A cold case heats up when a 9-1-1 call puts police at a Denver murder scene, pointing investigators to the abduction of a Colorado teenager fourteen years earlier. A calling card—a single black pearl—is found on the newest victim. Is the murder a copycat? Or has a twisted serial killer, thought dead or in prison, returned to strike again?Soon, the hunt for a multi-state killer is on and brings … killer is on and brings together an unexpected team: a Denver Major Crimes police lieutenant; an FBI special agent who investigated the previous murders; a rookie FBI agent with a specialty in psychology; and the only living victim of the Black Pearl Killer, who is now a cop.
For Special Agent Brian DiPietro, the case is an opportunity to find answers. For Officer Allison Shannon, the case will force her to face down the town that blamed her for surviving when another did not. And for both DiPietro and Shannon, it’s a chance for both to find closure to questions that have tormented them for years.
“Suspense, romance, high-tension, pitch-perfect pacing. Donnell Ann Bell is simply a terrific storyteller.” —Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author
“Unputdownable.”—Cara Chamberlain, Netgalley Reviews on Buried Agendas
“One of the best I have read in a while. I just could not put it down.”—Wolf’s Reading Den on Deadly Recall
Author Bio: DONNELL ANN BELL IS an award-winning author of four romantic suspense novels, all of which have been e-book bestsellers. Black Pearl is the first in a suspense series. Donnell and her husband are recent transplants to New Mexico. Visit her website and connect with her on Facebook.
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In this well-paced police procedural, the author brings together a somewhat unlikely task force to look into the fourteen-year-old cold case of an abducted and murdered teenager.
A hardened Denver police detective investigates a fresh case that might be related, while the FBI agent who worked the original case goes to Montrose, Colorado, where the earlier abduction occurred. With him is the girl’s best friend who got away from the abductor, only now she is grown and a seasoned police officer.
Not only is the case fascinating, but the characters are three-dimensional and carefully crafted. I can’t wait to read their next adventure.
Well-crafted, fast-paced suspense that added twist upon twist. Police procedures were clearly researched which lent a gritty, riveting feel. Absolutely recommend!
Good thing I’m retired, since reading Black Pearl kept me up WAY past my bedtime. One more chapter … One more chapter ….
This is a crime novel about people, not just about solving a crime. The victims are given deep respect, a sense of their humanity and the potential that was lost when their lives ended. The investigators are multidimensional, unique individuals. I grew quite attached to FBI Special Agent Taylor, a young man just starting his career, with his extraordinary talents and his boyish personality. I hope to see more of Denver police Lieutenant Everett Pope in a future book. He has subtle depth.
The killer is a complex person as well, possibly the most original antagonist character I’ve ever read.
Bell does a great balancing act between showing in-person and research-based investigations, keeping the tension high without excess violence. In fact, there’s very little violence at all. Most of it takes place “offstage,” and this doesn’t weaken the impact of the crimes or the suspense of the pursuit of justice.
Her prose is tight, not a word wasted. Any detail of the setting that’s needed is given at exactly the right moment, and nothing extra. Humor and relationships are woven naturally into scenes that move the plot forward.
This is one of those books that I want to reread now that I know how the crime is solved, to study the craft of writing.
BLACK PEARL by Donnell Ann Bell is a procedural full of twists. Set in Colorado, the story traverses the state from Denver to Montrose and nicely illustrates that while there may be a bit of tension between agencies, there’s even more camaraderie. The chemistry is palpable between the three law enforcement officers who form the task force in search of a serial killer. For two of the three it is a reunion—they’d met fourteen years earlier when one had been an investigator and the other a survivor of the very killer they now hunt. Briskly paced and worthy of its Colorado Book Award nomination.
A Gripping Suspense Thriller!
Donnell Ann Bell’s new book, BLACK PEARL, attracted my interest in the first chapter. The plot was full of action and many twists, suspense, well-developed characters, all the ingredients to create a captivating plot. She didn’t disappoint me. Her cold case suspense should added to your reading list if you love reading riveting thriller suspense. It’s a great debut for her new series. I could not put it down, I wanted to know who the killer was. Ms. Bell must have done lots of research concerning police procedures, because it was a real page turner.
When a new victim is related to a cold case, a team is organized with a Denver Major Crimes police lieutenant, an FBI special agent, a rookie FBI agent and the only living victim of the Black Pearl Killer, who is now a cop. Together they will search for clues and answers to find out who is the killer! Unexpected ending that will surely surprise you! I loved this character Brian.
“Black Pearl” by Donnell Ann Bell-Award Winning Author
“Just when you think you know who did it, believe me, you don’t. “Black Pearl” by Donnell Ann Bell will keep you guessing until the end.”-Green Gables Book Reviews
“Black Pearl” is filled with Police Officers and Investigators you will remember! Pope with his imposing stature, Allison with her first-hand experience from the past, Brian’s unforgettable memories of an unsolved crime, and Devon-new but very valuable to this case.
When they are brought together to solve a murder, they soon know they were brought together for a reason. Are they dealing with a copy cat killer from years ago-or is the original murderer back in action?
Their cold case is back on the front burner when a Denver murder victim’s autopsy reveals something too coincidental to not be the same murderer-a single black pearl-found in the mouth of the latest victim.
How are these cases related and why?
The case takes Allison back to her hometown, the hometown where she has nothing but bad memories. Can she handle this case? Being here. The feelings. The sadness. Could she have stopped the murder? And, now that she is back, can she face the people who blamed her?
Very well written. Chapters that will keep you on the edge of your seat. A book that when you put it down, you will still be thinking about it!
Very well done!
Love this story. Strong characters and a real page-turner. Super read!
Black Pearl is the perfect title for this suspense read.
It won’t take you long to realize the reason for the title of this book. Black Pearl has more twists and turns than the million dollar highway. i thought I knew who the killer was several times before I got to the truth. If you enjoy a good suspenseful read with real characters that work we’ll together, you won’t be disappointed or able to put this book down. Having visited Colorado many time I really enjoyed the familiarity of the settings, it put me right there with the characters. Donnell Bell is a talented writer who has not disappointed with this newest read. I can’t wait to see where Donnell Bell takes these characters in the second book.
Donnell Bell has created great characters and kept me guessing. As soon as I finished Black Pearl, I wished I had taken longer to read it, I did not want it to end. Glad this is the start of a series. Write quickly, Donnell!
Donnell Ann Bell has established herself as a master of suspense, up there with the best the genre has to offer. This book cements her position. And you absolutely won’t see the twist coming!
I was so happy to see that this author had a new book coming out. It’s been five long years and this woman can write a mystery/suspense/thriller and I was waiting with bated breath for its release. I was not disappointed. The author has written another incredible story and I didn’t want it to end.
A serial killer who hasn’t been active for many years suddenly reappears which leads to the forming of a team to track him down. These characters were as captivating as the story. A FBI agent who was part of the case 14 years ago, the best friend of that victim who had her own run in with the killer 14 years ago who is now a police officer, a rookie FBI agent and finally the head of Major Crimes in Denver where the latest murder just happened. Each bringing their own set of skills to the table to track down the killer.
So many twist and turns before the surprising reveal. I think there were like 68 chapters in this book and I could have easily read another 68 – I really didn’t want it to end. Can’t wait for the next book in the Cold Case series..
A body found in an abandoned building opens a case for Lt. Everett T. Pope with assistance from FBI Special Agent Brian DiPietro. A black pearl is found on the body, which reopens the unsolved case of a missing teen from years ago involving a black pearl. Brian worked the case when the teen was first found and the detectives begin by locating the friend of the teen. They are surprised when they discover that she is now a police officer, Officer Allison Shannon. Due to her familiarity with the town and the teen’s family, she joins the task force along with new agent Devon Taylor. This was a little confusing for me as story starts with an unexplained fire and characters then moves on to the body in the abandoned building. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
Donnell Ann Bell’s Black Pearl,
Reviewed by Don Beckwith
Join the hunt!
Where to begin? I’ll tell you where—the mountain town of Montrose, Colorado, fourteen long years ago, when a young blonde teenage girl is brutally murdered. The killer is not caught, but teases the police and the family of the victim, named Raelynn, by leaving a taunting sign—a single black pearl tucked beneath the girl’s tongue.
Jump ahead those fourteen years and find yourself in Denver, where another murder is committed, also of a blonde female teenage, this one named Brandy Lieffield. And guess what is found hidden under Brandy’s tongue? Yes, a single black pearl!
So much time has gone by. That first killing is now considered a cold case. But could clues to this newest murder possibly lead to its resolution? Are we talking about a serial killer, repeating his cruel act so many years later? Are we talking about a copy-cat killer? One thing is sure, though—the black pearl is no coincidence!
The cases, with their similarities, are so complex and far apart in years and locale that they require a most unusual team of investigators, law enforcement officers capable, together, of bridging those years and ultimately, painstakingly, solving them both. I assure you, you won’t know until the very end!
One by one, we meet the carefully assembled team. Senior FBI agent Brian DiPietro has the lead. Joining him, already having begun the local investigation, is Everett Pope, a Lieutenant in Denver’s Major Case Squad. DiPietro reluctantly takes on a junior FBI agent, a former military mental health counselor, Devon Taylor, whose dream it has been to become an FBI profiler. Finally, there is Allison Shannon, a young police officer on the Colorado Springs PD. The seeming irony is that Allison was the best friend of the original victim in Montrose, whose family blames Allison for allowing their child to be murdered. Fate and emotional necessity had led her to law enforcement as a career.
And, one by one, we come to meet the suspects, each of them seemingly capable of such a foul deed as killing young Raelynn all those years ago—and possibly Brandy, the Denver victim, as well. All the team has to begin its work with are those black pearls.
Do I need to say it? I truly enjoyed this book!