I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young girl from beyond the grave seeks the help of an investigative team to find the truth behind her disappearance in author Angela Van Breemen’s “Revenge is Not Enough”, the second book in the David Harris & Emma Jackson Mystery series.
The Synopsis
Revenge can’t undo what was done.
When young psychic Emma Jackson experiences a terrifying vision of a teenage girl being raped, she is shaken to the core. As her husband, David Harris, tries to comfort her, his worry increases when her shattered voice whispers, “Her name was Maggie.” David questions the wisdom of his team of investigators using the paranormal to solve cold cases.
Emma and David, and Bryan, a retired police office and his wife, Laura, have been working together with New Elgan Police Service to solve cold cases.
They learn that Maggie was a young woman who went missing twenty years ago and has moved on to the afterlife.
During a powerful séance, she takes over Emma’s body and demands the investigative team take on her case to find her children.
Except, at sixteen years of age at the time of her disappearance she had no children.
When the team uncovers a sinister baby ring where young women are kidnapped and forced to breed made-to-order children for the elite, they are shocked to learn their nemesis, the Dark Hands of Anubis is behind the human trafficking.
Emma insists on continuing the case, but isn’t Emma’s sanity and peace of mind worth more than solving a cold case from the beyond?
Revenge may not be enough … when the cost is way too high.
The Review
Right from the start, this novel was incredibly compelling and rich with world-building that readers will instantly become pleasantly lost in. The realism of the investigative aspect of cold cases was perfectly balanced by the paranormal/supernatural elements of Emma’s psychic abilities and the spirits that come forth to seek justice. The visceral nature of the crimes themselves and the haunting coldness of the criminals will chill readers to the bone as they dive deeper and deeper into this novel’s lore.
The character dynamics and the essential themes were the heart of this novel. The love and care that David and Emma share for one another as they traverse this new business and delve into the dangerous world of cold cases, angered spirits, and shady and warped organizations for the wealthy elite, was heartwarming and inspired, and brought balance to the more mysterious and action-driven parts of the story. The way the book focused on the horrific realities of human trafficking and its connection to so many missing persons’ cases, and how the wealthy often benefit at the expense of those without the same privileges, made this a dark yet important narrative to explore without compromising the overall mythos of this series.
The Verdict
Memorable, haunting, and engaging, author Angela Van Breemen’s “Revenge is Not Enough” is a must-read mystery thriller this fall. The twists and turns in the narrative, the emotional complexity that cold case investigations often stir, and the heart of the two protagonists and their connection with one another, as well as their dedication to their cases, make this one book to look out for this fall. If you haven’t yet, preorder your copy today or grab a copy on November 4th, 2025!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Angela van Breemen is delighted to have completed her first novel, Past Life’s Revenge, a crime thriller with a twist of spiritualism. She is an avid writer of poetry, belongs to the Wordsmiths Writers’ Groupbased out of New Tecumseth, Ontario and is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and the South Simcoe Arts Council. Angela is a Soprano Soloist.
A firm believer in giving back to the community, she often sings for different charitable organizations. Music and poetry have been an integral part of her life, and in early 2024 she launched her debut album, In The Breeze. Celtic in nature, it includes three original pieces of music, based on her poetry.
Angela volunteers for Procyon Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre, a group dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and safe release of orphaned and injured Ontario wildlife.
