Crime

The Moores are Missing is actually a book with 3 stories :
1. THE MOORES ARE MISSING with Loren D. Estleman
2. THE HOUSEWIFE with Sam Hawken
3. ABSOLUTE ZERO with Ed Chatterton

The Moores are Missing is a story about a family that goes missing without a trace. Their friend is concerned, and goes to the police, but can he trust the police?
The Housewife is a story about a former police chief who discovers a suburban sex ring in her neighborhood, and people are turning up dead. Her husband is on the case, and doesn't want her involved. What is he hiding?
Absolute Zero is a story about a special forces vet who while working in a bar crosses paths with some bad characters. These men frame Cody Thurston for rape and murder of his friends, and now Cody and the men are in a fight to the death.

Quick read, smart thrillers.




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A compilation including three novellas:
The Moores Are Missing --- The Moore family vanished; no one saw them go. Did they take an impulsive vacation? Are they on the run from some unknown danger? Ray Gillett is concerned, but the police see no reason to investigate. So Ray sets out to find his friend. But the answer to this mystery isn’t one he’d ever imagined.

The Housewife --- Maggie Denning used to be the chief of detectives, now she’s living in the suburbs, a stay-at-home mom. But it’s difficult to forget all the years on the job and when the woman next door is murdered, Maggie can’t help getting involved in the investigation. But unexpected revelations turn everyone into a suspect . . . even her own husband.

Absolute Zero --- Framed for the slaughter of his friends, Special Forces veteran Cody Thurston becomes a fugitive with only one mission: revenge.

Interesting, believable characters populate each of these tales. Tension-building plots keep the stories moving and draw readers into the telling of the tale. Surprise twists keep readers guessing as each story unfolds and the suspense builds. Although well-written, the final story, filled with coarse language and particularly gritty events, may be too graphic for some readers. ( )

The Moores are Missing is a collection of 3 novellas: the title piece, The Housewife, and Absolute Zero.

The Moores are Missing is a rather implausible tale of a writer discovering his neighbors (and friends) are suddenly missing. The perfect family, this is seeming uncharacteristic of the Moores and the police aren't too interested in what has become of them. The writer and a young lady who works at a computer store go to Saskatchewan in search of them...and find them rather easily.

The Housewife involves a former chief of detectives that becomes a stay-at-home mom while her formerly subordinate husband continues working. I read a very similar story a month ago...a formulaic murder mystery with some misdirection at the end.

Absolute Zero was my favorite of the three. A king pin in a pseudo-ephedrine business takes out some loose ends and tries to pin everything on an Aussie who happens to be a special ops vet. After easily escaping custody, he goes hunting for the murderous drug lord. ( )