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Gwynn Reznick #1
The Cost of Crude
Gwynn Reznick's life is shattered when her best friend and co-worker at Wilton Oil & Gas Company dies in a car crash. She doubts it was an accident. Her suspicion is confirmed when a private investigator, Ruben Dordi, shows up at her door. His team has discovered a trail of unusual deaths and disappearances among Wilton employees. To make matters worse, Gwynn is under constant surveillance by those responsible for her friend's death. But that doesn't deter her from getting involved in the investigation. Danger lurks in every corner of the Wilton Tower. One false move could turn a risky situation into a death trap. As the investigation team digs deeper, they begin to unravel a sinister plot that threatens a catastrophic pipeline disaster. Will they solve the crime before it is too late?
290 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2014
About the author
Inge-Lise Goss
22 books336 followersInge-Lise Goss, a USA Today, Award-Winning Bestselling author, was born in Denmark, raised in Utah, and now lives in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon with her husband and their dog, Ted. She spends most of her time in her den writing stories. There, with her muse by her side, her imagination has no boundaries, and her dreams come alive. When she’s not pounding away on the keyboard, she can be found reading, rowing, or trying to perfect her golf game, which she fears is a lost cause.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 3, 2014
I read a book by this author earlier this year. It was good, this one is great. Gwynn is a likable character and it does not take long for the reader to get invested in her life. Her love, her safety.
The story is not a short read, nor particularly fast...at 248 pages it is a full length novel. So it was not a book I managed to read in one sitting. That said the plot moves smoothly. The action only now and then lets up to show us a bit more about Gwynn's new love interest before the roller coaster is off again.
The story is complicated but not overly so. It moves fast and the twists and turns is manageable because the author put so much info into her character formation so that by the time that the book reaches it peak and most of the main role players plus a few tag on guys show up the reader is well enough established in the characters and the story line to follow the action with ease.
Editing is very well done, the cover is amazing and if you love a good conspiracy theory book. Or a psychological thriller or even a who-dunnit, then this is the book you need to read.
WaAr
The story is not a short read, nor particularly fast...at 248 pages it is a full length novel. So it was not a book I managed to read in one sitting. That said the plot moves smoothly. The action only now and then lets up to show us a bit more about Gwynn's new love interest before the roller coaster is off again.
The story is complicated but not overly so. It moves fast and the twists and turns is manageable because the author put so much info into her character formation so that by the time that the book reaches it peak and most of the main role players plus a few tag on guys show up the reader is well enough established in the characters and the story line to follow the action with ease.
Editing is very well done, the cover is amazing and if you love a good conspiracy theory book. Or a psychological thriller or even a who-dunnit, then this is the book you need to read.
WaAr
June 23, 2014
I received this book to give an honest review.
So even though I really did enjoy the suspense through out the book I had to give this a 4 rating being as towards the end I started to get confused on exactly who dun-it. There were a lot of characters within the book that sometimes the side characters I would get lost on.
Now with that said. There is so much going on within the book, you have murders happening, you have a grandmother who wants to solve the murder so she hires Ruben to find out for her. Well when Ruben starts investigating he ends up meeting Gwynn who works for the oil company. And that is when the real action begins. It seems someone doesn't want anyone to find out the truth about the oil company Wilton Oil and Gas. Ruben in the process of investigating he also has to keep Gwynn safe. But Gwynn seems able to hold her own at some points which I thought was a good character quality. I dislike when a female character can not really hold her own in fights or defending themselves. It is always like ugggggggg really. So with Gwynn I was impressed, especially with her not backing down and willing to figure out what happened with her friend.
Now there is a bit of romance but it did not make the story. This is full of mystery, action and how much the cost of crude is really worth.
So even though I really did enjoy the suspense through out the book I had to give this a 4 rating being as towards the end I started to get confused on exactly who dun-it. There were a lot of characters within the book that sometimes the side characters I would get lost on.
Now with that said. There is so much going on within the book, you have murders happening, you have a grandmother who wants to solve the murder so she hires Ruben to find out for her. Well when Ruben starts investigating he ends up meeting Gwynn who works for the oil company. And that is when the real action begins. It seems someone doesn't want anyone to find out the truth about the oil company Wilton Oil and Gas. Ruben in the process of investigating he also has to keep Gwynn safe. But Gwynn seems able to hold her own at some points which I thought was a good character quality. I dislike when a female character can not really hold her own in fights or defending themselves. It is always like ugggggggg really. So with Gwynn I was impressed, especially with her not backing down and willing to figure out what happened with her friend.
Now there is a bit of romance but it did not make the story. This is full of mystery, action and how much the cost of crude is really worth.
September 6, 2014
“The Cost of Crude” by Inge-Lise Goss is a complex and intelligent thriller set in the world of oil production. It begins mysteriously with a murder on an oil platform and then moves on to more mystery surrounding the production company Wilton Oil & Gas, involving the office staff and secret meetings.
Long before I figured out what the book and the story was about my curiosity was raised and as more suspicious deaths and disappearances happen I could not let go until I reached the end.
The book does a great job at walking the line between conspiracy theory and corporate crime without getting stuck on either side. The characters are well drawn and engaging and the suspense keeps going until the end.
A well written and tensely plotted story that should appeal to a wide audience of dedicated action and crime fiction readers.
Long before I figured out what the book and the story was about my curiosity was raised and as more suspicious deaths and disappearances happen I could not let go until I reached the end.
The book does a great job at walking the line between conspiracy theory and corporate crime without getting stuck on either side. The characters are well drawn and engaging and the suspense keeps going until the end.
A well written and tensely plotted story that should appeal to a wide audience of dedicated action and crime fiction readers.
May 5, 2019
I was recommended this book by a friend. I read the blurb and, having read another book by this author, decided to give it a try. I am glad I did, because I loved it!
Gwynn Reznick is a character I really liked. She is a strong, determined and courageous lady. I would love to have her as a best friend.
Oil is a commodity that has revolutionized our modern society. We use it on a daily basis in several products made from it, we heat our houses with it and use it to fuel cars, aeroplanes and factories. It is a fossil fuel that has taken millions of years to make in the Earth's womb. Because we are using this precious resource faster than the Earth can make it, greed and the lust for power over it has driven men into desperate acts, including fighting wars, for possession it.
This story is an exciting, fast paced thriller that caught and held my attention from the first page. The story is told through various characters' points of view, which I found very interesting. Each character came alive on the page. I liked meeting Ruben Dordi, who is very good at his job as a private investigator. He is a very complex character, who takes his job very seriously. He is a great team leader and a fair man. I would have loved to see a bit more of the story through his eyes, but as Gwynn is the main character in the story, it wasn't to be. Nevertheless, I was a little surprised that Gwynn was allowed to sit through the team briefings; this wouldn't be normal business practice for a private investigator to do. That being said, the story was full of twists and turns that were masterfully woven into a thrilling tale of greed and corruption. There were a few places in the book where I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat! I don't think I would have been as brave as Julie, who knew that her actions could get her killed, but she still did it anyway. And I know that I wouldn't have been able to do what Gwynn did by helping with the investigation. I'm not sure I'm that brave!
There is one scene in the book where my heart felt like it had stopped, because it completely took me by surprise; just like Gwynn, I didn't see it coming! The ending was bittersweet for me, because I was happy that the case was solved, but sad to say goodbye to Gwynn and Ruben. This story would look great on the big screen or on TV, because I could picture it with ease.
Inge-Lise Goss has written an intriguing thriller full of danger, mystery and suspense. As mentioned above, this is the second story I have read by this author, and I find her writing greatly improved compared to the first book. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow of the story was wonderful. I am now looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Due to some violence, although not too graphic, I do not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I highly recommend this book if you love thrillers full of mystery, suspense, danger, action, adventure and romance. - Lynn Worton
Gwynn Reznick is a character I really liked. She is a strong, determined and courageous lady. I would love to have her as a best friend.
Oil is a commodity that has revolutionized our modern society. We use it on a daily basis in several products made from it, we heat our houses with it and use it to fuel cars, aeroplanes and factories. It is a fossil fuel that has taken millions of years to make in the Earth's womb. Because we are using this precious resource faster than the Earth can make it, greed and the lust for power over it has driven men into desperate acts, including fighting wars, for possession it.
This story is an exciting, fast paced thriller that caught and held my attention from the first page. The story is told through various characters' points of view, which I found very interesting. Each character came alive on the page. I liked meeting Ruben Dordi, who is very good at his job as a private investigator. He is a very complex character, who takes his job very seriously. He is a great team leader and a fair man. I would have loved to see a bit more of the story through his eyes, but as Gwynn is the main character in the story, it wasn't to be. Nevertheless, I was a little surprised that Gwynn was allowed to sit through the team briefings; this wouldn't be normal business practice for a private investigator to do. That being said, the story was full of twists and turns that were masterfully woven into a thrilling tale of greed and corruption. There were a few places in the book where I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat! I don't think I would have been as brave as Julie, who knew that her actions could get her killed, but she still did it anyway. And I know that I wouldn't have been able to do what Gwynn did by helping with the investigation. I'm not sure I'm that brave!
There is one scene in the book where my heart felt like it had stopped, because it completely took me by surprise; just like Gwynn, I didn't see it coming! The ending was bittersweet for me, because I was happy that the case was solved, but sad to say goodbye to Gwynn and Ruben. This story would look great on the big screen or on TV, because I could picture it with ease.
Inge-Lise Goss has written an intriguing thriller full of danger, mystery and suspense. As mentioned above, this is the second story I have read by this author, and I find her writing greatly improved compared to the first book. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow of the story was wonderful. I am now looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Due to some violence, although not too graphic, I do not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I highly recommend this book if you love thrillers full of mystery, suspense, danger, action, adventure and romance. - Lynn Worton
September 16, 2014
Julie works for Wilton Oil as secretary to Steve Hadley, VP of Public Affairs but we find her at the beginning of the book, placing bugging devices in the conference room before a meeting between John McIntyre, CEO of Wilton and executives from CT Oil and Gas. She listens in via ear plugs, from the secretary's desk. Her action sets in motion an investigation into the disappearance of Wilton staff members and those they came in contact with.
This is a fast paced well written story encompassing crime, thriller, action and romance genres. There are company takeovers, shares changing hands, software malfunctions, kidnaps and murders and a host of characters. Once I had a handle on the plot and characters, I wanted to read on every evening until the whole story unfolded.
There are a few formatting/editing issues but they didn't detract from the story. For me, as Gwynn swiftly becomes the main character, I would have liked to know her better, how she really feels about ….no spoilers, but I wanted to know more about her so I could empathise more, rather than see her reacting to events around her. My only other criticism is that much of the story is relayed by reports in meetings or on television, rather than reading the action as it happens but, it's a clever, twisting story and I have no hesitation in recommending it as a 4* read.
This is a fast paced well written story encompassing crime, thriller, action and romance genres. There are company takeovers, shares changing hands, software malfunctions, kidnaps and murders and a host of characters. Once I had a handle on the plot and characters, I wanted to read on every evening until the whole story unfolded.
There are a few formatting/editing issues but they didn't detract from the story. For me, as Gwynn swiftly becomes the main character, I would have liked to know her better, how she really feels about ….no spoilers, but I wanted to know more about her so I could empathise more, rather than see her reacting to events around her. My only other criticism is that much of the story is relayed by reports in meetings or on television, rather than reading the action as it happens but, it's a clever, twisting story and I have no hesitation in recommending it as a 4* read.
September 27, 2014
Having read her previous book I was really looking forward to this book. Although I prefer The Tegen Cave, I think as much as anything it is because the storyline was so unique. This on the other hand was more real life. But the book was thoroughly enjoyable. I loved the Ruben character and the other guys in the business. I think for me the only flaw was that it was a bit too simple, I prefer my books with a bit more meat and substance. This may have been achieved by more narrative. It had an awful lot of prose in it and I think the majority of it was. There wasn't that much narrative going into the background of things or maybe beefing up the story. Although this was a let down, the story was good, the characters were fantastic, although the character or Gwynne was really starting to annoy me, how many times does one woman need to be in danger before she lets people help her. Having said that, this shows superb writing in that her character really annoyed me. I would recommend this book to anyone. It was enjoyable and the story was interesting.
October 1, 2014
A mystery thriller, jam packed with action in every scene, and a touch of romance to keep it interesting describes The Cost of Crude. The story is well paced, full of unexpected twists and turns that involve the Wilton Oil & Gas Company.
The main protagonist, Gwynn, is a strong, solid female character, able to handle each new dangerous situation with flying colors. She is a loyal friend, determined to solve the murder of her best friend.
Inge-lise is a talented author by far, able to hold her readers attention through plots and sub-plots. Her characters are many, and they become real with her skill of creating in depth personalities.
I recommend The Cost of Crude to readers who enjoy well written murder mysteries.
The main protagonist, Gwynn, is a strong, solid female character, able to handle each new dangerous situation with flying colors. She is a loyal friend, determined to solve the murder of her best friend.
Inge-lise is a talented author by far, able to hold her readers attention through plots and sub-plots. Her characters are many, and they become real with her skill of creating in depth personalities.
I recommend The Cost of Crude to readers who enjoy well written murder mysteries.
January 22, 2015
What an exciting, fast-paced, wonderfully action-packed this thriller was! I was glued to my Kindle with no option to put it down, worrying about Gwynn and Rubin, and the others. Such strong, courageous, lively characters, with nothing artificial about any of them (Gwynn was my favorite, I must admit, having a thing for strong female characters).
Danger and mystery, twists and turns on every corner, this novel flowed wonderfully easy for me, and I just kept envisioning it on the big screen. It is something about the writer's style, I suppose, that made the story and characters so alive for me. I highly recommend!
Danger and mystery, twists and turns on every corner, this novel flowed wonderfully easy for me, and I just kept envisioning it on the big screen. It is something about the writer's style, I suppose, that made the story and characters so alive for me. I highly recommend!
October 3, 2015
Hitchcockian Great Read!
This is a GREAT READ, and for those who don't get my title, "Hitchcockian Great Read!" google Alfred Hitchcock; He was one of the best story tellers of all time, and I find, Inge-Lise Goss's 'The Cost of Crude' at his level. This story is driven with a suspenseful plot-line through and through. With cover-up's and corporate espionage, you'll enjoy the way the author has masterfully written the narrative. Another thing I flavored when unfolding the pages, was that I felt it had just a HINT of Noir, I loved this book, and I will be reading more of the authors works. 5 stars!!!
This is a GREAT READ, and for those who don't get my title, "Hitchcockian Great Read!" google Alfred Hitchcock; He was one of the best story tellers of all time, and I find, Inge-Lise Goss's 'The Cost of Crude' at his level. This story is driven with a suspenseful plot-line through and through. With cover-up's and corporate espionage, you'll enjoy the way the author has masterfully written the narrative. Another thing I flavored when unfolding the pages, was that I felt it had just a HINT of Noir, I loved this book, and I will be reading more of the authors works. 5 stars!!!
September 11, 2015
This book felt read like it was written by a 2nd grader. Put it down at 15%.
June 18, 2017
Ten damn starz in my opinion! Wow what a very detailed and well written mystery thriller! I was so engrossed in the characters, I could actually visualize the drama playing out on the computer screen as I read each page! All the time wondering how McIntyre would get his dues dealt with, then finding out he's just a small coin, in a bigger wishing well. I'm so happy the author didn't focus a lot on the attraction from Ruben and Gwynn and focused their relationship around the case. It was such a new experience to read a suspense thriller romance novel that didn't totally focus on sex most of the time with the main characters. I completely forgot reading the synopsis that Julia wasn't the main character, but the total reason why the whole story came together. I thought The story was about Julia, and her investigation of her colleagues disappearances. I found out immediately in the first few chapters I got the female leads characters mixed up lol. Now it all makes since in the conclusion, and all the bad characters that caused the Wyoming fire disaster were met with the justice they so deserved. I guess they really found out in the end the cost crude and greed!
October 14, 2014
The Cost of Crude is a hard-to-put-down thriller. Not because of fast-pace action, although it has that in good measure. Nor because of the well thought-out plot, even if that kept me trying to figure out who's guilty and how guilty they were. Author Inge-Lise Goss pulls me in and keeps me reading because she takes a perfectly level-headed protagonist, puts her in dangerous, difficult situations, and lets her use her levelheadedness to manage her limited resources in order to get to the bottom of the conspiracy. It won me over quickly, and every one of the many sticky situations Gwynn Reznick gets into has me reading as fast as I can to see if she can win free.
Gwynn Reznick has it pretty rough these days. She just lost her best friend Julie, which is rough in and of itself, but she is just learning that Julie's accident was possibly staged. Mrs. VanAusdell, Julie's grandmother, suspects Julie was murdered, and sends private investigator Ruben Dordi to find out who murdered her granddaughter and why. Ruben touches base with Gwynn, tells her of Mrs. VanAusdell's suspicions, and asks Gwynn some questions about Julie. Now Gwynn wants to know too, and wants to bring Julie's killers to justice. But as Gwynn digs deeper into Julie's "accident", she discovers very powerful players having a hand in the staged murder, and a number of them could possibly be some of the big bosses in her company, Wilton Oil. Going to work starts to become dangerous, as researching the facts about Julie's "accident" brings her to the attention of some powerful managers and unsavory characters posing as employees. Going home is no less hazardous, as she has discovered her apartment is being bugged, and unsavory characters are turning up around her house as well. So she throws her lot in with Ruben Dordi, partly because she wants know once Ruben unearths who murdered Julie, partly since Ruben is under instructions from Mrs. VanAusdell to protect Gwynn as well. It's an added plus that Gwynn and Ruben have some interesting chemistry going on, and Gwynn is determined to sift through both the intelligence that Ruben obtains as well as figure out the affection he bestows upon her. Ruben and his investigative team however come with their own set of perils. They voluntarily expose themselves to danger in order to solve Julie's murder, which means Gwynn is in peril, too, despite their being tasked with keeping her from harm. Gwynn is very focused on learning the truth: she feels it's worth risking her own life to get this last task done for her best friend.
I love reading about a perfectly rational heroine! Gwynn is an intelligent, detail-oriented woman who holds a good desk job. She's not a former Marine, not a retired Black Ops agent, just an ordinary person with a natural tendency to be suspicious of "things that don't add up". Other than being young and physically fit, Gwynn has her wits, her accounting skills, and her knowledge of the oil industry. And the desire to do good by her best friend. It makes the story very accessible to readers, and makes Gwynn immediately likeable. I was able to commit to her instantly and root for her. That makes any suspense scene even more suspenseful, knowing Gwynn can only do so much. It also increases how quickly I read through, precisely because Gwynn can only do so much and yet there are very big odds to overcome if she wants to figure out who killed Julie.
Having a multi-layered plot helps as well. I can't pinpoint a "central bad guy": I meet a bunch of suspects and have to sift through the facts obtained piece-meal by Gwynn and Ruben's team to figure out their level of knowledge and culpability. The innocents are just as unclear at the beginning: at one point I meet a beautiful and compelling minor character whose life was completely wrecked by the conspiracy. Not only did she increase Gwynn's determination to bring those responsible to justice, what happened to her shed vital light to what was going on - and yet she is virtually clueless about the forces moving around her. All this has me flipping the pages as quickly as I can till I get to the end.
Inge-Lise Goss put together an intelligent thriller in The Cost of Crude. I recommend it as an enjoyable read.
Gwynn Reznick has it pretty rough these days. She just lost her best friend Julie, which is rough in and of itself, but she is just learning that Julie's accident was possibly staged. Mrs. VanAusdell, Julie's grandmother, suspects Julie was murdered, and sends private investigator Ruben Dordi to find out who murdered her granddaughter and why. Ruben touches base with Gwynn, tells her of Mrs. VanAusdell's suspicions, and asks Gwynn some questions about Julie. Now Gwynn wants to know too, and wants to bring Julie's killers to justice. But as Gwynn digs deeper into Julie's "accident", she discovers very powerful players having a hand in the staged murder, and a number of them could possibly be some of the big bosses in her company, Wilton Oil. Going to work starts to become dangerous, as researching the facts about Julie's "accident" brings her to the attention of some powerful managers and unsavory characters posing as employees. Going home is no less hazardous, as she has discovered her apartment is being bugged, and unsavory characters are turning up around her house as well. So she throws her lot in with Ruben Dordi, partly because she wants know once Ruben unearths who murdered Julie, partly since Ruben is under instructions from Mrs. VanAusdell to protect Gwynn as well. It's an added plus that Gwynn and Ruben have some interesting chemistry going on, and Gwynn is determined to sift through both the intelligence that Ruben obtains as well as figure out the affection he bestows upon her. Ruben and his investigative team however come with their own set of perils. They voluntarily expose themselves to danger in order to solve Julie's murder, which means Gwynn is in peril, too, despite their being tasked with keeping her from harm. Gwynn is very focused on learning the truth: she feels it's worth risking her own life to get this last task done for her best friend.
I love reading about a perfectly rational heroine! Gwynn is an intelligent, detail-oriented woman who holds a good desk job. She's not a former Marine, not a retired Black Ops agent, just an ordinary person with a natural tendency to be suspicious of "things that don't add up". Other than being young and physically fit, Gwynn has her wits, her accounting skills, and her knowledge of the oil industry. And the desire to do good by her best friend. It makes the story very accessible to readers, and makes Gwynn immediately likeable. I was able to commit to her instantly and root for her. That makes any suspense scene even more suspenseful, knowing Gwynn can only do so much. It also increases how quickly I read through, precisely because Gwynn can only do so much and yet there are very big odds to overcome if she wants to figure out who killed Julie.
Having a multi-layered plot helps as well. I can't pinpoint a "central bad guy": I meet a bunch of suspects and have to sift through the facts obtained piece-meal by Gwynn and Ruben's team to figure out their level of knowledge and culpability. The innocents are just as unclear at the beginning: at one point I meet a beautiful and compelling minor character whose life was completely wrecked by the conspiracy. Not only did she increase Gwynn's determination to bring those responsible to justice, what happened to her shed vital light to what was going on - and yet she is virtually clueless about the forces moving around her. All this has me flipping the pages as quickly as I can till I get to the end.
Inge-Lise Goss put together an intelligent thriller in The Cost of Crude. I recommend it as an enjoyable read.
December 2, 2014
Secrets in the Barrel – A review of the novel ‘The Cost of Crude’
“I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light” - Helen Keller
Author Inge-Lise Goss’s novel ‘The Cost of Crude’ takes place in Texas and is set in the backdrop of a car crash of an oil & gas company employee. Gwynn Reznick, the co-worker and friend of Julie, doesn’t believe her friend’s death was an accident. That’s when Julie’s grandmother employs a brilliant PI, Ruben Dordi to investigate her granddaughter’s death. Teaming up with Gwynn, Ruben and his team not only uncovers more cases of missing persons and deaths of Wilton employees but also unearths a deeper conspiracy that threatens the lives of many. And with enemy forces creeping up on them from all sides, Gwynn and Ruben must solve the case before it’s too late.
‘The Cost of Crude’, at its core has a beautiful and convincing story that is worthy of being told. Filled with lots of mystery and elements from a thriller, it is also a whodunit detective story containing traces of corporate espionage and professional rivalry. And at the centre piece of it all are a couple of well etched out characters in Gwynn and Ruben who fit perfectly into the scheme of things, and their involvement in the plot takes the reader along for a wonderful ride. It also has a great cast of supporting characters in Rosie & Holly who make a wonderful addition to the story line. With wonderful dialogues and some very creative innovations to move the story forward, author Inge-Lise has a perfect grip on the narration throughout the book. There are some wild plot twists and turns that you won’t see coming and which will lead you to different conclusions if you try and move ahead of the narrative in trying to find out how it all ends. The author also lets us see the viewpoints of all the key characters; this lets the reader get a deeper insight into each character’s mindset and helps in decoding the intention behind their decisions.
Whenever you pick up a new book, you owe it to yourself and the book to give it some time to connect with you, and this novel is no different in this regard. You have to give it some time for you to get used to the various characters and the pace of the narrative and understand what is going on in the background and also make peace with the changing point of view of the characters. But once you do this, then to reuse a cliché but true in its case, you will find it hard to put down the book until you find out the ‘truth’. The novel’s plot lines have an episodic feel to them and it is used as a means to highlight each character and reveal bit by bit of the mystery to the reader by giving you enough clues before moving on to the next phase of the story. The impending romance too has been handled maturely and has not been overdone. The book also introduces Texas and its famous oil industries and rich men to readers by highlighting its rich and colourful history and that is why the novel feels like a well researched book because the people and places in them seem so real.
With an action packed story about power hungry and greedy bad people on one side and a couple of good ones set out to stop wickedness in its tracks, ‘The Cost of Crude’ becomes an unforgettable experience especially with its quick witted characters and fast paced twists, turns and surprises. It is a great way to spend some quality hours.
“I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light” - Helen Keller
Author Inge-Lise Goss’s novel ‘The Cost of Crude’ takes place in Texas and is set in the backdrop of a car crash of an oil & gas company employee. Gwynn Reznick, the co-worker and friend of Julie, doesn’t believe her friend’s death was an accident. That’s when Julie’s grandmother employs a brilliant PI, Ruben Dordi to investigate her granddaughter’s death. Teaming up with Gwynn, Ruben and his team not only uncovers more cases of missing persons and deaths of Wilton employees but also unearths a deeper conspiracy that threatens the lives of many. And with enemy forces creeping up on them from all sides, Gwynn and Ruben must solve the case before it’s too late.
‘The Cost of Crude’, at its core has a beautiful and convincing story that is worthy of being told. Filled with lots of mystery and elements from a thriller, it is also a whodunit detective story containing traces of corporate espionage and professional rivalry. And at the centre piece of it all are a couple of well etched out characters in Gwynn and Ruben who fit perfectly into the scheme of things, and their involvement in the plot takes the reader along for a wonderful ride. It also has a great cast of supporting characters in Rosie & Holly who make a wonderful addition to the story line. With wonderful dialogues and some very creative innovations to move the story forward, author Inge-Lise has a perfect grip on the narration throughout the book. There are some wild plot twists and turns that you won’t see coming and which will lead you to different conclusions if you try and move ahead of the narrative in trying to find out how it all ends. The author also lets us see the viewpoints of all the key characters; this lets the reader get a deeper insight into each character’s mindset and helps in decoding the intention behind their decisions.
Whenever you pick up a new book, you owe it to yourself and the book to give it some time to connect with you, and this novel is no different in this regard. You have to give it some time for you to get used to the various characters and the pace of the narrative and understand what is going on in the background and also make peace with the changing point of view of the characters. But once you do this, then to reuse a cliché but true in its case, you will find it hard to put down the book until you find out the ‘truth’. The novel’s plot lines have an episodic feel to them and it is used as a means to highlight each character and reveal bit by bit of the mystery to the reader by giving you enough clues before moving on to the next phase of the story. The impending romance too has been handled maturely and has not been overdone. The book also introduces Texas and its famous oil industries and rich men to readers by highlighting its rich and colourful history and that is why the novel feels like a well researched book because the people and places in them seem so real.
With an action packed story about power hungry and greedy bad people on one side and a couple of good ones set out to stop wickedness in its tracks, ‘The Cost of Crude’ becomes an unforgettable experience especially with its quick witted characters and fast paced twists, turns and surprises. It is a great way to spend some quality hours.
March 28, 2017
This ranks among the worst books I have read. The story about pipelines and environmental considerations versus need for profit certainly has potential, and it is obvious that the author is well-versed on the intricacies of the business, but the prose and character-building is so bad it is beyond ridiculous, and the whole story is just infantile.
On page 1 the first thing to appear are bad guys with a heavy Slavic accent, which in itself is an eye roll-inducing cliché, but even if it was a novelty, it has absolutely no relevance for the story. Events are narrated in dull and monotonous simple past with absolutely no skill for building tension and intrigue. Cindy heard about the accident during morning break. She immediately called Gwynn and got voicemail. She contacted Stan. Even when the plot reaches something resembling suspenseful moment, the writing remains mind-numblingly primitive. The editing is even worse, and you are treaded with gems like practical practices and Earth’s delegate eco systems. "Delegate"?...
And then come the characters. Oh, the characters. The heroine basically begs the hero for sex, and when refused, she decides the best revenge is to hide some information about the investigation. From the person doing investigation and pretty much protecting her 24/7. Or, when she needs to get to co-worker's e-mails, she promptly decides to wait and guess a password after she’d looked through Pam’s documents. Yes, you read that right. Guess a password from looking though the papers.
Then there are two secondary characters whose significant others either have disappeared or been killed, and the two discover they are attracted to each other on the day of the funeral, because that is how you usually feel when you have just buried your fiancée. Some other character was verbally upset, which must be a helluva kind of being upset. There also is a character who is basically a nasty caricature of someone with a brain trauma from an accident, which is so wrong on so many levels. And I've lost count of secondary and tertiary characters who appear for no other reason that to sound dumb and useless.
I don't know why I kept reading. Definitely not to stare at the last sentence pompously stating that "Everyone responsible for Ian’s death has been punished, but not in a court of law".
On page 1 the first thing to appear are bad guys with a heavy Slavic accent, which in itself is an eye roll-inducing cliché, but even if it was a novelty, it has absolutely no relevance for the story. Events are narrated in dull and monotonous simple past with absolutely no skill for building tension and intrigue. Cindy heard about the accident during morning break. She immediately called Gwynn and got voicemail. She contacted Stan. Even when the plot reaches something resembling suspenseful moment, the writing remains mind-numblingly primitive. The editing is even worse, and you are treaded with gems like practical practices and Earth’s delegate eco systems. "Delegate"?...
And then come the characters. Oh, the characters. The heroine basically begs the hero for sex, and when refused, she decides the best revenge is to hide some information about the investigation. From the person doing investigation and pretty much protecting her 24/7. Or, when she needs to get to co-worker's e-mails, she promptly decides to wait and guess a password after she’d looked through Pam’s documents. Yes, you read that right. Guess a password from looking though the papers.
Then there are two secondary characters whose significant others either have disappeared or been killed, and the two discover they are attracted to each other on the day of the funeral, because that is how you usually feel when you have just buried your fiancée. Some other character was verbally upset, which must be a helluva kind of being upset. There also is a character who is basically a nasty caricature of someone with a brain trauma from an accident, which is so wrong on so many levels. And I've lost count of secondary and tertiary characters who appear for no other reason that to sound dumb and useless.
I don't know why I kept reading. Definitely not to stare at the last sentence pompously stating that "Everyone responsible for Ian’s death has been punished, but not in a court of law".
September 18, 2014
Although my favorite genre is humorous fiction, I've been deviating from the norm the past year and reading more mysteries and thrillers. I've got to be honest and say I fell into The Cost of Crude almost immediately because Inge-Lise Goss uses Houston, TX as the main backdrop of this page turning thriller. Many times I sensed several of her fictitious areas/oil industries were based on actual people and places. Texas oil industry has always had a plethora of charming, crude, ruthless, dynamic, insane, personalities making headlines. So the plot of this flawlessly written story seemed plausible to me.
With a nice romantic slant, mega suspense, criminal activity, subplots and twists galore that keep you on your toes, you must pay attention. I'm a huge Elmore Leonard fan, and found The Cost of Crude akin to most of his novels, in which readers must revert to earlier chapters to recall certain characters. I've always enjoyed a little mental exercise & it doesn't take away from the story. With such a large cast, all characters weren't bold and memorable, but those who needed to come across "Bigger than Texas" certainly did in great style. I came to adore the likable, Gwynn, mainly due to her dry wit.
The Cost of Crude is one of the few novels I expect to re-read in the future, and will be looking for more novels pinned by Ms. Goss. Highly recommended for all suspense/thriller fans.
With a nice romantic slant, mega suspense, criminal activity, subplots and twists galore that keep you on your toes, you must pay attention. I'm a huge Elmore Leonard fan, and found The Cost of Crude akin to most of his novels, in which readers must revert to earlier chapters to recall certain characters. I've always enjoyed a little mental exercise & it doesn't take away from the story. With such a large cast, all characters weren't bold and memorable, but those who needed to come across "Bigger than Texas" certainly did in great style. I came to adore the likable, Gwynn, mainly due to her dry wit.
The Cost of Crude is one of the few novels I expect to re-read in the future, and will be looking for more novels pinned by Ms. Goss. Highly recommended for all suspense/thriller fans.
October 14, 2021
This book opens dramatically with a man being attacked and then thrown to his death from a oil platform. The scene then switches to Julie, an employee of Wilton Gas & Oil, who decides to do a little spying to find out if the company, as she suspects, is planning a merger. She plants bugs in the conference room prior to an important meeting and, later, when she goes to retrieve them, is confronted by a brawny, muscular man who discovered what she was up to. The next day, her best friend and fellow employee, Gwynn Resnick, is shocked to learn that Julie died the night before in an unlikely automobile accident. Gwynn suspects foul play. But who would want to kill Julie?
Thus, begins Gwynn’s journey into a dark world fueled by corporate greed and intrigue. Accompanying her on this voyage, is Ruben, a private investigator of sorts hired by the dead girl’s grandmother. Together, Gwynn and Ruben, along with an assortment of Mission Impossible-style investigators, try sort out what really happened to Julie and, more importantly, why.
The Cost of Crude is a fast-paced thriller that has numerous twists and turns as the reader makes his/her way to the final shocking conclusion. The characters are cleverly drawn and the plot is complex. A real page-turner, this is the exciting start to a new series featuring the aforementioned Gwynn Resnick.
Highly recommended for lovers of corporate intrigue and mystery/thrillers.
Thus, begins Gwynn’s journey into a dark world fueled by corporate greed and intrigue. Accompanying her on this voyage, is Ruben, a private investigator of sorts hired by the dead girl’s grandmother. Together, Gwynn and Ruben, along with an assortment of Mission Impossible-style investigators, try sort out what really happened to Julie and, more importantly, why.
The Cost of Crude is a fast-paced thriller that has numerous twists and turns as the reader makes his/her way to the final shocking conclusion. The characters are cleverly drawn and the plot is complex. A real page-turner, this is the exciting start to a new series featuring the aforementioned Gwynn Resnick.
Highly recommended for lovers of corporate intrigue and mystery/thrillers.
November 20, 2019
Gwynn Reznick is shocked by the auto accident that took the life of her best friend and co-worker at Wilton Oil and Gas. Ruben Dordi, a PI, is hired by the girl’s grandmother to investigate her death. The suspicious circumstances lead Gwen and Ruben to examine other deaths as well as disappearances of Wilton employees. The closer Gwen comes to reveal the truth, the more she feels her own life is threatened, in a corporate world where the chase for money overrides human considerations and people have no qualms to kill for dollars.
In addition to the high-tech contemporary feel and the twists and turns of this gripping thriller, it also reveals an undeniable attraction forming between Ruben and Gwen, and their struggle not to yield to it, so as to keep a cool head. “He pretended to be engrossed in the document, waiting for Gwenn to fall asleep. Tonight, he’d sleep on the sofa since he felt volunerable and didn’t want to take a chance on being tempted by her again.”
When all is said and done, Gwen says, “Being involved in this investigation has spurred something in me that I didn’t know existed. Even when I was scared, I didn’t want it to end.” Reading the book, that was how I felt, too.
Five stars.
In addition to the high-tech contemporary feel and the twists and turns of this gripping thriller, it also reveals an undeniable attraction forming between Ruben and Gwen, and their struggle not to yield to it, so as to keep a cool head. “He pretended to be engrossed in the document, waiting for Gwenn to fall asleep. Tonight, he’d sleep on the sofa since he felt volunerable and didn’t want to take a chance on being tempted by her again.”
When all is said and done, Gwen says, “Being involved in this investigation has spurred something in me that I didn’t know existed. Even when I was scared, I didn’t want it to end.” Reading the book, that was how I felt, too.
Five stars.
February 1, 2017
When Gwynn Reznick’s best friend and co-worker at Wilton Oil and Gas dies in an auto accident, she suspects foul play. Her suspicions are validated when Reuben Dordi, a PI hired by the girl’s grandmother to investigate her death, shows up on her doorstep. He’s looking into several other suspicious deaths of people connected to the company. As Gwynn gets caught up in his investigation, her life is turned upside down.
The Cost of Crude by Inge-Lise Goss is a down and dirty look at the energy industry, where high profits cause people to shed any semblance of humanity in their chase for money. The story follows Gwynn as she delves deeper into the macabre machinations of people who are willing to kill for dollars, and in the process she learns things about herself that she’d never known.
Although Gwynn’s transformation from meek clerical worker to dashing agent is at times a bit incredulous, the story is nonetheless an entertaining read. The ending, after so much bloody action leading up to it, was somewhat anticlimactic. This author shows promise, though, and I look forward to seeing her work as she matures in her craft.
I give this one three and a half stars.
The Cost of Crude by Inge-Lise Goss is a down and dirty look at the energy industry, where high profits cause people to shed any semblance of humanity in their chase for money. The story follows Gwynn as she delves deeper into the macabre machinations of people who are willing to kill for dollars, and in the process she learns things about herself that she’d never known.
Although Gwynn’s transformation from meek clerical worker to dashing agent is at times a bit incredulous, the story is nonetheless an entertaining read. The ending, after so much bloody action leading up to it, was somewhat anticlimactic. This author shows promise, though, and I look forward to seeing her work as she matures in her craft.
I give this one three and a half stars.
April 23, 2015
I received a review copy of The Cost of Crude by Inge-lise Goss.
This thrilling story started with a young woman named Julie spying during an office meeting, and finding out something that cost her life. Although her cause of death was reported to be from a car accident, private investigators were hired by the victim's rich grandmother to find out the truth.
Julie's close friend Gwynn was originally put under the protection of a man named Ruben, but she proved useful to the investigation and helped as much as she could even though she knew that she could end up just like Julie. There were many suspenseful moments in the book.
A romance bloomed, adding to the character development, but the story was mainly focussed on the investigation. It was quite interesting and did not require too much thinking. Everything flowed nicely.
I recommend this book to those who like reading investigative stories.
This thrilling story started with a young woman named Julie spying during an office meeting, and finding out something that cost her life. Although her cause of death was reported to be from a car accident, private investigators were hired by the victim's rich grandmother to find out the truth.
Julie's close friend Gwynn was originally put under the protection of a man named Ruben, but she proved useful to the investigation and helped as much as she could even though she knew that she could end up just like Julie. There were many suspenseful moments in the book.
A romance bloomed, adding to the character development, but the story was mainly focussed on the investigation. It was quite interesting and did not require too much thinking. Everything flowed nicely.
I recommend this book to those who like reading investigative stories.
April 6, 2016
OH MY GOD! Where do I even begin??? This book was recommended by a friend and from page one, I was hooked. Being from Houston, living in an oil industry dominated society, I was drawn in. The author accurately depicted the oil industry in my town and the conspiracy theory just added a cherry to it.
I loved all the characters and had an immediate connection to every single one. Gwynn and Reuben...what can I say? I wanted so bad for them to get together, but the author had a specific time and place for that. There was a murder to be solved and she painstakingly took us through every detail. I felt like I was there...my heart raced, feeling like I was in the room. The details were impeccable! I'm not giving spoilers, but I will tell you that if you love a book that will have you clammoring and hanging on the edge of your seat, this is a MUST READ! Well done and I highly recommend this FIVE STAR read.
I loved all the characters and had an immediate connection to every single one. Gwynn and Reuben...what can I say? I wanted so bad for them to get together, but the author had a specific time and place for that. There was a murder to be solved and she painstakingly took us through every detail. I felt like I was there...my heart raced, feeling like I was in the room. The details were impeccable! I'm not giving spoilers, but I will tell you that if you love a book that will have you clammoring and hanging on the edge of your seat, this is a MUST READ! Well done and I highly recommend this FIVE STAR read.
September 12, 2020
THE COST OF CRUDE – A GWENN RESNICK MYSTERY – BOOK 1 BY INGE-LISE GOSS, did something most books don’t do, it kept me reading till my eyes could not keep open, till my mind begged for sleep, but oh how I wanted to read on.
Right from the first pages, you are caught! As I read on, I became more and more enthralled with the characters and story. Mind you, I am not usually interested in the Oil and Gas industry, but even the descriptions included of pipelines, etc., managed to hold my interest, as they were important in the discovery of who were the bad guys.
I fell completely in love with the beautifully written, and well-defined characters as they entered stage left or just fell into your lap as the saying goes.
It is no wonder that Ms. Goss has been on both the USA Today and Amazon bestselling author list, she deserves every award and accolade if all her books are as great.
I can hardly wait to open book 2, The Cisco Bandits.
Right from the first pages, you are caught! As I read on, I became more and more enthralled with the characters and story. Mind you, I am not usually interested in the Oil and Gas industry, but even the descriptions included of pipelines, etc., managed to hold my interest, as they were important in the discovery of who were the bad guys.
I fell completely in love with the beautifully written, and well-defined characters as they entered stage left or just fell into your lap as the saying goes.
It is no wonder that Ms. Goss has been on both the USA Today and Amazon bestselling author list, she deserves every award and accolade if all her books are as great.
I can hardly wait to open book 2, The Cisco Bandits.
September 15, 2014
A nice contemporary mystery that keeps the interest so intensely!! I could not leave this book down. The characters are so clearly described I couldn't help empathising with Gwenn and feel her agonies and her fears.
The story is taking place in the oil industry and in a big organisation, starting with the death of Gwenn's best friend Julie, who happens to be the granddaughter of a really rich lady. Her grandmother is initialising a private investigation and the main investigator involves Gwenn. The reader goes through all the process of the investigation, all the problems and the threats and the dangers and ... The suspense is immense!! Till the last page. I had the impression I was watching an action movie. Really nice mystery.
(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review)
The story is taking place in the oil industry and in a big organisation, starting with the death of Gwenn's best friend Julie, who happens to be the granddaughter of a really rich lady. Her grandmother is initialising a private investigation and the main investigator involves Gwenn. The reader goes through all the process of the investigation, all the problems and the threats and the dangers and ... The suspense is immense!! Till the last page. I had the impression I was watching an action movie. Really nice mystery.
(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review)
December 14, 2014
This is my second Inge-Lise Goss book. The first was a paranormal which I really enjoyed. With this one being a mystery, obviously an entirely different genre, I figured I'd try it anyway. I'm very happy I did! Ms. Goss writes her characters in such a way that you feel it could be you (the MC). Or you actually fear them (the 'bad guy'). This was such a great story I was able to finish it in just a few hours. It was such an intense mystery, I literally felt on edge the entire time. I was DYING to skip to the last few pages to know how it was going to end! But, luckily, I didn't....because when I got to it on my own I was surprised and shocked. In no way is this a predictable story. I do know I will most likely continue reading everything this author writes. Love. Love. Love the Cost Of Crude!
5*
5*
March 9, 2015
The Cost of Crude by Inge-Lisa Goss is a great murder-mystery.
Julie is very concerned about a meeting that the CEO is having with some executives from a rival gas and oil company. She decides to plant a few "bugs" to find out what is going to be discussed. Unfortunately, the "bugs" were found and Julie was found dead after a car accident.
Julie's grandmother hires a company to find out who is responsible for Julie's death. Since Gwynn is Julie's best friend, she is eager to find out who is responsible. Ruben is in charge of the investigation. Gwynn and Ruben are drawn to each other. Will he be able to protect Gwynn and not let her be the killer's next target?
The book was well written, had great twists and turns. Highly recommend!
Julie is very concerned about a meeting that the CEO is having with some executives from a rival gas and oil company. She decides to plant a few "bugs" to find out what is going to be discussed. Unfortunately, the "bugs" were found and Julie was found dead after a car accident.
Julie's grandmother hires a company to find out who is responsible for Julie's death. Since Gwynn is Julie's best friend, she is eager to find out who is responsible. Ruben is in charge of the investigation. Gwynn and Ruben are drawn to each other. Will he be able to protect Gwynn and not let her be the killer's next target?
The book was well written, had great twists and turns. Highly recommend!
July 20, 2014
This book provided me with a great mystery, which I loved reading. A seemingly innocent traffic accident hid a shocking secret. Gwynn, who was a strong and likeable main character, couldn't get it out of her mind that the accident causing the death of her best friend was not just an accident. I didn't want to put the book down as Gwynn searched for the truth and discovered that her life was also in danger. The writing in this extraordinary novel is highly entertaining and perfectly plotted. I enthusiastically give this book five stars!
November 24, 2019
Brilliant.. I couldn't stop reading..
Inge-Lise Goes has created another twisting turning crime thriller that keeps you engrossed from beginning to end. It doesn't loose pace , it flows, with leads taking you in different directions until the truth is difficult to spot and the real criminal isn't clear until the very end. Too many books in the genre give everything away far too soon not Inge-Lise.
Highly recommend not just this book but the author!
If like to write more but I don't want to accidentally drop a hint..
Inge-Lise Goes has created another twisting turning crime thriller that keeps you engrossed from beginning to end. It doesn't loose pace , it flows, with leads taking you in different directions until the truth is difficult to spot and the real criminal isn't clear until the very end. Too many books in the genre give everything away far too soon not Inge-Lise.
Highly recommend not just this book but the author!
If like to write more but I don't want to accidentally drop a hint..
December 7, 2021
I've enjoyed several books written by the author before so I was happy to listen to this one when I was given the opportunity to get an early audiobook.
This is a thriller with a brave, intelligent, and resourceful heroine. There's a lot going on in this book so the reader needs to pay attention. But the story is so well written, this isn't hard. There is also a romance built in. Perhaps Gwynn has found a new career to pursue when the story ties up the loose ends.
This is my honest review.
This is a thriller with a brave, intelligent, and resourceful heroine. There's a lot going on in this book so the reader needs to pay attention. But the story is so well written, this isn't hard. There is also a romance built in. Perhaps Gwynn has found a new career to pursue when the story ties up the loose ends.
This is my honest review.
June 6, 2022
I enjoyed this book. I had listened to book 2 in the "Gwynn Reznick Mystery Thriller" series earlier, and I was entertained by the Gwynn Reznick character, so it was great listening to her backstory. This book was fascinating and entertaining. The mystery was convoluted and complex. There was plenty of action and many tense moments throughout the prose. I am looking forward to acquiring the third book in the series. Natalie Disaster's narration was fine, and her performance enhanced the story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily posted this review.
January 18, 2015
Death begins this dark, chilling crime drama. Learn about oil as the story unfolds. Gwynn Reznick's colleague at Wilton Oil & Gas Company dies in a suspicious car crash. Private investigator, Ruben Dordi has discovered a pattern of deaths and disappearances among Wilton employees. Gwynn may be next.
Danger dogs employees at Wilton Tower. The pair begins unraveling a sinister plot that may involve a catastrophic pipeline disaster.
A story ripped from the truths behind today's headlines.
Danger dogs employees at Wilton Tower. The pair begins unraveling a sinister plot that may involve a catastrophic pipeline disaster.
A story ripped from the truths behind today's headlines.
June 19, 2015
This novel starts with a bang and doesn't let up! Once Julie is found dead after an apparent accident, all focus shifts to her best friend, Gwynn. On every page hence, it seems her life is equally in danger, especially when she doesn't step away but with the aid of Ruben, the private detective, she delves deeper. Of course, it helps that they have chemistry and a relationship slowly develops! A page turner from beginning to end.
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