Author & Screenwriter
Lethal Connection Industry Book Reviews
Publishers Weekly says, "Lethal Connections pulses with spry dialogue, surprising bursts of tension and danger, and a plot as slippery as a swamp copperhead. For all the fast-moving procedural fun, though, Knight possesses an insightful perception that imbues the storytelling with emotional weight and resonance."
In the swamps of Louisiana, a body is discovered floating in the murky waters of the Wetlands Observatory. Not an unusual day for Detective Lance Knight from the nearby St. Bernard’s Sheriff’s Department. The manner of death, though, and the case that follows prove anything but. When more victims are discovered around the waters of Chalmette, Louisiana, Lance and the coroner, the indomitable Gina Goodwin, discover a most unusual common thread: each has venom in the bloodstream, from what Gina describes as “snakes with a venom I’ve never encountered before.” (And she’d know—she adores herpetology.) From there, the case slithers into surprising territory, including the underbelly of a drug ring operated by a reputed witch practicing black magic.
Lethal Connections pulses with spry dialogue, surprising bursts of tension and danger, and a plot as slippery as a swamp copperhead. For all the fast-moving procedural fun, though, Knight possesses an insightful perception that imbues the storytelling with emotional weight and resonance. Insights into the life of the widow of a victim who cheated on her, for example, bring welcome humanity to the case, as does the winning repartee between the detective and a smirking coroner, quick to deploy the “stink-eye” when appropriate, who has it in her to star in her own mystery series.
The three co-authors’ voices and interests blend into unison but also likely enrich the varied personalities and areas of expertise of this strong cast of characters. Gina’s introduced, in one scene, “elbow deep in internal organs,” while Lance struggles, a bit, with questions like whether he should pull out a chair for her at an Italian restaurant. His minor uncertainty is the kind of winning detail that keeps readers invested, not just in the bodies discovered among the reeds but in the sleuths on the case. The mystery is crisply told, the killer a surprise, and local color and folklore, is engaging.
Takeaway: A detective facing Louisiana poisonings may find the killer too close for comfort.
Great for fans of: Tess Gerritsen, D.J. Donaldson.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B
Lethal Connections is a sleuth murder mystery novel by Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis, and Karen Fuller. Sergent Lance Knight has quite the challenge of maintaining law and order as an officer at the St. Bernard Parish in Chalmette, Louisiana. Apart from struggling to end things with his girlfriend, Lance has the added burden of trying to solve a string of murders, with each victim poisoned under mysterious circumstances. While Lance searches for clues to find a missing link between the victims, he is joined by the enigmatic coroner and herpetology enthusiast Gina Goodwin. But when the FBI arrives and offers their help solving the case, Lance realizes that things are not as they seem and that there must be something he is missing. Can he get to the bottom of the mystery before putting his own life on the line?
Fans of sleuth murder mysteries or detective tales are in for a treat with Lethal Connections. Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis, and Karen Fuller tell a gripping story of murder, crime, and betrayal that has you glued to the pages from start to finish. The authors perfectly capture the feel and ambiance of rural Louisiana, with its swamps, poisonous reptiles, and the underlying criminal underworld. The hyper-realistic and gritty tone of the narrative is peppered with bouts of humor sprinkled throughout the pages. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Lance, Gina, and Captain Donovan. Overall, this is a book I immensely enjoyed, and I read it in one go. Can't recommend it highly enough. -- Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
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The story immediately opens with drama and suspense, and I was instantly hooked. The authors provide readers with a captivating narrative that will keep them on the edge of their seats. Lance is passionate about his work, and that takes precedence over anything in his life. Gina is the coroner who is methodical, intelligent, and also passionate about her work. I enjoyed that the authors kept the storyline moving while providing short backstories on the characters introduced in the stories. This helped the story to move along while also giving the reader a sense of each character’s motivations. Authors Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis, and Karen Fuller have combined their writing skills and creativity to create a thrilling story with likable characters. The details of the dead bodies may be a turn-off to some, but I found it intriguing. The twist at the end threw me for a loop and was the icing on the cake for this book.
I highly recommend this gripping read to fans of thrillers and crime fiction. It is the perfect read for suspense lovers with strong and intelligent characters. Lethal Connections is an engaging and page-turning novel that will not disappoint.
Lethal Connections is an exciting crime novel that keeps the reader in anticipation of a resolution of the tension. If you love crime novels, the try-to-find-the-bad-guy type of novel with a lot of pieces to try to put together, then this novel is for you.
With a suspense-packed progression of events and exciting plot twist, Lethal Connections meets all the cravings of a crime novel lover.
The author uses a simple chronological narration that makes it easy to follow the development of the climax. With a lot of misdirection here and there, lots of uneven pieces, and a lot to ponder, Lethal Connections is an excellent novel and I highly recommend it.
Overall, this book was amazing and I highly recommend you read it. - Andrew Okiemute from Book Nerdection
Om from Bookss Paradisse says, “It is an absolute page-turner as the story is fast-paced with its intriguing plot which makes the things more interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed the book while reading as I am into suspense thrillers and if you are into suspense and thriller then you should not miss this one.”