We were first introduced to newspaper reporter Shandra Covington in Jeffrey Savage’s novel “House of Secrets.” “Dead on Arrival” picks up not too long after the conclusion of “House” with Shandra still recovering from injuries sustained on her first adventure. A little wiser and a little more leery of dating, she’s back at work focusing on her career when an old man named Pinky Templeton appears at her desk, with the strange tale that his wife is trying to kill him. Oh, but he’s already dead, and so is his wife.
Shandra doesn’t know what to think, and is more perplexed than ever when Pinky is killed in a car bombing shortly after their meeting. However, Pinky shows up again later, alive and well, even though his remains have been positively identified at the morgue. Shandra’s not sure if she’s losing her mind or if an elaborate deception is taking place. And why, out of all the reporters at her newspaper, did Pinky choose her?
Strange e-mails begin to appear in her mailbox, and she’s led on wild choose chase, only to see Pinky killed in a wide variety of ways, then to rise from the ashes like a phoenix to get killed again later. The police don’t believe her, and even her best friend/cop Bobby isn’t sure what to think. It’s not until she discovers the real reason behind these multiple deaths that Shandra sees the big picture and finds that this is much, much bigger than she ever dreamed.
I stayed up until 2:13 a.m. finishing this book. Jeffrey Savage is a master at plot twists, cliffhangers, and suspense. I’m eagerly awaiting the third installment of the Shandra Covington series, and if it doesn’t come out soon, I’m going to go picket his publisher.
(This book was published in 2006 by Covenant Communications.)
Related Blogs:
House of Secrets — Jeffrey Savage