SCATTERED LEGACY: MURDER IN
To outsiders, the relationship between Manhattan antiquities assessor Annalisse Drury and sports car magnate Alec Zavos must look carefree and glamorous. In reality, it’s a love affair regularly punctuated by treasure hunting, high adventure, and the occasional dead body.
When Alec schedules a getaway trip to show Annalisse his mother’s Italian birthplace, he squeezes in the high-stakes business of divesting his family’s corporation. But things go terribly wrong as murder makes its familiar reappearance in their lives – and this time it’s Alec’s disgraced former CFO who’s the main suspect.
Accompanied by friend and detective Bill Drake, Annalisse and Alec find themselves embroiled in a behind-closed-doors conspiracy that threatens the reputation and legacy of Alec’s late father – linking him to embezzlement, extortion, and the dirty business of the Sicilian Mafia. The key to it all might be a gifted set of rosary beads where Annalisse can use her skills for appraising artifacts to uncover the truth. She leads Alec toward answers that are unthinkable—and events that will change their futures forever.
Scattered Legacy is the third in Marlene M. Bell’s thrilling Annalisse series, which weaves romance, crime, and historical mystery into addictive tales to instantly captivate fans of TV show Bones or Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.
“Dealing with crime families isn’t a game for the untrained.”
Scattered Legacy by Marlene M. Bell is book three in the Annalisse Series and can stand alone without too much confusion. To get the full picture and appreciation of the characters’ development, however, reading the previous two books in the series, Stolen Obsession and Spent Identity, is highly recommended. Getting to know the main characters across the series is definitely a joy.
In Scattered Legacy, Alec and Annalisse are off to Italy, initially scheduled as a romantic vacation but quickly turned into the need to solve some intriguing and quite dangerous mysteries. The essence of Italy comes alive under Marlene’s expert writing, providing an exciting international backdrop as the characters jet from the United States to Italy and land feet first in the proverbial den of vipers, also known as the Sicilian Mafia. Ancestral secrets, murder, constant danger, ancient rosary beads, and a calico cat named Stella intertwine and create a compelling story that will keep the reader riveted all the way to the last chapter.
Marlene M. Bell has crafted an amazing series, and this third book, Scattered Legacy, is perfect for readers wanting a massive dose of international intrigue sprinkled with the continuing courtship and romance between Alec and Annalisse. All of the characters are phenomenal; however, Brad is a personal favorite, with his loyalty and basically unflappable demeanor. But if anyone crosses Alec or Annalisse, stand back and watch Brad step in with a vengeance.
As Alec and Annalisse rush to thwart the mafia and unravel the mysteries, constant peril remains central throughout. Marlene M. Bell consistently sets the stage for surprises and twists that leave the reader scrambling to keep up, in a good way, of course. With that said, the overall pacing is moderate at times, especially at the beginning; however, plenty of action and great characterization keep the plot flowing quickly onward, with the occasional humor and romance mixed in to soften and balance the edgy moments.
The entire Annalisse Series is a connected story with varying plots, so hop on the Alec and Annalisse bandwagon and enjoy this entertaining international ride. You will definitely love this series and, of course, ALL of Marlene M. Bell’s fabulous books.
Enter the giveaway below on or before December 10, 2021, for a chance to win some absolutely amazing prizes.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Click the above image to enter the giveaway.
|
