue, FBI, cops, the mob. Classic combination and wholly entertaining. I especially loved that the baddie was also a foodie, and that everyone was very concerned about the well being of their pets.
My ideal thriller has slightly more depth to it, more developed characters, and gets my heart racing so that I can't read at night. I can't say this book quite reached that level, but I'd definitely still recommend it for a light read.
Thanks to Netgalley for supplying me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
My ideal thriller has slightly more depth to it, more developed characters, and gets my heart racing so that I can't read at night. I can't say this book quite reached that level, but I'd definitely still recommend it for a light read.
Thanks to Netgalley for supplying me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
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