Dead Stop
4 Stars

The investigation into an apparent suicide by train and its connection to a home invasion takes on an extra dimension when it becomes clear that a young girl has been kidnapped.

The case is not as fast-paced as the first book in the series, but it has several intense moments and a satisfying resolution. It is possible to figure out the culprit's identity and motive, but Kudos to Nickless for keeping me guessing for most of the story.

In terms of Sydney's personal life, it is somewhat disappointing that the development of her relationship with Cohen takes place off-page, but they are going in a positive direction.

Overall, an enjoyable sequel and I look forward to Sydney and Clyde's next case, which will hopefull also continue the Iraqi story arc from book #1. ( )

I read Blood on the Tracks last year and I loved it! So, I was pretty thrilled to get the chance to read the sequel, Dead Stop. Special Agent Sydney Parnell is a tough railway cop that together with her K9 partner Clyde has to save the only survivor of a brutal home invasion, a little girl. At first, is it hard to see what made the killer choose to kill everyone in the family, and kidnap the little girl. Is this because of some past transgression by the mother or father? Or likes the answers even further back in time? It seems that Sydney has to follow a trail that leads back in time to find the answers, but she has to do it quickly, a little girl's life is in danger, and who knows if the killer will stop at that...

Special Agent Sydney Parnell may have survived the confrontation in the last book, but she has added a six more ghosts to the list. And, I mean that literally. Her PTSD has resulted in that she sees ghosts. So, yes she has some problem and all this makes her such a fabulous character. Damaged and with pretty bad war memories, among that the memories of her lover, Doug, that never made it home, all that she has left of him is his dog that she has bonded with. Now she has kind of moved on with Detective Mike Cohen, although she's not quite there yet, she has moved in with him, but she can't bring herself to let Dough go just yet.

The case is a hard one, with 3 brutal deaths, but will add more deaths along the way as Sydney desperately tries to find out the truth before the time runs out for the little girl. I found the story engrossing, a sad tale about man's ambitions that crushes lives and have repercussions several years later. The first book story may have gotten to me a bit more, but this is an excellent book that I recommend warmly!

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! ( )

Sydney Parnell is a railway cop in Denver and an ex-Marine. She carries a heavy load of pain from her years serving in Iraq, with her primary comfort in the form of a follow ex-marine: a Belgian Malinois K-9 named Clyde. Samantha Davenport has been killed by a freight train, while her husband Ben gravely wounded, her two sons killed in an apparent home invasion, and their 8-year old daughter Lucy is missing. The story revolves around the many years of competition between two railroad moguls, their current battle for an express train to the West Coast, some strange numbers left at a related crime scene, and a series of unreported deaths at a particularly dangerous railroad crossing, culminating in serious family trauma. Sydney works on a task force with the Denver police force, and the FBI, but it is her tenacity and long family history with the railroad that solves this excellent mystery. Nickless does an excellent job in continuing to provide the key factors that help readers understand Sydney's character and challenges. 4.5 stars. Looking forward to books 3 and 4. ( )

Like the first book in the series, Blood on the Tracks, Dead Stop kept me enthralled from first page to last. The fast-paced story, the multi-faceted main character, and the information I learned along the way combined for a perfect read.

Among the things I learned? A bit of Colorado history, that Silly String isn't just for making messes, and bits and pieces of railroad lore and procedures. Don't mind me, trains click-clacking down the tracks lulled me to sleep as a child, and the book isn't chockful of railroad trivia if that's not really your thing. But all these things add depth to the setting and helped put me right in the middle of the action.

Dead Stop has an excellent mystery. I loved how all the various threads were woven together and how Parnell teased out all the clues. And the ending had my heart in my throat.

But the characters are what make the story work. FBI Special Agent "Mad Mac" McConnell worked well with Parnell, and as bits of her history were shared, I could see why McConnell was such a strong, interesting character. But it's ex-Marine Sydney Rose Parnell and her inherited ex-war dog Clyde who got most of the attention, as well they should. Both fought in Iraq. Clyde's handler was the love of Parnell's life, and she inherited Clyde when her lover was killed. Both woman and dog suffer from PTSD, and although they are a formidable team when they're on the job, it's not all about the job. This partnership runs deep because they both look to each other for emotional support, too.

The quotes that begin each chapter are from Parnell's classwork, therapy sessions, and her personal journal, and they shed light on the type of person she is. One of the best things this book-- and the series-- does is to help illustrate what soldiers returning from war go through.

I enjoy the author's blend of setting, story, and character so much that I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. I hope you'll give these books a try, and I do recommend that you begin with the first book, Blood on the Tracks. ( )

this is the second book in the series and I am blown away! Barbara Nickless writes a mean and gritty book, reminicent of Jeffery Deaver.

War veteran Sydney Parnell and her K9 partner Clyde make excellent protagonists. They are both deeply flawed characters which makes the book all the more believable. It shows the ugly underbelly of life and post war trauma, as well as the gritty situations that they deal with on a daily basis.

I am buying this series for my bookshelf!

Highly recommended!

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. ( )