The Viper

A Broken Ridge Novel

By: Amanda McKinney

Narrated by: Stefanie Kay, Trevor Murphy

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

“Revenge is an act of passion, vengeance is an act of justice.” (Samuel Johnson)

A brash DEA agent and a ruthless private detective collide in this seductive small-town tale of revenge, murder, and the unbreakable bond between sisters.

They say revenge is a dish best served cold. Apparently, they haven’t met the Archer sisters.

Owner of Archer and Archer, Inc., a prestigious New York private investigative firm, Colette Archer embodies effortless perfection in her couture suits and trademark chignon. But this private investigator has a secret. When night falls, Colette slips on her wig and into the persona of a tequila-guzzling hustler who occasionally fancies two men instead of one. This double life comes as an unwelcome side effect of a horrific past that she and her sister, Jade, a bohemian martial-arts-instructing renegade, decide to settle once and for all - regardless of who they must destroy in the process.

Obstinate DEA agent James Black is one mistake away from spending his career crunching numbers in the confinement of his six-by-six cubicle. In a last-ditch effort to save his floundering career, James seeks the assistance of ice queen Colette Archer. Despite the spark of heat between them, she seems to despise him almost as much as poly-blend fabrics.

After following Colette and her sister to a sleepy small town in Montana, James learns of a devious and dangerous pact the sisters have made to avenge their past. Using Colette’s weakness to his advantage, James tricks her into helping him uncover the whereabouts of a ruthless drug lord. But when Colette is brutally attacked, James realizes he has inadvertently set wheels in motion that might not only cost him his job, but also the woman who’s stolen his heart.

Due to serious subject matter and mature content, please be aware that this book might be an emotional trigger for some listeners.

©2021 Amanda McKinney (P)2021 Amanda McKinney

Exacting Vengeance; Fighting for Retribution

This book had everything that I love in a good suspense-romance book—a captivating story, strong (if flawed) characters, and plenty of twists and turns. The romance was a little rushed and there was room for a deeper dive into the characters’ histories and relationships, but it worked well enough for this book. Maybe I just wanted more, more, more, of Cole and James! With all of Amanda’s books, I’m here for the suspense/mystery, first and foremost! I was not disappointed! This is not a cozy mystery with a dash of romance; this is a dark, and sometimes gut-wrenching tale of vengeance and retribution. I absolutely love how Amanda’s characters are perfectly perfect! Colette and James definitely have their flaws, but those imperfections are overshadowed by enough redeeming traits to make you not dislike them (too much).

My only complaint with the narration was that it could’ve been more expansive, with a wider range in how each character was depicted. I switched to reading on Kindle after listening to the first 40 chapters on Audible, because I wanted to “feel” Amanda’s words, in my own way, and without the narrator’s sometimes poorly executed performance/interpretation. That said, I still enjoyed the audiobook!

While not exactly a cliffhanger; there’s more to Archer sisters’ path to revenge and retribution. Can’t wait to read Jade’s tale!