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Phoenix

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Her criminal past is behind her. The road to revenge is ahead. But the pit stop she makes along the way could reroute her life.

Amanda Martin refuses to burn for the crimes of her manipulative ex-boyfriend. After all, he was the one who strong-armed her into committing fraud and left her to shoulder the blame. When an enraged investor sets fire to their office building, she scrambles onto the first bus out of the city. With the authorities hunting for her, she hides out to plot her revenge in the last place anyone would look—the tiny Texas town of Phoenix.

But when Amanda uncovers a hidden talent for reporting at the local paper and starts a sweet romance with a charming cop, she starts to question whether she’d be better off building a new life than tearing her ex a new one. Just as she starts settling in, her work at the paper unearths a decades old cold case that threatens to turn the town against her and expose her criminal past. With time running out before the townsfolk discover her true identity, Amanda is faced with an impossible choice—turn her back on a fellow victim of crime or stand her ground and lose her precious freedom.

Phoenix is the first book in an enthralling women’s fiction series. If you like compelling characters, nail-biting suspense, and a dash of romance, then you’ll love Kimberly Packard’s small-town mystery.

332 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2012

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About the author

Kimberly Packard

6 books195 followers
Kimberly Packard is an award-winning author of women’s fiction. She began visiting her spot on the shelves at libraries and bookstores at a young age, gazing between the Os and the Qs. Kimberly received a degree in journalism from the University of North Texas, and has worked in public relations and communications for nearly 20 years.

When she isn’t writing, she can be found rollerblading, doing a poor imitation of yoga or curled up with a book. She resides in North Texas with her husband Colby, a clever cat named Ollie and Tully, the precocious puppy.

Her debut novel, Phoenix, was awarded as Best General Fiction of 2013 by the Texas Association of Authors. She was recently honored as one of Southern Methodist University's Haute Young Authors of 2019.

You can follow Kimberly on her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kimberlypack....

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
Profile Image for Matthew Bryant.
Author 2 books16 followers
December 7, 2012
The best way to describe the beginning of Phoenix is "whiplash." The story jumps from your average spoiled rich girl to action, defeat, and a twisting murder mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end! A stellar debut novel from a very promising author.
Profile Image for Susan Sheehey.
Author 20 books343 followers
December 7, 2012
This story couldn't have opened with a more exhilarating and heart thumping first chapter. The story lines of the various characters are so deep and how their lives intertwine keeps the reader glued to each page. Packard has delivered an incredible story of a search for redemption. The only negative thing about this story is I have to wait to read the next one and find out what happens!
Profile Image for Sara.
105 reviews3 followers
February 5, 2013
Absolutely wonderful! I couldn't put it down! Phoenix grabbed me in the first chapter and continued to hold me with action and suspense throughout. Mandy is a wonderfully developed, full, interesting character, and she is surrounded by an amazing supporting cast. Each character has their own quirks and personalities making each one unforgettable. The ending is set up to be the beginning of another book, and I sincerely hope this happens. I can't wait to see what happens next with Mandy, Shiloh, Alex, David, and Roland!
On a side note, I find it interesting that even though the narrator refers to her as Amanda throughout the book, and she is only Mandy in dialogue, I identify with the main character as Mandy instead of Amanda. This is a well-thought out and well-placed device!
I read this book as a First Reads book. Thank you, Kimberly Packard!
Profile Image for Erin.
220 reviews23 followers
January 26, 2013
Engaging from the very first chapter! The book starts right from the very beginning with an office shooting. Amanda nearly escaping decides to run and ends up in the very small town of Phoenix. Starting up a new life, in a new town, with a new name, Amanda stumbles upon an unsolved murder that happened 10 years ago. She also meets David, who is a cop for the small town. The big question is can she figure out the cold case before the detective and reporter find her whereabouts?

A great debut novel by Kimberly Packard! I could not put this book down. Each chapter leaves you hungry for the next in this action packed book! The end is a cliff hanger making you wonder what will happen next. Hopefully the sequel will be out soon "Pardon Falls"!

I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Profile Image for Pamela .
1,417 reviews75 followers
March 12, 2018
This book started off with a bang (literally) and never let up. A well-written, intriguing, suspenseful and captivating novel that sucks you in right from the start; intertwining two intense and gut-wrenching stories taking the reader on an emotional roller-coaster ride. To say that the characters are well-developed would be an understatement as they are each so complex and flawed, you can almost relate to them. Kudos to the author for a spectacular debut novel. I look forward anxiously to read the continuing saga in book 2.

Update: Feb. 28, 2018
Had to re-read this book as the second one finally came out and I wanted to refresh myself with the story and characters. I'm glad I did. Still a great story. Turns out there's a third novel in the series. I just hope I don't have to wait too long for it.
Profile Image for Suzi.
24 reviews2 followers
April 17, 2013
Can't wait for the sequel!! She left us wanting more at the end of each chapter! Great job Kimberly and thanks again for coming to our book club!!
Profile Image for Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews.
2,526 reviews163 followers
November 30, 2018
I heard this author speak at a book festival in October and what she read from her books intrigued me so I decided to look into the books. I found the first eBook was only $0.99 and so I couldn't pass up that bargain.

Once I picked the book up to read, I was sucked into a world of deception, fear, desperation, and hope. Amanda/Mandy is caught up in something that she has no control over and while I'm not 100% sure why she was heading to El Paso (chasing someone but I must of missed how she knew he was there) she stops over in Phoenix because that is where the bus broke down. Here she finds some caring citizens but other have secrets that they are hiding. There is a little bit of a mystery as Amanda seeks to uncover what happened to Katie who was found murdered 10 years ago. She does uncover the killer and while I might have suspected this character, there was nothing that screamed at me to look at them further.

Amanda also finds love from the town Sheriff. She has trust issues and while she wants to tell him everything she is afraid she will be sent back to face what she is running from. (I know - very vague, you have to read the book to find out more)

The book does leave you hanging and it is a good thing that the next book is out so we can find out what is in store for Amanda and if she is getting closer to finding who she seeks or if this will be cathartic for her own well being. After all, she is not the same person that left Chicago and ended up in Phoenix. What other revelations will we discover about her?
502 reviews3 followers
March 15, 2018
I hate when the author doesn't finish a story and leaves it as a cliff hanger.
Profile Image for C.S. Kjar.
Author 11 books24 followers
July 2, 2018
Great read

This is a well written book full of intrigue and mystery. A woman hiding her true identity finds herself in trouble and no one to turn to. Exciting story!
Profile Image for Tabitha.
510 reviews28 followers
February 9, 2015
Read more reviews like this at http://lovelybooksblog.blogspot.com!

I was drawn in by this novel from the first sentence and by the end of the first chapter I was completely captivated. Following three different characters; Amanda, as she struggled to reinvent her life; Shiloh, as she hid the secrets behind her best friend Katie’s murder; and Alex as he struggled to find Amanda and save his career. With a small town vibe, wonderfully crafted characters, plenty of intrigue, and a budding romance Phoenix was a fantastic mystery novel.

My favorite part of this novel was the three different perspectives from each Amanda, Alex, and Shiloh. I always love being able to see into different characters heads and it really worked well for this novel. It was fun to watch how they all grew more and more connected as the novel went on even though Amanda and Shiloh hated each other and Alex was hundreds of miles away.

Throughout the novel the mystery constantly kept me on my toes. Each of the characters had something to hide and each of them seemed suspicious in their own way. Shiloh’s secrets about the night of the murder and her relationship with the creepy Dr. Brown, David’s older brother’s involvement with Katie, and Mr. Foster’s overwhelming need for Amanda to find the murderer.

Amanda was a great main character, starting off as a fierce business woman she transforms into a vulnerable small town girl. Likewise Alex and Shiloh were also strong characters, each with their own flaws and quirks weather it was Shiloh speaking in Spanish or Alex’s over confidence. Amanda was by far my favorite character, scared and lost she discovers more about herself during her time in Phoenix as she solves Katie’s murder and spends more time with David.

With an ending left open for a sequel and a few unanswered questions I’m definitely anticipating more from Packard. Mystery fans on the lookout for a great new author should definitely check out Phoenix; this novel will not disappoint!
129 reviews1 follower
September 26, 2013
Kimberly Packard has written an unusual mystery with a major suspect as the protagonist in her book, Phoenix.
Amanda Martin’s boss and boyfriend, Josh, set her up as an unwitting accomplice while he and his partner embezzled funds from their company. By the time she discovers what they did; the men had fled and the police were after her. A tragic event gives her an opportunity to hop a bus and go after Josh.
Join her on her journey and try to outguess her.

“ “Good looking girls don’t get on buses like this unless they are running from something. So, what’s the story? You catch your man cheating?”

This bus jockey Casanova had no clue how right he was. Yes, Amanda caught her man cheating, but not in the arms of another woman, although it wouldn’t surprise her if infidelity was part of his crimes.”
She ends up in the small, sleepy town of Phoenix, Texas. At least she thinks it is a sleepy, little town. Mandy, as she is called in Phoenix, gets a job as a reporter and general office worker at the local newspaper. She discovers an old mystery and decides to try to find out ‘who dun it’.
As she settles into the town, she puts her “other life” on hold. Is she going to go back to her search for her old boyfriend to clear her name or is she just going to sit back and enjoy her new life? This is a book that you definitely cannot leave on the bookshelf at the store.
Kimberly Packard received a degree in journalism from the University of North Texas and worked in public relations and communications for nearly 15 years. She is Vice president of her writers group, Greater Fort Worth Writers. She is an avid rollerblader, a devotee of yoga and a voracious reader. She lives in North Texas with her husband Colby, Jerome the cat and a 56 pound lapdog named Charlie.
Profile Image for Don O'goodreader.
246 reviews8 followers
June 20, 2013
Amanda Martin is one of three indicted by the SEC in a financial fraud case. Though she is a minor player, she runs and ends up in Phoenix Texas as Mandy Jackson. Here she is stalked by a couple of extremely creepy men ... the kind that trap you and demand consensual sex --- certainly one of the top-ten creepy oxymorons of all time. She also investigates a 10-year-old murder that might have been committed by one of these creeps, or maybe someone else.

Thus, Phoenix by Kimberly Packard starts slow (think: SEC investigation), but picks up a blistering pace as Amanda/Mandy closes in the the murderer, and the creeps close in on her. By the end, I put my life on hold wanting to see how it ended.

For more see: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2013/0...

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads First Read giveaway on June 1, 2013. I received the book On June 11, 2013.
Profile Image for Felica Chapman.
35 reviews27 followers
May 1, 2013
I won this book through First Reads. It was very interesting and kept me captivated :) One thing I did not like though but made sense later was Shiloh and Clint's relationship. I was under the impression Clint was the murderer so why would she even talk to him? But the story went on and went to show he had nothing to do with the murder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for C.A. Szarek.
Author 34 books190 followers
August 25, 2013
Wow! What a debut! I really enjoyed this book! Kimberly Packard has GORGEOUS imagery & a fast pace story that will keep u turning the page. This was a wonder read with unpredictable twists. There were awesome serious moments balanced with metaphors that made me giggle. I can't wait for book two!
Profile Image for Penelina.
3 reviews2 followers
November 3, 2013
Phoenix is a highly entertaining novel with a fast-paced, page-turning momentum created by the actions of a smart yet imperfect heroine. I stayed up late to finish this pleasurable read. Sign me up for the sequel.
Profile Image for Joe Parr.
Author 4 books30 followers
February 15, 2014
Kimberly manages to create a set of characters that stay with you long after you've finished the final page. Her visual descriptions put you right in the middle of the story. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel.
Profile Image for Anne Hines.
5 reviews
January 10, 2015
We read this for our new book club! It was a great read & great discussion as the author, Kimberly came to our meeting last night.

Here's a teaser - there is a sequel that hopefully be out by Christmas. We all are looking forward to reading it.

Highly recommend this book & it's author!
Profile Image for Ellen Ferber.
60 reviews
August 9, 2013
A quick and satisfying read. This was a tale of greed, betrayal, murder AND love and redemption. A great whodunit featuring gripping storytelling. Perfect summer reading.
426 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2014
I enjoyed this book--a good mystery--but did not like the ending. I felt as if it just stopped. Maybe the author is planning a sequel.
Profile Image for Angela.
5,500 reviews67 followers
April 30, 2018
5 Stars

Phoenix is the first book and debut novel by Kimberly Packard- although, she has since written two more novels. This is my first read by her, and after reading this book I can honestly say that it won’t be my last. What a superb novel she has produced, I was entirely captivated by the character/s and storyline. The book is a brilliant suspense/mystery- which kept me guessing, held my attention, had me in anticipation and on the edge of my seat. I zipped through the book in one sitting and then dove right into the next book, I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next.
Amanda Martin had a life that most would have envied. A successful career, a great income, was dating the head of the company, had a wonderful apartment, with designer clothes and shoes. That is until a phone call has her world spinning out of control and the life she’d worked so hard to create came crumbling down around her. She had been played, by her boyfriend no less, and now found herself in the middle of a SEC investigation into the misappropriation of millions of dollars, she’s unwittingly embroiled in, and where indictments will be forthcoming. That’s just the start of a really bad time for her- because she soon finds a crazed gunman has her in his sights. She barely escapes a bullet and an explosion- left with no choice but to go on the run to find a solution to her problem.
Amanda finds herself in a small town called Phoenix, where she stops to assess her situation. She decides the town would make a great pit-stop in her journey. She soon finds a place to stay and a job at the local newspaper. As she settles into her new job, an unsolved cold case comes to her attention, the murder of a 16 year old girl some 10 years earlier. She is intrigued by it and figures that solving the mystery would bring her a little redemption for her own crimes.
Her job introduces her to the local police officer, David, and there is an instant attraction between them- but for obvious reasons Amanda isn’t too keen on getting close to an officer of the law- so she pushes away all his advances. But he’s relentless and a relationship soon develops, with feelings on both sides.
What happens when he discovers she isn’t who she says she is and the secrets she’s keeping from him? What do the local townsfolk think of an ‘outsider’ investigating the cold case, reopening old wounds, and digging around? Since the case was never solved, the murderer could still be living in town- and as her investigation expands, danger comes knocking. Will she figure it all out before it’s too late? And with the authorities conducting a manhunt, will she be able to evade them, or will she get caught in their net?
This is such a well thought out, intricately woven story full of inter-connected details that piqued my curiosity and had me trying to put all the clues together to figure out the mystery. The story is multi-layered with duel stories running simultaneously. The author orchestrated the whole thing brilliantly and I was completely engrossed by what I was reading. The story is told from several POV’s which gives the story more depth, drama, and intrigue.
I dived right into book two as soon as I finished this one. The only thing that I am a little concerned about is that there was a 5-year gap between the first and second books, and I am really hoping the author doesn’t make us wait that long for the next book!
A superb read!

Thank you, Ms. Packard!
Profile Image for Kellee.
116 reviews4 followers
May 5, 2018
Phoenix (Phoenix book series, book 1) by Kimberly Packard 4 Stars

This book had me on the edge of my seat from page one! This is my first book by Kimberly Packard and I look forward to reading more of her books, especially book two in this series. This is a mystery, suspense book with a sprinkle of romance. The characters became engrained in me and I won't soon forget them. This book follows three characters who's lives are entwined with each other with two unsolved criminal cases. Mandy, Alex, and Shiloh. I was intrigued by all the characters in this story. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I wanted to get to the next chapter only to find more secrets revealed and more plot twists.
Mandy is a character that I hated one moment and loved the next. She was put in the situation she was in unknowingly by an ex boyfriend she couldn't seem to get off her mind. The longer she would dwell on his inadequacies, the further she she dove in to seek the truth and justice. She didn't want her real identity revealed and she was fighting against the clock to bring justice on a different case she just happened to stumble across. The hot cop of the town she came across by accident had his heart set on Mandy. She had secrets to keep and tough decisions to make.
Alex was the investigator that knew something wasn't right and called injunctions on the two heads of the company that Mandy worked for. One of those people was her boyfriend at the time. Alex decides that when his boss shuts down the case, he was going to continue the investigation on his own, with the help of a British journalist who knew more than he should.
Shiloh is the best friend of Katie who was killed ten years ago. Between it being her best friend, and the guilt she has felt for that whole time, and it remaining unsolved, she still has secrets she is hiding. When the new girl comes into the small town and turns it upside down, she is even more adamant of keeping the case sealed. When the cop she has been in love with for years starts falling for the new girl, Shiloh does everything in her power to reveal the secrets Mandy is trying to hide.
This is a must read for mystery and suspense lovers. Also if you're into contemporary adult first tion, this would be a good, out of the box book to read. Hot cops, mysteries to solve, and secrets keep this book intriguing to the reader. It ends in a cliff hanger and I can't wait to pick up the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Liz.
1,327 reviews19 followers
May 10, 2018
You will not be able to put this book down! And it’s a long book full of depth, great story weaving, and mystery and romance galore to boot. I only say this because it wasn’t too long, but rather, I found myself reading this well, well, past my bedtime so that I could finish it. At the end of the first chapter I was entranced with Amanda. Her character was relatable, and even though she is being accused of terrible things and on the run so to speak, you root for her because you want her to be able to solve things and have that bit of satisfaction that she has done a right and good thing by solving the unsolved murder from years and years ago.

Amanda has the perfect life, literally. Great job, money for everything she needs and more, and who she thinks is the perfect boyfriend. That is until he literally throws her world into a tailspin. He has decided to pin some shady things on her and now the SEC is involved. In an attempt to escape this mess and start over, as well as wait till things calm down and she can safely return home, she leaves her home of Chicago and doesn’t decide to settle down for a bit till she reaches the idyllic town of Phoenix Texas. There she will find a job and a mystery to solve. While working for the local newspaper she discovers a murder case that was never solved and has gone cold. She has decided this will give her validation for all the wrong she has done, or all the wrong she thinks she has done. While doing so it is when she meets David. He is a local police officer. She doesn’t’ really want to get in bed with the law so avoids him and all advances at all costs. Until she can’t… What happens when they are at that no return point with their feelings? Can they get past her past? What happens when he realizes who she REALLY is?

There are many different point of views in this book, which is super neat. It wasn’t’ overdone and confusing like those can often be. In fact in made the book much more connectable. You get to see point of views from locals and David. I especially enjoyed this aspect of the book.

I don’t want to give too much of this book away, it would honestly be a great disservice. I have never been so entranced with a new author so fast, at least not in a long time. I have to get my hands on all of her books ASAP. I will say, fair warning this ends in one heck of a cliffhanger, so be prepared to want that next book as soon as possible. You will be addicted to Kimberly Packard by the end!
Profile Image for Debi.
1,060 reviews6 followers
May 4, 2018
Phoenix (The Phoenix Series Book 1) by Kimberly Packard

5 Stars

I don't even know where to start with this review...This book grabbed me in the first chapter and did not let go...I was reading along and it was interesting following Amanda along in what seemed like the perfect life (in her eyes anyway) and then all of a sudden everything took a turn that started a whole different story then that which I thought it was going to be...Holy Mackerel I was at that time hooked and unable to put the book down.

This story took me on such a journey and I experienced so many different emotions while reading this. This had not just one mystery going on but 2, and they both kind of revolved all around Amanda. There are too many parts of this story to try to go into any detail without giving something away...Just know that you are reading along and think you might have some of it all worked out then it takes a turn and your like, whoa wait a minute what just happened, then as you get comfortable with that whole idea Bang, it goes and throws you for a loop all over again and your right back where you started…. I think part of the story and the questions you have while reading got answered, but the other story, the main one that starts way back in the first chapter is still wide open and leaves you saying WHAT!? Then on the outside of these main stories there's this sweet little romance brewing that feels very real, not all fake and love at first sight sort of romance, which I really wouldn't even call a romance but I loved it anyway LOL

This story is told in 3 different POV’s and I'm not going to say anymore about that because in my opinion it would take away someone else experiencing it all just like I have.

I'm gonna stop there because I really just don't know what to say except...READ THIS BOOK, and my advice..Have book 2 ready to roll as soon as your done because you are gonna need it.
I loved loved loved this story, I loved the way the author turned all these words into such an amazing journey and I love that I have Book 2 sitting here waiting on me so I don't lose my mind totally :)
Profile Image for Bobbi Wagner.
4,313 reviews42 followers
April 20, 2018
Phoenix (The Phoenix Series Book 1) by Kimberly Packard is the first book in her The Phoenix series. This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed her writing style as well as her creativeness for characters. This thriller-suspense story will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat. Here characters are both connectable and true to life. They took me on a roller coaster ride of various emotions. This story pulled me right from the start and it didn't take long for it to get into the thriller parts. This is a story about three people and two crimes. They are connected even though the crimes are years and miles apart from each other. Amanda is a woman who never thought she would be running from a gunman who blew up her office. She is now in search of the man who put in this position and seek revenge. Now that she has returned to a small town called Phoenix, she takes on a new identity to find her old self again. She just intends this to be a temporary stay as she moves on to find the man who pulled her into his security scam. What will happen when she finds a new romance but her determination for redemption is strong? Will she drive a wedge in her new relationship? She puts herself into the line of fire between these two cases, will they be solved before it is too late? I enjoyed Amanda's character. She in some way insecure but in other ways she is strong and determined. She did let revenge kind of rule her world. I enjoyed seeing her trying to start a new relationship and finding herself, trying to make sense of her life. The other secondary characters in this story are supportive but also made me feel compassion for them. They made the story easy flowing and help made the story into the thriller that it is. I highly recommend this book. Find out what happens between these two cases and what their link is. You don't want to miss the twists in this story.
Profile Image for Laura Furuta.
2,047 reviews28 followers
May 2, 2018
Phoenix (The Phoenix Series Book 1)
By: Kimberly Packard
5 out of 5 stars

The story Phoenix (The Phoenix Series Book 1) by Kimberly Packard is a book that had me hooked from the beginning and I didn’t want to put it down until I had read the last page. It has plenty of mystery, suspense, and also a little romance. It is the story of Amanda Martin who in one day finds that her entire world has changed. She finds herself on the run from the authorities and also wanting to find the one that is the reason behind her current situation. She then finds herself in the town of Phoenix, Texas and makes a decision to stay there a while. There she learns of an unsolved cold case in which she starts to investigate and finds herself determined to uncover the truth about what happened all those years ago. Will Amanda solve the case? What is driving her to investigate? Could this lead to her being discovered by the townspeople as a woman that is on the run and then by the authorities? Could her investigation put her in danger? Amanda is a character that has a lot of different emotions about the situation that she is in. She finds herself in Phoenix where life is slower than what she is used to. She starts to enjoy this new life and also starts to fall in love. She lives with the worry that he will find out about who she really is and that she will lose him. The other characters that you meet are the townspeople. Some of them are welcoming to Amanda and then there are those that don’t trust her. You are given details on the background of some in the town and I soon found myself trying to piece together the clues to solve the cold case that Amanda is investigating. This is a wonderful book to read. It is the first book that I have read by the author and it will not be the last. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
62 reviews3 followers
May 3, 2018
Amanda Martin refuses to burn for the crimes of her manipulative ex-boyfriend. After all, he was the one who strong-armed her into committing fraud and left her to shoulder the blame. When an enraged investor sets fire to their office building, she scrambles onto the first bus out of the city. With the authorities hunting for her, she hides out to plot her revenge in the last place anyone would look—the tiny Texas town of Phoenix.

But when Amanda uncovers a hidden talent for reporting at the local paper and starts a sweet romance with a charming cop, she starts to question whether she’d be better off building a new life than tearing her ex a new one. Just as she starts settling in, her work at the paper unearths a decades old cold case that threatens to turn the town against her and expose her criminal past. With time running out before the townsfolk discover her true identity, Amanda is faced with an impossible choice—turn her back on a fellow victim of crime or stand her ground and lose her precious freedom.

Phoenix is the first book in an enthralling women’s fiction series. If you like compelling characters, nail-biting suspense, and a dash of romance, then you’ll love Kimberly Packard’s small-town mystery.

This book started out with a bang and I couldn't put it down. I already have the second book on my kindle so clearly you should get! The main character goes from spoiled and rich to having her world turned upside down throw in some murder mystery and drama to go with that too. I really enjoyed the book and it got my attention right away and kept it throughout. I enjoyed the how the characters came across, like they were everyday complicated people with a lot of character. These characters will not be forgotten. This is truly a special book and author.
Profile Image for Lisette Gonzalez.
188 reviews1 follower
May 3, 2018

Phoenix (The Phoenix Series Book 1)
By Kimberly Packard
5 Stars

Phoenix by Kimberly Packard is the first installment of The Phoenix series. This story has plenty of suspense, mystery and a little romance. This book starts off fast and sucks right in. This is the story about Amanda Martin and how her life will quickly change in a short amount of time. Amanda finds herself running from the authorities after the office building she works at suddenly engulfs in flames. She jumps on he next bus toward the small town of Phoenix, Texas. She stays in town under an alias and gets a job at the local newspaper. While on the job, she learns about an unsolved case and while investigating it, she finds out how the crimes are connected, although years and miles apart. At the same time, she is looking for he man who put her i the predicament that she is currently in and claim her revenge. During her investigation, she finds a love interest that happens to be a cop. Amanda must hurry and solve the crime before everyone in the town finds out who she really is and how she may be connected to the decade old crime. Will Amanda be able to solve the case in time? This book put me through a tailspin. Kimberly Packard did a great job with this story. Amanda is a strong and determined character and is very relatable. The story has a great flow and will keep you at the edge of you seat hoping that Amanda stays safe and able to solve the case. This is my first book by Kimberly Packard and I truly enjoyed reading it. I cannot wait to read the next installment of the Phoenix series.
412 reviews3 followers
May 1, 2018
Phoenix is the first book in it’s series by Kimberly Packard. It tells the story of a young woman, Amanda, who is running away from accusations of fraud and an attempt on her life. She ends up, by chance, in the town of Phoenix where she’s called upon to solve a cold murder case.

The story is full of mysteries and puzzles that unravel as it progresses. It’s gripping from the (quite literally) explosive start! The story is often fast-paced, although like Amanda we get occasional moments of relief.

The perspective of the narrative alternates between over-the-shoulder third person narrations of different characters, from different sides of the story. It starts out alternating between Amanda and Alex, the investigator who first unearthed the fraud she was involved in. After establishing a pattern of 2 chapters Amanda, 1 chapter Alex, we’re introduced to Shiloh, who brings with her the problem of Katie’s unsolved murder. It’s always clear who the story is focusing on, with names generally used near the start of the character.

We see Amanda struggling with PTSD following the attempt on her life, as well as recovering from an abusive and manipulative relationship. This is done tastefully and sensitively, and helps to show the depth of her character.

For me, this book gets four out of five stars. It’s great if you like stories with a bit of mystery, as well as stories that show some recovery and healing. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews

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