Valley of Death (Death Series Book 2)

A gritty crime novel that delves into the darkest side of city life. Policewoman Annie Leeson investigates the abduction, rape and murder of teenagers on the streets of Brisbane, in this terrifying drama that forces her to confront her own demons. Not for the faint-hearted.

every bit as good as book 1 in the series

To Laurie W. Smith's readers: If you haven't already read "Mountain of Death", read it! It is an excellent thriller; and within "Valley of Death" you might recognize some of the main characters from the first book of the series. I don't think it is absolutely necessary to read the first book, since Valley of Death stands quite well for itself, but I doubt anyone would regret to have read it! "Valley of Death" is as much an adult thriller as the first book of the Death series. There's plenty of killing and blood and the language is the one spoken in the streets... Annie Leeson is a cop in Australia. Her latest case takes her into the street kids-scene. But the case is bigger and more complicated than expected and not only endangers her career, but as well her loved ones and soon enough even her life! Annie Leeson does have supporters and does have help! But there's too much betrayal as well to let the story go "smoothly"! The plot stays interesting and made me hold my breath at many points!! It was hard to even go to sleep and continue reading the next morning! The plot is built as extraordinary as the one in the first book. And even though this thriller does contain at least a trace of romance, I would still and again consider is generally a "Guys-book" - unless you don't count me, of course. This doesn't mean, I don't like it! "Au contraire, Mesdames et Messieurs,", I did love it! And the connection to the first book of the series even makes me feel like wishing the third book would be published soon! Read it - and you won't be disappointed! Well done, Laurie W. Smith!!

Drawn into a world of intrigue and deceit, where your status and the number of zeros on your bank account determines the definition of legal or illegal, we again meet Annie Leeson. Beautiful but not so charming, she has become an adult and is walking in her adopted father’s footsteps as a Policewoman. At the beginning of the book, L W Smith takes us on a short ride in the past as he gives us a hind view of what happened in Mountain of Death to Annie Leeson, and he ties the fate of what she has become beautifully into the second book of the series. The connection provides the red line, which unites both books together. Valley of Death opens up in the dream world of the protagonist. Memories of a past that was forgotten come to the front through a chance encounter with a girl who had been brutally rape. Smith draws a picture in this encounter that jars Leeson’s memory as he eloquently threads a story together, which could be as real today as in his own fictional world. This book is not for the fainthearted. It is not for those who have an aversion to profanity, which is used on the ghetto streets of any small or large city. It is not for those who would like to keep their eyes closed to the evils that walk the street and are a menace to our society. It is not a book for those not willing to examine the ills of a society, which leaves children defenseless and watch as they are forced to succumb to the perverse appetites of some adults. Annie Leeson, adopted daughter of a former policeman with a questionable pass has finally come of age, after a bestial zoo experience, in a basement where she was locked in a cage and repeatedly raped at will. Her experience from her childhood shapes her views of sexual intimacy and her sexual actions. A top policewoman, she is excellent at her job, but her curiosity almost costs her her life, and the life of another she desires to keep. Smith paints her as the hardcore protagonist who has no problem kicking butt, bending male fingers or kicking them in their balls, yet she has intense compassion to help children, who have been sodomized, brutally raped, and abused by people in high positions, who consider themselves to be above the laws they create. We meet some old friends in Valley of Death, and some new ones that will cause you to lift your eyebrows. We encounter violence. Brutal violence enacted on other human beings. In fact, there are some scenes in Valley of Death where my eyes watered at the sordid bestial acts done to underage non-conforming children, who had no choice in the matter. The author has managed to give us a birds-eye view of what happens behind closed doors of people with depraved minds. I wrote, after reading Mountain of Death, the first book in the series, by L W Smith, it was the perfect book for those considering to enter the Mental Health or Medical field with the aim of helping the less fortunate. Having now read, Valley of Death, I reiterate and stand firm in my assessment. The sequel, Valley of Death, as well as, Mountain of Death are excellent studies of society, and they display what happens when people are caught up in their own perverse desires, Without morals, Without ethics, Without integrity. Thus, to say this book is an excellent read is an understatement. It is so much more. It is a study of surroundings we tend to ignore, True, it contains profane language, which will be much too much for some, And for others, the love scenes will be embarrassing, Yet, I say, these parts of Smith’s book are not overdone. The book is by no means pornography. You only need to visit the red light areas of your town, and you will find yourself in the middle of Smith’s Valley of Death. The scenes are astonishingly realistic. Congratulations, L W Smith! You have continued to remove the blinders from our eyes and have given us a well thought out and well written book. It is highly commendable and recommendable, and in my opinion, required reading for all who enter the mental health or medical field to help those people who have been mishandled and abused. Ciao, Pat Garcia Valley of Death (Death Series)

Valley of Death is a book with a great sense of place. Fortitude Valley, Brisbane - not a place for the feint-hearted and neither is this novel. But the delicate nature of the subject matter - child abuse and paedophilia are handled with finesse. The book's visual style has a language that is at times raw and violent at other times surprisingly sensitive and beautiful. I was immediately wrapped up in the protagonist's world and carried along by her plight. Valley of Death is an excellent attempt to expose the corruption in our world and a story that deserves to be told. Definately a page-turner. Well done!

Confronting! Not for the feint hearted. This book is well written, it's gritty and down to earth. The characters are strong and you get a real sense of who they are. The story line keeps you reading long after you should have been asleep. The book also gives you an insight into the scum that prey on the innocent and weak. I have had a chuckle at some of the antics and one liners, but I have also shed a tear and felt more than a little anger at some of the characters. This book reminds us that evil, in the form of humans, does exist. Only through this knowledge and understanding can we counter the threat. Great book, and thank you for opening my eyes.

Just could not put down this book either... The second in the Death Series, "Valley of Death" kept me turning the virtual pages hard and fast. Captivating me with all the elements of a great crime story - mystery, intrigue, sex, gore and the chase, this book kept me on the edge of my seat for what was going to happen next. Can't wait for book number 3 to appear...you have left us hanging L.W Smith...