Book review: Out of the Shadows by Tim Smith

Buy links

Amazon / Extasy Books / Goodreads

 

Synopsis

What does a former spy have to do to get some peace and quiet in his personal corner of paradise? In the laidback ease of the Florida Keys, Nick Seven has carved out a life far removed from the intrigue that once defined his life in the CIA. He runs his trendy club on the Gulf, keeps a low profile, and enjoys the tropical setting with Felicia, his Barbadian lover and former co-worker. After he sees a woman being killed at a resort, Nick finds himself thrust into an investigation where there is no corpse and no evidence of a crime. The police are busy with a string of high-profile home burglaries and don’t have time to look for his imaginary victim, so it’s up to Nick to investigate. Then French con artist Marco St. Julian unexpectedly surfaces from Nick’s past. Are the incidents related? And what part does the wealthy young trophy wife of a convicted financial scammer play in all of this? Throw in a career-hungry FBI agent, a mysterious Cuban crook and an ex-patriate Irish gunrunner, and it’s more than just another day at the beach.     

 

About the Author

Tim Smith is an award-winning, bestselling author of romantic mystery/thrillers and contemporary erotic romance. His novels featuring former CIA agent Nick Seven have garnered several awards and international critical praise. He is also a freelance writer, blogger, editor and photographer. When he isn’t pursuing those interests, he can be found in the Florida Keys, doing research in between parasailing and seeking out the perfect Mojito.

 

Review

Nick Seven and Felicia’s story becomes interesting with each new book in the series, Nick Seven. When I first met Nick Seven, he was an FBI agent. He and Felicia have met during one case years before, and the attraction was palpable. After a few years, the two were reunited, and love surfaced. Both had called it quits and were looking for a more relaxed time on the Florida Keys.

With each new book, we learn that it was not that easy to do. Especially when you have a keen eye and great observation skills.

In this book, Nick and Felicia were out for the day, enjoying the sun and each other, when he saw a woman getting murdered in a hotel suite. At first, he thought life was playing tricks on him, but soon a few other clues surfaced that something was happening in this quiet town.

When her body was later found, they learned she was connected to other crimes within the area. Homes were invaded, and the loot stashed. Which brings us to our next person of interest. A sleazy international crook who just showed up while all of this was going on.

“Hon, I think you have no way of knowin’ if the two are related. Maybe it was a mugging gone bad, or someone Jack pissed off. Let the cops do their job and investigate, then you can beat yourself up.” He glanced over at her. “That’s pretty deep. You know, when you want to be, you’re very profound.”

“I’m not just another pretty face.”

Other supportive characters were introduced as the story developed. Each with their own unique quirks, personalities and having a big part to play in the ongoing plotline. How was it all connected, and could Nick, Felicia, and the Sherriff of this perfect destination find the real crook in time?  

A fast-paced story from the get-go, with some romantic moments between Nick and Felicia, to relieve the suspense. Plus, a few interesting twists to keep you guessing till the end.

 

Excerpt

Sunrise over the Keys usually came in one of two flavors—a gradual filtering in of natural light through clouds forecasting potential rain, or a full-on bright assault to the eyes and senses. Today was the latter, which brought the promise of higher than usual heat with a healthy dose of humidity on the side. Nick tore his gaze from the bright sunrise and turned to the dull glow of his computer. After a quick scan of the headlines, giving him enough bad news from overnight, he began his real purpose for getting out of bed so early. His mind had been actively deciphering what he had learned the previous couple of days, and had now boiled it down to a few basic questions. One went to the top of the list—why did Marco St. Julian target Lauren Scott when there are so many other potential high-net-worth pigeons in southern Florida? He typed in a search for the newspapers in Saratoga Springs, New York. Lauren said she’s active in the social circles up there, and it’s her permanent home. Let’s see how she spends her ex-husband’s money. Numerous entries popped up, including several connected to the horse racing circuit. Nick looked at photo spreads of Lauren Scott posing with jockeys in the winner’s circle, and standing alongside well-heeled arts patrons. One of her charitable causes appeared to be underprivileged children, and she also found time to serve on the board for the local ASPCA chapter. No wonder she comes to Florida several months a year. It’s probably the only time people leave her and her trust fund alone. He was about to execute another search when something in one of the photos caught his eye. It was a group shot, taken at what the caption said was opening night at the Saratoga Springs National Museum of Dance six months earlier. Lauren stood with their newest prodigy, a young Serbian woman being sponsored by the Museum, surrounded by the Artistic Director and several board members. Nick clicked on the photo and zoomed in on the rubbernecking crowd in the background, all vying to be seen with the right people. He sat back and stared at what he’d found. Marco St. Julian stood among the onlookers, dressed in a stylish black tuxedo, a smile adorning his tanned face, and a glass of champagne in his hand. The son of a bitch knew her from before. Why am I just now finding out about this?

Felicia padded into the room, wearing an unbuttoned box-cut shirt and nothing else. She leaned against the doorsill with her hand resting on her hip and her leg cocked in front of her, the knee slightly bent in a provocative pose. “What’re you doin’ up so early?” she asked. “After yesterday, you shoulda slept ‘til noon.” Nick rocked back in his chair, giving her an appreciative, lusty look. “Too much on my mind. Why are you up?” “Same reason.” She dropped into an easy chair. “You think Lauren was tellin’ the truth last night?” Nick took a few moments before answering. He had been asking himself the same question since getting up, but hadn’t come up with a good response yet. He wasn’t necessarily looking for a great answer and would gladly settle for one that was just good enough for now. “Some parts of it, yes. Other parts, I’m not so sure.” “Which other parts?” He crossed his legs at the ankles. “The way she told the story, she agreed to take them to Cuba awfully fast.” “We weren’t there so we don’t know how much pressure Marco and that other guy put on her to cooperate.”