The Ledger

📕Good thriller, right down to the marauding bear!🐻

4.5🌟stars
I found The Ledger exciting, somewhat unpredictable (I mean, you knew almost immediately Maddy would be getting in all kinds of dangerous situations, especially if you read The Glades!) and chocked full of thrills, right down to the unexpected twist at the climax.

Although the story certainly did not come up short on villains, including a hungry bear that's been terrorizing the area around Berry Lake, the author built a solid support system for Maddy, and I particularly liked the scenes where Maddy and her adult daughter Amber connect.

Like Maddy, I am still bummed that young Hector left us in the previous book.😞 But his last minute absconding with The Glades trafficking operation's ledger of all its transactions and its powerful clients provides the dilemma that Maddy can't shake loose. Basically, all of the villains want the ledger and Maddy appoints herself the person to find it and avoid it falling into their hands. And living alone on a mountain top makes Maddy and her associates sitting ducks.

Maddy is a very strong female protagonist, especially (but not only!) when she's got a gun in her hand. She doesn't suffer fools or criminals gladly and, as a result, her small adopted community has embraced her, and her former law enforcement colleagues in Utica have her back. I really liked her gumption, but I also found her softer side, like the grief she can't shake off when things turn so tragic for Kim-Ly and her worry for boyfriend Adam's safety, really attractive.

I loved Netti's The Glades and this sequel did not disappoint! Thanks to Black Rose Writing and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Emotionally riveting crime/political thriller. Just finished this ARC read from netgalley, The Ledger, by John Netti. Definitely a 4/5 🌟 for me. This is a crime thriller following Maddy Reynolds, a headstrong, resilient ex-detective who seems to always find herself in the middle of insanely dangerous situations. Maddy is on the hunt for a highly sought after ledger from a notorious sex trafficking ring that has connections to very powerful people who will stop at nothing to protect its contents. This is a shorter but easy read. I love how this book portrays Maddy as a tough as nails, strong female main character. I also enjoyed the wilderness element.

Captivating and Suspenseful Novel
The Ledger Is a fast paced suspenseful and very engaging book. Maddy begins a new life on beautiful Berry Lake with her boyfriend Adam who is a police officer and Maddy herself is a retired detective. They both hope it is the beginning a quiet and peaceful existence.
Maddy unknowingly has built her home near the base of a sex-trafficking ring. Although this sex-trafficking ring was destroyed years ago there is a ledger which if found will expose the sins of many powerful people, as it contains the names of every client who was associated with the Glades and bought young girls.
When Adam leaves to go undercover little does Maddy know their worlds will collide as the people who are desperate to find the ledger will stop at nothing to get it before they are exposed. Maddy finds herself in the middle of this extremely dangerous predicament, but Maddy does not suffer fools or criminals easily and Maddy gets into all kinds of dangerous situations as the story unfolds and she certainly does not come up short on villains, including a hungry bear that has been terrorizing the area around Berry Lake. This is a professionally written book which had me captivated all through this very suspenseful book. I will certainly be reading more books by John Netti. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"The Ledger" by John Netti is a riveting sequel in the Maddy Reynolds series that plunges readers into a world of suspense, danger, and relentless pursuit of justice. The narrative picks up with Maddy Reynolds, a formidable ex-detective whose retirement in the serene Adirondacks is disrupted by the shadows of her past. The discovery of a document, known as The Ledger, reignites the embers of a once-thought extinguished sex trafficking ring, drawing Maddy back into the fray.

Netti's writing is sharp and immersive, crafting a story that is both a mystery and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Maddy is a character of depth and complexity, her tenacity and courage leap off the pages as she navigates a labyrinth of crime and corruption. The Ledger is not just a list of names; it's a symbol of the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of society, and Maddy's quest to unearth the truth is as much personal as it is moral.

The supporting cast of characters, from law enforcement allies to evil villains, are well-drawn and contribute to the high stakes of Maddy's mission. Netti's portrayal of the Adirondack setting is vivid, juxtaposing natural beauty with the ugliness of the crimes Maddy seeks to expose.

The Ledger is a nail-biter, with tension that grips you and doesn't let go. It's a story of courage, survival, and the relentless pursuit of justice, making it a must-read for fans of crime thrillers and those who appreciate a heroine who embodies strength and determination.

I am excited to have discovered another talented crime author to follow! ❤️