Takeover

Highly Recommend all of Lisa Black's books

This is the first of three Theresa MacLean books, by Lisa Black, she is an awesome writer. Keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last. I've read all three, and am looking forward to the next book by Lisa Black. I've also read her first two books, under the name, Elizabeth Becka, once you read the first page, she's got you, don't want to put the books down. So if you are looking for a series, that you'll be talking about for a long time, Please read, Lisa Black's books. You won't be disappointed.
Happy Reading!

Edge of your seat suspense

This novel starts out at the site of a grisly homicide, a male is found with his head bashed in. Our main character is Theresa MacLean, a forensic scientist who is engaged to Paul Cleary a homicide Detective. His partner is Theresa's own cousin, Frank Patrick. While at the crime scene, Theresa aka Tess discovers that somebody went to great lengths to clean up the inside of the residence. We learn that the victim is a Federal Reserve Bank Examiner named Mark Ludlow. We also learn that Tess has a daughter named Rachel and that she and Paul are to be married in two months.
While at headquarters, Tess learns that the bank where Mark Ludlow worked was robbed and hostages were taken. One of the hostages was her fiancé Paul and there is a standoff going on inside the lobby. As this unfortunate turn of events unfolds, we are introduced to the Hostage Negotiator Chris Cavanaugh. Tess is summoned to check out a vehicle belonging to one of the masterminds behind the bank robbery. We later learn there are two people behind this robbery Lucas and Bobby. More of the hostages are introduced, a female named Jessica and her child, several bank employees, and security guards. The robbers try to get information from the employees on specifics on where the bulk of the cash is kept. In the meantime, Tess is frantic because she cannot call Paul and is worried that the robbers will find out he is a cop.
One of the female employees is taken away and does not come back. Later we learn that she was shot and killed by the robbers and Tess uses her investigative skills to determine how and why she was killed. The entire length of this saga, Tess is using her investigative skills and finally figures out why the first man was murdered and who is in on the bank heist with the robbers. Tess figures out that Jessica is having an affair with Lucas and they are planning to run away together. In the end, Tess and Cavanaugh break free from Lucas and Jessica as they are trying to flee in the vehicle and Lucas ends up getting killed. As predicted, Paul also dies from his injuries.
The entire novel takes place in a day and I love the writing style of Miss Black, her words are so descriptive and you literally are on the edge of your seat. As a fan of mystery and suspense, I highly recommend this novel. This book is like CSI meets Crossing Jordan, with the main character is full of spunk. I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series.

Tense hostage takeover

If you liked this author as Elizabeth Becka (Trace Evidence; Unknown Means), follow her as she writes as Lisa Black. With a similar lead female character in forensics, this will recall Kathy Reichs' investigative books. This reminds me of Jeffery Deaver's technique in early books of following the action minute by minute to ramp up the intensity of the hostage situation. Loved it and it certainly reads as though there will be a sequel. Strong female characters also remind me of the works of mother/daughter writing team P.J. Tracy. Read on!

This is an exciting police procedural

In Cleveland, the police investigate the brutal murder of Federal Reserve Bank executive Mark Ludlow is in front of his home. The official inquiry is led by homicide detective Paul Cleary with support from his fiancée forensic pathologist Theresa MacLean.--------------------- Whereas Paul heads to the Bank to conduct 360 degree interviews, Theresa works the crime scene. However, at the bank Lucas Parrish and Bobby Moyers hold hostages while demanding four million dollars and a getaway vehicle, but hostage negotiator Chris Cavanaugh delays acquiescing and insists he needs some acts of good faith. Angry the two felons shoot Paul in the leg to accentuate their demand. Theresa arrives at the scene and over the objection of Chris who is in charge of the situation persuades Lucas to allow Paul to leave so he can obtain medical attention in exchange for her. Now a hostage Theresa tries to uncover the motive to the robbery and its link to the Ludlow homicide as she rejects coincidence.------------------------ This is an exciting police procedural however Theresa acts more like Clint Eastwood than Kay Scarpetta. She does little forensic science and breaks every protocol rule while turning into a superhero. Still the story line is filled with stratospheric suspense and refreshed by having the female be the testosterone bravado who risks her life to rescue her man. TAKEOVER is fun just over the top of Jacobs Field.---------------- Harriet Klausner

4.5 Stars: Nail-biting, emotional, mysterious bank hostage heist

Forensic scientist Theresa MacLean has been called to the scene to investigate the murder of Mark Ludlow, a bank examiner with the Federal Bank. When her fiance Homicide Detective Paul Cleary goes to the bank as part of this case, in the flash of a moment, armed men take him and the entire bank hostage. Top notch hostage negotiator Chris Cavanaugh may brag that he has never lost a hostage yet, but despite his assurances, the robbers do the unexpected at almost every turn. To make matters worse, those surrounding the situation seem more focused on using the case to jockey into a better position in the midst of agency power struggles. Can Theresa stand by as an idle onlooker, trusting others to keep her fiance, the one man she truly loves, safe? When the unexpected happens, Theresa must make personal and professional choices that might change her life forever. Can her expertise and self-knowledge prepare her for the unexpected trail the clues take and the consequences? Was this crime an impulsive act from robbers who had no clue about the nature of the Federal Bank or is there a clever plot behind their bumbling actions?// Lisa Black's debut suspense novel TAKEOVER adds new dimensions to the classic hostage scenario with a gripping mysterious motive and a protagonist who gives an emotional, personal insight to the characters on both sides of the hostage negotiations. Although the narration gives the reader insight into motives and thoughts of several characters, the reader experiences the main focus of the drama through Theresa's unique perspective as a police insider, a forensics scientist who has clues into the case of Mark Ludlow's murder and as someone personally involved in the hostage crisis through her relationship with one of the hostages. Against the backdrop of the hostage negotiator, the FBI, the local police and several characters wanting to use this situation to make headway in their careers, Theresa must make decisions to stand up for the human side of the victims. As the minutes count down and the bank robbers are only too willing to kill without a second thought, not responding to the psychological analysis that Cavanaugh expects will tip the scenario to his favor. As clues to the first murder come in, the strange connections to the case magnify rather than defuse until the last thrilling moments. Although development of one red herring might have increased the mystery even more, Lisa Black's TAKEOVER is nail-biting suspense from start to finish. Even when Theresa takes a bold, dramatic step out from behind her safety to the middle of the action, the reactions of the robbers create more questions to the mystery to the motives and personalities behind the heist. Each step forward heightens the drama of the shocking final scenes.// TAKEOVER will have readers sitting on pins and needles as each moment magnifies the complexities of the case. Lisa Black's characterization and focused accompanying descriptions intensify the suspenseful tension and emotional connection to the readers. The reader feels the sweat pouring off Cavanaugh's brow, not just because it happened but because the preceding scenes create the nerve-racking dilemma he faces. Likewise, the reader feels the force of Theresa's attachment to Paul from the first pages to the end. Through her characters and their attempts to stack the deck in the favor of their individual survival, Lisa Black poses some interesting philosophical dilemmas about whose life should come first in hostage situations. Allowing the reader to see multiple perspectives from the police side to the hostage side, from the single person to the mother, from the child to the parent, the characters themselves raise the questions. Not all readers may agree with the answer Theresa comes to understand or how the annoying personality of one character tends to negate his perspective. Nevertheless, unlike many other suspense hostage scenarios, Lisa Black goes beyond the stereotype to provid

WHAT PRICE HUMAN LIFE?

While a member of the Academy of Forensic Scientist imagining a protagonist who is a forensic scientist may not be startling, the information and acute observation that debut Lisa Black brings to her story may well be. The day begins much like any other for 38-year-old forensic scientist Theresa MacLean. She's called to the scene of a brutal murder - a man, one Mark Ludlow, has been bludgeoned to death. He's an employee of the Federal Reserve Bank, a rather recent employee. On the scene with Theresa are veteran detective Frank Patrick and his partner, homicide detective Paul Cleary, who is soon to be Theresa's second husband and step-father to her 15-year-old daughter. As it turns out, Ludlow has been killed in front of his own home, a 'two-story Westlake Colonial,'and his Lexus sits in the driveway. What kind of thieves/killers would leave a car like that behind when the car keys are in Ludlow's pocket? A short time later that same morning a drama unfold in downtown Cleveland - two armed robbers burst into the Federal Reserve Bank, and take six hostages as assurance that their demands will be met. To her shock Theresa learns that her fiance', Paul, is among them as are Ludlow's wife and their small son. When she arrives at what is called command headquarters in the public library she is able to view the hostages through a TV screen, and says of Mrs. Ludlow, 'This woman's got a gun pointed at her little boy, and she doesn't even know that her husband is dead.' Thus begins a tortuous attempt by ace hostage negotiator, Chris Cavanaugh, to free the captives and bring this deadly standoff to an end. Easier said than done. What follows is an agonizing 8 hours for all. Readers will learn much about the ins and outs of hostage negotiation and the workings of Federal Reserve banks, as the author carries us through to an unexpected conclusion. - Gail Cooke

Sleep Over

I think this author shows a lot of promise to compete with Vince Fynn, Joseph Finder, John Grisham, and James Patterson, in the book world, but she is just not there yet. I couldn't get into the characters and the plot was slow to develop. No twists or turns or ups and downs, it just plodded along. It was not easy or fun to keep reading until the end. Keep trying, Lisa, you are almost there.

Wow! What a Story

I really enjoyed this book. It grabbed me right from the start. I do not want to go into the story too much, as it might spoil it for someone else. It is one of those stories where nobody acts or responds the way you expect them to, and you can't figure out why the robbers are doing the things they do. You are also intrigued by the murder right at the start of the story, and want to know what happened and why it happened. A very good page turner with an ending you won't see coming.

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