Abducted.Terrorized.Imprisoned.At nineteen-years-old, college student Josie Stratton was kidnapped by a madman and held shackled for ten months in an abandoned warehouse before she finally escaped her hellish prison.Eight years later, when the body of a young woman is found chained in the basement of a vacant house, Cincinnati Police Detective Zach Copeland is instantly reminded of the crime … instantly reminded of the crime committed against Josie Stratton. Zach was just a rookie on the perimeter of that case, but he’s never forgotten the traumatized woman with the haunted eyes.
As more information emerges, the crimes take on an even more sinister similarity. But Josie’s attacker died by suicide. Does the city have a copycat on its hands? A killer who picked up where the original perpetrator left off? Or are they facing something far more insidious?
Josie has spent the last eight years attempting to get her life back on track, but now there’s a very real chance she could be the unknown suspect’s next target. As Zach vows to keep her safe, and Josie finds herself responding to him in a way she hasn’t responded to any man in almost a decade, the investigation takes on an even more complex edge of danger.
As past and present collide, Josie and Zach are thrust toward a shocking and chilling truth. A revelation that threatens not only Josie’s life, but everything she’s been fighting so desperately to reclaim.
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Full of twists and turns, Where The Blame Lies will leave you questioning everything. And everyone. I loved it!
Beautiful. Tragic. Inspirational.
This gritty story resonates with the human soul in such a powerful, long-lasting way. It will gut you, hearten you, keep you guessing, blow your mind, and make you desperate for more of Mia Sheridan’s masterful words.
Oh, what brilliant, well-thought-out, three-dimensional character arcs. The heroine’s journey is gripping and painful, a story of survival and understanding love. You won’t just root for her. You’ll ache to hold her hand, to hug her, to never let her go.
The villain is the epitome of evil, but… As each page scrapes deeper, revealing bit by unpredictable bit, you’ll reach a dawning of understanding. Everything you thought you knew becomes so twisted up in grief and brokenness–and dare I say, compassion?–for someone you never want to root for. Yet those unexpected feelings find their way inside you, carefully sketched across your heart by the author’s skillful pen.
You won’t walk away from this book the same.
This is a romantic thriller, a mystery shrouded in darkness. But the dark is perfectly balanced by a love story with sexy adult scenes and an overall ambiance of hope.
I highly recommend this to all romance readers.
This book blew me away. WHERE THE BLAME LIES by Mia Sheridan is incredibly dark, heartbreaking, and beautiful.
2020 Favorite Read!!!! Yuppp….What a book Mia Sheridan!!! Freaking loved!!!
GO.IN.BLIND!!!!
Y’all, this is one of those books that will blow you away from the very first page.
Sheridan took my breath away….
I wanted to share that I seen this book being raved about, well actually it was book 2, and a comment was made about it was a stand alone. So I decided to start book 2, then after I realized how AMAZING the book was starting off, I decided to go peak at reviews (which y’all know I never look at in the beginning) lol but I had to see what ladies were saying about reading both books…most bits of reviews that I read said….although they are standalones, read both books and do in order…you will be glad you did….OMG Y’ALL, YESSS READ IN ORDER!!! I am sooo glad that I stopped the 2nd book and started/finished book one and now will be reading book 2. Danggg…I am not even going to review the book, I am just telling y’all my feelings because I really hope you go in blind. This book was Fan-Damn-Tastic and I wish I could have called into work today and read the 2nd book-ASAP..haha
See y’all later…going to read book 2-Where the Truth Lives.
Ohhh and you Kindle Unlimited peeps, this series is on KU!!! xoxo
This is a really gripping story about, basically, a very messed up man and his victim. Josie was attacked and held captive years ago. She still doesn’t really have her life together now, she’s a mess but trying so hard. Zach is the detective assigned to the copycat case related to hers from back then. Zach and his partner are good guys, sweet and smart and thorough.
The characters were interesting but so was the unravelling of the whodunit. I had some guesses but no idea as to the why or how deep it all really goes. Some parts were hard to read, and dark. But that’s part of what made this such a compelling book. And there’s also love, which added an element of hope for the future. This is the first book I’ve read by Mia Sheridan and I really enjoyed it.
‘Casus belli.’ Where the blame lies.
Mia Sheridan is flexing her writing muscles into the romantic suspense genre and coming out strong! Mia self-proclaims that “Her passion is weaving true love stories about people destined to be together.” Where the Blame Lies is certainly different than any of her other books. The mood of the story is on the darker side and may contain triggers for some. The story is layered and detailed, told in the past and the present.
“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise…”
Josie Stratton was kidnapped by a madman and held shackled for ten months in an abandoned warehouse before she finally escaped her hellish prison. Prior to the kidnapping, Josie had been a carefree college girl. Eight years later her past comes back to haunt her as another kidnapping victim, a female college student, is found dead. The similarities in the case are haunting. Josie’s attacker died of suicide leaving the police to ask if this is the work of a copycat killer?
‘A series of choices-some bad, some good, some seemingly meaningless-could lead you places you’d never set out to go.”
Josie’s “before” story is told in excruciating detail. I could almost feel the cement floor she was lying on. As the story builds, so does the complexity. The layers are piled on. I kept thinking I knew, I just knew who the horrible person was that did these terrible things. But then did I really?
Josie’s character goes through periods of self-discovery and incredible strength. Again, I could feel her fear, her anguish and her triumphant emotions through the whole story.
Detective Zach Copeland has a connection to Josie in more than one way. They are thrown together as he races to find the madman who is out to hurt not only Josie but other innocent women as well. Zach is alpha, strong and compassionate.
Where the Blame Lies will take you out of your comfort zone. It is intense and continues to pack a punch up until the end which includes a few surprise revelations. I will say that although I was happy with the ending (there seems to be some conflict about it) I would have loved an extended epilogue. Maybe something 5 -10 years down the line. A bonus chapter at the end of a future book?? (Hint-hint) If you are looking for something different, intriguing and suspenseful then Where the Blame Lies is for you! Bravo Mia Sheridan! Bravo!
“The war is over….”
4.5 stars
HOLY MOLY!! HOLY MOLY!! 10 Gold Stars for this one!! I happened to be one of the lucky few to receive this Mia Sheridan book in ARC form, and I am still reeling from this one. Wow!! Just Wow!! Every time I pick up a Mia Sheridan book I am completely and utterly blown away by her ability to craft a story so masterfully. She has a way of creating a world in which these wonderful and not so wonderful characters live in that makes you want to dive head first into it and not come up for air. And let me tell you, Where the Blame Lies does not disappoint. This book was one of the best mystery/suspense/love story I have read in a very long time. What a web Mia Sheridan weaved in creating this story surrounding the taking of Josie Stratton, a college coed, her friends, family, a new string of murders and disappearances that are eerily similar to Josie’s, and Zach Copeland, one of the detectives with the Cincinnati Police Department investigating the new cases. I did not see any part of this story coming. I was completely enraptured until the very end. Let me tell you, you will not solve this mystery until Mia Sheridan is ready to reveal the answer. So, be prepared to go down rabbit holes and to love every single minute of it. I cannot say much about the plot of the book without giving away the plot, but let me just say READ THIS BOOK…YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!! Absolutely, brilliant Mia Sheridan!! Just brilliant!!!
This story is perfection Mia Sheridan at her very BEST storytelling!!
Mia has created some very unique and strong characters. Considering what Josie experiences in this story she is an extremely strong heroine. Zach is a knight in shining armor he is loyal, honest, and just what Josie needed.
Reading this story was like being on a roller-coaster with all the twists and turns that have you on the edge of your seat. It was written in such a way that I did no know what hit when all the pieces of the puzzle finally were revealed. O.M.G…read it!!!
I do wish the epilogue was a little longer but that is just me wanting more!
This review is short I do not want to let any spoilers slip. This is a story that you should definitely go into it completely blind.
Five “hands up” stars! This book was so unlike anything Mia’s ever write!
Oh my pounding heart! What a suspenseful and gut-wrenching masterpiece I finished reading. I’m speechless and my poor heart is still beating hard inside my chest full of emotions that clogged my throat. Mia Sheridan did a magisterial job with this book. Where The Blame Lies is an intense and heart-breaking journey that had me at the edge of my seat. I still feel the wild feelings running through my veins. It was a rough experience that made me forget about the world around me. It sucked me instantly. It was like a movie was playing in front my eyes. Let me correct that. This book was better than any suspense movie I watched before. At moments I wanted to throw my kindle because it was too intense for me to handle all the raw feelings, the dark depravity of some human beings and the cruel things they are capable of.
Mia Sheridan delivered a romantic suspense thriller that has all the elements to make it a unique and original story that will blow your mind and it will leave you panting. It is clear that she pulled all the right strings to create such tension that have you at the edge of a heart attack! If her poignant romances have the power to break her readers hearts, Where The Blame Lies will break their soul and put back the pieces together at the same time. There is no doubt that she is a great storyteller. Her words grab you and don’t let you go. Her writing has the power to mark your soul and heart. If you are not careful, it can break your spirit in the most beautiful way leaving you raw and emotionally addicted.
This is the story of a survivor and a fighter who experienced hell on earth. Josie was a carefree college girl, like too many around the world, whose life changed when she was abducted by a monster who imprisoned her for months until she escaped. During that time, she lived in hell. Her body was damaged but never her spirit. Josie is the real hero of this book. Despite all the pain and damaged inflicted to her she kept fighting. She didn’t give up. She is not a victim, she is a survivor who is trying to move on with her life and trying to recover what was taken from her. Little by little she is rebuilding her life at her own pace. She is in a good place looking forward for a new start when the past knocks at her door but this time she won’t fight alone because this time she has a protector, a guardian angel.
And the guardian angel has a name and a face, Zach. He is a very protective man. It is in his veins. He is a detective for the Cincinnati police department. He is very good at his job, he cares about people and he is smart. When the corpse of a young girl is found in a basement, he is reminded of a same case years ago involving a girl with hunted eyes. The resemblance is quite disturbing. At first sight, it seemed like a copycat is recreating crimes but there is something shady and dark about this killer. He will do anything to protect Josie. She will become his responsibility from the moment he informed her about the possibility of danger. He will guard her and keep her safe while fighting the strong pull he feels for her. Josie’s safety will be his priority and Zach won’t stop until he finds the killer and brings closure to the people affected.
I loved the interaction between Josie and Zach. Their story flourished smoothly, like a light tinkling in the darkness, like hope in painful times, like faith when everything is lost. I swooned every time Zach’s protectiveness showed. When Josie thought she was broken beyond repair a guardian angel reminded her that there is beauty in the broken. That was so perfect.
There is too many fantastic things to say about this book but words aren’t enough and five stars aren’t sufficient to rate this book. There is mystery, action, danger and intrigue. Nothing is what it seems. This masterpiece will mess with you! It will chill every bone in your body!
Where The Blame Lies is everything but a sweet fairy tale. It is full of twists and turns! There is a lot to process. Certainly, this Mia Sheridan at her best. The prose is poetically haunting, gripping and uniquely Mia Sheridan’s. Hands down. Without doubt, this book is a top read of 2019!
Such a troubling story!! Devastating!! Heart wrenching on so many levels! But through all the sacrifice and suffering love prevailed!!
5/5 STARS
See my review in French here
It’s been a few days now, since I finished this book, and I’m still under the effects of this story.
Mia Sheridan has, once again, left me speechless.
It’s more than romance.
It’s more than a romantic suspense.
It’s a romantic (and dark) thriller.
So yes, it’s sometimes really hard to read, in fact this book is maybe one of the darkest I’ve read from this author.
And with her incredible writing, she delivers a poignant story, with complex and rich characters.
So, brace yourselves, you’re in for a really emotional journey, but trust Mia Sheridan, take her hand and travel this road through the worst and the best of Humanity.
This may be a fictional universe, but sadly it’s the mirror of the world we’re living in.
Nothing is just black or white. We all have so many shades and layers within ourselves…
The human being is capable of so much, the worst and the best.
And with Josie and Zach’s love story, we witness and experience it all: bad decisions, good intentions, strengths and weaknesses, darkness and light, kindness and cruelty, selfishness and sacrifice.
You heart will feel dread, fear, desperation, claustrophobia, but also hope, love and passion.
Just go with the flow, and don’t lose too much time trying to solve the mystery hidden behind those crimes, trust me: you won’t see it coming!
One of my favorites reads this year!
***ARC Provided by the Author for an Honest Review***
Visit my French blog: https://isalacroqueusedelivres.wordpress.com
WOW… I’m just in awe of Mia Sheridan’s writing and storytelling ability. I have to admit I’m a few books behind but when I was given the chance to read this; I immediately signed up and went into it blind. Romantic suspense is not something I typically gravitate towards, but one I started it I could not put it down. I was totally captivated by the story as well as by the main character, Josie Stratton, her strength and perseverance was something I admired. If she could fight to live outside her comfort zone, I could read outside mine. And I’m so glad I did.
The book’s subject matter was disturbing and not an easy one to read BUT the way Mia Sheridan tells the tragic journey of Josie’s past into a courageous and strong survivor (not victim) made it impossible for me to put down. I needed to know how her story turned out. I absolutely loved it!
Where the Blame lies is an edge of your seat, roller coaster of emotions suspenseful thriller.
I highly recommend this book.
*** 2019 Favorite ***
Mia Sheridan’s latest release, Where The Blame Lies, is by far one of her best books she has written. That is saying a lot because this woman can write a book. In this particular book she stepped out of her comfort zone with contemporary romance and wrote a Romantic Suspense / Thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. I read this book in one sitting and was glued to the pages. She kept the readers guessing and when she gave the big revelation of who it was, there were still so many questions as to the why’s and motive. Mia was meticulous with the plot, the timing, the characters, and the revelations. Everything gelled perfectly in this book. What I liked most is the strength of survival and the will to move beyond being a victim. Mia gave Josie power even though she was broken.
I am not going to say anything more because this is a book each reader needs to experience for themselves. It is a page turner!
Read Where The Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan!
Mia Sheridan has written a masterful book. I have never read her before but she knocked me on my ass, invaded my being, scared the hell out of me and broke my heart to pieces while somehow putting it back together again at the end in her own unique formation – not quite the same as when I went in but somehow the broken pieces were melded in a way I could accept.
Where the Blame Lies is definitely Josie Stratton’s story. A college girl out with friends at a bar 5 minutes walking distance from her apartment, who calls it a night, bids her friends goodbye and after being abducted from her very own bed, does not see freedom or the light of day due to her abductor, tormentor, rapist for almost a year. The book goes back and forth chapter to chapter between those 10 months chained in the middle of nowhere and back to the present and what is happening now eight years later. I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I could’ve kept going if there hadn’t been those breaks to the present day. With all the dark books I’ve read, this is the first that has so indelibly shaken me that I wanted to turn away. And it’s not because of shock value, Josie’s story, hell, the entire story is so well written, so full of feeling and fight and the bittersweet pang of longing and loss that it’s a thing unto itself.
Since it cuts to 8 years later and Josie is now out and no longer chained, she obviously got away and she’s trying her damndest to live a life. And although she’s still a ghost of the girl she once was, I couldn’t have admired a person more for surviving and choosing to try and choose life every day. What she lost in that warehouse was so much more than her innocence, so much more than her freedom. What she lost in those 10 months is the most precious gift on this earth. And yet she still keeps moving.
It should be enough that she be left alone in whatever peace she can find but 8 years after, it seems there is a copycat filling the same M.O. in the same old hunting grounds and thus she meets Zach Copeland, a detective who was new on the force when she was first recovered and has never forgotten the broken girl with fight that escaped and lived to tell. Now a lead detective, he’s assigned to the case and realizing the two are somehow connected, he comes into Josie’s life. There is a romance there but for me, it took a huge back seat to the thriller and suspense that this book was. Reading this as a group read, we were all posting like a mini CSI unit updating theories and pointing out to each other little ‘leads’ we were following or possible clues. Because Mia Sheridan wrote this book so that you’re absolutely hooked. You just cannot turn away from this. No matter how horrid, how grim or how heartbreaking, it’s almost as if being compelled to solve this case and give not just Josie her justice, but all the poor victims that follow with even worse outcomes.
This is a ride by the seat of your pants book that doesn’t let go. A game of true cat and mouse. But it’s also the remarkable struggle of one girl/woman who has had so much taken from her, including a piece of her heart and soul who doesn’t give in, who keeps fighting the good fight and shamed me more than once into what it really means to be strong and truly be a survivor.
Josie will always have a piece of me and this isn’t a book I’ll forget.
As for the culprit and the storyline as a whole, buckle your seatbelt because it’s a twisted, wild and crazy ride with a sick and deranged character always one step ahead, and no matter how much you figure out and nail, you will never see the end coming!!
5***** brilliant, captivated, heartbroken stars for a damn fine first rate book.
I first have to admit something… this was my first read by this author. I know, I’m just as shocked as you are. I promise though, this will not be my last! I enjoyed this romantic suspense so much. It was a gritty, wild ride, page turner that kept me guessing.
The way this story alternates between the past and present, created a powerful narrative that described how horrific Josie’s experience at the hands of a sadistic madman truly was. Yes, there are some very disturbing things that can be very difficult to read. However, these things happen in real life, not just in fiction. So while they are difficult to read, they are also impactful and realistic.
I’m off now to go read this author’s backlist and I couldn’t be more excited!
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.
Rated 4.5 Stars
Where The Blame Lies is a story of strength, endurance and love among other things. It’s interesting and intriguing. My eyes were practically glued to pages the entire time. It kept my attention and kept me invested in the characters and their story. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
Copy provided by author
Where The Blame Lies both shattered and soothed me. It’s premise is born from a dark and traumatising event that changed the course of Josie Stratton’s life. As she attempts to rises from the ashes that was once her life, she is pulled back into the darkness in order to save others from the cruelty she once suffered.
At the head of the investigation is Detective Zach Copeland. Like myself he is moved by Josie’s strength and determination. Although stronger now, he is there as a shoulder and to carry her when she buckles from the memories that threaten to overwhelm her of late.
Mia Sheridan can always be relied upon to bring such heightened emotion to her stories. She has the ability to tap into the core of human nature and bring forth it’s beauty no matter how dire the circumstance.
Although a suspenseful and vivid story, it was delicately balanced by the intimacies between Josie and Zach, as well as Josie’s own personal triumph. I adore all Mia’s Characters but long with Archer, Josie stands above the rest.
The audacity, the nerve, the gall of Mia Sheridan to do this to me. To give me a book so amazing I am not sure I can write a review that will do it justice. There are no words to convey the intensity of this story. But then again there are very few words to describe the talent that is Mia Sheridan. I am floored, I am in awe, I am speechless and that within itself is a rare occurrence.
Imagine a woman trapped in a world that is futile. Imagine a woman withstanding horrific things. Imagine a woman being used and abused. Imagine a woman not knowing who or why. Imagine this same woman being strong, being determined, being a survivor. Meet Mia Sheridan’s heroine, Josie.
Picture a man bent on solving a crime reminiscent of long ago. Picture a man that is not above the law but is the law. Picture a man being a protector. Picture a man being non-judgmental. Picture a man with compassion. Picture a man with the ability to look beyond one’s faults to find their needs. This is Mia’s hero, Zach.
Mia decided with this novel to take a walk on the wilder side, and I for one am glad she took the road less traveled. I know this is not her normal story, yet it is her normal story. There are characters we love, just in different situations. There are characters we root for, but for different reasons. There are characters we hate, with different outcomes. There is tender love and unbreakable passion. There is strength in the face of the storm. There is healing in the face of it all.
As I was reading this book, I learned something about what Mia’s books do to me. I’ve always known, but this solidified it. There are authors I read that get me excited. There are authors that make me cry. There are authors that make me laugh . . . out loud! There are some that do all three. But Mia, she touches me. Mia makes me feel. She reaches deep within the recesses of everything I thought I knew about myself and she finds more. She makes me think deeper. She makes me look at things differently. Mia’s books make me better.
4 Stars!
Josie Stratton’s life was forever changed when she was a nineteen year old carefree college student at the University of Cincinnati. She was abducted by a monster who imprisoned her for months before she finally escaped. Now she’s a 28 yr. old woman who has endured enough personal hell to last a lifetime. She’s a survivor trying to move on with her life. She longed for peace and to be anonymous. She’s finally in a good place emotionally, and looking forward to a fresh start when the past seems to be knocking at her door.
Zach Copeland is a detective for the Cincinnati police department. When the body of a young woman is found in a basement he is instantly reminded of a similar case from almost a decade ago involving Josie Stratton. He could never forget the college girl with the haunted eyes. Now it appears the city may have a copycat killer recreating crimes.
With a killer on the loose, it’s a possibility Josie could be in danger, and it’s Zach’s responsibility to guard her and keep her safe. He felt an undeniable pull toward her that went beyond physical attraction, but she was his job, and off-limits to him.
Josie had spent the last eight years working on herself. At times she thought she was broken beyond repair, but the man tasked with protecting her is making her feel things she didn’t know were possible anymore. It had been so long since she’d responded this way to a man. Zach looked like a Hollywood movie star and was absolutely gorgeous! As he becomes her hero, she starts to reclaim some of the things she thought were lost. Will the past threaten her future, or will Josie finally get a second chance at happiness?
Where The Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan is an emotional, romantic suspense story full of mystery, action, danger, and intrigue. Nothing is what it seems, and it will mess with your mind and keep you on the edge of your seat as you try to solve the murders and figure everything out. It’s a dark, horrific, twisted can’t put down thriller that will keep you wanting more. Just fantastic!!!
There is a phrase that many people and I use when we love a particular writer too much: “From writer X I read even a market list.”
My friend, read the market list is easy. Try to face a story that ruffle your hair, let you go sleepless and look at every dark area.
So I put myself on another level: read a genre I avoid, the psychological thriller, just because it’s the writer I love.
Lord Jesus, what a book!
Mia Sheridan has masterfully brought (worthy of the best thrillers) Josie’s story to my mind and I have not regretted facing this challenge.
Josie is a young college girl who is trying to enjoy her life after being betrayed by both her father that abandoning her and a boyfriend who she discover is married. Until the floor is literally removed from her feet and her life changes radically.
For eight years, she’s been trying to recover from living in hell while being held captive by a lunatic for ten months. Now that she is a little better, she meets Detective Zack who is investigating a number of crimes that resemble hers. The problem is that the guy killed himself after she can escape. So who is committing these crimes?
Alternating past and present, we know what she went through while she was kidnapped and how she would struggle to find out what really happened to her kidnapper.
A very strong and surprising book. When you wondered who is the perpetrator everything suddenly changes, then I got my hair up with a revelation of who was behind so many crimes. I would never think it is this person, and the way Mia builds the suspense makes me feel just like the detective. I loved it so much!
But not only does terror live int this book, but a beautiful romance too comes to balance the emotional weight of the story. Zach is a most special, hardworking, responsible and extremely intelligent man who values Josie and cares for her. I loved this lawman so much. He and Josie complete each other and make a wonderful couple.
Just one thing frustrated me and it was the same thing that frustrated me in Savaged but in this book I got a lot angrier with the situation because I don’t like very much any point left without closure and it was the second time it happened … I ask … Mia, please, let’s change this.
4/5 stars