The Big Keep

Lena Dane Mysteries, Book 1

By: Melissa F. Olson

Narrated by: Erin Spencer

Former Chicago cop Selena "Lena" Dane has been going through the motions at her private investigation agency for years now. But then Lena learns that she's unexpectedly pregnant just as she takes on a heartbreaking new client: Nate Christianti, a fourteen-year-old boy in search of his biological father, Jason. Jason's disappearance isn't as clear-cut as everyone had thought, and Lena will need to follow his path of destruction halfway across the country to find Nate some answers. Along the way, however, Lena attracts the attention of a killer who's willing to stalk her all the way back to Chicago to make sure she drops Nate's case. To protect the boy, the baby, and herself, Lena must find the killer – or die trying.

©2014 Melissa F. Olson (P)2014 Melissa F. Olson

Really Cool Idea

I took forever to try this book, since the cover and blurb made it sound like a thriller. It's not! It's a mystery with some action.

I really like that Lena is a badass AND a happily married woman. Usually, female characters can't be both, or a series has to be in the double digits before she can get there.

The mystery is interesting, with excellent twists and really good characters. It feels very genuine and explores some of the gender politics of being a female cop.

I also appreciate that her serial rape case is in the past. It's a huge part of her life, but it's not the current mystery.

I finally listened to this book after Companion Pieces, which ends with the first 3 chapters of book 2. I hope Melissa gets enough new interest to pick this series up again!

The narrator was okay, but only okay. I think a different cover, blurb, and narrator would go a long way toward jump-starting this series.

Totally engaging

Author is totally engaging in the way she expresses internal conflicts and ongoing challenges!
Love the story...

A must read or listen to

For anyone who is a Melissa Olson fan, please take the time to read this book. It is a major departure from her paranormal books but is so we'll written that you'll enjoy every twist and turn and the characters are truly relatable.

A Must For Olson Fans

Any additional comments?

Nope, there's no Old World in this series. No vampires, werewolves, or witches.* But I don't think you'll miss them.

At the core of this new series is Lena Dane, an ex-Chicago-PD-turned-PI who is smart, highly competent, and seriously flawed. This is the story of her breaking away from some nasty baggage from the past and moving forward with her life.

The mystery is complex and interesting, the action is well-paced, but it's the characters who shine. Lena, her dad, Nate.... I want to read more about all of them. Soon.

If you enjoy Melissa F Olson's other series', I would highly recommend this one as well.

*One of the characters always smells like blood. A little of the Old World creeping into Lena's world, perhaps????

Truly touching, one of those that takes you away

Very entralling and well developed characters. Strong female lead who figures out how to balance everything.

excellent

I was really miffed that the author chose to start a new series instead of writing another one for the series I had come to love and now I have to remove a most excellent pout as once again she has produced a winner

Entertaining

I really enjoyed this book. No big plot twists, but was entertaining and author includes descriptions that paint a vivid picture for a reader, communicating sense and emotion.