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4.54 AVERAGE
4.54 AVERAGE
“He smiles at me, and in that moment I know for sure that I'm a dead woman walking.”
Oh boy, binge-reading the first three Lori Anderson books has sure left me breathless! My heart is still beating like a maniac and I definitely need a dose of sugar to come to my senses again... What an explosive, action-packed and absolutely thrilling ride! Deep Dirty Truth is already the third book of this series and of the same high quality and entertainment level as the first two books. While technically you could read this one as a stand-alone, you will miss out on background information and previous events referred to in this third book... And as the first two books are absolutely brilliant too, you would definitely be missing out by not reading these beauties in order. That said, Deep Dirty Truth picks up where the second book has left off as the same threat has been there for a while. I love how the characters have evolved over time and it definitely makes me happy to see Lori, JT and Dakota being together... In Deep Dirty Truth we have another bounty hunter angle with a twist, another mob angle, a whole lot of danger, a pace that is way over the speed limit and a plot that won't stand still even to take a little breather. It is action thriller at its finest, with a solid cast of characters, danger around every corner and impossible situations Lori and the others involved will somehow have to find themselves a way out of... It's simply unputdownable and you will find your heart racing and yourself gasping for air as you turn another page and discover yet another obstacle to overcome. Without doubt a new favorite! #TeamLori
Visit the locations in the novel hereBook set in Florida USA
Lori how I have missed you! At the start of the book, things seem to be working out for her at last. Life is getting as near to normal as it can be when you're a bounty hunter that is. JT is back on the scene and Florida life is treating them well.
But...
" I never saw it coming. Got totally blindsided. That's the God's honest truth."
That's the first line in the book but it's also a good summing up of my review of this book to be honest! Totally didn't see how it would play out and where Lori would take us next. But what a ride that was! Totally worth the sweat I worked up whilst reading, travelling fast with Lori and spending the time of the book on the road and in the humid Everglades.
Lori has a job to do in tracking down someone the Mob want back. Someone who used to work for them and who is now 'helping' the FBI in proctective custody. Lori gets the job if she wants to stay alive....
I don't know who is more scary - the Mob, the man Lori is looking for or the aligators who swim alongside the boat as they are chasing a trail in the Florida everglades. Tell you what - the scene setting here is superb. I have been to the everglades and felt the fear, heat, humidity and heard the whir of the engines. All brilliantly brought to life here.
The brilliant thing with Lori is that she really has her work cut out and her characters tested in ways not many women especially in books are. I even admired one of the mob in a way for his gritty determination and role in the whole episode. The character development of a man we don't really see until later on in the book is brilliant - we know him as Lori does even before we see him.
The Florida heat, the role of the bountyhunter and the alligators really ramp this thriller to the next level. Add the Mafia, the FBI and well, it skyrockets.
Normal life whilst reading this book is hard to deal with. Humdrum compared to what happens in Deep Down Dirty!
Whilst most of the narrative concerns Lori you also get to see what is happening with JT, Dakota and Red. Each time it switched I was anxious to go back again, the timing is perfect. For this reason I read this book very quickly, I was going to read two at once but that never happened. This is definitely a book you could read in one setting.
This is a series where the storylines tend to overlap. You could read this book as a standalone novel but will get so much more if you read the books in order. All of the characters and parts of the ongoing storyline develop strongly.
Dakota is a character I adore, if you could read a novel where a secondary character became the primary one in another novel she would be my choice. She is brave, funny and very independent.
One of the most intimidating parts was when she was going though the Everglades. It’s not somewhere I know, and not something I would plan on visiting after this. I could practically see the alligators swim past me.
I was thrilled to be part of #teamlori who were all sent early copies of this book.
Without a doubt this is my favourite book in the series so far. I absolutely loved the story line. The mafia, a dead line to get a job done otherwise her own life, and that of her daughter’s and JT’s lives, are at risk. It makes for some seriously compelling reading.
North is a great character and I really took to him. Even though he has been on the opposite side of the law, I couldn’t help liking him. There is something almost admirable about him and I was desperate for Lori to come up with some way for all of them to come out of the situation they are in, alive.
The setting for the story was just great with not only the mafia being a threat, but the gators also. It made the story more sinister and I wasn’t sure which way would be the best way to go if you were going to get caught by one or the other. Either way the chances of getting out alive are pretty slim!
Deep Dirty Truth is an exhilarating and addictive read. Every time I put the book down to do stuff in the real world, I couldn’t wait to pick it back up again to see what else was in store for the characters and myself. A compelling and thrilling read with a kick ass protagonist readers are going to love.
My thanks to Orenda Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
I truly love this series and the female protagonist Lori Anderson. The author has created a fantastic character and together with her former mentor and lover JT, we have excellently written action packed thrillers with a romantic and highly emotional element too.
Now that single mother Lori has finally got her family back together again, her world is shattered when she is snatched by the Miami Mob who want her dead. However, if she agrees to capture and bring back their numbers man "Carlton North" who's currently in FBI protective custody they'll wipe the slate clean of the price on her and her family's head. It's a race against time where only the winner will live.....
We are catapulted straight into the captivating story from the opening pages, dramatic tension, adrenaline fuelled action which literally leaves you breathless and biting your nails. Lori is on fire in this book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading how she planned to get the mob off her back yet keeping herself and her loved ones safe.
With such fantastic storylines and totally lovable characters this series is begging to made into a movie, it's ready made for Hollywood and I would truly love to see Steph Broadribb's work on the big screen!
I look forward to there being another in the series where this time Lori hunts down the Chicago mob. I can't recommend these books enough, they are fantastic and worth every single second spent reading them!
Another well earned 5 stars!
For a reader to follow a series, they have to find something specific in it. Something that makes them tick. That addictive X factor that makes sure you always come back. The Lori Anderson series is no exception. But there are many reasons why I am always ready for a rendezvous with Steph Broadribb’s female character.
In no particular order (except for the cowboy boots, because PINK COWBOY BOOTS!): Cowboy boots. Adrenaline. Fast cars. Faster decision-making. Bad surprises. Blood. Good surprises. Betrayal. Rules. Plans. Characters to die for. Dilemmas. Guns.
Steph Broadribb writes stories like no-one else. She then shuts them up in a barrel of powder and it explodes in your face as soon as you open the first page of the book.
Having breathing issues? Grab oxygen before you start reading.
Heart problems? Take your pills!
Insomnia? You picked the right novels because once you start, there’s no way your eyes are going to turn away from the fountain of excitement and chills.
Three books and Lori Anderson is a legend. Not the hero-I-can-do-anything kind. No, she’s a woman, she’s a lover, she’s a mother, she’s a friend… and she’s bounty hunter. Now I have a thing for women who have the balls to choose this path. I want to be Lori when I grow up.
No, seriously.
And not just because I want a taser and a sexy-as-hell ex…
So, I hear you say ‘why?’
Can I make this answer simple? Let’s try. Lori is one of those women who has the most amazing strength, and life (or rather her sadistic creator (Love you, Steph!!! xD) gives her no choice but to find it deep within herself to survive.
We learn early on in Deep Down Dead that Lori was like many women before her and unfortunately, like many women these days. But instead of ending up in some stats on a bureaucrat’s desk, a ‘chance’ encounter changes her life for the better and the worst. What makes Lori special is the choices she makes. Sure, she’s pushed to the edge so many times that one can wonder just how much she can take, but that’s EXACTLY IT. She can take it. She takes it all, wanted or not. From a victim to a woman standing on her own two feet, carrying scars, guilt, and, let’s be honest, bad luck, she walks tall and doesn’t shy away from what needs to be done without ever, ever becoming cold and harsh. Oh, she may seem that way to those coming after her, or strangers, or whoever crosses her path when she’s on a mission, but the author makes sure that Lori’s biggest strength, her humanity, never fails her. That’s what makes her a super-hero to me. Lori follows rules, or at least, her head does, but her heart is never far away. In a dark and grey world where justice involve guns and nothing is fair, I can only fall for a woman trying to make a difference.
No, Lori doesn’t want to make the world a better place. She didn’t receive a text from the whatever Heavens to save our planet from evil. She wants to earn a living and take care of her daughter. But in doing so, she reminds us of the importance of the choices we make when dealing with a crap hand during a poker game.
Did I say I love Lori Anderson? Like, I want us to go fire-training together.
Dakota Anderson. Don’t believe that because a kid is involved, you won’t get gun blazing and blood oozing from big holes. If Lori is a grownup with balls, then Dakota is the smaller version of her kickass mother. Sweet, clever, but vulnerable, Dakota brings life to the novels. Lori is driven by her love for her daughter. Now, let me tell you something. I’ve heard many times that this kind of element doesn’t belong in action thrillers. I laugh at this. Action thrillers need a motive, a powerful engine to go all the way without losing readers who want more meat to their books than just guys punching each other. I’ve also heard that only mothers would really react to a parent-child trope. So, women without kids have no feelings? Men don’t have emotions? If executed the way it should be, anyone can feel the terror of a mother away from her daughter, or the mountain of courage and will she’ll show to keep her safe. Steph Broadribb, on top of being fantastic at making me jump from my seat and scream ‘Nooooooooo!!!!!!!’ during hot scenes (talking about dangerous chapters, not erotica stuff!), also does characterisation and matters of the heart perfectly. I felt for Dakota, I went through hell with Lori trying to do what she thought was best. My heart leapt from joy and felt as heavy as stone. The unremitting worry stayed by my side as I fought for those two to be reunited, reading as fast as my tired eyes would allow me to reach a happy ending…
Now, one thing that Steph Broadribb doesn’t actually do is happy endings!!! I’m not saying everybody dies and you spend your hours crying. But with each novel comes new problems. Never had I seen layers of action, character history, and intricate missions been so beautifully put together. It reminds me of those Final Fantasy games where you have no choice but to put one foot in front of the other other to reveal a map that grows wider as you go, with more bad guys, more quests, more complicated puzzles to solve. When you think it’s over, someone laughs at you and throws you into another level with new monsters to fight. Although it might not be so fun for Lori, I just adore this endless forest she’s stuck in. With every novel, we unravel new sides of her, of Dakota, of JT (I know, I haven’t talked about him in this review but I feel he’s the kind of guy you need to meet to really understand who he is. Or try to.) and boy aren’t they a great team to spend time with!
The Lori Anderson series wouldn’t be what it is without relentless action never letting up, big guys to deal with, and mobs to run from. You know about those trains with no brakes that keep going and going, always faster, more dangerous with every turn? That’s what the author has created. You don’t need a dead corpse on every page to keep the tension up. Nothing works better than a high dose of activity and then a welcome respite. This way, your brain goes from figh or flee to huge brain waves performance, and I do love my action when it’s all in the head. Good bounty hunters will tell you that all is in the preparation. Being able to deliver is great, but without a plan, you’re screwed. Of course, nothing is ever black and white… Plans evolve as events unfolds and you can find no flaws in Steph Broadribb’s masterful and evil plots.
Deep Dirty Truth hits the ground running and that’s the way we want it. Even though I was expecting it, seeing her family life being trashed by a job ‘offered’ by the Miami mob had be both shamelessly excited and desperately praying it wasn’t true. That’s the beauty of it. I root for Lori with all my strength, but I never want to see her take the door out. And this third novel hints at the matter… What is it with Lori that takes her to the centre of storms? Yes, outside forces are playing a part, but isn’t there something in her that loves this life, too? No time to think about this, as she’s snatched from her complicated new balance with JT and her life with Dakota to wreck an FBI protective custody operation and steal a guy the mob wants to have back. There’s no way out for Lori and another setting appears: Lori on one side, JT and Dakota on the other. Both boats floating on uncertain and hazardous waters.
I’ll admit, I was dubious about the FBI thing… How could a single woman, however good, could pull off an extraction mission? Now I feel guilty about judging Lori so quickly. I’m not saying no blood gets spilled and unicorns help our bounty hunter escape all trouble. It’s not the house’s way of doing things! The explosions of biscuits in my hand as I was reading prove I was totally shocked and absolutely in love with Lori and the way she handled things. To spice things up, the guy everyone seems to want is an old acquaintance, bringing back links to the previous novels and digging a little deeper into Lori’s flesh and mind. I love the fact each book contains events that happen so close to each other because, just like in Lori’s life, you don’t have time to process everything at once, you get the info, and you think later because GUNS!!!! And betrayals. Or are they? And then peace. Or so you think! Then you think again and you learn. You put the pieces of the puzzle together, and the picture broadens with each chapter. Magic, isn’t it?
Deep Dirty Truth is the proud third instalment in a punchy, crazily-fast paced kickass series you NEED TO READ.
Steph Broadbribb doesn't give poor Lori much respite before she's back in the midst of trouble but that's not really surprising as she is a woman who just can't seem to avoid danger. There's no gentle build-up here as Lori is kidnapped within just a few pages of the novel and from there on the frenetic pace barely lets up as she finds herself on the run from numerous adversaries. She has only recently resumed her relationship with JT but their reunion is still shaky with both guilty of hiding their true feelings for one another. When she is forced into a job to spring a Mob man from protective custody she realises it may threaten their relationship but also knows that if she refuses then the threat to them all will be far worse. Deep Dirty Truth should probably come with a health warning as the action-packed plot takes Lori (and the readers!) on a tense and potentially lethal race against the clock to deliver her man before the deadline expires.
One of my favourite aspects of this series is that the motivation behind Lori's actions is so authentic. Not many of us are highly trained bounty hunters but most people will be able to empathise with her raw determination to protect those she loves. As a long time single mum to her daughter, Dakota she is used to making decisions alone which stands her in good stead when she needs to react quickly to ever-changing situations and she certainly needs to utilise all her skills in this high stakes, deadly mission. The scenes where she doesn't know if JT and Dakota are safe and is unable to communicate with them are heartrending and I could almost feel her fear in the pit of my stomach. Lori isn't an adrenaline junkie; she's a woman who is prepared to put her own life at risk to protect her daughter and lover.
Deep Dirty Truth is a thrilling action story but it also explores some fascinating questions about morality. Lori isn't working for the Miami Mob by choice but as the book progresses she has to pick her side and it's not as straightforward as right or wrong. These are complicated, flawed characters and the world they live can mean choosing alliances is akin to being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. As the novel raced towards its pulse racing conclusion I couldn't tear my eyes from the pages. The engrossing storyline is matched - as ever - by Steph Broadribb's vivid descriptions which bring Florida to life. There's one scene in particular which I won't say much about other than it involves a risky trip through the mangroves and I could almost feel the humidity and smell the pungent air. I nearly had to read it peeking through my fingertips as the ominous sense of danger here is almost palpable.
Deep Dirty Truth is exactly what I'm looking for in an action thriller; it is tense, exciting and surprising but is also packed with perceptive characterisation, an atmospheric sense of place, some witty touches of black humour and real emotional depth. There's clearly more trouble ahead for Lori and as much as she deserves a break, I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book in what is definitely a must-read series for me.
As this is the third instalment in the series, it is recommended that you read the first two books in order to gain maximum enjoyment from this one, while each ‘job’ is different, as you’ll find with most series, the storyline is continuous. Deep Down Dead, and Deep Blue Trouble, are both five star reads also, so you’re in for some stellar reads if you’re just starting this series. Also, bonus points for the continuous use of ‘Deep’ in the titles.
More bonus points for incorporating the title of the book into the plot, call it a weird reader quirk, but I love when authors do that. In this novel, there is indeed a deep dirty truth to be uncovered, but just how deep, how dirty? You’ll have to read this one for yourself to find out!
One of the things that was missing in the last instalment was Dakota, Lori’s daughter, she didn’t feature as much as I’d hoped, but in Deep Dirty Truth, you get a full dose of Dakota, and I love every minute in this child’s presence! You also have the return of Red, a private investigator, and good friend to Lori; if you read book series, it doesn’t need explaining how fantastic it is when a character you adore makes a return appearance. I really hope he becomes a staple feature in this series, he’s a member of the family now, it’s Lori, JT, Dakota and Red – I’m invested in the lives of them all!
Now, let’s talk about Lori, we should just put and ‘S’ on her chest and call her superwoman! For anyone who enjoys strong female protagonists, you’ll love Lori, a bad-ass bounty hunter, who will go to the ends of the earth to keep her family safe. Yes, events are dramatic, but this is a high-octane thriller, and dramatics is what gets the adrenaline pumping, what makes you devour the pages of this novel, the need to know what happens to Lori, is her family safe!?
Last, but by no means least, we have JT, he’s the perfect guy for Lori, but their relationship is anything but perfect, there’s a lot of history and a lot that needs to be worked out, but it couldn’t be any clearer that these two were made for each other. But, what really stands out in this novel, is that JT isn’t Lori’s hero, he doesn’t swoop in and save her from ‘the bad guys’, she’s not a ‘damsel in distress’ – there’s an equality here, and Lori can damn well save herself, in fact, asked JT about Lori’s ability to save him!
I think it’s clear to see that I love everything about this book, the thought that went into crafting it, right through to its superb tension-filled, adrenaline-fuelled, heart-pounding delivery! There’s danger, excitement, risk, and so much heart in this novel – it’s perfect for crime thriller fans who love an action-packed plot.
*My thanks to the author, and publisher (Orenda Books) for providing me with a copy of this title*