Ten years at Luke AFB USAF Office of Special Investigations Special Agent Captain Cleo North made inquiries into an alleged threat made by Staff Sergeant Thomas Mitchell to his girlfriend Sergeant Debra Smith. Although she had a hunch there was more to the case, her superior pulled her off it because she found nothing out of the ordinary. Not long afterward Mitchell and Smith were found dead together in what was ruled a murder suicide. North left the air force and opened up her own personal protection firm.
A few years later, Cleo accidentally meets Debra's sister who believes the air force covered up the murder as her sister feared a Greek sounding name officer. Cleo learns of retired Colonel Alexander "the Greek" Sloan, but could not do anything further. However, the opportunity eventually arrives when her former commander General Barnes needs her help at the Santa Fe Film Festival to protect spoiled film star Marisa Connors, who Cleo knows as a pit-bull with nuts caught in an animal trap; Alex heads the gala which includes a North Korean communications expert that the military wants on their side. To keep Cleo in line, Barnes assigns her former lover Major Jack Donovan.
Fans of romantic suspense thrillers will enjoy Merline Lovelace's latest terrific military tale as various key players including the heroine have agendas that collide with one another. Cleo is a wonderful protagonist who still has deep feelings for Jack, but will not allow him, the military or the FBI/CIA consortium stand in her way of proving Alex killed the two sergeants. A final twist adds a fantastic climax to another five star triumph.
A few years later, Cleo accidentally meets Debra's sister who believes the air force covered up the murder as her sister feared a Greek sounding name officer. Cleo learns of retired Colonel Alexander "the Greek" Sloan, but could not do anything further. However, the opportunity eventually arrives when her former commander General Barnes needs her help at the Santa Fe Film Festival to protect spoiled film star Marisa Connors, who Cleo knows as a pit-bull with nuts caught in an animal trap; Alex heads the gala which includes a North Korean communications expert that the military wants on their side. To keep Cleo in line, Barnes assigns her former lover Major Jack Donovan.
Fans of romantic suspense thrillers will enjoy Merline Lovelace's latest terrific military tale as various key players including the heroine have agendas that collide with one another. Cleo is a wonderful protagonist who still has deep feelings for Jack, but will not allow him, the military or the FBI/CIA consortium stand in her way of proving Alex killed the two sergeants. A final twist adds a fantastic climax to another five star triumph.
Excellent beginning to Merline Lovelace's Cleo North trilogy. If you like her books you can't miss with this one! Good reading, hard to put down.
Eileen B. (romanceaddict) -
This is the first book in the Cleo North trilogy and I loved it! Lots of suspense and it kept me guessing until the end.
Book 1 in a series.
The first of the exciting Cleo North Trilogy, THE FIRST MISTAKE draws readers into an exciting world of political intrigue, action-adventure, and passion with the first page. No one writes military romantic suspense as well as this former USAF Colonel, and THE FIRST MISTAKE doesn't disappoint!
For Cleopatra Aphrodite North, giving up a life as part of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations seemed to be the only choice she had left. After ignoring her sense that something wasn't right with a case involving a murder/suicide of Sergeant Debra Smith and Staff Sergeant Thomas Mitchell. Cleo is sure she botched the case, and that fact, along with her turmoil regarding paperwork and rules, forced her to trade in her uniform for a life of private investigations and security.
She hasn't regretted the fact that she left the Air Force, but she does regret never solving that one horrific case. When Major Jack Donovan suddenly shows up on the scene, asking for her help in a seven-burner investigation being overseen by her former commander, General Barnes, Cleo can't say no. But it's not for the reasons Jack might think-babysitting a cranky Tinseltown actress will provide the perfect smokescreen for Cleo to turn her sights on one Alexander Sloan, Colonel, USAF, Retired.
THE FIRST MISTAKE is military romantic suspense at its absolute best. Conspiracies, mysteries, action-adventure, and spine-tingling passion all come together to make this book a keeper. I can say with honesty, that after reading it, I immediately went and picked up THE MIDDLE SIN, the next book in the trilogy, just to find out where Cleo ends up next. Not to mention what becomes of Alexander's twin brother Marc, and to find out how Jack is dealing with his alcoholic ex-wife, Kate. Kudos to Ms. Lovelace for dragging this reader into the intrigue!
For Cleopatra Aphrodite North, giving up a life as part of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations seemed to be the only choice she had left. After ignoring her sense that something wasn't right with a case involving a murder/suicide of Sergeant Debra Smith and Staff Sergeant Thomas Mitchell. Cleo is sure she botched the case, and that fact, along with her turmoil regarding paperwork and rules, forced her to trade in her uniform for a life of private investigations and security.
She hasn't regretted the fact that she left the Air Force, but she does regret never solving that one horrific case. When Major Jack Donovan suddenly shows up on the scene, asking for her help in a seven-burner investigation being overseen by her former commander, General Barnes, Cleo can't say no. But it's not for the reasons Jack might think-babysitting a cranky Tinseltown actress will provide the perfect smokescreen for Cleo to turn her sights on one Alexander Sloan, Colonel, USAF, Retired.
THE FIRST MISTAKE is military romantic suspense at its absolute best. Conspiracies, mysteries, action-adventure, and spine-tingling passion all come together to make this book a keeper. I can say with honesty, that after reading it, I immediately went and picked up THE MIDDLE SIN, the next book in the trilogy, just to find out where Cleo ends up next. Not to mention what becomes of Alexander's twin brother Marc, and to find out how Jack is dealing with his alcoholic ex-wife, Kate. Kudos to Ms. Lovelace for dragging this reader into the intrigue!
Ten years ago, former special agent Cleo North ignored her gut instinct-abd a young sergeant wound up brutally murdered. Finally she is in a position to find out what went wrong.
Cleo is certain the official story-a murder-suicide-is wrong. Now she has a new assignment working with Major Jack Donovan and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, offering security to a pampered celebrity as a front for a terrorism fact-finding mission. At last she has access to the one man she's sure is involved in the decade-old murder.
But as Cleo is plunged into a tangle of violence and lies, she must quickly decide who the real victims are. And who's covering up a first deadly mistake.
Cleo is certain the official story-a murder-suicide-is wrong. Now she has a new assignment working with Major Jack Donovan and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, offering security to a pampered celebrity as a front for a terrorism fact-finding mission. At last she has access to the one man she's sure is involved in the decade-old murder.
But as Cleo is plunged into a tangle of violence and lies, she must quickly decide who the real victims are. And who's covering up a first deadly mistake.
Kept me reading until the end. Former special agent Cleo North works with former lover from the Air Force to find a security leak
Smart intriging mystery with love story. Well paced and gripping trilogy. Hard to put down.
Fabulous book! Can't wait to read the next two in the series
Military mystery written about special agent Cleo North who gets the opportunity to reinvestigate the case that she believes she did not find out the truth.
Not my favorite of Ms. Lovelace's, but a great start, and I can't wait to see what happens to Cleo North next.
Cleo North has an assignment with Major Jack Donovan, offering security to a pampered celebrity. At last, she has access to the one man she is sure is involved in a decade-old murder.
A definite page-turner!
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as her earlier books.
Picked this while waiting at the airport and couldn't put it down.
Ten years ago, former special agent Cleo North ignored her gut instinct-and a young sergeant wound up brutally murdered. Finally she is in a position to find out what went wrong.
ten years ago former speaial agent cleo north ignored her gut instinct and a sargent is brutally murdered. finally she is in a position to find out what happened.
Two years ago, former special agent Cleo North ignored her gut instinct- and a young sergeant wound up brutally murdered. Finally, she is in a position to find out what is wrong,
Cleo is certain the official story-a murder homicide- is wrong. Now she has a new assignment working with Maj. Jack Donovan and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, offering security to a pampered celebrity as a front for a terrorism fact finding mission. At last she has access to the one man she is sure is involved in the decade old murder.
But as Cleo is plunged into a tangle of violence and lies, she must quickly decide who the real victims are. And who's covering up the first deadly mistake
Cleo is certain the official story-a murder homicide- is wrong. Now she has a new assignment working with Maj. Jack Donovan and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, offering security to a pampered celebrity as a front for a terrorism fact finding mission. At last she has access to the one man she is sure is involved in the decade old murder.
But as Cleo is plunged into a tangle of violence and lies, she must quickly decide who the real victims are. And who's covering up the first deadly mistake
Really liked it
