Police Chief Tess O’Rourke thought she’d taken care of her small town’s drug problem last year. But now Rogue’s Hollow residents are up in arms over a contentious vote on legalizing the sale of marijuana within city limits. And when an eighteen-year-old is found dead of a possible overdose, Tess wonders if the local pot farms might be involved and begins to fear that a new, deadlier drug supply … supply chain has cropped up. As tempers flare and emotions boil over, Tess faces the possibility of losing the town’s support.With her relationship to Sergeant Steve Logan on shaky ground, Tess could really use a friend, and she feels drawn to Pastor Oliver Macpherson’s quiet presence. But the anger she holds over her father’s death prevents her from embracing his faith and finding peace.Battling storms within and without, Tess is shocked when a familiar face from her past shows up in town to stir up more trouble. And his threats against Tess may prove lethal.
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I think I’ve read most of the books that Janice Cantore has written. Lethal Target, while not my favorite of hers, still managed to keep the suspense factor humming. As a former police officer herself, Cantore knows her stuff and it shows in her books.
Rogue’s Hollow police chief Tess O’Rourke’s job is on the line. In the first book of the series, Crisis Shot, she thought she had wiped out the drug trade in her town, but legalized marijuana in the state has brought growers to Rogue’s Hollow who are pushing the residents to vote for legal sales of the product in the city limits. When a popular athlete is found dead and all signs point to an overdose, Tess’ investigation points to something more sinister than marijuana. As the tide of public opinion turns against her, can she continue to ferret out the truth, and bring safety back to her city?
Pastor Oliver MacPherson lost his wife in Crisis Shot. In Lethal Target, he is the rock that nearly everyone in town goes to when they are in need of help, spiritual or otherwise. As he and Tess work together to uncover the truth of the young man’s death, and to clear his reputation from the initial finding of drug use, he sees Tess’ need for God’s peace. As the controversy explodes, can he help save Tess from the fall-out?
Cantore always manages to suck me into her stories, and keep me glued until the rip-roaring conclusion, and Lethal Target was no exception. Even though it plodded for me in a few places, once it picked up speed I was happy with the suspense. This one was more about the “possibility” of romance than actual romance, so if you enjoy stories that are heavy on suspense with a light touch of romance, Lethal Target is your book! I always recommend Cantore’s books. She’s got the suspense thing down!
I’m loving this series from someone with inside information!
The plot is complex and definitely keeps me interested and wanting to read. I’m ready to start book 3 and see what comes next in the series!
I’ve fallen in love with Tess and Oliver and can’t wait to see how their relationship progresses. Plus the small community grows on you and you feel like you’re a part of it.
Lethal Target is a fast-paced, edge of your seat suspense. The twists and turns kept me engaged until the end.
Recommend to readers who enjoy Dee Henderson.
I purchase a copy. I’ve expressed my honest opinion.
Lethal Target is a fabulous follow up to Crisis Shot!
Tess is a small town sheriff settling in from the big city, and Oliver is the pastor who desperately wants her to explore her ideas about God. Somehow, these two very different characters form a friendship that is anything but one sided.
In this high-stakes, full throttle, hard to set it down and walk away book, a sleepy small town suddenly becomes the setting for a murder, while also a thoroughfare for a what appears to be a nationally reaching drug operation. You spend the pages constantly surprised at what happens next and wondering how on earth it’s all going to come together. I’m amazed at Cantore’s ability to make big stories in a small town not only come across as believable, but play out so seamlessly. There are enough players that you’ll never guess ‘who done it”, but not so many that you’re confused on who is who.
Cantore’s prior profession as a police officer makes these stories come alive. Not only do you get an inside look at the investigative process, but she has a masterful way of not boring you with the technical details.
After book one, I honestly did not see the love interest coming, but Cantore wove the pieces together beautifully. I would have never guessed I’d like it if you told me first! I found book two better than the first, and cannot wait to dive into book three.
I listened to the audio performance of this book, available through my library’s Hoopla app.
While the subject matter of this book (legalized marijuana and the drug cartel) didn’t really interest me, I did enjoy the relationship between Tess and Oliver. I’ll likely finish this series.
3.5 stars
” . . barring natural causes, what were the options? Intentional overdose, accidental overdose, or murder.”
The curious death of an eighteen year old teen in Rogue Hollow, Oregon has its citizens breathing down the neck of their fairly new police chief, Tess O’Rourke. The crime appears to be drug related, yet the young man’s friends vehemently deny that he was a user. After questioning everyone involved, no leads rise to the surface and complaints against the police department continue, only now Tess’s nemesis from her previous career in Long Beach, California has arrived in the area determined to stir up all kinds of rumors and innuendos about her capabilities. One of the few people who can center Tess’s thinking and fuel her self-confidence is Pastor Oliver Macpherson. But not even the clear headed member of the clergy can protect Tess from becoming a target; the only question remaining is . . . . will it be lethal?
A nicely paced suspense with plenty of room for quality conversations alongside confusing trails of evidence, which serves to keep those conversations flowing. Nicely inserted is the reminder that it’s God who promises to gift us with strength and courage, for He remains with us wherever we go.
The suspense returns in this second book in the Line of Duty series. Main character, Tess, is faced with more than one troubling case; including one that just might get her in major trouble.
It was nice to be able to continue with this book after finishing the first in the series. This book takes place several months after “Crisis Shot”, and can be read as a stand-alone. As with most books, you will get a better feel for the characters, setting, and story by reading these in order, but it’s not absolutely necessary. There’s a new investigation, and the story threads that are continued in book two are understandable on their own.
It was a good book, one which I enjoyed. The suspense was well drawn out and you were very intrigued to find out how the book would finish.
I was a little surprised by the romance thread – it took a turn away from what the first book alluded from, and while I suspected it from the beginning of “Lethal Target”, I can’t say it was my favorite choice. I didn’t feel like these particular two characters meshed as well. But that is just my opinion.
The faith strand was continued nicely, and in this book we get to see Tess soften to God and begin to move forward in her healing, so that was good.
I liked seeing familiar characters from the first book, like Tilly. I hope we will get to see a little bit more of her in the third book too!
The mystery kept us guessing, and it was a relief to see it all turn out well in the end.
So this is a first book for me by this author and I was not disappointed. This book had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. The use of drugs and how it impacts so many lives not just the users is very much talked about in this book. Towards the end when I thought the story was done I started to wonder what about….. don’t worry if you get to the point to the author will surprise you with a huge shocker and its so worth it. I am not sure if its common with this author but if you are looking for a love story between the two main characters this is not the case. This book did not disappoint in the least and will have you guessing to the very end. I have not read the first book in the series but I plan to start that one soon, I can’t wait to see what the author has plans for these characters.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion
‘Her dad and Oliver both believed an all-powerful God ran the show, Tess couldn’t.’
This was my first Janice Cantore novel and it will not be my last. I only wish I had time to go back and read all her previous books. This was a top-notch police drama in novel form. No slack time, crisp, clear and deftly written. Tess O’Rourke is a fine police chief and her character is one full of integrity and honor, but flawed. The pastor in the tale is a great character as well. I enjoyed every minute.
LETHAL. TARGET. Janice Cantore
Police Chief Tess, the drug problem from a year ago she thought was over. Today of all days, not of her birthday, but of death, when she receives a call. Eighteen year old boy, bags found, and an open screen, mother and a friend said no, he wasn’t into drugs. Pot farms are sprouting up, as well as some questionable people show up at the farms, till she becomes a target.
Oliver as Tess faced him, she saw his strength, his compassion,knowing now that God was real for her. I thought the story had a nice flow to the story. More of knowing where Tess is in her life, with her job, and her thoughts about Oliver. Enjoyable, and one didn’t need to read the first book.
Given ARC by Net Galley and Tyndale for my voluntary review and my honest opinion. EllenOceanside
I always expect a riveting, suspense filled story when I pick up a book by Janice Cantore and Lethal Target did not disappoint. I particularly found the setting of interest because my daughter and her husband moved across the country to Oregon as traveling physical therapy assistants and their first assignment was in Grants Pass, right on the Rogue river. All I can say is that I’m thankful that the books in Cantore’s Line of Duty series are fiction!
With vivid descriptions, genuine characters, plenty of action and suspense, and a touch of romance, Lethal Target held my interest until the very end. I appreciated the fact that due to her father’s death Tess had major issues with accepting the Lord but loved that the author showed her journey toward faith in small steps that gave me hope for her eventual salvation.
There is a lot going on in Lethal Target with multiple twists, turns, and surprises in store. Of course there is at least one more book in this series so I will have to be content to wait along with other readers to find out how everything works out, especially which man Tess will choose. If you have not read any of this author’s books and are a fan of suspense novels featuring law enforcement, be sure to give Lethal Target a chance; however you might want to begin with Crisis Shot, book one of the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Tyndale Blog Network. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Police Chief Tess O’Rourke thought she’d taken care of her small town’s drug problem last year. But now Rogue’s Hollow residents are up in arms over a contentious vote on legalizing the sale of marijuana within city limits. And when an eighteen-year-old is found dead of a possible overdose, Tess wonders if the local pot farms might be involved and begins to fear that a new, deadlier drug supply chain has cropped up. As tempers flare and emotions boil over, Tess faces the possibility of losing the town’s support.
With her relationship to Sergeant Steve Logan on shaky ground, Tess could really use a friend, and she feels drawn to Pastor Oliver Macpherson’s quiet presence. But the anger she holds over her father’s death prevents her from embracing his faith and finding peace.
Battling storms within and without, Tess is shocked when a familiar face from her past shows up in town to stir up more trouble. And his threats against Tess may prove lethal.
This is the second in the Line of Duty Series. This can be a stand alone book. But I recommend reading the first book so you can understand the references made about Tess’s life in Long Beach.
Tess thought she had the drug problem in her small town under control. But with the death of a teenage boy due to a drug overdose, things heat up again. Her past is brought up by those who want her out of office and they are stirring up trouble to get her removed a Chief of Police. Oliver, one of the Pastor’s in town, keeps showing up to help her. As things heat up with a murdered man found on her doorstep, his presence seems to calm her fraying nerves. Tess is struggling with why a loving God would allow her father to be gunned down.
This is a fast paced mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. I recommend this to anyone who like a good mystery.
I was given this book by Tyndale Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
http://www.janicecantore.com/
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Lethal Target (The Line of Duty Book 2)