Deep Down Dead

Lori Anderson #1

by Steph Broadribb

Shortlisted
**The Kathy Reichs Award for Fearless Female Character**
**The Cat Amongst the Pigeons Award for Most Exceptional Debut**
**FINALIST IN THE INTERNATIONAL THRILLER WRITERS AWARDS FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL**
 
Part-time Florida bounty-hunter Lori Anderson isn’t a superhero … she’s a single mum with a lot on her plate. But when her family is threatened, she’ll stop at nothing to seek justice, and keep them safe…
 
‘A real cracker’  Mark Billingham

‘My kind of book’  Lee Child

‘Like Midnight Run, but much darker … really, really good’  Ian Rankin

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
 
Six states. Three days. One chance to save her child…
Lori Anderson is as tough as they come, managing to keep her career as a fearless Florida bounty hunter separate from her role as single mother to nine-year-old Dakota, who suffers from leukaemia. But when the hospital bills start to rack up, she has no choice but to take her daughter along on a job that will make her a fast buck. And that’s when things start to go wrong.
 
The fugitive she’s assigned to haul back to court is none other than JT, Lori’s former mentor – the man who taught her everything she knows … the man who also knows the secrets of her murky past. Not only is JT fighting a child exploitation racket operating out of one of Florida’s biggest amusement parks, Winter Wonderland, a place where ‘bad things never happen’, but he’s also mixed up with the powerful Miami Mob. With two fearsome foes on their tails, just three days to get JT back to Florida, and her daughter to protect, Lori has her work cut out for her. When they’re ambushed at a gas station, the stakes go from high to stratospheric, and things become personal.
  Breathtakingly fast-paced, both hard-boiled and heart-breaking,  Deep Down Dead  is a simply stunning debut from one of the most exciting new voices in crime fiction.
  
Praise for the Lori Anderson Series
 
‘This is romping entertainment that moves faster than a bullet’  Jake Kerridge,  Sunday Express
 
‘If you like your action to race away at full tilt, then this whirlwind of a thriller is a must’  Deirdre O’Brien,  Sunday People
 
‘With convincing, gritty local detail, unflinching violence, and a subplot of red-hot romance, all narrated by a likeable, fast-talking heroine, this punchy and powerful adventure will leave you wanting more’  Sunday Mirror
 
‘Stripper-turned-bounty hunter Lori, with her sickly young daughter in tow, gets into high-octane escapes when she sets out to bring her former lover and mentor to justice. Lively’  Sunday Times
 
‘The non-stop twists and turns – plus Lori’s constant dilemma as she is torn between the instincts of motherhood and the need to stay focused on her perilous mission – draw in readers like a magnet and keep them hooked to the action right up to the emotional conclusion’  Burnley Gazette
 
‘ Deep Down Dead  is an impressive thriller, the kind of book that comfortably sits alongside seasoned pros at the top of their game. Sultry and suspenseful, it marks a welcome first vow for an exceptional new voice’  Good Reading Magazine
 
‘Gripping, entertaining and utterly addictive, this is a cracking start to an enthralling new crime series…’  Lancashire Evening Post
 
‘Suspense, action, romance, danger and a plot that will keep you reading into the wee small hours. I loved it’  Lisa Gray,  Daily Record
 
‘Fresh, fast and zinging with energy’  Sunday Mirror
 
‘As Anderson follows Fletcher’s trail to California, she faces insults, attacks, and deceptions from a host of people connected to the fugitive, including his brother and his lover, with grit and determination. Readers will cheer her every step of the way’  Publishers Weekly
 
‘There’s a good deal of wit at the expense of the complacent, anachronistic, loud mouthed quick-fisted mobsters. Just a whole hell of a lot of fun’  New Books Magazine
 
‘Fresh, compelling and beautifully written, with a real cinematic quality. Read it. Now’  S.J.I. Holliday
 
‘Fast-paced, engaging and hugely entertaining’  Simon Toyne
 
‘Brilliant and pacey’  Steve Cavanagh
 
‘Excitement and exhilaration flies off every page’  David Young
 
‘An explosive, exciting debut’  David Mark
 
‘A hell of a thriller’  Mason Cross
 
‘A blistering debut’  Neil Broadfoot
 
‘You have to read it’  Michael J. Malone
 
‘If you love romantic suspense, you’ll love this ride’  Alexandra Sokoloff
 
‘A stunning debut from a major new talent’  Zoë Sharp
 
‘Crying out to be a Hollywood movie’  Louise Voss
 
‘One of my favourite debut novels for a long, long time’  Luca Veste
 
‘A gritty debut that will appeal to Sue Grafton fans’  Caroline Green
 
‘Crazy good … full-tilt action and a brilliant cast of characters’  Yrsa Sigurđardóttir
 
‘The pace moves at breakneck speed. The writing style is accomplished and real and this is quite simply one of the best debut novels I have ever read’  Angela Marsons

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

300 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2016

About the author

Steph Broadribb was born in Birmingham and grew up in Buckinghamshire. A prolific reader, she adored crime fiction from the moment she first read Sherlock Holmes as a child. She’s worked in the UK and the US, has an MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) and trained as a bounty hunter in California.

Her latest novel is DEATH IN THE SUNSHINE - the first book in her new Retired Detectives Club series featuring four recent retirees living in a luxury 55+ resort community in Florida, USA.

Her other novels include the Lori Anderson bounty-hunter series and the Starke/Bell psychological police-procedural books (writing as Stephanie Marland). Her books have been shortlisted for the eDunnit eBook of the Year Award, the ITW Best First Novel Award, the Dead Good Reader Awards for Fearless Female Character and Most Exceptional Debut, and longlisted for the Guardian Not The Booker Prize.

She provides coaching for new crime writers via www.crimefictioncoach.com.

You can find out more about Steph at www.stephbroadribb.com, and get in touch via Facebook (@CrimeThrillerGirl) and Twitter (@crimethrillgirl).

Reviews

[Always Pouting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lori is a bounty hunter who desperately needs a job to help pay for her daughter's cancer treatment. She gets a case tracking down her old mentor JT but gets dragged into a deeper web of crime than she had bargained for. I don't even like thrillers that much honestly, like I'll read them but most of the time they are disappointing but wow this one was legitimately perfect. The plot line was exciting and the pacing was good, I even enjoyed the action scenes very much. I have a physics test tomorrow but I don't even care I spent the last few hours finishing the book because I couldn't put it down. The writing was so great, I loved the voice and I adore Lori. There were so many things in this story that have been done before but the execution is so good that it just all works really well. The backstory fit into the story arc and now I'm anxious because I need to know what's going to happen next but the book just came out so it'll probably be a while before there's a sequel, that is if there is one.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY! Where do I begin? "Deep Down Dead" is an outstanding high octane thriller that I wholeheartedly enjoyed from the tense start to the fantastic finish! The first incredible chapter was so gripping and unputdownable I just knew I wasn't going to be able to stop reading anytime soon. I was instantly attracted to the main protagonist Lori Anderson, strong, tough, fearless, exceptional at her job and definitely not someone to be overlooked. The descriptions of her could go on and on and on......
Trying to keep her Florida bounty hunting role separate to being a mother of nine year old Dakota (who suffers from Leukaemia), she unfortunately has no choice but to take her daughter with her on her next bounty hunt. Needing to make a fast buck to pay medical fees and rent due, former stripper Lori doesn't anticipate the serious danger she puts herself and Dakota in. The fugitive she's being paid to bring in is none other than her former mentor 'JT' the man who made her the woman she is today and who now appears to be mixed up in the powerful Miami Mob. With just three days to get JT back to Florida, fearsome and deadly foes on their tail, her daughter to protect and along with fighting her feelings for JT, Lori has her work cut out. Can she bring JT back in time to collect her fee and what danger has she exposed Dakota to?
There's action galore throughout the book and it really does race along at breakneck speed. Pace perfect, it pulls you in and doesn't let you go until the nail biting end.
The author Steph Broadribb is an outstanding writer and for a debut book this is one of the very best I have EVER read! This could easily have been written by any of the big name American writers, it was so professional, polished and perfect.
I'm not too sure who I love the most - Lori or JT, as both were adorable badass characters you can't fail to enjoy reading about and I really can't wait to meet them again in the next in this exhilarating series - "Deep Blue Trouble" also published by Orenda Books.
This is another book I'd happily award six stars to if I could, it really begs to be read and its a story I can't recommend highly enough to crime readers young and old alike, you will NOT be disappointed!

5 stars.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com

From the minute this book begins, so does the action and it never lets up until the final page. My blood was pumping, my heart was racing, I seriously had an adrenaline rush the entire time. Lori Anderson is a female bounty hunter who takes no prisoners, she’s a real ass kicking firecracker. She’s always plotting and planning in order to be two steps ahead of everyone and I admired her smarts and savvy. I LOVED her, she’s a fierce bad ass but she’s also a mom and it was that side of her that really endeared her to me. She loves her baby girl, Dakota and will do anything in her power to keep her safe. As tough as she is, she sure knows how to turn on the charm when it suits her and she had me under her spell.

Since the plot is so fast paced and exciting, I won’t even really get into it, but I will say that it had incessant action which made for a very engaging and exhilarating read. The setting traveled all around the Southern part of the US and was as true to life as the character of Lori. Broadribb completely nailed her mannerisms and dialogue and created a character full of depth and intrigue. If you’re a fan of high octane thrillers you won’t want to miss this electrifying debut.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Popsugar Challenge 2020 - A Book with a three word title

First book in a series but this does work well as a standalone.

Lori is a bounty hunter and I really liked the premise of this but her character didn't work for me,  i just couldn't get into her head space or understand her thought process. Something was off about her and because she's the main character and everything is from her perspective i just felt weird and uncomfortable in her shoes and not in a good way.

I also felt like in the rush to pull all the threads together at the conclusion some threads got totally forgotten and they are not something that could be addressed in later books. The kids explosive jacket is something that is going to bug me every time I think about this book.

This was just OK, i didn't love it nor hate it. The pacing was a bit off in the middle and because of the lag my mind drifted and it was a struggle to hold my attention.

I'll won't be finishing the series, things wrapped up ok for me at the end and I don't like the characters enough to care what happens to them next.

Two stars.

[Abby • Crime by the Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find my full review at: http://crimebythebook.com/blog/2017/1...

4.5/5 stars for DEEP DOWN DEAD!! This is a totally addictive and entertaining action thriller. Full disclosure: I'm not usually one for action books - but I found this book to be the perfect introduction to the genre.

DEEP DOWN DEAD is fast-paced, action-packed, and has totally endearing characters. I absolutely recommend this one if you're looking to transition into the action thriller genre!!!

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Former stripper turned bounty hunter, Lori, takes her 9yr old daughter, Dakota with her to track down and bring in, JT, a wanted criminal who happens to be Lori’s former mentor in the bounty hunter business. Naturally Dakota is kidnapped (I mean, Lori taking her along on a case was bound to result in this) and JT turns out to be a knight in shining armor as to two rekindle their former relationship with more romance this time round, while trying to rescue Dakota.

Deep Down Dead is a formulaic crime thriller which reads like it was written for TV. The book lacked character depth and where an attempt was made, the backstory felt like an afterthought to add context which didn’t really work. There’s was too much repetition, cat and mouse chasing back and forth, and diluted storytelling to make it engaging in any meaningful way.

My rating: 2/5 stars. I had high hopes for this one. I know I’m with the minority here on Goodreads with my thoughts on Deep Down Dead, but the book just didn’t work for me. If you’re after a thriller with filler content which you can skim read then this is for you.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of my reviews can be found in full at https://jenmedsbookreviews.com

Oh. My. Word. From the opening scene you can tell there is something very different and something very right about this book. Lori is a woman with an attitude, an edge. Straight talking, focused, wary, she is one tough woman. Someone who has been through the ringer over the course of her life and come out the other side stronger and more in control. Stripper turned bounty hunter, she is focused only on her daughter and her honest talking, no-nonsense attitude is refreshing to say the least. I’m not normally one for brashy female characters, but there is just something about Lori. She won’t take messing from anyone and she uses her wits to out gun any man out there. I really like her style.

After an intrigue laden opening, the first few chapters of this book may lull you into a false sense of security. They ease you in, setting the scene for what will become a high-octane, high-stakes, hellishly gripping and turbulent ride alongside Lori and her target fugitive JT. Make the most of them because once from there on in you’re going to need your strength. After Lori sets off to collect JT you’ll barely get a chance to catch your breath. It is pow after pow of action, the plot twisting as surely as a mountain road, and as JT slowly reveals the truth behind his arrest and the reason for him going on the run, you will be left speechless. And maybe a little creeped out. It definitely depicts the darker side of the Sunshine State. Kind of makes me think twice about heading back to the Magic Kingdom too.

There are no overly gratuitous moments of violence in the book as such, but you can rest assured that both JT and Lori are kick-ass bounty hunters who know how to take care of themselves. Even in the quieter moments the threat is ever present as the people trying to find and stop JT continue to pursue them, constantly punctuating their intent with bullets and murder. Nobody is safe; these people have no conscience whatsoever, happy to use anyone or anything as a pawn to get what they want. There’s even a bit of an eww moment involving some unsuspecting ‘gators too, although that scene also made me smile a little. Call it my perverse sense of humour if you like.

The language and style of the writing is truly authentic, totally in keeping with Lori’s brash nature and her background. Told from her point of view, you get an occasionally skewed view of the action. Unable to forgive herself for what happened in her past and trying desperately to hide an obvious truth from JT, Lori forces herself to keep a distance between them, despite the very obvious chemistry between the pair. He is older, stronger and, in some sense, wiser than Lori (with a very definite edge to him so I can see a lot of JT related book crushes blossoming over time), but it is Lori’s common sense and skills honed over the years they were apart which will ultimately help them out of the hole they are in. The training the author did as a Bounty Hunter and the various ‘equipment’ they use shines through in the writing. Remind me never to upset Miss Broadribb … (my review is in no way influenced by my fear of her ‘skills’.)

As I said before, I really like Lori. Her style, her attitude, her persistence, and her resilience. You cannot fault her dedication to her daughter Dakota, but ultimately, she is loyal to JT too. The beauty of the ending of this book and the reality of her job as a bounty-hunter, means that this series could run on for years and I for one cannot wait to see what happens to our sharp tongued, quick witted, kick-ass heroine next.

A hard-hitting, brash-talking, taser-toting 5 stars from me.

[ReadsSometimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

SYNOPSIS

Lori Anderson is as tough as they come, managing to keep her career as a fearless Florida bounty hunter separate from her role as single mother to nine-year-old Dakota, who suffers from leukaemia. But when the hospital bills start to rack up, she has no choice but to take her daughter along on a job that will make her a fast buck. And that's when things start to go wrong. 

The fugitive she's assigned to haul back to court is none other than JT, Lori's former mentor - the man who taught her everything she knows … the man who also knows the secrets of her murky past. Not only is JT fighting a child exploitation racket operating out of one of Florida's biggest theme parks, Winter Wonderland, a place where 'bad things never happen', but he's also mixed up with the powerful Miami Mob. With two fearsome foes on their tails, just three days to get JT back to Florida, and her daughter to protect, Lori has her work cut out for her. When they're ambushed at a gas station, the stakes go from high to stratospheric, and things become personal. 


MY THOUGHTS


This is a cracking little read. A tremendously fast-paced action thriller from the debut author, Steph Broadribb. To know this is a debut is quite remarkable! The writer is very engaging with the reader and the author succeeds in drawing you into the story almost immediately. The protagonist, Lori Anderson, is quite unique, but it works extremely well. It's not every day we read about a female bounty hunter that's tough as they come. Lori is a great character and I warmed to her very quickly. She's hard on the outside, but she's soft and caring on the inside. Lori has a big challenge ahead and she uses her skills quite wildly throughout the story

The book is a true page-turner. It's full of excitement, tension, energy, romance, and to be honest, the book is loaded with all type of emotions. For me, I found this book fun to read. It's packed full of action and adrenaline and the plot is tremendous. It's delivered with confidence, pace, and assurance. If you like Lee Child and Jack Reacher, you'll love this book, very much in his style.

I really hope this continues as a series, it's a fantastic read, and Lori Anderson is a great new character. This would also make a great film.

Solid 4/5 stars from me and highly recommended!!!

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew, I'm exhausted! Fast paced and action packed. A real page-turner. I can totally see this being a movie.

[Book Addict Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earlier this year Orenda Books announced that they would be publishing Deep Down Dead, the debut novel of Steph Broadribb (a.k.a. one of my all-time favourite bloggers Crime Thriller Girl) and my Twitter timeline blew up. Everyone was talking about this book, and everyone wanted to read it. A torturous wait then ensued until the tireless and brilliant Karen Sullivan made my weekend by sending me an early copy to read with no deadline for a review (or a need for one at all). But, once I began reading Deep Down Dead I knew I was reading something special, a debut that, if there's any justice in the book world, will be huge and be the start of a long and book-filled career for Steph. Deep Down Dead might just be my favourite debut novel ever. When they start off this good, you know nothing but greatness is destined to follow. When I finished reading Deep Down Dead there was simply no question of me not reviewing it as loudly as possible. It has been a number of months since a book made my Hall of Fame and so hopefully that gives some indication of what a special book this is.

Lori Anderson. I really don't know where to start except to say that I loved her. She is a bounty hunter and mother to nine-year-old Dakota who has leukaemia. Desperate for cash to pay for her daughter's treatment she takes on an extremely risky case, and has no choice but to take Dakota along for the ride. The only problem (actually, the first of many problems) is that the person she is hunting is her former mentor JT, the man who taught her everything she knows, and the man who knows all her secrets. I went into this book knowing nothing other than what I've just relayed about the plot and I advise anybody planning on reading this book to do the same. More often than not I have to read the blurb to have some idea of what's to come, but I wanted to know as little about the plot as possible and that paid off as it resulted in an extremely tense and addictive read that contained a whole multitude of shocks and surprises (though one kind of major plot twist I did work out very early) and had I been hooked up to a heart rate monitor reading this book, the chart would have been all over the place. Believe me when I say that thrillers don't come much more thrilling than Deep Down Dead.

Deep Down Dead might be a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled read but Steph Broadribb does not sacrifice character development to achieve that. Instead we are treated to three characters who will live on in my memory (not least because Steph finishes this debut novel leaving the reader absolutely desperate for more) as some of my favourites. At first I was thinking why oh why would you take a young child on such a dangerous case but then, because I was so invested in the story and these characters something happened and I actually shouted out loud 'No!'. Yes, really. I think that was the point I knew it was going to be a late night of reading. I began to get a real understanding of Lori's fears for her daughter's health and how her thinking, the logical part at least, was hugely affected by that. A mother desperate to save her child from something like this will do absolutely everything to achieve that and Lori might doubt herself throughout the story but it was clear to me just how much she loved Dakota and they both became real characters in my mind, characters who I truly believed in and I can't tell you how much I was hoping for the best whilst reading this book. I can't say too much about JT without stepping into spoiler territory but he was also a character I very much enjoyed reading about and his history with Lori is what really makes these characters feel so real. The scenes between them are so highly charged that at times I felt almost like an intruder, an intruder who refused to look away. I'm not too sure how I would describe Lori to somebody because she is a woman with many layers, but as a bounty hunter she is strong, fearless, ballsy and more than a match for any man. I can see someone calling her the female Jack Reacher, but I'll jump in and say she has more heart but, in terms of a thriller character, certain similarities can be drawn. I wouldn't want to mess with her, put it that way. I imagined her as some kind of cross between Doris Day's Calamity Jane (a modern version) mixed with the looks of Sookie Stackhouse. Quite the combination.

Just in case it isn't clear yet how much I loved this book I wanted to mention something else that really made me enjoy it even more and that's setting. For someone who has written hundreds of reviews (I don't really call them that, more just my thoughts about a book) I am often really bad at describing how something came across to me and what I'm trying to say is that this whole book had that 'American' feel that I have always loved when I watch American thriller movies or TV shows like Breaking Bad, even the dialogue between the characters had that feeling. I'm not sure Lori would appreciate her speech being called cute, but at times that's almost what it was like. It wouldn't be clear to a reader unaware of who the author was that she wasn't American herself and it's clearly research (I believe Steph knows her way around a taser) and knowledge that has allowed her to write a novel with this amount of authenticity when it comes to the setting. And mentioning film, Deep Down Dead is just crying out to be made into a film. Just look at that cover, it's movie poster ready and probably one of my favourite covers of the year. It's just fantastic, and so suited to the book. Carrying on with setting and some of the scenes in this book take place in a theme park and, despite the danger the characters were in at the time, it was such a fantastic setting for a book to take place and some of the scenes taking place here were my favourite of the whole book (and certainly the ones that had my heart racing the most). Steph's writing is incredibly immersive and creates some quite vivid imagery in the mind of the reader, it was very easy to picture these scenes in my mind and the action barely lets up the whole way through and it's a thoroughly exciting read but also with a lot of danger throughout for our main characters and it's never clear just where that danger is coming from, or whether our characters will be able to get away from it.

I was at the 95% mark on my Kindle and the action still showed no signs of slowing down, Deep Down Dead is all action from start to finish. Then, sadly, the story did end and I was left desperate for more. This is one of those books that I wish I had the confidence to do something like climb up on the roof of a Waterstones with a megaphone and scream at passers-by to buy it, but I don't think that'd achieve much other than to get me arrested. So, as a blogger all I can do is hope that people read my review (which is surely just going to be one of hundreds) and take away from it that this really is a very special and rare kind of debut, a thriller that won't be forgotten and with characters that won't be forgotten (and not just the good ones, the villains in this book are rotten to the core) and that my rambling about how much I loved it can make even just a few people take a chance on the book as I just know that anybody who does will love it as much as I did. Luckily for Steph Broadribb she already has a megaphone-wielding super-publicist behind her in Karen Sullivan and if one of the hardest-working and most passionate people in publishing can't make this book a roaring success, nobody can. I cannot recommend Deep Down Dead enough, it is easily one of the best books I have read this year and it's my favourite release from Orenda Books. I simply cannot wait for the sequel.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH. MY. GOD. There is one less space in my top reads of 2017 today and its only February! But this book……..!!!!! It is just so seriously cool and ridiculously brilliant! I loved it so much I am now prepared to do some serious stalking to get hold of Stephs next book in the series as soon as I possibly can. I mean, I have MAJOR “fictional character crush” here and its not on JT (although he is a very close second!) Lori Anderson is such an achingly hip mom that I just want to be her! I loved her relationship with her nine year old daughter Dakota, whom I took to straight away with her mini adult perspective on her mother’s life and job. I loved the way she kicked ass when faced with a roomful of bad guys. I loved her courage and determination. But most of all I found her to be real, a single mum doing what she had to do to get by, in a world where good rarely triumphs over bad anymore.

Everything about this book worked for me. I loved its fresh writing style with the short chapters maintaining a high level of anxiety and adrenaline. I loved the characters,  good AND bad, the atmospheric settings of Florida and West Virginia, and the whole concept of a plot that revolved around bounty hunting. I have to admit though I stopped reading after a few pages to google bounty hunting which is FASCINATING stuff! And due to Steph, herself, having trained as a “skip tracer” it felt authentic from start to finish. I was sucked in to Lori’s dilemma immediately and became so engrossed in her predicament that I nearly missed my stop on the train-yes, I was that into this book! In fact, I couldn’t wait to get back on the train to continue both our journeys!

This could easily have wandered farther down the romantic suspense route but the author kept any relationship dynamics to a tantalising minimum concentrating more on the action and a VERY cleverly conceived crime plot. I really felt Lori’s maternal instincts intensify as she channelled them into her search for the truth. She was like a one woman A-Team, a fierce mama bear protecting her sick young and prepared to fight till her final breath for those she believes in.

I haven’t read a debut as fresh and exciting as this for a long time. And now I have, I WANT MORE! I also feel it would make a great Hollywood action movie-we need more strong women characters leading the way on the big screen (I had Jennifer Lawrence in my head while reading. Anyone else?) Loved, loved, LOVED IT from start to finish and therefore very highly recommended by me.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep Down Dead – A Breathless Debut

Deep Down Dead is the lip smacking rollercoaster ride thriller debut from Steph Broadribb, that is really dark and really brilliant. All I can say she must have one helluva twisted and dark mind, and I love it! What will really get you about this debut is how fast and confident Steph Broadribb is with her writing and her characterisation and has created a character that is kick ass and female.

Lori Anderson is a single mother to a nine-year-old daughter, Dakota, who suffers from leukaemia, while at the same time being a fearless Florida bounty hunter. She usually does not move out of state, and never takes her daughter along while she is chasing the fugitives of Florida, but with bills mounting up she agrees to do an easy pick-up in West Virginia. What she does not tell her Bail Bonds employers that she must take Dakota along with her.

To complicate matters the person she is being sent was her mentor when she began her career as a bounty hunter, and we learn the full back story that helped to colour Lori Anderson’s life and decisions. When she gets to West Virginia things do not work out as planned, when she realises that her pick up is going to be anything but easy.

As the thriller develops we learn that JT her mentor has a mafia bounty on his head and wanted by another ‘business’ man in Florida. Both will do anything to get JT, dead or alive and whatever he is hiding they want that too. Lori and Dakota really do have to roll with the punches, the bullets and their own impending deaths if something goes wrong.

What we get is a fast and furious and dangerous ride back to her base, proving that Lori Anderson really is as tough as any male bounty hunter. She is a character that the reader will grow to love, while at times hating some of the decisions she makes, but from this tough exterior she really has a heart of gold.

If I did not know any better I would say that Deep Down Dead had been written by an experience thriller writer who knew her audience and how to titillate them with bodies falling the right amount of violence. This really is the best debut I have read in a long time and published early in 2017 it could already be the debut of the year, Steph Broadribb is a major talent and will be entertaining us for a long time (I hope).

[Marleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can understand readers giving this book the full five marks, if this was their first action/(semi-)romance book. They must’ve never read the myriad of other authors who tackled this genre before. For me this book reminds me a bit of the Julie Garwood’s Buchanan-Renard books, or Elizabeth Lowell’s Donovan books, or even some of Sandra Brown’s books. They’re similar. Strong determined female lead, who takes center stage, assisted by some form of action man. To say Deep Down Dead was unforgettable is clearly an overstatement. It doesn’t top all these other books, and it certainly doesn’t top the most gripping book, that is a lot similar and emotionally much more impactful: that is Linda Howard’s best book, Cry No More.
From the book blurb we learn that Lori Anderson is a single mother and a bounty hunter. That’s a great premise to start with. She’s tough and not exactly sympathetic as she manages to keep her career as a fearless Florida bounty hunter separate from her role as single mother to nine-year-old Dakota, who suffers from leukemia. When the hospital bills start to rack up, she has no choice but to take her daughter along on a job that will make her a fast buck. And that’s when things start to go wrong. The fugitive she’s assigned to haul back to court is none other than JT, Lori’s former mentor – the man who taught her everything she knows … the man who also knows the secrets of her murky past.
From there JT and Lori, and Dakota, fall from one nightmare into the other – lots of people get killed – Dakota gets kidnapped and as Lori is trying to untangle all that mess, she needs to get to the truth of what’s really happening, and JT has the answers.
I wouldn’t say I wasn’t captivated at times, I was – but I was also skeptical. No reasonable professional bounty hunter takes her child on a job. Many times I simply shook my head while reading and thought that things felt very unrealistic. Yes, indeed, unrealistic, and moreover, repetitive. Lori's thoughts and feelings regarding JT didn't get her anywhere. Even the end was rushed: I had hoped for a more rounded resolution (with more words and thoughts that were acceptable). All in all, I expected more from this book.

[Angela Marsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that has been sitting on my kindle for a while and I've been dying to get into it. OMG why did I wait so long. From the very first word to the last page I was completely hooked and drawn into Lori's world. She is they type of character that I can completely get behind. The pace moves at breakneck speed. The writing style is accomplished and real and this is quite simply one of the best debut novels I have ever read. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

[The Book Review Café · Rating 5 out of 5]

First a word of warning before you start reading this book, make sure you read it when you aren’t going to be interrupted, it’s one of those books you just can’t bear to put down because it’s just so damn brilliant. I actually loved every page of this fast paced and innovative thriller. Deep Down Dead has to be one of the most original thrillers I’ve read in a long time, and believe me when I say I’ve read more than a few! the characterisation is second to none and I can honestly say I think this book is going to be a HUGE best seller on its release in January 2017.

I won’t go into detail regarding the plot as it’s all there in the book description, but suffice to say it’s one hell of an adrenaline fuelled read. what sets this book apart for me is the way the author has not only depicted characters who are rich in personality but they are also highly original. I absolutely loved the protagonist Lori Anderson a bounty hunter (see what I mean by original, when was the last time you picked up a book where the bounty hunter was a woman?) who certainly knows how to kick ass, she’s tough, she’s fearless but she’s also a mother who will do anything to protect her young daughter which adds an extra dimension to her character that I wasn’t expecting. As for JT he’s a man who oozes character, the relationship between the pair crackles with tension, frustration and unfinished business. Steph Broadribb has created characters that are very well rounded and an intriguing bunch, the dialogue is also authentic and fits the characters perfectly.

There is no let up in the pace, it’s non stop action from the opening chapter, sometimes violent and never dull, every chapter is filled with bucketfuls of action. As Deep Down Dead reaches its highly charged conclusion I really felt I had been on a hell of a ride thanks to Steph Broadribb’s ability to draw the reader in. The pace of Deep Down Dead is relentless, there’s no room for meaningless scenes just to pad the novel out. This book reads like an action packed Hollywood movie and it would never surprise me if it ends up on the big screen, it certainly reads like an action blockbuster. In my humble opinion Deep Down Dead is a rare and exceptional well written debut, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an action packed read, with fantastic characters and settings.

All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com

[Tina Woodbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all of my reviews: www.readingbetweenthepagesblog.wordpr...

A story about a female bounty hunter…yes please!

Lori Anderson is a bounty hunter who really needs her next job to pay well. She is a single mom to nine-year-old Dakota and has bills that need to be paid ASAP. Lori is in luck and Quinn, at CF Bonds, has her dream job. It will pay her bills and finally get her head above water. At least it seemed like the perfect job until she realizes she needs to bring in JT. JT is Lori’s mentor, he trained her and taught her everything she knows about the business.

I loved Lori and JT’s relationship. They have a bit of a love/hate relationship and the tension between them was spot on. We discover that their previous relationship had been more than just business, but ended badly. There are a lot of unresolved feelings behind their words and actions that come through loud and clear.

Lori is tough as nails, but her softer side shines through when she is with her daughter. She will do anything for her and will stop at nothing to keep her safe and healthy. Her determination is admirable and she puts her daughter first and foremost all the time.

Steph Broadribb has written a fantastic, fast-paced story, and I loved the way she tackled JT and Lori’s relationship. I feel like she gave us a lot to look forward to in future installments in this series by holding back a bit on their relationship. I really liked how it ended. It wrapped up the story and yet gave the reader a fantastic teaser for book two.

I was kind of kicking myself for not reading this book sooner, but I am thrilled that book two will be out in just a few months!

[Claire Kittridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A-Ma-Zing. Downloaded the ebook this morning, finished this evening. I'd only meant to read a few chapters and get some work done. Not possible. I am a huge fan of the badass female protagonist and I can say Lori Anderson can be added to the pantheon. The pacing of this novel was fantastic and relentless. And it leaves you with that feeling of withdrawl. Like WHEN will I get my hands on the next Steph Broadribb???

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 5 out of 5]

'My heart’s racing, a voice in my head screams, “run, just run”.

I want to, I surely do, but I can’t.

For all that’s gone down, someone has to pay.

It’s time for me to pony up’

Phew…..I’m bloody knackered!!

Deep Down Dead is the unbelievable debut from blogger turned author Steph Broadribb. Another fantastic read from Orenda Books, Deep Down Dead was just published on 15th January 2017.

And the good news *DRUMROLL* Deep Down Dead is Book 1 in the Lori Anderson Series, which can only mean one thing folks…Whooohooo THERE IS MORE!!

Read on for my thoughts on this exceptional debut...

Lori Anderson ~ wife, mother and, how cool is this….bounty hunter!!

Having suffered the anguish of having a very ill child, Lori is now struggling with medical bills. In an attempt to buy herself some time, she takes on a case that will change the direction of her life. There is a very generous bounty on the return into custody of one Robert James Tate aka JT.

Lori and JT have a history going way back, one that Lori had hoped not to have to relive but fate is against her and needs must be met. Lori agrees to take on the case. With the information provided to her, she prepares for what she assumes to be a straightforward collect and drop.

This one time Lori has no babysitter for nine-year-old Dakota and as it is a three day job, she decides, against her better judgement, to take Dakota with her.

From the outset, the stakes shoot up and Lori finds herself fighting for her life and protecting Dakota from some very bad people.

JT knows Lori. He knows her history and he knows what makes her tick. As Lori discovers the full scale of the danger both she and Dakota are in, all her survival instincts kick in. JT is mixed up with some very nasty folk, from the Miami Mob to a very despicable business man. JT’s name is being dragged through the mud, as accusations fly and the media get wind of this dangerous fugitive on the run.

A high speed, adrenaline fueled, kick-ass roller-coaster of an adventure follows where, as a reader, you are rooting for Lori, as you turn the pages faster that you thought possible.

As Lori and JT drive across state lines in a heart-stopping race for survival, old memories start to resurface and Lori has to face up to a few truths. JT may have been a part of her past but can it remain that way? How far do you have to run to escape the truth of what you have done, of who you really are?

As a mother Lori has always striven to protect Dakota from the many horrors of the world around her but the horrors she now faces are beyond Lori’s worst nightmares. Dakota is now in danger and Lori will stop at nothing to save her.

It would be really very easy to unveil one too many details of Deep Down Dead but I’m not going to. Suffice it is to say….it’s a bloody great read!!

Steph Broadribb has really blown my mind in a number of manners.

Firstly, she’s English…whoa I hear you say!! I know. Seriously, she has nailed the American dialect in every word spoken and every mannerism portrayed. When reading Deep Down Dead, the reader’s imagination is instantly grabbed hold of and dragged, very willingly I might add, onto a Hollywood set. Please somebody tell me this will be hitting the MAXX some day soon!!

Secondly…wait for it….Steph Broadribb is now a trained Bounty Hunter!! That’s what I call research…

Not to get too carried away (ok maybe a teeny bit) …..*eeek*….Book 2, Deep Blue Trouble is coming in 2018!!

But in the meantime may I recommend….

[Tripfiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller set in Southern States USA

Deep Down Dead is an all American thriller. A real page-turner, full of pulsating action. It sucks the reader in from the very start through to the nail-biting conclusion.

It is all about a peculiarly American phenomenon – the bounty hunter. Bondsmen (for a fee) offer to post bail for a suspected criminal. The bail, though, is forfeited if the suspect does not turn up for a court appearance. If they attempt to vanish (as a fair number do…) before the appearance, then the bondsman employs a bounty hunter to track them down and bring them in. The bounty hunter earns between 10% and 15% as his or her fee – it can be very lucrative.

Lori Anderson is a Florida based bounty hunter. Her 9-year old daughter, Dakota, has leukaemia (currently in remission) and she has to pay her overdue medical fees. She begs her bondsman, Quinn, to give her a job that will earn her $15,000 to bring back a fugitive from West Virginia. There are, though, two issues. The first is that she cannot find a baby sitter for Dakota (she will have to come with her on the trip), and the second is that the fugitive she is going to pick up is a guy called JT – whom she has not seen for ten years, but who used to be her mentor (and also her lover…). We sense this is not one that will go smoothly, and it doesn’t.

After a small diversion (no more for fear of a spoiler), the three of them begin the journey back from West Virginia, with JT cuffed and tied in the back of Lori’s Silverado. Then it all goes seriously wrong… What follows is a heart-stopping chase through Virginia and Georgia down into Florida – with bad guys a plenty in attendance. JT has offended both the very dubious owner of half of Florida’s theme parks and also the Miami mafia. They are each out to silence him – and to use Lori and Dakota to get to him.

Deep Down Dead is an absolutely great read. It is remarkably and sensitively written. Apart from the build-up of tension (and the blood and guts that come with it), the book also covers the relationship that grows between the three of them and the very natural fears of Lori as she places her daughter in danger.

You would think that such a book has to have an American writer, but Deep Down Dead does not. Steph Broadribb is a Buckinghamshire lass who (and this is the relevant bit) grew up partly in the States and actually trained as a bounty hunter in California. She clearly knows her stuff…

Deep Down Dead is a debut novel. The end of the book sets up the sequel. I hope it is as good a read when it appears.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s not to love about this book? Strong female lead, cute kid, a love interest, add plenty of action and you’ve got the ingredients for the perfect book.

I love Lori’s character. She is a single mom who hasn’t had it easy. Her nine year old daughter Dakota is in remission from cancer which has left Lori with expensive hospital bills to pay off. There is also her past that she doesn’t seem to be able to out run.

Being a bounty hunter has got to be one totally cool job. I can’t imagine there being many women that take on the role even though it can pay well. With the well paid jobs there comes a lot more risk. It made me wonder how Lori would go down the road she had chosen.

When Lori takes on a big case we soon start to learn more about her and her past.

JT is another great character. He’s somewhat of a father figure to Lori. He took her under his wing when she was at her most vulnerable and introduced her to the bounty hunting world. JT isn’t someone who Lori looks forward to seeing again and being her mentor she doesn’t like what she has to do but with bills piling up she has no other choice.

Deep Down Dead is an enthralling and entertaining read. The action literally had my heart pounding and this is one of those stories that would be great as a block buster of a film. The author has you really caring about the main characters so much so that I’m really hoping this is just one of many books in a series. Simply stunning for a debut!

My thanks to Karen at Orenda for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously, how outrageously good is Deep Down Dead?! It buzzes with an intensity that’s so feverish by the time I’d finished reading I’d forgotten how to blink.

Combine its rapid fire plot with insurmountable complications, where the odds of survival in a wicked game of endurance swing wildly out of control – and that’s not even scratching the surface.

I have colossal respect for Lori Anderson: Bounty Hunter, mom, life survivor. With her young daughter’s health troubling her, and existing medical bills + living expenses mounting up, Lori needs to take the next high paying bounty that comes along – something big that will be worth her trouble to settle her debts, for a few months at least.

When she asks Quinn for a job she wasn’t expecting to hear the name of another Bounty Hunter she who taught her everything she knows. Aah, should be easy, Quinn said. It’s just a collection and delivery, and you’ve got three whole days to do it…

The story of the pick up is told by Lori herself and the dialogue exchanges are just superb. During the perfectly rolling scenes I felt had more than five senses - I could almost feel the intensity of the temperature rising and the grit from the road sticking to my skin.

Crossing state lines into unknown territory, evading capture by the seat of her pants and facing jaw-breaking flashes of resistance that she could never have prepared for, Lori's toughened spirit is tested beyond anyone's limit. The reason why JT, another straight-talking Bounty Hunter, is being bought in kept me on my toes as the trust between the two of them shifts constantly and JT is like a human minefield! But Lori can’t walk away from him as she has her daughter to think about in more ways than one – and if ever there was a traumatised nine year old that needs a gold medal, a standing ovation AND an Oscar, Dakota Anderson IS that girl. What a little trouper.

Blimey, circumstances have really poked Lori with a pointy stick and have no intention of letting up until someone gets their own way. Learning who that is, what they want, and why this relatively simple job has turned into the road trip from hell is like a contagion - trouble keeps multiplying over and over!

Deep Down Dead is brilliantly observed from start to finish: the plot, its pace, the action, the villainous motives, that riveting Lori/JT backstory - everything. With so much punch and palm-sweating suspense it's a breakneck, adrenaline-charged stunner of a read that grabs you by both arms and refuses to let go. What. A. Ride.

(Many thanks to Orenda Books for the review copy of this title. It goes without saying that I was excited to read it. Oh, and all opinions are most definitely fangirly my own.)

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lori Anderson is a tough-as-nails bounty hunter. Her sole focus in life is her 9 year old daughter Dakota, who’s been battling cancer her entire young life. Lori is in desperate need of fast money to help pay down the massive medical bills, in case the cancer comes back and Dakota needs more treatment. Lori receives a job offer to take a case that pays top dollar, requiring nothing more than transporting a fugitive across state lines. Someone else has already done the dirty work of capturing him. Lori just needs to bring him in. Easy pickings, right?

Just one hiccup…the fugitive turns out to be the man who taught her everything she knows about the job of bounty hunting, as well as her former love interest. Ouch!

On such short notice Lori can't get anyone to watch Dakota. So she decides to bring her along on this little joy-ride. Really? I mean what could go wrong? Oh...how about everything!

It's an extremely fast, easy read. Finished in just over a day. I must admit, I got a little lost in the middle when the chase was on and all hell broke loose. But got back on track in no time. It's full-blown action from start to finish. Loved the main characters, Lori and Dakota. They were easy to connect with and I found myself rooting for them both!

If you like non-stop thrills and spills start to finish, then this is the book for you. It never lets up. There is definitely a set up for the next book, and I’ll certainly be watching and waiting for it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Steph Broadribb and Trafalgar Square Publishing.

[Craig Sisterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Among a surge of sound-alike domestic noir, British debutant Steph Broadribb offers something deliciously different for crime fans. Her heroine is a young mother dropped into a perilous situation, but Lori Anderson is no passive, middle class suburban housewife.

Bounty hunting. That's how Florida-based solo mum Lori provides for her cancer-stricken daughter. Backed into a corner financially, Lori takes on a high-paying gig travelling across the American South, her daughter in tow, to collect and deliver her former mentor, JT, now a captured fugitive. A man who knows all about Lori's own dark past.

But is JT a good man corrupted, or is something else going on?

Broadribb's writing is fresh and vivid, adroitly drawing us into Lori's world and taking readers on an action-packed road trip into the gritty and grimy parts of the southern states. DEEP DOWN DEAD is sultry and suspenseful, and marks a welcome first bow for an exceptional new voice in crime fiction. Highly recommended.

[Laura Wonderchick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cross a bounty hunter, ex-dancer(stripper), with a cancer ridden child, making a 14 hour drive to WEST VIRGINIA to make an extradition who just happens to be her bounty hunter trainer from her dark past. I'm not sure what this book even was but it wasn't for me.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lori Anderson is a kick ass bounty hunter. When offered the opportunity to earn $15,000 to pick up a fugitive and return him to Florida, Lori looks for the catch. Surely such a simple job shouldn’t have such a high price on it. But that lump of cash could go a long way to paying her sick daughter’s hospital bills. Still suspicious, Lori accepts the job only to come face to face with the mugshot of her mentor and ex-lover, JT. Things are already getting complicated. To make matters worse, Lori’s usual babysitter is unable to look after Lori’s daugther, Dakota. Lori reluctantly packs a bag for her little girl and takes her along for the ride. It’s an easy job so it shouldn’t be a problem having Dakota by her side. After several days of driving the girls finally arrive at the collection point but things turn nasty and the three thugs holding JT don’t want to give him up without a fight. It’s only the beginning of a long, complicated and incredibly dangerous drive back to Florida. Lori fights to protect her daughter and keep a handcuffed JT safe, but that’s easier said than done…

Deep Down Dead is a seriously good book and one that all crime thriller fans should read. I still can’t comprehend that this is a debut novel. The writing is confident, skilled and oh boy, can Steph Broadribb tell a good story! Her characters felt real to me. The scenes I could picture, in crystal clear clarity, in my head. If anyone is looking for a book to make into a movie then choose this one. This book is destined for the big screen! It’s so wonderfully american that I devoured it.

Oh Lori Anderson, how I want to be you! Ex-pole dancer turned bounty hunter Lori is the most likeable, most believable heroine I’ve met in a book in a long time. She fights, she shoots, she beats herself up on a regular basis for not being a good enough mum to her daughter. This woman carries a taser around with her for goodness sake, and she’s not afraid to use it. Forget your Wonder Woman, forget your SuperGirl, I want to be Lori.

And then we have JT. What can I say about JT apart from the fact that his name makes me swoon. I do believe that I’m becoming a bit soft as I really don’t like relationships in my crime thrillers but I’ve read a number recently where I’m suddenly thinking, I rather like their chemistry. Well forget all other chemical reactions, JT and Lori make the rest quietly and insignificantly fizzle out, phut. Their chemistry leaps off the page at you. They show very little interest in each other but oh wow, it sizzles. Loved it!

The plot doesn’t really slow down at any stage. This is a fast moving read and, be warned, it’s addictive. At times when I had to do other things, all I wanted to do was dive straight back into Deep Down Dead. I found myself at times daydreaming about Lori, Dakota and JT, replaying scenes in my head. I particularly loved the sections based in and around the theme park. They were full of action, I truly felt for Lori and they were dark enough to make me feel on edge.

Would I recommend this book? Well, yes, of course I would. For me, this is the book that every other book has to beat this year to become my favourite read of 2017. It’s early days but Deep Down Dead is a long way in the lead at the moment (and we’re not even done with January yet!). Absolutely everything I want in my novels, and maybe even a little bit more. Astounded that this is a debut and looking eagerly forward to reading the second book in the series. Superb.

Five out of five stars.

[Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to make 2 points right from the very start….

- Holy crap – this book is AMAZING!
- A debut….SERIOUSLY? See point above!!

Right, now I’ve got those 2 immediate statements off my chest…lets get on with the review! My goodness, does Broadribb know how to write a book that gets you around the neck from the very first pages and doesn’t let go until the end – actually, I’m not sure it did let go (and we have to wait until 2018 until book 2?!).

This book is as edgy as that cover suggests – we are thrown in at the end with Lori confirming that she will explain what has happened over the last few days – rewind to 3 days earlier. Lori Anderson is a bad-ass bounty hunter with a reputation that preceeds her. She is given a case that she desperately needs because of the financial incentive that is attached to it but she wasn’t reckoning on who the bounty would be and just how tough it would be to get that person back!

I’m not going to go into any more detail on the plot as, to get the full effect of the awesomeness of this book, it needs to unravel in its own time.The pace of this book is fantastic, I’m sure that there are points that I didn’t take a breath! Now, I’m not one of those readers who can stay awake read into the night; if I’m even a slightly bit tired reading (regardless of content) will send me to sleep – I was so desperate to know what happened next with this plot that I fell asleep a number of times, awoke to find the book still in my hand and carry on where I left off – now I love my sleep, that is HOW GOOD this book is.

Broadribb’s writing is superb, right from the start I got the feeling of it’s location and the high stakes attached to bounty hunting through the plot and the narrative. Now there are some graphic scenes, but that is to be expected given the subject and are well handled and not at all gratuitous – they are needed to give this book credibility.

I cannot recommend this book enough, for both its plot and its writer – and I look forward to hearing so much more from Lori Anderson.

[Nerdish Mum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep Down Dead is one of the most fast paced, thrill of a roller-coaster book that I have read in a long time!

Lori Anderson is a strong but flawed badass of a main character and I loved her voice. I enjoyed reading the whole book in what I pictured to be Southern American accent, it immersed me so much more into the world of the book and what was happening. I thought her relationship with her daughter was very realistic as it was full of unconditional love, snark, laughter, back chat and feeling like a failure.

I also fell Deep Down in love with J.T. He is such a great character and has still so much to share that I already can't wait to find out more about him going forward into the next book! He is your typical tall, strong bad boy with a soft side. But he's a bad boy for justice which just makes it hotter! The relationship between him and Lori is intense and you can feel the heat between them whenever they are in the same room together. He is also an absolute sweetheart with Lori's daughter Dakota which was really good to see.

From the moment the story started it takes you on a ride and you just cannot get off till you're done. Steph Broadribb leaves just enough breathing space between action to keep you going before hitting you in the face with the next bit of action.

I don't think that I've ever read anything with a bounty hunter in before (or watched Dog The Bounty Hunter), so I found it really interesting seeing somewhat how the work and I loved the rules that both Lori and J.T. followed.

Overall an absolutely excellent book and one I recommend to everyone. I read this in two sittings and that was only because I needed sleep so that I could be an adult, or I would have definitely read it all in one go.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep Down Dead is a crime story and an action thriller that snares the reader in from the mysterious prologue and doesn't let go until the very last page.

Lead character Lori Anderson is a perfectly formed character, a woman with nerves of steel, with a killer instinct, but also completely and utterly believable. She's a bounty hunter, she goes out and tracks down the guys with a price on their head. She faces things that few women ever have to deal with. She's also a loving mother and her small daughter Dakota is sick. There are medical bills to be paid, and she has no option but to accept a very dangerous assignment, and she has to take Dakota along for the ride.

What follows is a full-on, action-packed, roller coaster of a story. Steph Broadribb has drawn on her own training as a bounty hunter and has produced a novel that is really quite stunning. Sure, Lori is fearless in the face of danger, but she's also a loving mother who will, and does, do anything to make sure that her daughter is safe.

With characters who jump from the page, and a setting that is recognisable from hundreds of movie scenes, Deep Down Dead really is one hell of a read. This really is very difficult to put down, with constant twists and turns throughout the plot and a wealth of characters; from the great and the good, to the downright bad and dirty.

Explosive action and a heroine who is absolutely perfect. Deep Down Dead is a cracker. I loved it. Steph Broadribb is a hugely talented author, I can't wait to find out what she has in store for Lori in the next book
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[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a rarity these days to see a female character who can kick ass with the best male protagonists out there. Say hello to Lori Anderson!!!! Smart, quick and ballsy, she is a rival to the Jack Reachers of the fictional world.

Everyone knows that I love an action thriller. Deep Down Dead is all this and so much more. Full of brilliant characters, a cracking plot and plenty of violence, this book is definitely one to put on your list.

Lori is a bounty hunter, a single mom and an all-round independent woman. She knows what she likes, she’s great at her job and she’s fiercely protective of her daughter, Dakota. When she takes a job that could give her the cash she needs to look after her daughters medical care, Lori has no idea just how much danger she has put them in.

What follows is a nail-biting game of cat and mouse between Lori and the man who taught her all she knew. JT, her former mentor, is her charge. However, in getting to JT, Lori winds up dredging up the past, and creating serious trouble for all involved.

I’m not going to say any more about it. Deep Down Dead is an ass-kicking thriller of the highest order. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deep Down Dead is a crime thriller that follows the exploits of sassy bounty hunter and single-mother, Lori Anderson, in bringing back to Florida the person who taught her everything about her job, JT. In tow is her ill daughter and a messy past with JT. The key ingredients to the book are pace, action and tension. Broadribb keeps the narrative hurtling along as her heroine grapples with JT, the Miami Mob and a paedophile ring working in the Winter Wonderland theme park. What holds the story together, however, is an endless series of plot devices, many of which felt a little clunky, that stretched believability to the limit. Moreover, the relentless pace meant the tale lacked emotional depth and reflexivity beyond some confused feelings for JT and a desire to rescue the daughter. Overall then, a Hollywood action thriller that zips along in a series of improbable scenes, propelled by a sassy lead character, a will they/won’t they romance, and fear for a kidnapped child.