Once Wicked Always Dead by T. Marie Benchley

Overview:
What happens when a family’s darkest secrets put lives in jeopardy? How far would you go for love?
Once Wicked Always Dead, answers these questions and more.
Molly Madison is unaware of the sociopath who is on the loose, creating havoc with a sense of their own justice. Her life is shattered by the sudden death of her beloved parents and the revelation of her husband Phillip's affair with another man. Molly leaves the life of country clubs and the luxury of city life and heads west to Montana, resolved to run the family ranch, and to move on with her life. Her attraction to Clayton Leatherbe, the ranch foreman, is instant, but before a romance can blossom, the ranch falls prey to sabotage by wealthy land developers determined to drive Molly out, and Clayton learns of a family secret that could put the ranch and Molly’s life in jeopardy. A sharp mystery that deals with the themes of family secrets, betrayal, love, and loss, Once Wicked Always Dead is a strong debut from an author with literary blood in her veins.

My Thoughts:

This book was ok. It is definitely aimed toward an adult audience with the language used and a few 'love scenes'. The main character, Molly, has so many things going on and going wrong in her life that you immediately feel sorry for her. Her parents die in a tragic car accident, her husband's gay lover tells her of their affair, there is a vigilante dealing her own justice to pedophiles, and there are family secrets that threaten to tear her already crumbling world apart!

I liked that Molly was portrayed to be strong and self sufficient. The main thing I disliked about the book was that it was predictable. I knew who the vigilante was long before the 'big reveal', so, the suspense really wasn't there but the storyline was enjoyable. It was a quick read that was entertaining!

Overall I give it a 3/5. If you want to read it, borrow it or buy at a used book store.

Disclosure: Thanks to Martha Ciske for the free review copy. I received this book in exchange for an honest review, and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.