His heart beats. Barely.Each thump pounds his mind deeper into oblivion.And he wonders — How did I get here?A father goes missing. Not just any father. But a person once worshipped for his world-class talent. Enter the most unconventional team around: Willow Ball and Cooper Chain.As a nurse at the community clinic, Willow has seen the painful effects of heroin addiction. But now she’s compelled … clinic, Willow has seen the painful effects of heroin addiction. But now she’s compelled to help a grieving wife and mother.
Dodging the mob at every turn, Cooper has a plan to bring them down while getting traction on his upstart career. Is he marching into a trap?
With their relationship bordering the “friends with benefits” stage, Willow and Cooper team up to find the missing person. But it’s not that simple. Nothing with them is ever simple.
The hunt corkscrews into an impossible maze of events — their lives threatened by a swarm of twisted deviants and social misfits.
Emotions run rampant, stoking one savage response after another. A spark ignites the hate, but what is the real fuel for this wave of brutal crimes?
Ultimately, can Willow and Cooper save a family from the torment before it’s too late?
Only if they can overcome their own…fear.
Get FEAR now!
If you’re a fan of Michael Connelly’s Ballard and Bosch, David Baldacci’s King and Maxwell, Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles, or the TV show “Castle,” you’ll be enthralled by this gut-busting Ball & Chain thriller.
*Warning: The Ball & Chain Thrillers are full of white-knuckle suspense and sarcastic sass. Proceed with caution.more
Mr. Mefford is an author that I don’t miss any books by. I think I’ve read the majority of his books and they’re all really good. I missed something in FEAR though. His characters were there, he portrays all his characters well, as always, however I just can’t quite pinpoint what was missing. The book took me a bit to get into. I don’t know if it’s just the fact that I had just got done reading a romance novel or the fact that I was listening to an audiobook around the same time I started reading this one, or what but it took me longer than usual to get into it, but once I did, I was there! The book ended up being fantastic! 4 Stars!
Awesome thriller with two main characters , Willow Ball and Cooper Chain. Dangerous thriller with whit and sarcasm thrown in.
I can see this series is going to be as full of suspense as John Medford’s others. This book kept drawing me in with every page from start to finish. Great read for those who love mystery and suspense. I can’t wait to see what’s next
I don’t know where John W.Mefford comes up with his ideas for his books but he sure does come up with some interesting and spooky scenarios. I really want to say some bazaar ideas that can really get you wondering what the heck, where does he get his ideas. Once again, this second book in the Ball and Chain series is riveting, thrilling, emotional and even funny. It was a great book following Willow Ball and Cooper Chain doing their own investigation on a missing person and getting into a lot of unexpected circumstances. The tension between Ball and Chain is moving and funny at the same time. I love Cooper Chain’s personality. I look forward to more in this series. Mefford never leaves you disappointed in his books.
A FUNNY THRILLER!
March 30, 2019
No author except John Mefford could create a funny thriller like this series. The twists and turn that Willow and Cooper get involved with are by no means funny. They are scary, seem real and dangerous all at once. The funny comes in during the interaction between Ball and Chain aka Willow and Cooper. Only a master author can mix both thrills and comedy into one series and succeed. This series is a really good one. I love it. It is light hearted but keeps you chained to your seat with all the action that involves Willow and Cooper. I can’t wait for the next one. Give MERCY (the first book) a chance and I’m sure you will continue with FEAR and the next one. You won’t be disappointed! Kudos to John Mefford on another fantastic series.
Cooper and Willow are undeniably a couple who will end up on my all-time favorite list. Their connection is being revealed piece by piece and despite outward influences and expectations, this couple is deeply rooted together. I just can’t wait to keep unfolding the layers! FEAR gives us a more intimate look into this pair while taking us on a dark, brutal path into the world of crime. Cooper is one of those guys that we shouldn’t want for Willow. He’s in debt to the mob and not exactly stable in life. Yet, he has this side that you know he’s a good guy deep down and has potential. We get to see a bit more insight to Willow’s mother — I find her character to be quite amusing and slap-your-cheek-gasping type of character (like, did she really say/do that??!). Mefford brings FEAR right to your fingertips and makes you tingle from head to toe because of the realistic reactions you have throughout the book. Ball & Chain has the classic Mefford thrill — but this series is different — and I really, really like it!I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.
After such a stunningly good introduction to Willow Ball and Cooper chain (hence Ball & Chain Mysteries), in Mercy, Mr. Mefford was going to have to work overtime to have the sequel, Fear, measure up. I am so glad to report that the hard work paid off!
Of course, Coop still hasn’t resolved his ‘debt’ with the mob. Nor have Willow and Cooper figured out exactly what kind of relationship they have (be in all business or very personal). But I like that. – and the fact they don’t immediately fall into bed gives us the great ‘Moonlighting’ type of energy.
Fear reads well enough as a standalone, but I always advocate for reading an entire series (in order if possible) because there is some inevitable carry-over that will give readers ‘the big picture’.
What starts as a ‘simple’ missing person case quickly stirs up to a spicy gumbo of crime that could burn anyone who gets involved.
If you enjoyed Mercy, you’ll like Fear as well. If you like a little thriller in your mystery, or a little mystery in your thriller, the twists, turns, and switchbacks of Fear will keep you reading for hours!
Honestly I took a while to get into this book, the banter between Willow and Cooper was brilliant but something was missing for me. I can’t pin point what though. Having said that Mefford has once again delivered a great story, Willow and Chase are the most unlikely crime-fighting-investigators ever, they unwittingly became PI’s in the last book and in this one they get caught up in looking for a missing person purely by a fluke as it happened to be a former athlete that Cooper was looking to interview.
There is still much to be said about this couple that I hope comes out in future books, I feel there is still a lot of back story to be told. There is also this undeniable attraction still there for them both, and I am interested to see if and how that will develop as Willow is engaged to a wealthy man – though I think there is more to him that meets the eye considering his association with Dr V – who has a noose around Coopers neck.
The Ball & Chain series is vastly different from the other series, but in its own right it is coming to a grower on me, slowly. I love the humour that runs through the book between Willow and Cooper, giving the story a little lightheartedness amongst the seriousness of the case they get wrapped up in.
The second installment of this Ball & Chain series left a little to be desired. A little too much Of Willow’s mom and her exploits and it could have used more of Cooper and Willow heading the pages up. They stumble into cracking they’re latest case rather than actually solving it.
However, I do recommend reading it, as the author left us with an intriguing tickler for the next episode in the series.
Willow and Cooper are looking for a missing father. But not just any missing father, one that used to be in the limelight, worshipped by millions of fans who love basketball. But he fell from grace along with blowing through $60 million dollars. Cooper is trying to write his ‘comeback’ story to get back in the good graces of the sports writers, and this man is his subject. Willow comes in and wants them to find him. His wife and mother in law are sick and need him home. Together they have formed a private investigation team of sorts. Little did they both know that going down this road is full of emotional ties, savage things done to human beings, and of course there is a little thing about a mob boss wanting Cooper to do some ‘favors’ to pay of his gambling debt he owes. The problem is, the danger that lurks everywhere they go. A very intense gripping story. Don’t plan on putting this one down until the end….it won’t happen. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book.
In typical John Mefford style book 2 of Ball and Chain leaves you wanting to read book 3. The evil in this book is reminiscent of the evil one of his other characters Ivy Nash faced. A very suspenseful read but with just enough humour to lighten things up. A great page turner!
You cannot go wrong with a Mefford book! He is a genius at creating complex characters and building suspense. Fear is just another example of his brilliance. Much better to read his books in order as they all link to each other in various ways. Can’t wait for the next book to be finished.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
FEAR by John W Mefford, which is the 2nd book in the Ball & Chain series, once again proves out the skilfulness of Mr. Mefford’s writing skills. In FEAR Mr. Mefford sprinkles in some wicked humor that actually had me laughing out loud, all the while the storyline portrays the characters in some mighty serious situations as they get chased by the mob. NO SPOILERS here. Just have to read it. And it is EASY to read and will have you on the tense side because Willow and Cooper get themselves into some serious situations. Such a delight of a book, and this series is off and running at full tilt and shaping up to be a great series read. This is what happens when one reads a very skillful AUTHOR, like John W Mefford, as he somehow keeps on being the gift that keeps on giving the reader thrill rides. ENJOY!! I highly recommend FEAR, for your book library that is. 🙂 Kudos to Mr. Mefford with this series and I find myself anxiously waiting for the next book in the series.
This novel is filled with twists and turns. There are LOTs of BAD people who do things that might leave you with nightmares.
Cooper and Willow flounder around attempting to help people–and I mean flounder! It gets almost comical in places. Willow’s Mom is kind of a main character and what a character she is–all I can say thank heavens my Mom is not like her!! They are also being followed and threatened and not only by Cooper’s arch nemesis and his 2 Goons. People are kidnapped–will they be found in time or sliced and diced?
Fear can generate hate and there is someone out there trying to prove this in the most ruthless way!! Can he be found and stopped?
There will be a book after this one and I am hoping it will answer some the questions that are left hanging–or at least I hope it will–I am actually looking forward to it!!
FEAR is the second installment of John Mefford’s new Ball and Chain series, featuring Cooper Chain and Willow Ball as an unlikely duo of crime solvers. Cooper continues trying to escape the trap he has fallen into with Dr. V. Soft hearted Willow goes against clinic rules and brings sick patients to her home. This in turn puts Cooper and Willow on the trail of a missing former superstar athlete.
I like the way Cooper and Willow have an undefined relationship but the pull between them will have to come to a head sooner or later. That’s going to be interesting. I love the situations that Cooper gets into and how Willow somehow ends there too. I am excited to see what comes next for them.
I was lucky enough to have gotten a ARC copy of this book from the author. This book will have you reading on the edge of your seat. Along with a some laughter.
“Fear” written by John W. Mefford is the second book in his new The Ball & Chain Thriller series. This book pulls you in and won’t let you go until the last page. I had a hard time setting this book down. The twists and turns keep you guessing. This book has mystery, thrills, and suspense. It is hard to go wrong with a John Mefford book. You won’t be sorry reading this series.