SIREN by Tara Moss, Book Review: A sassy, sexy thriller
Siren is a sassy, sexy thriller. Tara Moss’s much anticipated fifth novel in her Vanderwall thriller series lives up to expectations and as always leaves her fans gasping for more.
Although I do not know the author personally, her public persona appears very similar to that of her strong-willed and self-assured female protagonist – ex-model, forensic psychologist and in-demand private eye Makedde Vanderwall.
Without spoiling the first four novels in this bestselling series, suffice to say Moss’s protagonist Mak has been through a lot in her twenty-nine years. She has lost a parent, lost friends to crime and narrowly escaped death herself on more than one occasion. Her feisty, kick-arse attitude and penchant for standing up for what she believes is right makes her a target for the worst of criminal society. Her model looks and style opens doors for her, but it is her intellect and mental toughness that gets her out of the life-threatening situations she gets herself into.
Mystery and intrigue
Siren involves Mak’s search for a missing teenager, seeking revenge on the rich and corrupt, a hired assassin and competing male love interests. The mystery and intrigue heighten as Mak zeroes in on a French circus troupe featuring burlesque, contortion and magic acts and an aging stage siren.
Her descriptions of both the Australian and French settings are authentic and the thorough research that went into the writing of this novel self-evident.
Moss is a masterful storyteller and to say this novel is fast-paced is certainly an understatement. She builds the tension page by page and does not mince words when depicting violence and its aftermath. Moss is able to keep readers guessing with her adept plotting and her willingness to go where many would not dare, conveying both tawdry and romantic human interactions with aplomb. The result is a stylish and sexy roller-coaster ride that readers will not want to disembark from.
Siren by Tara Moss is an edge of your seat thriller – a must-read.
BOOK RATING: The Story 4.5 / 5 ; The Writing 4.5 / 5
Get your copy of Siren (Makedde Vanderwall PI #5) from:
Book Depository | Amazon/Audible | Booktopia(Aus)
UPDATE: I have since also enjoyed Moss’ finale to this Makedde Vanderwall series, Assassin, and new novels Dead Man Switch (aka The War Widow, the first title in new PI Billie Walker Series – historical crime fiction), Book 2 Billie Walker The Ghosts of Paris, and The Cobra Queen (Book 4 in her continuing supernatural new adult romance Pandora English series).
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About the Author, Tara Moss
Tara Moss is a novelist, TV presenter and journalist. Since 1999 she has written and published eight best selling novels – Fetish, Split, Covet, Hit, Siren, Assassin, The Blood Countess and The Spider Goddess, and been published in 18 countries in 12 languages.
Her writing has appeared in Australian Literary Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, Sun Herald, The Daily Telegraph and more. Her 9th novel, The Skeleton Key, publishes in December 2012.
Check out Tara’s website or connect with her on Twitter or Facebook.
