Deep Dirty Truth by Steph Broadribb @crimethrillgirl #BookReview #BlogTour

The third book in the terrific Lori Anderson series 
A price on her head, and just 48 hours to expose the truth, and save her family... 
Single-mother bounty hunter Lori Anderson has finally got her family back together, but her new-found happiness is shattered when she’s snatched by the Miami Mob, who they want her dead. But rather than a bullet, they offer her a job: find the Mob’s ‘numbers man’ – Carlton North – who’s in protective custody after being forced to turn federal witness against them. If Lori succeeds, they’ll wipe the slate clean and the price on her head – and those of her family – will be removed. If she fails, they die. 
With only 48 hours before North is due to appear in court, Lori sets across Florida, racing against the clock to find him, and save her family... 
Brimming with tension, high-stakes jeopardy and high-voltage action, and a deep, emotional core, Deep Dirty Truth is an unmissable thriller by one of the freshest and most exciting voices in crime fiction. 

I'm delighted to be sharing my review of Deep Dirty Truth today. Many thanks to Steph Broadribb, Orenda Books and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me and for my advance copy of the novel.

Lori Anderson is one of my favourite protagonists and having loved her previous escapades in Deep Down Dead and Deep Blue Trouble, I couldn't wait to see what awaited her in Deep Dirty Truth. For newcomers to the series, this third book can easily be enjoyed as a standalone - although I would strongly recommend also reading the previous two as they're brilliant!
Steph Broadbribb doesn't give poor Lori much respite before she's back in the midst of trouble but that's not really surprising as she is a woman who just can't seem to avoid danger. There's no gentle build-up here as Lori is kidnapped within just a few pages of the novel and from there on the frenetic pace barely lets up as she finds herself on the run from numerous adversaries. She has only recently resumed her relationship with JT but their reunion is still shaky with both guilty of hiding their true feelings for one another. When she is forced into a job to spring a Mob man from protective custody she realises it may threaten their relationship but also knows that if she refuses then the threat to them all will be far worse. Deep Dirty Truth should probably come with a health warning as the action-packed plot takes Lori (and the readers!) on a tense and potentially lethal race against the clock to deliver her man before the deadline expires.
One of my favourite aspects of this series is that the motivation behind Lori's actions is so authentic. Not many of us are highly trained bounty hunters but most people will be able to empathise with her raw determination to protect those she loves. As a long time single mum to her daughter, Dakota she is used to making decisions alone which stands her in good stead when she needs to react quickly to ever-changing situations and she certainly needs to utilise all her skills in this high stakes, deadly mission. The scenes where she doesn't know if JT and Dakota are safe and is unable to communicate with them are heartrending and I could almost feel her fear in the pit of my stomach. Lori isn't an adrenaline junkie; she's a woman who is prepared to put her own life at risk to protect her daughter and lover.
Deep Dirty Truth is a thrilling action story but it also explores some fascinating questions about morality. Lori isn't working for the Miami Mob by choice but as the book progresses she has to pick her side and it's not as straightforward as right or wrong. These are complicated, flawed characters and the world they live can mean choosing alliances is akin to being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. As the novel raced towards its pulse racing conclusion I couldn't tear my eyes from the pages. The engrossing storyline is matched - as ever - by Steph Broadribb's vivid descriptions which bring Florida to life. There's one scene in particular which I won't say much about other than it involves a risky trip through the mangroves and I could almost feel the humidity and smell the pungent air. I nearly had to read it peeking through my fingertips as the ominous sense of danger here is almost palpable.
Deep Dirty Truth is exactly what I'm looking for in an action thriller; it is tense, exciting and surprising but is also packed with perceptive characterisation, an atmospheric sense of place, some witty touches of black humour and real emotional depth. There's clearly more trouble ahead for Lori and as much as she deserves a break, I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book in what is definitely a must-read series for me.

Deep Dirty Truth is published by Orenda Books; publishing links can be found here.

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About the Author

Steph Broadribb was born in Birmingham and grew up in Buckinghamshire. Most of her working life has been spent between the UK and USA. As her alter ego – Crime Thriller Girl – she indulges her love of all things crime fiction by blogging at www.crimethrillergirl.com, where she interviews authors and reviews the latest releases. Steph is an alumni of the MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) at City University London, and she trained as a bounty hunter in California. She lives in Buckinghamshire surrounded by horses, cows and chickens. Her debut thriller, Deep Down Dead, was shortlisted for the Dead Good Reader Awards in two categories, and hit number one on the UK and AU kindle charts.
My Little Eye, her first novel under her pseudonym Stephanie Marland was published by Trapeze Books in April 2018.
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