Dead Weight by Kathy Cassel Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: Dead Weight: An Abbi Kincaid Suspense Novel

Author: Kathy Cassel

Genre: Suspense

Release date: August 29, 2023

When Florida Panhandle police officer Abbi Kincaid obtains a coveted position on the Bay County dive team, she has no inkling her first mission will be anything but routine. Recovering a murder weapon eighty feet below the ocean surface is a simple assignment until Abbi finds herself face-to-face with a mutilated body.

Then a fisherman pulls up a second body, and the similarities set off a search for a connection between the two murder victims. The quest leads to the murky world of high-stakes underwater salvage and treasure-hunting. But what instigated this killing spree, and why now?

A horrific new trail of evidence is uncovered, and Abbi begins to wonder if her beloved brother Brad’s recent death is unrelated or whether he is yet another victim of this predator, even as she wrestles with age-old questions of why God allows good people to die.

When one more salvage diver goes missing, Abbi is pulled into a dangerous mission to rescue him. Trapped by the killer in an underwater cave, Abbi can no longer keep running but must face her worst fears head-on. With time and air running out, can she find a way to save not just herself but the others trapped with her? Does she have the strength, courage, and faith to do so before time runs out?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This is a good novel for readers who are ready for a different take on the traditional police investigation. Being on a police dive team makes for a different emphasis on the mystery and investigation. There is still the legwork of chasing down leads but there is also the suspenseful underwater action. Abbi is an engaging character. I like her commitment to finding the cause of her brother's death. She has good help in Kyle and opposition in an antagonistic member of the dive team. Cassel provides a good balance of Abbi's personal feelings with the investigative procedure, moving the plot along consistently. The villain was not a surprise as there were plenty of clues along the way. Abbi has some belief issues and Cassel provides a good faith message.

This is an entertaining police procedural novel for readers who would like something other than your typical police detective on land.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author

Kathy Cassel is the author of more than a dozen fiction and non-fiction titles for preteens and teens, including 2021 Selah Award finalist Freerunner, Catching Hope, and 2023 Selah Award finalist and Christian Indie Award finalist, A Thousand Lies. Dead Weight is her first adult suspense novel and the first book in the Abbi Kincaid Suspense series.

Kathy has lived on three continents with her USAF husband, has eight children, five adopted of them adopted, three from Haiti, and six grandchildren. To better relate to her characters, she enjoys learning their skills such as whitewater rafting, scuba diving, and riding a motorcycle, but draws the line at sky diving.

More from Kathy

In 2015, my daughter Jessica and I had the idea to write an underwater crime scene series. She was in the FSUPC’s underwater crime scene program, but I had never dived. I kept asking her questions about scuba techniques to make the scenes authentic, but I didn’t have a feel for it. So I took the four-hour intro to scuba class. I did not expect to like it because I am a bit claustrophobic and also didn’t think I had enough air to clear my mask. But in reality, I did fine. In fact, I liked it enough that I signed up for Padi Basic on the spot.

Jessica and I worked on the book, and I continued learning to dive, ending up with my SDI open water advanced with some specialties. But it turns out we didn’t know what we were doing when it came to writing a fiction novel. So I enlisted the help of a fiction coach. We basically started the whole book over.

But by this time, my daughter and her husband were starting a family, and she decided to go to nursing school instead of going into law enforcement. Meanwhile, I pressed on alone with the book.

I decided that since my main character rode a motorcycle, it might be helpful to try that, too, so that the scenes where she rides would sound realistic. That was not without its own challenges, but I eventually got my certification, bought a cycle, and also learned to shoot a gun.

So, because of Abbi, I learned to dive, ride, and shoot!

The plot had changed drastically by now. I became so overwhelmed that I quit three times! During those times, I wrote three YA novels (Freerunner, Catching Hope, and A Thousand Lies). But I always knew I’d return to the underwater crime scene story. And I did. I kept pushing, and finally, with the help of my fiction coach, I finished the book. I hope you enjoy it.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 16

Bizwings Blog, December 17

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 18

Stories By Gina, December 19 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, December 19

Betti Mace, December 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 21

Simple Harvest Reads, December 22 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 23

Artistic Nobody, December 24 (Author Interview)

Book Looks by Lisa, December 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 26

Fiction Book Lover, December 27 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, December 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 28

Blogging With Carol, December 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathy is giving away the grand prize of a copy of the book and a $40 Books a Million gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54121/

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)