Inside by Brenda Novak
Bulletproof, Book 1
Mira
Contemporary, Suspense
ISBN: 978-0778329930
Reviewed by Miranda




The California Department of Corrections is in need of a cleanup.  The Pelican Bay prison is headquarters for gang violence.  The Hell’s Fury is the gang on top and they are currently becoming the focus of an undercover sting.  It is believed that the Hell’s Fury gang is responsible for the death of a judge.  The Department of Corrections is under pressure to stop this gang’s progress in Pelican Bay and stop them from running the organization outside the prison as well.

After being in prison for fourteen years for a crime he didn’t commit, Virgil Skinner is exonerated.  However, the Department of Corrections isn’t done with him yet.  They want him to go undercover in another prison to infiltrate Pelican Bay’s worst gang—Hell’s Fury.  He agrees as long as the government places his sister and her kids in protective custody.  The Crew, a gang Virgil had to join while inside will be looking for revenge against Virgil when he doesn’t show up to do their bidding when he gets out.

Assistant Deputy Warden Peyton Adams doesn’t like the idea of sending anyone inside her prison undercover.  It’s dangerous and it will be impossible for her to protect the undercover agent.  As Peyton gets to know Virgil, she likes the idea even less.  There is something about the quiet but fierce man that awakens long dead parts of her body.  These two create a bond that help and hinder their current situation.  Will they survive the deadly prison and sinister convicts out for blood?  It’s impossible to tell who is good and bad Inside but it’s so much fun finding out!

Inside is a rockin’ roller coaster that takes you on so many twists and turns it has you clutching the pages until the end.  Virgil is the silent, stoic hero with an iron will.  He is so selfless all he wants it to make sure his sister and her kids are safe.  He unfortunately allows himself to become a pawn in a much larger game.  His only way out may require the help of Peyton; the woman who makes him believe in something better.  Peyton opens his eyes to how beautiful the world can be.  Virgil rocks Peyton’s world turning it upside down.  She’s always been a straight-laced professional woman.  It’s hard for her to analyze the feelings Virgil evokes.  Peyton is definitely an honest woman and sometimes this is to her detriment.  Virgil and Peyton make a fantastic and unlikely couple.  There are so opposite yet so darn right together.  Virgil and Peyton make Inside an unforgettable page turner!

Brenda Novak has written an exceptional, high octane thriller!  Ms. Novak’s inspiration may have come somewhat from the TV show Prison Break but she absolutely blows it out of the water with Inside!  Inside grabs your heart with this lovely couple and squeezes it with the chilling suspenseful story!  I am Joyfully Recommending Inside because by the end you will be searching for you own Virgil.  He will absolutely take your breath away and he is the perfect hero to make Inside and Ms. Novak’s new Bulletproof series a hit!