Deep Down Dead (1) (Lori Anderson)

I pretty much reach this straight through. Fast moving with all kinds of twists and turns. Thoroughly enjoyable. I will start the next book right away.

It was a good read for the most part. I did feel that Lori reassuring Dakota all the time when things were obviously not working was a little much. If I had a child who had to go through the trauma, I would be more realistic about explaining things.

I bought this book on the basis of an article he wrote about sex scenes in detective novels. Two of the female authors i read firsthand enjoyed their characters flawed but strong Unfortunately the female character here is just weak. You spend the entire book wanting to tell at her - please don't be a stereotype. But no hope. The novel is pretty bad with no real feeling of what you would do if your child was kidnapped and You were a professional. Becomes more improbable the longer the book continue s Sets up a sequel resolves nothing. By the end you feel cheated. Read the first 100 pages and then stop as the car goes off the road. Some great setup worth reading, but not worth finishing.

If you’re about to read Deep Down Dead, bring along snacks and something to drink because you won’t want to leave your favorite chair for hours. Oh, you should also strap on a seatbelt. To describe this book as fast-paced would be an understatement. It revs like a ’68 Mustang and easily handles the hairpin curves in the storyline. The characters are believable, especially Lori Anderson, the strong female lead, who does all she can to pay her nine-year-old daughter’s medical bills while keeping a roof over their heads. The exciting tale is set primarily in Florida, with its amusement parks, gators and occasionally strange vibe. Without giving too much away, Lori is a good-looking, quick-witted, single mom, and a top-rated bounty hunter, armed and capable. So don’t mess with her or her kid. Yes, she comes with emotional baggage, but her backstory intertwines seamlessly with the other characters, making this book a standout. Five stars for Steph Broadribb. David Liscio -- author of Deadly Fare

Happened to have this pop up in my e-mails from Amazon. Fun, interesting main character with some attitude in Lori Anderson. An ex-stripper who is now a bounty hunter isn’t your run of the mill lead. JT adds as well to the interest. I ordered the next 3 in the series when I finished! I give very few 5s so a 4 from me is high praise.

Very swift moving novel. Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Good character development. Story line is easy to follow.

This book keeps you on your toes from beginning to end. I wish the ending was different. It kind of leaves you hanging.

Nothing new her in character development or plot. The sprinkling of British spellings and word usage is ja rring. It was difficult to find any character believable as they appeared to be caricatures of what someone Across The Pond has heard and at the same time you would have no idea that the characters are from the South or the places mentioned were Southern; wait she did mention gumbo and Carnivale in reference to Savannah. Mmmm.... There are no surprises about what's going to happen. I'm sorry but I can't recommend this book and I hate that. Ms. Broadribb has a pleasant if dull writing style and I hope another Editor helps her find an authentic voice and she sticks with what she knows a bit better next time.

Oh. My. Word. From the opening scene you can tell there is something very different and something very right about this book. Lori is a woman with an attitude, an edge. Straight talking, focused, wary, she is one tough woman. Someone who has been through the ringer over the course of her life and come out the other side stronger and more in control. Stripper turned bounty hunter, she is focused only on her daughter and her honest talking, no-nonsense attitude is refreshing to say the least. I’m not normally one for brashy female characters, but there is just something about Lori. She won’t take messing from anyone and she uses her wits to out gun any man out there. I really like her style. After an intrigue laden opening, the first few chapters of this book may lull you into a false sense of security. They ease you in, setting the scene for what will become a high-octane, high-stakes, hellishly gripping and turbulent ride alongside Lori and her target fugitive JT. Make the most of them because once from there on in you’re going to need your strength. After Lori sets off to collect JT you’ll barely get a chance to catch your breath. It is pow after pow of action, the plot twisting as surely as a mountain road, and as JT slowly reveals the truth behind his arrest and the reason for him going on the run, you will be left speechless. And maybe a little creeped out. It definitely depicts the darker side of the Sunshine State. Kind of makes me think twice about heading back to the Magic Kingdom too. There are no overly gratuitous moments of violence in the book as such, but you can rest assured that both JT and Lori are kick-ass bounty hunters who know how to take care of themselves. Even in the quieter moments the threat is ever present as the people trying to find and stop JT continue to pursue them, constantly punctuating their intent with bullets and murder. Nobody is safe; these people have no conscience whatsoever, happy to use anyone or anything as a pawn to get what they want. There’s even a bit of an eww moment involving some unsuspecting ‘gators too, although that scene also made me smile a little. Call it my perverse sense of humour if you like. The language and style of the writing is truly authentic, totally in keeping with Lori’s brash nature and her background. Told from her point of view, you get an occasionally skewed view of the action. Unable to forgive herself for what happened in her past and trying desperately to hide an obvious truth from JT, Lori forces herself to keep a distance between them, despite the very obvious chemistry between the pair. He is older, stronger and, in some sense, wiser than Lori (with a very definite edge to him so I can see a lot of JT related book crushes blossoming over time), but it is Lori’s common sense and skills honed over the years they were apart which will ultimately help them out of the hole they are in. The training the author did as a Bounty Hunter and the various ‘equipment’ they use shines through in the writing. Remind me never to upset Miss Broadribb … (my review is in no way influenced by my fear of her ‘skills’.) As I said before, I really like Lori. Her style, her attitude, her persistence, and her resilience. You cannot fault her dedication to her daughter Dakota, but ultimately, she is loyal to JT too. The beauty of the ending of this book and the reality of her job as a bounty-hunter, means that this series could run on for years and I for one cannot wait to see what happens to our sharp tongued, quick witted, kick-ass heroine next. A hard-hitting, brash-talking, taser-toting 5 stars from me.

Did you ever get the urge to shake a book's protagonist for acting stupid? Well, in Deep Down Dead I did. Multiple times. I am quite sure that I do not understand how women think, but for Lori Anderson, a female bounty hunter, I actually wondered how she survived that long. Maybe as a mother one headlessly throws yourself in danger, as soon as your child is threatened. If so, this is an excellent character study on such a mother. Now, I know this starting paragraph sounds deeply negative. Fact is, that I still enjoyed the book. It's written full of action and has a quite constant pace. Lori and her mate Tate being hunted by criminals and hunting criminals, trying to save their daughter. They do stack quite a pile of luck to find their way out, but overall the story is very entertaining. The writing is splendid, sceneries turn right into images when reading. There are a couple of follow up stories to this rather rough start. Interesting characters, so more books may be added to my reading list.

I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed this book. It's packed full of action and the story makes for an exciting and addictive read. The writing is great, fast paced but still manages to make you feel like you're there, and I loved main character Lori. I can see a series binge coming as that ending left me wanting more.

Having just read one of Peter James’s Roy Grace novels – all of which contain the word ‘dead’ in the title – I have to admit I was expecting ‘Deep Down Dead’ to be another murder investigation story. However, after reading it, I was left in no doubt this novel is anything but. In fact, it is definitely in a league of its own… although I’m still not convinced about the title. In my opinion, it does not do justice to the story. ‘Deep Down Dead’ has been described as an adventure thriller, which is exactly what it is. Although it begins with a straightforward and seemingly simple storyline, it soon develops into something more dangerous and menacing. It is fast-moving and packed to the gunnels with breathtaking action. Like a snowball rolling down a hill, the danger grows in magnitude… right until its explosive conclusion. Written in the first person singular, the story is told from the viewpoint of Lori Anderson, a bounty hunter who is simply trying to make ends meet while taking care of her sick daughter. She is a strong and feisty woman, forced to reinvent herself to escape a violent marriage and a difficult past. However, although a trained professional, her emotions occasionally betray her carefully hidden vulnerability, causing her – and her mentor – more than a few problems. The slow-burning love story between Lori and JT adds another dimension to the drama. Even after going their separate ways ten years ago – following Lori’s emotional lapse in professional judgement, which resulted in a fugitive’s death – unresolved feelings are still bubbling away. The only difference being JT is now the fugitive and Lori is determined to remain objective. When Lori’s daughter, Dakota, is kidnapped – by the very people JT has been investigating for child sexual exploitation – the emotional tension escalates. It is impossible not to experience the anguish Lori feels as she desperately tries to rescue Dakota, while at the same time trying not to imagine what her daughter might be subjected to. It is one of the great strengths of this novel that it manages to combine dynamic action with convincing human relationships. As a bounty hunter, Lori Anderson is totally believable, due to Steph Broadribb’s own training, which has obviously paid dividends. Procedures are explained in detail, including the use of taser guns – not something I would recommend you try at home. The author’s style of writing – particularly at the height of the action – cleverly builds the excitement. Her sentences are often short and punchy, sustaining the suspense and anticipation. This is a very American story, impressively told by a British writer. If you were unaware of her English nationality, you would think you were reading a novel written by an American. That in itself is no mean feat, and should definitely add to its appeal in a notoriously difficult marketplace. Steph Broadribb’s vivid descriptions of the Florida landscape, and the area around the Everglades – both key participants in the unfolding drama – bring the various locations to life as the protagonists cross the state. It is therefore easy to envisage each scene as the action takes place. ‘Deep Down Dead’ is a first class adventure thriller and an outstanding debut novel. I highly recommend it.

Really enjoyed this, an incredibly fast-paced and action-packed ride. I did find myself enjoying it more as it went on - the tension notched further I thought it got better. There were a couple of times I shouted at the pages ‘don’t do that! Just do this!’ But if they’d followed my advice it’d be a very boring story :) Nice sub plots pull you into the characters, and the few left open are prime for a sequel (and obviously, there is one now as I’m late to reading this!) yep, I’ll be getting that one too!