✱✱Book Review✱✱ Review Tour: The Anchor by Kevin Doyle

 

The Anchor

by Kevin R. Doyle

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Mystery

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Jen has toiled away in television news, just waiting for a big break. And at the same time she finally gets a shot at the promotion opportunity she’s waited years for, head anchor for the nightly newscast, an unseen, shadowy man is desperate for her to notice him. When messages and well wishes don’t do the trick, her mysterious admirer intends to do anything necessary to make Jen a success and snare her attention, even if it means attacking her fiancé and killing off her competition.

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EXCERPT:

“Package for you,” Aldiss said.

Jen looked down at the plain wrapped bundle lying on her desk.

“Jack do something to make up for?” her deskmate asked.

Jen puffed in exasperation and plopped into her chair.

“What hasn’t he done?” she replied.

Aldiss chuckled and bent over his computer screen.

“How long have you and I shared a desk?” she asked.

“A year or so, give or take,” Aldiss replied, looking up.

“Uh huh. And how long have I been seeing Jack?”

“That you’ve admitted to? Seems like running on a year.”

“Eleven months.”

“Close.” Her coworker turned away and went back to his work.

Jen tapped her fingers on her desk and stared at the bundle. It had a small card attached, but without raising the flap and reading it, it looked like some sort of generic message-type thing.

“And when’s the last time he’s sent me a gift at work?”

Aldiss grinned.

“What’s the package say?” he asked.

“You didn’t look?”

“Hey, bunky, I believe in privacy.”

“Some reporter you are.”

She glanced at the package again, noted that it had come from FedEx, and assumed Tammy had signed for it up at the front desk. Then she flipped the front flap on the little card open.

“Hmm.”

Aldiss glanced up from his work but didn’t say anything.

Jen snared some scissors out of her desk and cut the paper open.

“Obviously, somebody thinks my current diet’s unnecessary.”

He looked up again, his brows raised.

Jen held up a box of Russell Stover chocolates.

“Card not from him?”

Jen shook her head.

“Say who it’s from?”

She held the card up eye level.

“In appreciation of all your service to the community,” she recited.

“Doesn’t sound like a new lover.”

“I hope not. I’d like to think I’d know if I was seeing someone new.”

Aldiss furrowed his brow.

“You done any story lately that’s been big time?”

Jen half glared at him.

“Meaning?”

Aldiss spread his hands out in a placatory gesture.

“Hey, nothing personal. I’m just curious what they mean by service to the community.”

Jen glanced down at the card for a second before looking back up.

“Maybe it’s just a fancier way of saying ‘I like your work.’”

“Or maybe it’s just some creeper who’s got a thing for you. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time a hot news anchor had an admirer.”

Grinning, Jen picked a paper clip off her desk and flipped it at him.

“Far as that goes,” she snorted, “wouldn’t be the first time for me.”

Aldiss picked the clip up from where it had fallen on his desk and tossed it back her way.

“Just imagine if they end up giving you Karyn’s nighttime slot. They’ll be coming out of the woodwork.”

“Thanks,” Jen said. “I’m doing my best not to think of that.”

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Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Anchor is a fast-paced read, and it's a pretty quick read, which is a good thing because it's the kind of story I don't want to walk away from if I can avoid it. So, already knowing how I am about wanting to suss out all the book's secrets when it's a thriller, I planned for this one and started reading on a Saturday afternoon. I finished before dinner time. Just an FYI: the faster the pace and the more exciting a story is, the faster I read. That should give you an idea of Kevin Doyle's storytelling. The book is well written, the characters are relatable, and the storyline has the kind of tension that keeps the pages turning to see what's going to happen. I realize I've been really vague here, but I don't want to spoil anything for those who read the reviews before reading the book. If you enjoy crime thrillers, this is one to check out. This makes my second time reading Doyle, and it's safe to say his already released books will be adding to my TBR.

A high-school teacher, former college instructor, and fiction writer, Kevin R. Doyle is the author of numerous short horror stories. He’s also written three crime thrillers, The Group, When You Have to Go There, and And the Devil Walks Away, and one horror novel, The Litter. In the last few years, he’s begun working on the Sam Quinton private eye series, published by Camel Press. The first Quinton book, Squatter’s Rights, was nominated for the 2021 Shamus award for Best First PI Novel.  The second book, Heel Turn, was released in March of 2021, while the third in the series, Double Frame, came out in March of 2022. The fourth Sam Quinton book, Clean Win, will be released in March of 203.

Web site: kevindoylefiction.com

Facebook: facebook.com/kevindoylfiction

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6473241.Kevin_R_Doyle

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