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Book 263: THE PERFECT STRANGER Review

The Perfect Stranger by Wendy Corsi Staub
ISBN: 9780062222404 (paperback)
ISBN: 9780062222411 (ebook)
ASIN: B00GFZW3WM (Kindle edition)
Publication date: July 29, 2014
Publisher: Harper

During the darkest period of her life, Landry Wells found solace in a group of bloggers who had been in her shoes and lived to tell the tale. She’s shared things with her online friends that even her husband and children didn’t know. Things that now, looking back, make her uneasy.

One of the bloggers is dead, victim of a random crime—or was it? Did she trust too easily; reveal too much? At the funeral a thousand miles from home, Landry is about to come face to face at last with the others. These women are her closest confidantes in the world: they understand her; they know everything about her—and one of them might be a cold-blooded killer . . .

Five women from different parts of the country become online friends. All have had the same diagnosis — breast cancer. All five women choose the same path to deal with their diagnosis and treatment — blogging. Now one woman, Meredith, is found murdered in her home and her friends wonder if it’s possible this was random or if she was targeted because of her blog. The Perfect Stranger asks the questions: is it possible to really know people that you only interact with online and to reveal too much personal information online?

I read, okay I devoured, The Perfect Stranger in one afternoon. Ms. Staub carefully presents each woman as they mourn the loss of their friend: Landry is a forty-something wife and mother from Alabama, Kay is a middle-aged unemployed loner in Indiana, Elena is a thirty-something single school teacher in Massachusetts, and Jaycee is an unknown quantity possibly from New York. The search for the truth is interspersed with tidbits from each person’s blog, intimate details of their lives, and the thoughts of the killer. The swing between characters, blog posts, and the search for the murderer kept me just a little off-balance until the very end. The Perfect Stranger is a great mystery-suspense read because just when you think you know who it is the story twists and sends you off in a new direction. I found The Perfect Stranger to be a fast-paced and engrossing read. If you’re looking for a mystery-suspense story with compelling characters and action, then you’ll definitely want to add The Perfect Stranger to your TBR list. (Beware, after reading this story you may never want to go online again.) Make sure you add the prequel e-novella, Cold Hearted to your TBR list and read it first.

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Read excerpts from Cold Hearted and The Perfect Stranger here.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free for review purposes from the publisher via Edelweiss. I was not paid, required or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Book 246: THE BOOK OF LIFE Review

The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy #3) by Deborah Harkness

ISBN: 9780670025596 (hardcover)

ISBN: 9780385534857 (ebook)

ASIN: B00G3L6KQI (Kindle edition)

Publication date: July 15, 2014

Publisher: Viking Adult

The highly anticipated finale to the #1 New York Times bestselling trilogy that began with A Discovery of Witches

After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness’s enchanting series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they reunite with the cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches—with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on even more urgency. In the trilogy’s final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consequences. In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using ancient knowledge and modern science, from the hills of the Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago.

Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont have been through quite a bit over the past two books in the All Souls Trilogy. In the first book, they meet and fall in love. In the second book, they must walk through time in order to find a teacher for Diana in preparation of their battle with the Congregation (governing board that oversees daemon, vampire and witch activities and relationships). In The Book of Life, Diana and Matthew are back in contemporary times and have a lot to deal with: the Congregation, Diana’s pregnancy, their blended vampire-witch family, and the ongoing search for Ashmole 782. The big question is just what is Ashmole 782? Can it answer the questions on the origins of daemons, vampires, and witches? And what is most important, will the answers stop the Congregation from their anti miscegenation charges and protect the lives of Diana and Matthew’s children?

I actually spent the weekend re-reading the first two books in this series before reading the final book. I enjoyed becoming reacquainted with Diana, Matthew, Marcus (Matthew’s vampire son), Miriam (Matthew & Marcus’s vampire co-worker), Sarah (Diana’s aunt), Ysibeau (Matthew’s vampire mother), Hamish (Matthew’s best friend and a daemon), Marthe (Ysibeau’s friend and housekeeper), Baldwin (Matthew’s vampire brother), Gallowglass (Matthew’s vampire nephew), and more. Matthew is overly concerned with the progress of Diana’s pregnancy (what expectant father isn’t concerned about the health, safety and welfare of his spouse and offspring?). Marcus has done an admirable job in Matthew’s absence of leading the Knights of Lazarus and enlisting the assistance of more vampires, some daemons and witches, and even a few humans. Diana’s best friend, Christopher Roberts – a researcher and professor at Yale, makes a reappearance and plays a much larger role as he helps Matthew and Miriam perform genetic testing on the missing pages from Ashmole 782 and on daemons, vampires, and witches. Marcus has fallen for the Sotheby’s agent, Phoebe Taylor, and they are now engaged. There are many surprises in The Book of Life with regards to people that Diana and Matthew interact with, and rather than spoil the surprise you’ll just need to trust me on this one.

The Book of Life does answer almost all of the questions that were raised in A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night. The action in this book takes place in both Europe and the United States, primarily at Yale University in Connecticut, but also in England, France, Germany, Poland, and Italy. It was nice to read about the maturing relationship between Diana and Matthew, as well as see their integrated families continued interaction and support for one another. There are deaths (no I’m not telling you who dies) and births (well, you knew Diana was pregnant). There are battles (not on a battlefield per se), large and small. In addition to the external battles that must be fought, Matthew must contend with his blood rage and the possibility of his birth children carrying this trait. The Book of Life, for me at least, seems to be much more than the culmination of Diana and Matthew’s quest for the truth of where they came from, but a spotlight on the notion that no one has the right to say who we can love. Ms. Harkness grabbed me from the very first page and I only put down the book to fix my meals (yes it is that good). As with the previous books in this series, The Book of Life is an excellent story that mixes a contemporary story with history, a bit of magical realism, add a touch of romance, and a noble quest, and you end up with one truly amazing read.

Did I enjoy The Book of Life? YES! Can I recommend it to others? Again, the answer is Yes! What did I like about this book? Everything. What didn’t I like about this book? The only thing I don’t like is that this is the end of Diana and Matthew’s story. I had a hard time sitting down to write this review, not because I didn’t like the book, but simply because it took me almost 12 hours to get used to the idea that I’ve said “goodbye” to Diana, Matthew, and the rest of the Bishop-de Clermont family and friends. There may be some that categorize this series as fantasy (and yes it does have some fantastical elements), but it is so much more than that. If you enjoy reading well-written stories that deftly blend contemporary and historical fiction, incorporate romance, the paranormal, and more, then you’ll definitely want to read the All Souls Trilogy. If you’ve read the first two books, then you already know you want to read The Book of Life. I recommend waiting for the weekend to read this book since you won’t want to deal with any interruptions while you’re reading (again, yes it is that good).

Can’t wait until you get your copy of The Book of Life to start reading this amazing book? Read the first chapter from The Book of Life here.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free for review purposes from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not paid, required or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Book 230: DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS Review

Don’t Talk to Strangers by Amanda Kyle Williams
ISBN: 9780553808094 (hardback)
ISBN: 9780345539649 (ebook)
ASIN: B00EMX9QM4 (Kindle edition)
Publication date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Bantam/Random House

He likes them smart.

In the woods of Whisper, Georgia, two bodies are found: one recently dead, the other decayed from a decade of exposure to the elements. The sheriff is going to need help to track down an experienced predator—one who abducts girls and holds them for months before ending their lives. Enter ex–FBI profiler and private investigator Keye Street.

He lives for the struggle.

After a few weeks, Keye is finally used to sharing her downtown Atlanta loft with her boyfriend, A.P.D. Lieutenant Aaron Rauser. Along with their pets (his dog, her cat) they seem almost like a family. But when Rauser plunks a few ice cubes in a tumbler and pours a whiskey, Keye tenses. Her addiction recovery is tenuous at best.

And loves the fear.

Though reluctant to head out into the country, Keye agrees to assist Sheriff Ken Meltzer. Once in Whisper, where the locals have no love for outsiders, Keye starts to piece together a psychological profile: The killer is someone who stalks and plans and waits. But why does the sociopath hold the victims for so long, and what horrible things must they endure? When a third girl goes missing, Keye races against time to connect the scant bits of evidence. All the while, she cannot shake the chilling feeling: Something dark and disturbing lives in these woods—and it is watching her every move.

Don’t Talk to Strangers is the third book in the Keye Street series by Amanda Kyle Williams. Keye is a deeply flawed woman. A recovering alcoholic that was fired by the FBI, she now spends her time as private investigator, bond recovery agent, and consultant. Keye is Chinese-American, adopted by a white Southern family, and has a black, gay adopted brother. (I know, it sounds like the beginnings of a reality television program.) This book begins with Keye dealing with the temporary sharing of her loft with her lover/significant other, Aaron Rauser. She is also dealing with the co-mingling of their pets, her cat and his dog. Her cat, White Trash, is systematically terrorizing Rauser’s dog Hank (Keye takes a perverse pleasure in seeing this happen over and over again even though she feels badly for Hank and soothes his ego after the attacks). Keye is also training a new employee at her detective agency – Corporate Intelligence & Investigations. Latisha Eckhart is the daughter of the owner of one of Keye’s primary bonding agencies, Tyrone Eckhart of Quikbail. To add to Keye’s overall angst, she must also contend with her moody, pot-smoking, computer hacking partner, Neil Donovan. (On second thought reality television couldn’t do Keye and her people justice.) Just when Keye feels as if she’s in over her head with the training and relationship issues, she receives a call from a small-town sheriff’s department asking her to consult on a child abduction/murder case. Of course she says yes and travels to Whisper, Georgia to provide a profile on a killer. Just as Keye is introduced to the sheriff and the dump site of the murdered girls another abduction takes place. Can Keye help to nab a killer before another girl is tortured and killed?

To say that I enjoy reading the Keye Street series is a major understatement. Every time a new book in the series comes out I take the opportunity to reread the previous books before reading the latest addition. Yes Keye is deeply flawed, but then who isn’t? Yes she finds herself in some strange situations, but that’s just one of the reasons why I like her so much. Don’t Talk to Strangers spotlights Keye’s tendencies to sabotage things that are going well in her life, and it was fascinating to read about her attraction to Sheriff Meltzer and her struggle to remain true to Rauser. What was even more fascinating were the glimpses Keye provided into the psyches of pedophiles and killers. I thought that all of the characters in Don’t Talk to Strangers were very realistic and it was very easy to dislike the temperamental deputies that felt threatened by Keye, as well as really bad guys – the convicted pedophiles. I found Don’t Talk to Strangers to be a fast-paced and gripping read that I finished in one sitting (and yes I stayed up late to finish reading it). The story has just enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested from beginning to end. And the end is completely unexpected (trust me on this one and read it for yourself). If you enjoy great writing, wonderful characters, realistic action, and mystery-suspense-thrillers, then you’ll definitely want to add Don’t Talk to Strangers to your TBR list.

If you haven’t read the previous books in this series, then you’ll want to read them as well: The Stranger You Seek and The Stranger in the Room.

Watch the book trailer:

Read an excerpt here

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Book 151: SPUN Review

SPUN by Catherine McKenzie

ISBN: 9780692025161 (paperback)

ISBN: 9781443436472 (ebook)

ASIN: B00I7WV51Q (Kindle edition)

Publication date: April 29, 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins Canada

In this funny and touching novella, bestselling author Catherine McKenzie returns to the story of Amber Sheppard, It Girl and celebrity train wreck from McKenzie’s reader-favorite novel, Spin.

Life has been rough for starlet Amber since leaving rehab. She’s been two years sober, but no one seems to believe her — not the gossip media, not casting agents, and most certainly not her spotlight-loving parents. With her friendships ruined by betrayal and her career at a standstill, Amber’s just trying to get her life back on track. It doesn’t help that her former love, movie star Connor Parks, keeps trying to draw Amber back in, not just to their relationship but to his hard-partying ways. One fateful night, Amber breaks down and agrees to join him on board his private jet as it readies for take-off — a decision that will change her life forever and expose her to a whole new level of scrutiny and heartbreak.

Amber Sheppard has lived her life in the public eye since she became the “It Girl” following her smash television show The Girl Next Door when she was only fifteen years old. She became emancipated at age sixteen and involved with her co-star, Connor Parks. It didn’t help that Conner was eight years older than Amber or that they had a toxic and enabling relationship. They were in love. For a while Amber was able to move on after her television show and made several movies. She was even nominated for an Academy Award…but all that is in past, along with Connor. And to think it only took three tries at sobriety and rehab before she realized her life was quickly circling the drain. Unfortunately no one in the business is willing to give Amber another try and it seems like every stumble she makes is blamed on drugs or alcohol. Just when Amber doesn’t think she can survive another blow, she is dealt the hardest blow of all. Is it possible to move forward when the media and even your parents don’t believe in you or your sobriety? This is something Amber will have to discover an answer for in Catherine McKenzie’s follow-up to SPIN, the novella SPUN.

First, if you haven’t read SPIN grab a copy today. Although reading it isn’t necessary to enjoy SPUN, it does help to provide some background on Amber and her relationship with the media, friends, and family. Second, I found SPUN to be a very fast-paced and touching read. Ms. McKenzie does an excellent job of portraying the difficulties of remaining sober, as well as the attempt to rebuild broken relationships. In this day and age when it seems like we’re hearing about some celebrity mishap and rehab failure every day, the character of Amber Sheppard was all too realistic. It was easy to empathize with Amber although it was apparent that her pre-sobriety behavior was beyond outrageous. I even cheered her on as she continued to fight for her continued sobriety and to earn back the respect of friends, family, and peers. Although SPUN is a quick read, it isn’t a lighthearted story as it deals with the struggles of sobriety, addiction, and even grief in a realistic yet respectable manner. I’ve read most of Ms. McKenzie’s writings and enjoyed them all. If you’re looking for a quick read with a little bit of grit and realism, then you’ll definitely want to grab a copy of SPUN to read.

Catherine McKenzie has generously offered to give away one digital copy of SPIN to a lucky The Book Diva’s Reads follower. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below.

Katie Sandford has just gotten an interview at her favourite music magazine, The Line. It’s the chance of a lifetime. So what does she do? Goes out to celebrate – and shows up still drunk at the interview. No surprise, she doesn’t get the job, but the folks at The Line think she might be perfect for another assignment for their sister gossip rag. All Katie has to do is follow It Girl Amber Sheppard into rehab. If she can get the inside scoop (and complete the 30-day program without getting kicked out), they’ll reconsider her for the job at The Line.

Katie takes the job. But things get complicated when real friendships develop, a cute celebrity handler named Henry gets involved, and Katie begins to realize she may be in rehab for a reason. Katie has to make a decision — is publishing the article worth everything she has to lose?

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free for review purposes from the author. I was not paid, required or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Book 108: HOME SWEET HOME Review

Home Sweet Home (Southern Comfort #2) by Sarah Title

ISBN: 9781601831361 (paperback)

ISBN: 9781601831156 (ebook)

ASIN: B00FY54N5E (Kindle edition)

Publication date: April 3, 2014

Publisher: Kensington

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a ramshackle house must be in want of a handyman.”

Just because English professor Grace Williams is a woman whose “new” house is crumbling around her doesn’t mean she needs an arrogant, condescending man’s help, even if he does look gorgeous in faded jeans and a tool belt. What she needs is a working bathroom, not a ridiculous crush.

Jake Burdette has no use for the university types who stumble around Willow Springs, with their noses in the air whenever they’re not in a book. He may not be a scholar, but he’s proud of the hard, honest work he does—even if he would appreciate a little more of it. He doesn’t need Grace’s pity, even if he does wish she wasn’t so adorably sexy.

They’re all wrong for each other. But Grace’s troublesome house seems to feel differently…

Grace Williams is not your typical English professor. She has a relatively good sense of humor, enjoys teaching, loves to read, and is rather excited about moving from California to Kentucky. This move puts her closer to her only surviving family members: her sister, brother-in-law, and adorable niece. The only problems are she left California after a disastrous love affair and has vowed not to get close to a man emotionally. Why is this a problem? Well her house, the “Spinster House” likes matchmaking and has set its sight on putting Grace together with the local handyman, Jake Burdette.

Jake Burdette is not your typical handyman. He was wrangled into helping his sister, a local realtor. He’s also an accomplished contractor and has made a wonderful living flipping houses. Yes he lives at his sister’s house (mind you in the garage apartment), but he’s waiting for the right house to speak to him as “home sweet home” before he moves out.

Appearances can be deceiving. Jake has decided that Grace is a snob and thinks she’s too good for the “normal” folk in Willow Springs. It doesn’t matter that he’s attracted to her physically or that they have a wonderful time when they’re together. Grace has judged Jake for being somewhat of a loafer since he lives in his sister’s garage and doesn’t seem to have a full-time job. Yes she’s attracted to him because he is “hot, hot, hot,” but she simply isn’t looking for a serious relationship. To say that Jake and Grace are filled with a bit of “pride” and “prejudice” toward one another is somewhat of an understatement.

Ms. Title has crafted a wonderfully romantic, often humorous tale of two people that are working at cross-purposes due to preconceived ideas and prejudices. I found Home Sweet Home to be a nice homage to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and a delightful read (and no I’m not just saying that because I know the author!). Both Grace and Jake are flawed and delightful because they are so very realistic as a result of their flaws. They both have issues going back to their childhood relating to love, commitment, and marriage. Although you know this is going to be a “happy-ever-after” story, it was a lot of fun getting from the beginning to the end and reading about all of the house’s machinations to get these two lovebirds together. If you enjoy romance mixed with humor then look no further, Home Sweet Home is just the story you’ve been waiting to read.

Read an excerpt here

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free for review purposes from NetGalley. I was not paid, required or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Book 168: STRANDED Review

Stranded (Maggie O’Dell #11) by Alex Kava
ISBN: 9780385535540 (hardcover)
ISBN: 9780385535557 (ebook)
ASIN: B00B3GMI2I (Kindle edition)
Publication date: July 16, 2013
Publisher: Doubleday

Tired travelers and weary truckers have stopped at rest areas on the nation’s highways for decades to refuel, grab a bite, and maybe get some shut-eye, but one man’s rest stop is another’s hunting ground. For decades the defenseless, the weary, and the stranded have disappeared along the highways and byways, vanishing without a trace, but these seemingly unconnected incidents are no coincidence, and a madman stalks the freeways.

When FBI special agent Maggie O’Dell and her partner, Tully, discover the remains of a young woman in a highway ditch, the one clue left behind is a map that will send Maggie and Tully on a frantic hunt crisscrossing the country to stop a madman before he kills again.

As the body count rises and Maggie races against the clock to unmask the monster who’s terrorizing the nation’s highways, she turns to a former foe for help since he seems to know just what the killer’s next move will be. As she gets closer to finding the killer, it becomes eerily clear that Maggie is the ultimate target.

Every now and again as a reader I’m fortunate enough to come across a series by an author that just seems to get better with each book. The Maggie O’Dell series by Alex Kava is, for me, one of these series. In Stranded the FBI and local law enforcement agencies are dealing with a series of murders that don’t seem to have any connection until it is realized that all of the people were taken from rest stops. When O’Dell and her partner, RJ Tully, come across a body in the DC/Virginia area, a map is found that quickly sends them across the country in search of clues. These clues lead to more bodies and even more questions. Is it possible that this is the work of one person? How is it possible for the killer to have gone for so long without being caught?

Just when it seems like Maggie and Tully are getting close to answers, an even bigger problem arises that requires the assistance of Maggie’s close friend and Tully’s significant other, Dr. Gwen Patterson, is brought into the investigation to talk with a prisoner that might have information. Although information is revealed, it is revealed piecemeal and seems to be just enough to lead Tully and Maggie into a trap.

Stranded provides for a lot of drama and suspense. When it seems like the investigation is going to provide some answers, another clue is revealed that takes the investigation down a new avenue. I rather enjoyed seeing Maggie, Tully, Dr. Gwen Patterson, work together to solve this crime. Detective Racine, from previous stories, made a cameo appearance and participated in the multi-agency investigation. New faces included an FBI agent and computer whiz, Alonzo, as well as Creed and his search and rescue dogs. The action was all too plausible and was scary enough to make me think twice about stopping at a rest area any time soon. This was another story that gripped me from the first page to the very last. If you enjoy suspense thrillers then you’ll definitely want to add Stranded to your reading list (you may want to wait and read after that road trip).

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book free for review purposes from the publisher via Edelweiss/NetGalley. I was not paid, required or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Book 137: INTO THE DARK Review

Into The Dark by Rick Mofina
ISBN: 9780778315001 (paperback)
ISBN: 9781460315101 (ebook)
ASIN: B00BV2WCCU (Kindle edition)
Publication date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF A HEARTBREAKING FAMILY TRAGEDY…

Claire Bowen, a haunted psychologist, devotes her life to helping troubled women rebuild theirs. But her dream of a family with her new husband, Robert, a pilot and local hero, begins to crumble as disturbing revelations from his past emerge.

AND A GRIEVING COP WHO LURES A KILLER FROM THE SHADOWS…

Detective Joe Tanner, struggling to overcome his wife’s death while raising their little girl alone, heads the task force formed to stop the monster who has resurfaced with a chilling message.

RACE THE CLOCK IN A LIFE-AND-DEATH STRUGGLE TO SAVE THE NEXT VICTIM…

In the wake of five cold-case murders across Los Angeles, one of Claire’s most promising patients vanishes. Gut instinct tells Tanner the truth is within his grasp, while Claire is torn between guilt and terror over what’s to come. As time runs out, both are pulled deeper and deeper into an unspeakable darkness.

Claire Bowen was a first-hand witness to the abusive relationship between her parents. She even saw her father kill her mother and younger brother before ultimately killing himself. She’s now in a happy relationship with her husband, Robert Bowen, and dedicates her psychology practice to helping abused women. Now it appears that Claire is caught between one of her patients and her estranged abusive husband. When that patient disappears and the police launch their investigation into the patient, the patient’s husband, and Claire’s practice, more questions are raised than answered. Claire turns to her best friend, a private investigator, to obtain some of those answers. Will answers be found before more bodies are found?

On the surface it appears that Claire and Robert Bowen have the perfect relationship. Robert is loving, attentive, supportive, and hard-working. Unfortunately the more the police search for clues into the murders and Claire’s practice, the more unanswered questions arise about Robert and his background. Claire begins to suspect that maybe it isn’t possible to ever fully know the person you’re in love with and those questions could lead to her demise.

Into the Dark is a fast-paced read that pulled me in from the very beginning. I enjoyed the way Mr. Mofina revealed the warped character of the murderer layer by layer, building the suspense. Even when the murderer is fully revealed, the questions of why, how, and for how long remained. None of the women presented are weak women, but they do have moments of weakness that added to their vulnerability factor. I found all of the characters to be very well-developed and realistic, even the bad guys. If you enjoy a well-written mystery-suspense story with a dark but charismatic bad guy, then Into the Dark may be the perfect read for you.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book free for review purposes from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not paid, required or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Book 132: THE 9TH GIRL Review

The 9th Girl by Tami Hoag
ISBN: 9780525952978 (hardcover)
ISBN: 9781101606599 (ebook)
ASIN: B0096SOUF8 (Kindle edition)
Publication date: June 18, 2013
Publisher: Dutton Adult

“Kovac had seen more dead bodies than he could count: Men, women, children; victims of shootings, stabbings, strangulations, beatings; fresh corpses and bodies that had been left for days in the trunks of cars in the dead of summer. But he had never seen anything quite like this . . . “

On a frigid New Year’s Eve in Minneapolis a young woman’s brutalized body falls from the trunk of a car into the path of oncoming traffic. Questions as to whether she was alive or dead when she hit the icy pavement result in her macabre nickname, Zombie Doe. Unidentified and unidentifiable, she is the ninth nameless female victim of the year, and homicide detectives Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska are charged with the task of not only finding out who Zombie Doe is, but who in her life hated her enough to destroy her. Was it personal, or could it just have been a crime of opportunity? Their greatest fear is that not only is she their ninth Jane Doe of the year, but that she may be the ninth victim of a vicious transient serial killer they have come to call Doc Holiday.

Crisscrossing America’s heartland, Doc Holiday chooses his victims at random, snatching them in one city and leaving them in another, always on a holiday. If Zombie Doe is one of his, he has brought his gruesome game to a new and more terrifying level. But as Kovac and Liska begin to uncover the truth, they will find that the monsters in their ninth girl’s life may have lived closer to home. And even as another young woman disappears, they have to ask the question: which is the greater evil–the devil you know or the devil you don’t?

The 9th Girl by Tami Hoag is the fourth book in the Kovac and Liska series and it starts off with a bang. It’s New Year’s Eve and a limo driver is escorting a group of young men and women around town. The party in the back of the limo is getting a little wild and frisky and the driver is more interested in the happenings in the back of the limo until a car hits a pothole and a body pops up out of the trunk falling into the street in front of the limo. Detectives Sam “Kojak” Kovac and Nikki “Tinks” Liska are called to the gruesome scene. Is this young lady a victim of the serial killer they’ve been tracking for the past year or something far worse?

Over the course of a week, detectives Kovac, Liska and their team must try to identify someone without a face and very few remaining teeth. Their only hope is a small tattoo on the girl’s back. Since this body was so publicly revealed and has been sensationalized, it makes their case just a little harder rather than easier. The only recourse is to track missing persons that fit the profile and this leads a little too close to home for Nikki, as the girl may be a friend of her eldest son. If that wasn’t bad enough, her son has been getting into fights, something completely unlike him, and he refuses to confide in her. Nikki’s at her wits ends trying to unravel the mystery of her extremely quiet and introverted son and his problems and this case. To make matters worse it appears that the missing girl isn’t liked by too many people at her school or by her parents, and the only person truly missing her is Nikki’s son.

I found The 9th Girl to be a fascinating read into family dynamics, bullying, abuse and serial killers. Each book in this series provides slightly more insight into the personal lives of detectives Kovac and Liska. This book incorporated the use of social media and online journalism in an effort to discover the identity of the deceased. The incorporation of a pseudo anti-bullying campaign through the use of a tattoo promoting acceptance and the international anti-bullying campaign spearheaded by mixed martial artist Georges St. Pierre gave the story a nice little twist. The 9th Girl features truly bad guys (a serial killer), negligent and absentee parents, bullies, school cliques (featuring mean girls and male bullies), ignorant and ineffective school administrators, and more. If you enjoy a good multilayered mystery-suspense read, then you should definitely add The 9th Girl to your reading list.

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