Twisted Justice: A Laura Nelson Thriller

Laura Nelson Mystery #2

by Patricia Gussin

New York Times and USA Today Best-selling Author A Shocking Tale of Lies, Betrayals, Secrets, and Lives Torn Apart For better . . . Laura Nelson has it all—a successful career as a surgeon, five well-adjusted kids, and a gorgeous, prominent husband Steve, a nightly news anchor at the Tampa TV News. For worse . . . Laura's seemingly perfect world shatters when she discovers that Steve is sharing much more than a news desk and a billboard with Kim, his sexy co-anchor. But Steve's torrid fling with his coworker is about to come to an abrupt end . . . Till death do us part . . . When Kim is murdered, Laura is left holding the smoking gun. How far would Laura go to preserve her perfect life? That's about to become yesterday's news. Now, Laura must fight to protect her freedom as lies, deception and dark secrets threaten to close in on her and convert her perfect life into a perfect nightmare. But looks can be deceiving. And deceit can be deadly. Sexy, alluring, and provocative, Twisted Justice delivers fiery hot action, pulse-pounding suspense, and a razor-sharp plot full of dangerous curves.Perfect for fans of Lisa Gardner and Lisa Scottoline While all of the novels in the Laura Nelson Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence of Death Twisted Justice Weapon of Choice After the Fall

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Medical, Mystery Thriller

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2007

About the author

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Patricia Gussin is a physician who grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, practiced in Philadelphia, and now lives in Longboat Key, Florida and Amagansett, NY. She is the author of seven novels including Shadow of Death, nominated Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers Association, and After the Fall, Gold Medal winner of the Florida Book Award for Popular Fiction in 2015, and second-time Gold Medal Winner for Popular Fiction in 2017 for Come Home. Patricia’s novels are classified as mystery/thrillers and fall within the sub-genre of domestic suspense. Her novels are inspired by her medical expertise and her experience as a mother of six, trying to balance family and career.
She and her husband Robert Gussin are also vineyards owners in New Zealand, growing grapes for Villa Maria Estates Winery.

Reviews

[Matt Schiariti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hated this book..then I liked this book..all at the same time...let me explain ;)

Seven hears after Shadow of Death life continues for the Nelsons...Laura is a respected cardiac surgeon in the Tampa Bay area...Steve is co anchor of the local area 11 o'clock news. They seemingly have everything. Great jobs, great kids. What lies underneath however is much darker. Laura kept her deep dark secret from the previous novel but more immediate than that, their marriage hasn't been what it was when they were younger. Both focused on their careers and the kids they've grown apart.

Enter major bad decision number one. Steve's co anchor, the sexy kim, has been having boyfriend issues...black eye the next day boyfriend issues. Steve asks her to come over the house one night so he can talk her out of moving from the tampa bay area to escape her jealous lover. You see, the ratings haven't been great and without Kim, Steve is on the unemployment line. She's very upset about her boyfriend and how he'll react to her leaving. Steve tries to comfort her while saving his own skin. That comforting turns into Steve cheating on Laura....but things wouldn't have gone so horrible wrong if Laura hadn't walked in on them in the midst of things. Laura subsequently throws Steve out of the house and is looking for divorce considering they haven't been totally happy since moving to Tampa...Steve more or less becomes unhinged..to top it all off, Kim ends up dead in Steve's borrowed apartment..on top of THAT Laura goes to see Steve in said apartment and finds Kim dead...she picked up the gun out of surprise while trying to check Kim's vitals (she is a doctor after all) and she's literally caught red handed by the police. Laura and Steve's lives will NEVER be the same, that's for sure..

So that's the synopsis...At first I really didn't like the direction this book was taking. In time it sort of made sense. See, I tried to like Steve during the first book. I thought he was generally a good guy, just having a lot of balls in the air with his job, the five kids, his wife's super crazy medical school schedule.

Frankly i was incensed the way Laura just threw him out of the house when she caught Steve and Kim. Why? Considering her deep dark secret from the first book and the results of them, I felt as if she really didn't have the right to react that way. I figured he deserved a pass on this one. Then as time went on Steve just kept making bad decision after bad decision. Sure there were reasons for it but his behavior was really inexcusable much of the time. I won't say I hated Steve in the end, but I was more prone to take Laura's side as things progressed.

It also made me think back to the original book...how Steve was sometimes short, etc. I think the author was laying the groundwork for a not so happy marriage way before this book came out.

In the end I really enjoyed this book although I will say there's no story book ending. A previous reviewer entitled their review 'American Tragedy'. That pretty much sums it up. Some of this is hard to read considering how two people could become so venomous towards one another. Especially when there are so many kids involved. It really strikes a chord.

I will say that I almost felt this should have been the final chapter in a three part series. The jumping ahead 7 years, all that groundwork that could have been laid to REALLY get into these characters' heads would have been enjoyable and probably even upped the impact of this one. I also sort of miss some of the characters that were so prominent in the Detroit setting. But the new characters were good.

The first one was more of a drama than anything else, this was more of a suspense, mystery, whodunnit. Really facst paced and it'll make you want to find out how everything resolves itself. Do I really like how Steve ended up being portrayed? No. But conflict makes for good character moments and an enjoyable read.

Good stuff.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely written crime novel following a Laura Nelson, athoracic surgeon accused of killing her news anchor husband Steve's one night stand, his co-anchor Kim Cannon. After Steve all but condemns Laura to the press, he absconds with the five kids, and she's frantic to get them back. Meanwhile, Kim's very jealous, mob connected boyfriend is on a quest to remove any witnesses and anybody Kim might have revealed his business secrets to. Oops! Delicious! Plots and subplots are well done, and you really want to root for the surgeon and her kids.

[Mindy Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowser! Still dizzy from the twisty-turny trip!!

What a great ride - more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. Fast-moving story grabs you and doesn't loosen the grip until you slide to a finish. Over too soon for a great summer read.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good(no great) book. It had many twists and turns in it and they each just made the story more believable. Every time I read the next book in this series it ends up being better than the last one. The characters are so believable I feel like I know them. Don't know how many books are in this series but I want to read them all.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great suspense

Great build up and tons of suspenseful twists as you go, once you start you can't stop flipping pages nor do you want to

[Mary Ann Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed it. On to book 3!

[Barbara R. Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted Justice

I enjoyed this book. Moves quickly and is easy reading with interesting plot. Recommend this book if you enjoy fictional mysteries.

[Debra Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twisted Justice is the second book in Patricia Gussin's series of Laura Nelson medical thrillers. Dr. Nelson is a surgeon in a Tampa City Hospital. This novel is centered around her family: husband, Steve, and their five children. Laura arrives home early one night to find Steve intimately involved with another woman. Steve decides to get his own apartment as there are obviously problems within their marriage. Unknown to Laura at the time, Steve's paramour is the mistress of a notorious Mafia drug lord. Dr. Nelson goes by Steve's place after work and walks in to find this woman he slept with bleeding on the kitchen floor! Instinctively, she gets down to check her wound, touching the gun lying beside her. The police arrive and guess who gets arrested for murder? Steve is suddenly and suspiciously missing. This is a great follow-up to Shadow of Death. I love Gussin's books because she writes so realistically. Can't wait to read the next two books in this wonderful series!

[Diana Bogan]

Another book by a local fla. author. I found it to be a decent story, certainly good enough that I finished it, but not a gripping crime, mystery thriller. I can certainly appreciate that it is not easy to craft a tightly written page turner, and while the plot line diverted into what I felt were some sub plot lines (for example half way through the book the author switches from crime drama to medical drama) it was still enjoyable. A good freshman effort. I might not pass this book on to friends, (it's like the tv show you watch when you remember it's on, you enjoy it but don't go out of your way to find it). I'd certainly like to see how Gussin matures as a writer in future book projects.

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate the title of this book but I enjoyed the book. I think it's a well-written story, with lots of different stories to follow to see if you can figure out the puzzle pieces. There were really more than a few twists and turns that had me completely off about the ending and I like when a book does that so great job and the ending still lived up to expectations. Not exactly a happy ending type of book but maybe new beginnings are happy endings in another form.

[Francis T. Villante · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

this book kept you turning the pages. a little bit unrealistic in some parts but otherwise it was fast moving and exciting to read. also involves a family broken apart by a husband who is caught cheating and the up and down emotions and interactions between the couple that happens everyday in towns across the country. overall I would recommend it for someone looking for a book with lots of twists and turns and excitement.

[tweetypat1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. FAST MOVING RIGHT FROM THE FIRST PAGE WHICH GOT MY ATTENTION...AND CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE BOOK. QUITE A NUMBER OF CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK BUT NOT INTRODUCED ALL AT ONCE SO YOU COULD KEEP TRACK EASILY. LOVED THE TWISTS AND TURNS IN THIS NOVEL AND NEVER READ ANY OF THIS AUTHORS BOOKS BEFORE, BUT WILL IN THE FUTURE.(less)

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written different than one I have read before. A surgeon being set up for a murder she didn't do. Having a husband not believe her and going through other issues a well. This is a women that fought for what she believed in. Her kids and her life. I will tea more of this author in the future.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book was a quick read. Lots of twists and turns. Kept my interest and kept wanting to read to see what was going to happen. Didn't particularly like the ending which is why I only gave 4 stars. Otherwise good page turner

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

book is ok, story is good but seemed awfully repetitive regarding things characters say.

[Sara Kuberski · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointed with this book. So many plot lines that were left tangling and then other things tied up way to neatly. Would not recommend this to anyone.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one by my aunt, and I actually haven't read it yet, but I'm sure there's a copy in the house somewhere and I'm sure the rating will be "liked it"

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting read. Not the usual plot twists. "old crime" style- back in the 70s before all our technology takes hold. Kept me turning pages.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read--a real page-turner. I look forward to checking out other books by this author. Thank you Kindle Daily Deal for introducing me to another author!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got bored with it about 2/3 of the way through. Not as gripping or exciting as I had anticipated. Didn't love it.

[Laurel Mandel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Struggled through some sections but couldn't put it down in others.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely kept my attention. Fast read. Hard to put down.

[Bernee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit disappointed in this book-thin plot and predictable

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Downloaded as a free book and the writing was okay. The plot felt like it had too many stories going on but overall it was a good read.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a little predictable. Not exactly a page turner but still worth the read.

[Vicki Buchanan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book ever. The author describes many characters' coffee cups in detail. Predictable.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book off of amazon for 99 cents and it is an AWESOME story! Love, family, Murder all wrapped up into one! Read it, you'll never know what to expect next!

[Clarkras · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not finish this book.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

This book kept my attention and was a great story. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Easy read!