Iron Canuck Reviews & More: Blitz: The Secret Truth by Barry Finlay with an excerpt, a giveaway, and my review

THE SECRET TRUTH

by Barry Finlay

GENRE: Mystery

BLURB:

Retired investigative journalist Jake Scott narrowly avoids a collision with a speeding car on his way to a Bed and Breakfast where he plans to spend the night. Moments before his arrival, the peaceful atmosphere at the B&B is shattered by a devastating explosion, claiming the lives of five guests. While authorities initially chalk it up to a tragic gas leak, seasoned homicide detective Dani Perez can't shake her suspicions. Given her overloaded schedule, she enlists Jake's expertise to delve into the backgrounds of the deceased. As Jake pursues the investigation, he unearths a web of secrets hinting at a darker truth lurking beneath the surface of the seemingly idyllic B&B.

EXCERPT:

Ground trembled under Jake’s feet, and streetlights and trees rocked as if a sudden fierce wind grabbed them by the throat and shook. The entire street shimmied for interminable seconds, and the pavement seemed to heave toward the heavens as if from an earthquake before settling back to earth. The sound of the blast echoed off the surrounding houses, and a car siren bleated nonstop. Jake’s muscles wound themselves into knots for the second time in minutes. Goosebumps popped on his arms and the back of his neck, and his stomach twisted. Once again, his gym bag thudded to the ground from his unclenched fist as fiery roofing materials rained down onto the street and the cars in the B&B’s driveway. As Jake’s mouth hung open, a tree in front of the house burst into flames.

For the second time, instinct took over. People lived in that house! Jake shook himself from the shock gripping his body and leaned forward to rummage through his gym bag for his phone. He unzipped one end of his bag but located only his running shoes. He tossed the now bloody towel into the bag and fumbled with the zipper at the other end, hands shaking until he brushed against what he looked for. His heart sank when he held his phone in the brightness of the overhead streetlight to reveal a jagged crack snaking across the length of the screen. It must have cracked when the bag flew out of his hands during his earlier dive for safety.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Barry Finlay is the award-winning author of the travel adventure, Kilimanjaro and Beyond – A Life-Changing Journey (with his son Chris), the Amazon bestselling travel memoir, I Guess We Missed The Boat, the inspirational Just Keep Climbing, and five Amazon bestselling and award-winning thrillers comprising The Marcie Kane Thriller Collection: The Vanishing Wife, A Perilous Question, Remote Access, Never So Alone, and The Burden of Darkness. His new Jake Scott Mystery Series debuted with Searching ForTruth and The Guardians of Truth. He is now following that up with The Secret Truth. Barry was featured in the 2012-13 Authors Show’s edition of “50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading.” He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee medal for his fundraising efforts to help kids in Tanzania, Africa. Barry lives with his wife Evelyn in Ottawa, Canada.

Author Website: www.barry-finlay.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBarryFinlay

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Karver2

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GIVEAWAY

Barry Finlay will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4943/

My Review - 4 of 5 stars -

This was my first book by Barry Finlay. I enjoyed the journey from murder to capture with all the different aspects coming into play. It kept me guessing. Clues were pulled together in a kind of haphazard method and gave the reader a lot to think about. The personal side of Jake and Dani, and their families added to the storyline, and now I would like to read the next in the series to see how everything progresses. This story was worth the read.