Book Review: A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer

 

Goodreads Summary: The New York Times and Washington Post bestselling serial-killer thriller that will leave you wondering, is the past really in the past?
Three Chicago women have been found strangled, embalmed, and posed as if still alive. Doubting the findings of the local PD's profiler, The FBI calls on forensic psychologist Zoe Bentley to investigate.

Zoe quickly gets off on the wrong foot with her new partner, Special Agent Tatum Gray. Zoe's a hunter, intense and focused; Tatum's a smug maverick with little respect for the rules. Together, they must descend into a serial killer's psyche and untangle his twisted fantasies, or more women will die. But when the contents of three inconspicuous envelopes reveal a chilling connection to gruesome murders from Zoe's childhood, suddenly the hunter becomes the hunted.

Goodreads Rating: 4.20 stars with over 55,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Mystery, Thriller Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Detective

Goodreads Challenge: 7/60 

2024 Reading Challenge: #8 Read a book that's been on your "shelf" for over a year (see the entire challenge here)

Review: 

Hello Readers! I hope everyone is doing well. I've been traveling for the last few days, visiting a friend. I got to experience two new states that I had never been to, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Airports and flights are perfect for finishing books. Last night, while on the plane, I finished A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer. 

I don't read thrillers often, and I'm not sure why. I tend to forget they exist since I usually just read Historical Fiction and Fantasy. Picking up A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer was an excellent reminder to read this genre more often. I enjoyed how the story bounced between Zoe and Tatum's investigation, Zoe's past, which prompted her interest in profiling, and the serial killer's perspective. It gave a well-rounded view of all the factors that contributed to the events in the book. It also gave a good distraction from who the killer really was. 

I wouldn't say I was blown away by the book, but it was good and a quick read. I'm intrigued enough that if I see the other books for a reasonable price on Kindle, I might pick them up. I did like how it read a bit like an episode of Criminal Minds. Character-wise, it took me a while to really warm up to Zoe. For the book's first part, she felt flat and one-dimensional. I won't say I loved her as a main character, but she was ok. Overall, I enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone who wants a light thriller/mystery.

Book Review: The First Prophet by Kay Hooper

 

Goodreads Summary: Within the FBI, there exists a team of psychics whose powers cannot be denied. But these agents are feared—by a cabal of conspirators with only one weapon: to blind the psychics to the evils all around them.

Months ago Sarah Gallagher woke from a coma with psychic abilities she couldn't control. They changed her life and cost her the man she loved. And now, someone is playing games with Sarah's mind.

It begins with Sarah's home being destroyed by fire—an act of arson that draws novelist Tucker Mackenzie into Sarah's confidence. But he has other reasons for pursuing a woman who can see what others can't. So does a mysterious enemy intent on eliminating Sarah and everyone she cares about. Because it's only a matter of time before her visions lead her and Tucker to a secret many will kill to hide. Only then will they begin to discover the scope of a terrifying conspiracy so deep and complex that they can trust almost no one.

Good Reads Ratings: 3.86 stars with over 4,500 ratings

Genre listing: Paranormal, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction, Romance, Thriller, Crime

Goodreads Challenge: #47 Read a book that involves a conspiracy (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, readers! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the start of the weekend. I'm going to keep this review relatively short. I'm exhausted, and after I write this, I plan to just play on my phone until I pass out for the night. Exciting plans, I know. This is what happens when you're secretly an elderly person disguised as a 30-something.

I was going to initially use The First Prophet by Kay Hooper as my book that was recommended by a friend. However, the more I got into it, the more it became apparent it was about a conspiracy (I had forgotten initially), so I decided to slot it for #47 since that would be harder for me to find than a recommendation from someone. 

It took me a bit to get into the book. I don't really blame the story for that, however. I started it when I was reading Time's Convert, and given that both books switch points of view a lot, it made it hard for me to pay attention. Once I got into it, I enjoyed it. I liked reading about Sarah and watching her figure out her psychic abilities. I liked Tucker, but I felt like he needed more faults. He was too weirdly good at everything. Having him around made the conflicts seem too easy and predictable. The twist at the end did surprise me a bit, however.

I liked the book. However, I don't know how quickly I will pick up the series. I'm apprehensive because I still have unanswered questions, but I get the feeling that they aren't going to be answered as it pertains to Sarah's storyline specifically. I hope I'm wrong, though, as I did enjoy it, and I'm curious to see where the story goes with Sarah and Tucker. There are a lot of secrets that will be interesting to see how they unravel.

It was a fun read, and I'd buy the next book if I came across it in a bookstore.

Book Review: Hunted by Darcy Coates

 

Goodreads Summary: 22-year-old Eileen goes missing while hiking in the remote Ashlough Forest. Five days later, her camera is discovered washed downriver, containing bizarre photos taken after her disappearance.

Chris wants to believe Eileen is still alive. When the police search is abandoned, he and four of his friends create their own search party to scour the mountain range. As they stray further from the hiking trails and the unsettling discoveries mount, they begin to believe they’re not alone in the forest… and that Eileen’s disappearance wasn’t an accident.

By that point, it’s too late to escape.

Goodreads Ratings: 4.08 stars with over 8,000 reviews

Genre Listing: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Crime, Survival

Goodreads Challenge: 18/36

2022 Reading Challenge: #33 Read a book that does not have a person (or people) on the cover (Find the entire challenge here)

 

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! As I write this, Reading Challenge Co-Conspirator is at the airport and preparing to make her way to Minnesota. It has been several years since we have seen each other, but I am so excited that she is spending our birthday week in Minnesota. We have some plans, including an Alice in Wonderland-themed escape room and tickets to  Wicked. We mostly plan to sit on my couch, binge a lot of TV, and read books. There will most definitely be snacks. Stay tuned; we have some fun Birthday blog fun coming.

 

So, on to Hunted by Darcy Coates. This book was a bit of a different read for me as I do not typically gravitate towards the survival suspense genres. Lately, I have wanted to read something that had the potential to be scary. I do not know that I found this scary. Some parts made me think, "oh, that is creepy," but that was about it. 

 

The book follows Chris and four of his friends as they form a search party to find Chris's missing sister, Eileen. The challenges they face are primarily psychological, which I found interesting. I thought Darcy Coates did a great job explaining how disorienting this forest would be, especially if there are additional threats to consider. The story also alternates between a few friends, their different perspectives, and the lead investigator on the disappearance case. I thought Delgado was the more interesting of the characters and had an interesting back story. With the book ending, I would read a crime thriller series where she is the main character.

 

I enjoyed the book, but I think the last 20-30% fell flat for me. I wanted to read about what was happening to Chris and his friends and see if they survived the forest. I also wanted to see if Delgado pieced the evidence together, but I figured out who was behind the disappearance early in the book. I think it was supposed to be a big reveal, but I was not all that surprised. Once the book got closer to the end, the story felt more tell than show, and it seemed like a packaged ending. I would still recommend it to anyone who wants a shorter survival thriller.

 

 

 

Book Review: The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker

 

Goodreads Summary: For over five years, the Four Monkey Killer has terrorized the residents of Chicago. When his body is found, the police quickly realize he was on his way to deliver one final message, one which proves he has taken another victim who may still be alive.

As the lead investigator on the 4MK task force, Detective Sam Porter knows even in death, the killer is far from finished. When he discovers a personal diary in the jacket pocket of the body, Porter finds himself caught up in the mind of a psychopath, unraveling a twisted history in hopes of finding one last girl, all while struggling with personal demons of his own.

With only a handful of clues, the elusive killer’s identity remains a mystery. Time is running out and the Four Monkey Killer taunts from beyond the grave in this masterfully written fast-paced thriller.

Goodreads Ratings: 4.16 stars with over 26,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Detective, Crime

Goodreads Challenge: 10/48

2022 Reading Challenge: #35 Read a Psychological Thriller (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review: 

I'm not really sure how this book wound up on my radar. I think I was digging through Kindle Unlimited trying to find something dark and twisted. This book definitely fits this requirement. I was drawn in pretty quickly to the case and what was going on. 

I don't really read a lot of Psychological/Crime thrillers, but the plot felt unique to me. I thought it was interesting that we not only got the present-day solving of the case but also information about the serial killer's past in his own words via his diary. I thought 4MK's diary entries were fascinatingly twisted. It was interesting to see how he was raised and groomed for what he became. He was also eerily polite. The entire time I was reading the book I felt like the serial killer was some hybrid of Ned Flanders from the Simpsons and Ted Bundy. 

I really liked the red herrings in this book. It wasn't super straightforward forward and it kept me guessing. Not only just with the case, but 4MK's past, and personal things going on with Detective Porter. I will say that while I enjoyed the book, I think I was more invested in 4MK's background than Porter's. There was a bit that tried to make him feel relatable, but mostly he just felt like a placeholder because somebody had to solve the case. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and will probably read more of J.D. Barker's books in the future. I don't think I'll jump right into another one, however. Mainly because I still have a ton of spots to fill on this challenge. I would not read this book if you're easily triggered. This one deals with domestic abuse, torture, workplace harassment, etc. However, if you are looking for a gory, twisted detective story, I would definitely recommend this one.

Book Review of Ghost Gifts by Laura Spinella

Goodreads Summary: All Aubrey Ellis wants is a normal life, one that doesn’t include desperate pleas from the dead. Her remarkable gift may help others rest in peace, but it also made for an unsettling childhood and destroyed her marriage. Finally content as the real estate writer for a local newspaper, Aubrey keeps her extraordinary ability hidden—until she is unexpectedly assigned the story of a decades-old murder.

Rocked by the discovery of a young woman’s skeletal remains, the New England town of Surrey wants answers. Hard-nosed investigative reporter Levi St John is determined to get them. Aubrey has no choice but to get involved, even at the terrifying risk of stirring spirits connected to a dead woman’s demise and piquing her new reporting partner’s suspicions.

As Aubrey and Levi delve further into the mystery, secrets are revealed and passion ignites. It seems that Aubrey’s ghost gifts are poised to deliver everything but a normal life.
Goodreads Rating: 3.99 stars with over 7,200 ratings
Genre Listing: Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense
Get the Book: Amazon, Book Depository
Book Challenge: Pop Sugar: A Murder Mystery,  Book 10/40

Review:

Edited 12/1/2016

Oh. My. God. I can't believe I almost didn't read this book. - That is the honest truth. The title and the plot were way too similar to a book I've read previously and detested (Cough. A Gift of Ghosts).  I am so glad I read this, though. I haven't read a decent Mystery in a while, and the extra bonus of Ghosts had me hooked from the start.

I had a hard time putting this one down. I was instantly hooked from the moment that Aubrey's gift was described. The thing that I enjoyed the most about her gift was the descriptions of it. Laura Spinella gives you sights, sounds, smells, feelings, messages, and yes- gifts from the ghosts. It made it all feel very complete. It wasn't just "Oh. I see dead people." It was very interactive.

I love the background story to Aubrey- a girl raised by her carnival-owning grandmother, who just wants a normal life. I was worried that the story would be her avoiding her gifts entirely, but that's not the case at all.  She very much not only uses them but also uses her career in a way that helps the ghosts.

I love the connection between Aubrey and Levi. I enjoyed the initial awkwardness between them and the fact that there wasn't an initial attraction. I enjoyed getting to see the relationship grow, which made It felt more real. Going to get a little spoilery here, but there is a particular scene. All I'm going to say is YOWZA.

I will say, this book kept me guessing to the very end. I feel like that is a rarity for me to say. I usually have a pretty good grasp of where a book is going. There was so much that completely surprised me about this book, though. It's a great page-turner and left me on an emotional roller coaster. Did I mention it kept me guessing until the very end? Seriously, for the later part of the book I just read it with my jaw wide open.

If you'd like a solid murder mystery with an excellent romance and a touch of paranormal then read this book.