Dodge and Burn by Ellen Crosby

 

First Line: When Monica Yablonski asked me if I'd drive out to Dulles Airport on what we both knew might be a wild goose chase, I said I'd go because she didn't ask me that often these days, and when she did, it was because she knew the story would be right up my alley: edgy, a bit risky, a challenge.

 

Thinking it's going to be a simple photography job, Sophie Medina agrees to work for billionaire philanthropist and art collector Robson Blake. However, when she goes to his house, she finds an open door, a state-of-the-art security system turned off... and her client dead. At first glance, it would appear to be a burglary gone wrong except for the fact that the alarm system was off. And why-- in a house filled with priceless Old Masters-- is the only thing missing a beautiful but insignificant Ukrainian religious icon?

 

Sophie soon finds herself to be the prime suspect, and as she works to clear her name, the plot thickens. She learns that she has a half-brother who might also be an international art thief... and he's very interested in Blake's collection.

 

~

 

I always enjoy Ellen Crosby's books for their strong female lead characters, their mysteries, and their intelligent writing. In Dodge and Burn, the characters shine once again. From Sophie herself to her newfound half-brother to her basketcase of a mother to the friends in her circle, I enjoy the time I spend with each and every one. (Well, maybe not so much Sophie's mother...)  

I don't know why, but I've always enjoyed plots that revolve around jewelry and art thefts, so I was wired to like this book from the start. The information Crosby shares on stolen art is fascinating. I rely on this author to teach me many new things without making me feel as though I'm sitting in a classroom, and she does it once again in Dodge and Burn.

As strong as the characters are and as fascinating as the world of stolen art is, I did feel as though the plotting in this latest book in the Sophie Medina series was a bit of a letdown, and I found the ending to be predictable. Is this going to stop me from reading future books in the series? Absolutely not, and it shouldn't stop you from becoming acquainted with Sophie. I suggest you begin with the first book in the series, Multiple Exposure.

Dodge and Burn by Ellen Crosby

eISBN: 9781448311606

Severn House © 2024

eBook, 299 pages

 

Investigative Journalist, #4 Sophie Medina

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley

Blow Up by Ellen Crosby

 

First Line: I was standing on a hilltop surrounded by twenty-two Corinthian columns that had once graced the US Capitol when Quill Russell finally told me the truth about my husband's death-- or at least he told me part of the story.

 

Photojournalist Sophie Medina is out jogging with her friend, Father Jack O'Hara, on Capitol Hill when they find the body of Associate Supreme Court Justice Everett Townsend lying in the alley behind his house. Townsend, a diabetic, is barely alive and later dies in the emergency room. 

Townsend's tragic death has unexpected repercussions for Sophie when a young homeless man is murdered. Shortly before his death, the young man told Sophie a shocking story about Townsend that could have a devastating impact on the Supreme Court.

Sophie finds herself running for her life, and the only thing that can possibly save her is a photograph from a series she's been doing on the homeless people of Washington, DC. Will she be able to find it in time?

~

I loved the first two Sophie Medina mysteries and was disappointed when there were no more, so it's no surprise that I did a little happy dance when I learned about Blow Up. This third in the series certainly does not disappoint.

Sophie is just the sort of protagonist that I like. She's talented, smart, and caring, and has a lot to deal with in Blow Up. She's still grieving over the death of her husband, and she will continue to ask questions until she knows how he died-- no matter how much the CIA tries to stonewall her. Her beloved grandfather, a famous photographer in his own right, recently died and left a will that profoundly shocked his family. Going through his papers and photographs brings even more surprises. 

The mystery involving the death of the Supreme Court justice is strong and compelling, and although it's filled with danger for Sophie, it brings to the fore another reason why I like her so much. As a photojournalist who has covered extremely dangerous and life-threatening situations, she doesn't take unnecessary risks. When she started, her boss enrolled her in a two-week intensive course in hostile environment training, which certainly stands her in good stead. Sophie's life may be threatened in Blow Up, but it's not due to anything stupid that she's done.

After reading both her Sophie Medina series and her Wine Country mysteries, I can only say that Ellen Crosby is one of my favorite writers and deserves to be much better known. Her writing is intelligent and engaging, and not only do I get to enjoy a well-told mystery with a fine cast of characters, I learn things along the way. You can jump right into this series with Blow Up and not be the least bit confused, but don't be surprised if Sophie gets under your skin and you find yourself looking for the other two books in the series, Multiple Exposure and Ghost Image. I'm really looking forward to the next book.

Blow Up by Ellen Crosby

eISBN: 9781448308040c

Severn House © 2023

eBook, 240 pages

 

Amateur Sleuth, #3 Sophie Medina mystery

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

Ghost Image by Ellen Crosby

First Line: "When the old prince dies they're going to cut out his heart and bury it in a monastery in Hungary."

When freelance photojournalist Sophie Medina finds Brother Kevin Boyle dead in a corner of the gardens of a Washington, DC monastery, she is certain that her friend was murdered. Shortly before he died, Boyle told Sophie that he was being stalked, probably because he had uncovered a botanic discovery that could be worth millions of dollars. Sophie has extremely few clues to this discovery, but she is determined to find out who killed him.

Armed with nothing but a key, Sophie jumps into the middle of an international treasure hunt that begins there in Washington, DC and then leads her to the English countryside. Time is running out. Will Sophie be able to find Kevin Boyle's killer before the killer finds her?

I was very impressed with the first book in this series, Multiple Exposure, and now after reading Ghost Image, Ellen Crosby's series has become one of my favorites. Why? It's due in large part to the main character. Sophie is strong, talented, intelligent, and she doesn't panic when she's in danger-- and she can be in danger often. She thinks on her feet extremely well and seldom makes a wrong move. She's also got a first-rate support system of friends and family, although she is cursed with Evil Mother Syndrome (a bane of my reading life).

Crosby's pacing is swift and sure, and she definitely has a knack for fascinating plots. In Multiple Exposure it was Fabergé Imperial Easter eggs, this time it's a botanical plot that goes all the way back to our Founding Fathers. I loved both of them. I also loved Sophie's London holiday at the Connaught (wish I could save up for one of my own), and I soaked up the historical information about Washington, DC that the author provides.

If you're looking for a smart, sophisticated mystery series with an appealing heroine, a bit of hair-raising action, and wonderful plots, then I have one suggestion for you: Ellen Crosby's Sophie Medina novels. You won't be able to turn the pages fast enough.   

  

Ghost Image by Ellen Crosby

eISBN: 9781451659443

Scribner © 2015

eBook, 320 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #2 Sophie Medina mystery

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley 

Multiple Exposure by Ellen Crosby

First Line: I've been in too many war zones not to recognize blood when I see it, but I did not expect to find it smeared on the whitewashed walls and puddled on the black-and-white harlequin tile floor when I opened my front door.

Photojournalist Sophie Medina's life becomes a nightmare when she returns to London from an overseas assignment to find that her husband, Nick, a geologist and covert CIA operative, has been abducted and presumed dead. Three months of agony pass in which Sophie decides to move to Washington, DC, to be near family and friends. An intolerable situation gets even worse when a friend in the British government tells her that Nick is a suspect in his boss's murder, that he's been spotted in Moscow, that he's involved in shady oil deals....

Sophie's talent with a camera lands her a needed job photographing an exhibit of Fabergé eggs at the National Gallery of Art. The Russian oligarch who owns the eggs confronts Sophie, implicating her husband in an international energy scheme. With her every move being watched, Sophie has to determine friend from foe as she fights to prove her husband's innocence.

The opening scene in Ellen Crosby's first Sophie Medina novel had me hooked, and I stayed hooked with her excellent story and pacing. When I learned that Nick was a CIA operative, I felt a twinge of unease because I am not a fan of spy thrillers, so I am happy to say that the espionage never went overboard in Multiple Exposure.

Crosby's characters are another reason why i was hooked. Sophie is one smart woman, and she thinks well on her feet-- which is a necessity when you're being shadowed by spies, agents, oligarch's thugs, etc. Except for one slight glitch with a purse, Sophie doesn't do dumb stuff either. Her supporting cast is a strong one as well-- her stepfather Harry and her mother as well as her closest friends, Father Jack and Grace, add depth to an engrossing story. Even Washington, DC is a marvelous character. Throughout Sophie's travels in the city, I learned some fascinating facts about our nation's capital while I was being entertained.

To story, pacing, characters, and setting, add two never-before-seen Fabergé Imperial Easter eggs. I was in a little slice of fiction heaven, and I look forward to reading Sophie's next adventure in Ghost Image.

Multiple Exposure by Ellen Crosby

ISBN: 9781501103667

Scribner © 2015

Paperback, 336 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #1 Sophie Medina mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen.