Trudi Coffey only realizes that she hasn’t seen Samuel Hill in weeks when the FBI shows up asking questions about him. After a strange encounter with an armed man demanding her help and an attack by a member of the Boston mob looking for someone named Dream, Trudi manages to find Samuel–or rather, he finds her. He’s made some pretty powerful enemies, but right now his full attention is on … protecting Dream from the mob. Because Dream has something they want–the map to the location of artwork stolen from the Gardener Museum during the infamous 1990 heist.With danger closing in from all sides, Trudi and Samuel will have to call on all of their allies to keep Dream safe and discover the identity of the people who have been hunting down Samuel. The real questions are whom can they trust? And who will make it out of this thing alive?
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A Dream within a Dream by Mike Nappa and Melissa Kosci is a great work of Christian suspense. This is the first book that I have read in the Coffey & Hill series and reading it has made me wish I had read the other ones. These authors are masterful at injecting suspense at every turn and creating interesting characters. You’ll keep turning the pages to find out more. Readers of suspense will love this book. It can definitely be read as a standalone novel, but I think it would be even better in conjunction with the previous books in the series. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
I loved the first two books in this series so I was ecstatic to finally read this long-awaited third installment. I was a little bit afraid that it wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but I had nothing to worry about. It was just as good, just as compelling, just as exciting. I loved it.
It was so great seeing Trudi and Samuel again, getting to know Eula even better, and meeting new character Dream. All of these characters really came to life and seemed to jump right off the page. That’s one of the things I’ve loved most about this series. The characters are so complex and multi-dimensional. They feel real and genuine.
This was an incredibly compelling read. It was fast paced, hard to put down, and full of so many surprising twists and turns. I was sad to reach the conclusion because that ending? My gosh, I need more! I have so many questions! If you’re a fan of suspense, definitely check out this series. It’s one of the best out there.
A Dream Within a Dream” is the third and last book of Mike Nappa and Melissa Kosci’s Coffey and Hill series. Trudi Coffey and her ex-husband, Samuel Hill are the two halves of Coffey and Hill Investigations. Although the two have parted ways, their lives mysteriously intertwine in dangerous circumstances. Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, this book is true to its name. It is a dream within a dream, and nothing is as it seems.
Dream is an artist with a flawed memory but he has a potential clue to solving the theft of paintings from the Gardner Museum – which has a staggering reward of five million dollars. This dream within a dream story is a conflicting kaleidoscope of life-or-death interests centered around one man and his responses to an almost impossible situation. I urge you to read this book to find out why!
Stakes have never been higher for Coffey & Hill…
Well, this is one of those books that leaves me with mixed feelings and I just don’t know where to start. Did I like it? Yes. Am I still reeling from the ending? Also, yes. Reading A Dream Within A Dream was almost a little surreal.
While Annabelle Lee is probably my favorite Coffey & Hill novel there were aspects of A Dream Within A Dream that I liked even more. I felt like I was able to get to know Trudy, and even Samuel, a lot more in this book. This is also the first book in the series that has a co-writer and it does have a slightly different tone than the previous two books. Rest assured that Mike Nappa’s trademark dark, slightly Ted Dekkerish, brand of grittier Christian suspense is still very much present. The action and adventure remain undimmed. Melissa Kosci’s influence is subtle, but it’s there.
As a history buff from way back, I think my favorite scenes in the book were those set around several Revolutionary War historical sites. What does Paul Revere’s midnight ride have to do with a Poe poem? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
Just as a friendly word from one reader to another. There are some sections that can be a little hard to follow as one character has flashbacks from at least 3 different time periods so you need to pay attention to those blank space breaks between scenes/flashbacks.
So, while I still have those mixed feelings I can say that I did like A Dream Within A Dream. Mike Nappa and Melissa Kosci have penned a strong addition to the Coffey & Hill series and it definitely stands well beside its predecessors. If you’ve read book one and two you won’t want to miss this one!
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
I have waited years for this book to be finally released. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Once again, we are dropped into Trudi’s life only this time Samuel is AWOL and seems to have gotten himself involved in more than he can conceivably handle. And given that this is Samuel Hill, that’s quite a bit because he can handle a lot. We also get the addition of a new character: Dream. He’s been in over his head for some time I’m afraid and it has given him a rather bad case of PTSD. I honestly just learned a lot from the little factoids he spouts off.
I spent most of the book turning pages unable to put it down as each chapter ended cruelly and horribly for the characters. Strung along with complicated relationship status, just wanting to know some resolution. With the relationships? With the plot? With just what the characters are thinking?
But nay. Resolution is a far-off dream in a far-off future. Or if you will. A dream within a dream.
It’s just as fun as it is brutal, with snappy dialogue and quirky characters. I definitely recommend you pick this book up. But ah… if you haven’t read Annabelle Lee yet, pick that up first.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
A Dream Within A Dream
A Coffey and Hill novel #3
By Mike Nappa
and Melissa Kosci
Trudi Coffey is enjoying an Atlanta Hawks game while on a consult in Boston. Unfortunately, enjoying the game is soon out of the question thanks to the FBI, who is searching for her ex, Samuel Hill. From there it just seems to spiral out of her control. A stranger with a gun confronts her asking for her help. There is just one problem the stranger seeking her help was sent by Darrent Hayes. Oh yes, this day, this week just keeps getting better and better.
When Trudi returns to Atlanta, Samuel is nowhere to be found, and worse more than one person is looking for him. With enemies at home and abroad looking for Samuel, Trudi does the only thing possible she starts looking for him herself. With the help of Eula, she starts working on finding Samuel with the very few details she knows.
Samuel needs help but he wants to keep Trudi as far away from the danger that is out to bring him down. Needing to keep Trudi safe and learn just what someone known as The Dream knows is of utmost importance to him. If he can get Trudi to help keep Dream safe while helping him remember could be the one thing that will keep her out of the danger hunting him. But someone seems determined to use Dream for their own purposes. Can they unlock the secrets hidden within his mind in time or are these two dangers on a collision course with Trudi, Samuel, and Dream caught in the middle?
A Dream Within A Dream is told in the voices of the three main characters, Trudi, Samuel, and Dream. For the most part, Trudi and Samuel’s thoughts are straightforward, looking to whatever may come next. Dream’s thoughts are a bit all over the place as his past is slowly revealed throughout the book. The action is almost non-stop as Trudi and Samuel work towards their goal – keeping Dream safe, discovering just what he knows that is so important, and staying alive for the foreseeable future.
This book like the previous two in the series has a tie to Edgar Allen Poe and his works. If you are in a mood for suspense with more than a few twists you will love A Dream Within A Dream. Now you don’t need to read the two previous books but I’d recommend doing so as there are references to both that will make more sense with familiarity with them. Overall a good read and one that will keep you turning the pages long after you should have put the book down.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts I expressed are my own.
An excellent book that will keep you engaged and on the edge of your seat plot. Lots of surprises along the way that you definitely won’t see coming. To me, this is what’s so exciting about the book. You never know what’s coming around the corner!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I loved each of the characters.
I savored this book because I didn’t want it to end and like my friend has suggested I’d like to go back and read the others. Even though you don’t need to. You can pretty much pick up from here.
The characters oh my each was a delight in their own special way. They truly made me believe that they were real as the author has brought their feelings out to me from across the pages of this book.
So buckle up for the roller coaster ride of your life! This is a thriller for sure!
I give these authors five stars. And they are new to me. I will be looking for more by them.
I highly recommend this book.
My thanks to Netgalley and Revell for a complimentary copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
Having read the previous books in the Coffey & Hill series, I knew exactly what to expect from A Dream Within A Dream – or so I thought! Each and every one of the other books has been a nonstop, breath-holding adventure and the latest installment certainly lived up to those expectations. Yes, I expected surprises around every corner as well as plenty of action, mystery, and suspense. What I didn’t expect was to become so heavily involved in the lives of the characters that one final surprise left me in shock.
A Dream Within A Dream is a twisted tale that continuously kept me wondering exactly what was going on. One character in particular played a role that demanded my sympathies but at the same time it was difficult to really quite get a read on him. Later, some of his choices seemed to come out of left field.
I was not at all pleased with how the story ended but continue to hope that I really did read a few hints that all was not exactly as it seemed – indeed A Dream Within A Dream. I am certainly trusting that this series has not reached its end.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Some of my very favorite books growing up were Nancy Drew mysteries. A Dream Within a Dream by Mike Nappa and Melissa Kosci gave me that same breathless feeling as I raced my way through the book to the exciting conclusion.
Trudi Coffey hasn’t seen Samuel Hill in weeks. Then the FBI comes looking for her and she is clueless as to what is going on. She also has an encounter with a small man named Dream. It isn’t long before she is entrenched in not only the mystery of what is going on with Samuel but figuring out just who Dream is and the big mystery of why he is so important to so many people.
A Dream Within a Dream practically left me breathless turning pages as I read through this fun mystery. I enjoyed Trudi and Samuel each in their own way. I also found Trudi’s assistant Eula to be a fun part of the adventure. I especially liked how tender and kind Trudi was to Dream and how she tried to reflect her faith to him as she interacted with him. There were themes of love, kindness, and forgiveness in between the sleuthing and evading of bad guys. And just who were the bad guys anyway? This book kept me guessing in that area too. There were a few surprises in the end. I enjoyed the characters and the plot all the way through. If you are an Edgar Allan Poe fan the book will be even richer for you. I wasn’t real familiar with him but I enjoyed what I learned through this book. I read A Dream Within a Dream as a stand-alone but I definitely want to read the first two books in the series–and hope more are to come with the cliffhangers at the end.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
I found this book to be a compelling read, if I finished a chapter, I had to keep going to find out what was happening. Even with being a bit lost, I still kept turning the pages.
This is the first book in this series that I have read, and there are three, but lots of information is given, and I can tell by this book that they had to be good!
You never know what is going to happen, and even when answers are given, I still wasn’t sure.
In the end I wasn’t sure all would survive, and when the book ended I was still wondering. Wonder if you will feel the same?
Come and get lost in a book that is full of action, you won’t see most of it coming! Greed, the root of all evil?
I received this book through the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.
Two odd things about this book: The first two were published in 2016 and I reviewed both. It had been so long, I was about to get rid of the other two, thinking the series was not going to be finished. Secondly, the first two were solo works by Mike Nappa. This book has two authors.
This book was kind of weird, but in a good way…but then each book in this series is based on one of Edgar Allen Poe’s works…which are weird.
There were times in the book I wasn’t sure what was going on. The one character, nicknamed “Dream” would go back into his memories without any warning, and it wasn’t always easy to realize right away where he was in his timeline. That did make him an interesting character.
I like the two main characters a lot: Sam Hill and his ex-wife Trudi. They make an excellent pair in their detecting and protecting “Dream.” It did take me a while to realize everything revolved around a big art heist, and where “Dream” played into things. However, the authors did a great job on spinning their tale and keeping the reader guessing as to what was going on.
Even with the confusing mind of “Dream” and the occasional weirdness, I did enjoy the book. It had a lot of suspense and action. I did think the ending was a bit abrupt, and am hoping there is another book to pick up where it left off….hopefully not in 4 years. 🙂
And this series should be read in order.
I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.
A Dream Within A Dream is the third book in the Coffey & Hill series from Mike Nappa and Melissa Kosci. I am going to be straight up with you right now; y’all know I’m a sucker for a series. If I am reviewing the third book in a series, I will absolutely read all three. And now for the sake of honesty, you should know that I didn’t read this series. I tried. I really did. I got about three chapters into the first book, Annabel Lee, and walked right away. I was sure this review was going to be an altogether different kind of first for Woman by Grace: one where I explain why I just couldn’t get into this book. And now we are all surprised, because A Dream Within A Dream has made a liar out of me.
It took a bit of time for me to grow accustomed to the stream of consciousness flow of Dream’s narration. Following the flow of a story that involves an art heist, the Irish mob, Saudi terrorists, and a little boy lost seemed overwhelming. However, it did not take long at all for this madness to snatch my attention and hold me captive until the very last word. Not only that, but the references to previous Coffey and Hill escapades has inspired me to revisit Annabel Lee and follow that with The Raven.
Thank you to the authors and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions in this review are my own and are completely genuine.
This is my first novel by Mike Nappa and Melissa Kosci. However, this novel is the third Coffey & Hill book by these two authors. It seems all three of the books have titles derived from poems by Edgar Allen Poe. The other two books are “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee”. I was interested in this book because the blurb on the back of the book sounded intriguing. I cannot say this with absolute certainty since I have not read the first two books but it seems that you would be okay if you read this book without reading those. However it would probably be better if you read those first. I say that because the cases from the first two books are referenced a couple of times at least and also because when I first started reading this book I had the feeling I was missing something. The book is broken up by days for sections. The beginning of each chapter lists a character which tells you whose perspective that chapter is written in. I found this to be only slightly frustrating because some parts of certain chapters were repeats of the previous chapter because it was the same scene repeated but from another character’s point of view. However, Nappa and Kosci do a good job building the suspense pretty much from the beginning of the book.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in order to give an honest review.
Trudy Coffey is leaving a basketball game when she is approached by a strange young man. His name is Dream and he tells her that he is going to kidnap her. Trudy with her mad fighting skills doesn’t need to use them too much to subdue him. Then, he tells her she is the only one who can help him. As Trudy begins to unravel what Dream needs from her, she is hampered by his confusion and memory loss. It is obvious he has been involved with the Irish Mafia, but to what extent? Trudy is also butting heads with the authorities, who want to know where her ex-husband, Samuel Hill, has disappeared to. A known terrorist has Samuel #1 on his hit list as revenge for Samuel’s killing of a family member. She has no idea where Samuel is, but would really like to know. There is also an aggressive FBI agent who continually follows her, wanting to know about Dream and where a cache of stolen artwork is located. Trudy knows nothing about this…yet.
The more time Trudy spends with Dream, the more she learns. However, there are people out to keep him from talking and/or get him to talk to tell where the priceless artwork is hidden. Dream doesn’t know, but he does remember where a map is located that could help them. As time goes on, Trudy becomes more worried about Samuel. He eventually reappears briefly and helps protect Dream. As she and dream follow the clues on the map in historic Boston as they are chased by the bad guys, time is running out for Dream and Samuel.
I am so glad to get another book in this series! I hope this isn’t the last one as I have enjoyed the way this author writes with complex plots, interesting characters that I have come to be connected to and a romance that may or may not be doomed. There is plenty of action and mystery to keep readers tuned in and on the edge of their seats. This one ended with a heart-stopping moment, but with a hint that leaves room for more.
“A Dream Within a Dream” by Mike Nappa is a great read! This is part of the Coffey & Hill series. I have read all the other books and loved this one as much as I loved the others. It’s so easy to pull for Trudi and Samuel. They are very likeable characters. This story has non-stop action and mystery. It had a twist at the end that totally surprised me. I am hoping that there is another book after this one.
I definitely recommend this book especially if you enjoy good, clean, mystery and suspense.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.
Melissa Kosci joins Mike Nappa to bring us the third installment in the Coffey and Hill suspense series. PI Trudi Coffey and police detective/ex CIA Samuel Hill are off on another adventure together. This time, they are trying to help a young man who goes by Dream, whose blocked memories are the key to solving a decades-old art theft.
In hot pursuit of them are the Boston Mob and FBI agent Tama Uribe– a lady whose agenda to recover the stolen paintings may not be altruistic. Samuel is also being chased by a group of Middle Eastern terrorists, who blame him for the death of one of their own some time back and want revenge.
The story bounces back and forth between Atlanta and Boston, with some fun historical treasure hunt elements that remind me a lot of the movie National Treasure, including a visit to Old North Church, Paul Revere’s house, and Boston Common.
Samuel and Trudi are still fighting the tension between them. In the scene where she falls asleep on his bed at his apartment and wakes up to find him watching her, you can feel how much the two wish they could turn back time, erase all the mistakes of the past, and just be together again. Sadly, that’s not the case at that moment, but as the story progresses, circumstances do change that would make reconciliation possible should the two of them choose it. I hope that Trudi and Sam will finally get to be together after this book. It is unknown whether Mike and Melissa intend to write another chapter of this series, but a single word at the end of the book suggests that it could still be possible. I hope they do. I’m not ready to say “goodbye” to Samuel and Trudi just yet.