Serial killer, background plot & romance
340568
Very much enjoyed this book - hard to put down.  I also like that this was not a "continued" book that you have to wait a year to see what happens next.  Serial killer, background plot, romance - lots to offer.  I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
3678620
I really enjoyed this novel. It was cool to see the p.o.v of the serial killer too and not just the police. I also liked that it was a lesfic novel that had a somewhat established romance instead of adding a new romance to a story that doesn't need it.
2882561
Uniquely Mine by Theresa Sederholt is a romantic suspense novel which follows Police Detective Fitz Rodriguez as he works to catch a serial killer on the loose in New York City.  A killer who is murdering women, and making it look like a BDSM type scene while cleaning everything with an obsessive attention to detail.  Its going to be hard for Fitz to find this killer unless he makes a mistake.  What Fitz doesnt know is that the killer has set his sights on long-time friend/pseudo sister, Makenna Justice.
This was a very good story; it held my attention from the beginning thats for sure and I liked how the author let each character speak with dual points of view, even the killer.  This was very easy to read and entertaining with not a lot of unnecessary technical information about crime scene, medical terminology, to weigh it down as happens in a lot of suspense books. I liked the romance the author interwove throughout the story also; it lightened the mood not making the story too heavy.  The only thing I would have liked would be a little more background on the killer, why is he killing?  Why does he choose the women he chooses?  How did he start? I think if those points had been hit this would have been a five star review for me.  I will be looking for more in this series in the future.
4026174
Well written but could have been less discriptive with serial killer actions too disturbing
3826462
Interesting murder plot with lots of sub stories going on makes this book a good read....romance and lost love also are a highlight theme
4518981
"As Good as Dead" is the third in a series of three novels set in the small town of Cherokee Pointe, Tennessee - a town rife with serial killers, and a police force that seems to rely heavily on the clairvoyance of one of it favorite daughters to solve crime.

Billed as a romance for Sheriff Jacob Butler, the story actually is more of a continuation of the previous novel, "The Last to Die," with the relationship of Jazzy and Caleb taking more of a center stage then Jacob's reluctant love interest, snobbish Reve Talbot, who has just discovered through DNA testing that she and Jazzy are twins separated at birth. The romance is insignificant, undeveloped, and almost forced upon the reader.

The much more interesting story is how the two were separated in the first place, as well as who their parents are. There is yet another serial killer on the loose and his prey of choice is red headed women of shall we say "loose" morals. Red-head Jazzy has an undeserved reputation, and by default, Reve is also targeted by the assailant.

Once again, Barton pens a story with plenty of potential suspects, and then chooses the most improbable one of them all, as Jazzy and Reve elude the killer and solve the mystery of their parentage. It falls a little short of the first novel, and may be a little hard to follow if you have not read the rest of the series.
532458
I liked this story.  The plot was an interesting one and the romance was steamy.  Anna was a children's book writer and Duncan worked as a high danger security provider.  Duncan's best friend Tony was killed and left to die.  His murder was never solved and the alleged killer was still on the run.  He had to find him and bring his friend's murder to justice.  Anna was the key to the killer, as she was the killer's sister.  Duncan does his research and seeks Anna out with the intent of getting to know her, finding out as much information as possible and doing everything in his power to find her brother; even if it involved seducing her.

When he first met her at a book signing, he felt attracted to her.  He never told her what he did or who he was after.  His plans were getting fuzzy, everytime he was around her or everytime they shared a touch.  The attraction between them was incredible and he was doing his darndest to stay focused on his plan.  Anna had never felt the way she did when she was around Duncan, the attraction was electric, but also the sense of safety and trust she felt were unusual.  They become inseparable and they both start to develop feelings towards one another.  Anna is torn when she discovers what his intentions are, she doesn't want to hate him, yet she felt used.  Duncan wanted to find her brother, but most importantly, he wanted to spend as much time with her as possible, he was not ready to say goodbye.  What happens when she confronts him?  Will she forgive him or will the trust be broken forever?

Story moved fast and kept me interested.  Scenes were pretty steamy, but as another reviewer commented, there was no mention of "protection" which I thought was odd or that she would end up pregnant.  Anyways, if you can overlook tiny details like that, story was a pretty good one.  The cover of the books is super hot!
4964166
The novel starts out with an interesting prelude to the main story when Tess and her friend Whitney defoliate a would be rapist.  From there the story progresses to the main plot about a serial killer with a strange compulsion.  Tess and a new found associate link together a number of seemingly unrelated homicides, including a disappearance and an "accidental" death from the distant past.  Details of her own past emerge, partly from discussions with a psychiatrist she is seeing as part of a plea bargain agreement.
Tess still has her boyfriend, Crow, and her two dogs, but they play minor roles.  She bumbles about a bit, and almost gets herself killed in the manner of independent investigators created by various authors.  There are some side details of Baltimore, Maryland's eastern shore, etc., and a view of some of the sleazy underside of life.
1737235
How do you catch a killer that has already been killed? That is the dilemma for Detectives Thomas Moore and Jane Rizzoli. A man sneaks into women's bedrooms at night, cuts them open, rapes them, and ultimately kills them, earning him the nickname The Surgeon. His MO is exactly the same as those of a killer who was killed a few years ago, down to the details that were never released to the press. And his ultimate target may just be Dr. Catherine Cordell, the lone surviving victim from the previous crimes.

This mystery has so many strengths. It is edge of your seat thrilling, disgustingly terrifying, and full of surprises. The two detectives are grappling with their own problems-Moore's wife died suddenly a couple of years ago and he has yet to move on and Rizzoli is working in a hostile environment where women are not welcome-and the book does a good job of bringing these issues full circle. While I don't love where Moore's story ended (it seems a little unrealistic and a bit convenient), I wasn't distracted by this enough to be truly bothered.

What struck me about this is how different it is from the Rizzoli and Isles series on TV. For one thing, there is no Isles (apparently she comes into the series later). For another, Rizzoli is treated with hostility from the department, whereas in the show she is generally respected and her issues are more about her family and her personality.

If you are expecting the same lightheartedness of the TV show, you will not be finding it, but if you want an exciting mystery (and are not too squeamish), this is the book for you.
1897329
This true crime book starts with background information that helps in understanding profiling of and attributes of serial killers.  This is helpful throughout the book which is a compilation of numerous serial killer cases.  The cases are relayed without a great amount of detail or depth, but yet are interesting with the information given.  The book flows well from chapter to chapter, although each is a different story.  I prefer books which dig deep into the individual true crime cases, but plan to read more by RJ Parker.
2131718
Part cozy, part police procedural Into the shadows by Shirley Wells is a solid British mystery with one serial killer, several victims, and lots of suspects.  This first book in the series featuring forensic psychologist Jill Kennedy and DCI Max Trentham is set in the small English village of Kelton Bridge where Jill, formerly a police profiler, has retreated from assisting the police force and is now writing self-help books.  Max, her ex-boyfriend, has just been promoted to Detective Chief Inspector of the region so, when the vicar's wife is found at home in Kelton Bridge with her throat slit and her son holding the murder weapon, as senior investigating officer Max is under pressure to close the case quickly.  Meanwhile, the serial killer known as Valentine is still on the loose after four years of fruitless pursuit by both Max and Jill.  To add to the tension, Jill has been receiving anonymous messages that appear to come from Valentine.  There is plenty of mystery crammed into this hybrid crime novel as the bodies and suspects multiply.  A solid series debut from 2007, Into the Shadows creates a strong foundation that can grow in several directions.  I look forward to reading the next three books to see if they live up to the promise of this first one:  A Darker Side (2008), When Petals Fall (2009), and The Broken Circle (2010).

Edited June 20, 2010, to remove non-functioning HTML coding.
358008
Ryan Becker is new to the literary scene, a handsome young man with a penchant for the gruesome. His list of books to date are SERIAL KILLER: 200 Gruesome yet Fascinating Facts about Serial Killers, and now Book 1 ROBERT BERDELLA: The True Story of a Man who Turned his Darkest Fantasies in a Reality At the end of his book his biography is scant though important  Ryan Becker aims to write all the stories he has read and watched and letting himself be taken into the world of true mysteries and psychological murder crime stories. He also wants to share his experience of his younger days with the readers on how he immersed himself with the dark reality of the world. He loves to tell a true story that will make you solve a puzzle on your mind. He is now living with his wife and two sons. Ideally, Ryan wants to leave a mark on the reader with his dark true crime stories.
And so in this very short (53 pages) book Ryan distills the mind and crimes of the real life Robert Berdella.
In the Introduction Ryan delves into the psychology of serial killers in general  common traits, personality defects and the accompanying shield they hold before the public to deflect suspicion, the various motivation as well as techniques used by serial killers, an then adds  A serial killer is described by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as an offender who commits a series of two or more murders in separate events, usually, but not always, acting alone. Most killers are troubled beings who have suffered traumatic childhoods and cannot live normal, decent lives without causing damage to those around them; others simply enjoy the rush of killing without being discovered. There are many, many more reasons for a human to stray into the act of serial killing, but an even worse category of killer awaits us  one which includes the particular subject of this tale. Sick individuals have always plagued humanity: monsters that have lost all empathy for their fellow humans and can not see past their own personal desires. These include the murderous dictators of recent as well as long-dead history; the leaders of organizations who have taken lives for perverted or unforgivable reasons such as political or racial preferences; and finally those particular beasts disguised by human flesh that have seen fit to experiment on their own species as if they were cattle. The subject of this book is one such figure who fits into the latter group. The press named him The Butcher of Kansas City. He was a true psychopath who sadistically tortured and killed at least six men during a three-year period. However, until he confessed and was arrested, our killer was known simply as Robert Berdella.

The story is gruesome and best summarized as follows: One mans Robert Berdella is anothers Kansas City Butcher. We may not always see what truly hides within the minds and hearts of certain people, and where we believe is a good, pure individual, lays a terrible murderer capable of the most horrible acts. Robert Berdella was one such man, a helpful and friendly individual who  in a spree separated by a few years  managed to capture and horrifically torture seven young men, murdering six along the way. Control and dominance were his tools, the pain was his method. The Kansas City Butcher had no mercy, and his victims soon learned that he had no limits in terms of defiling or humiliating their bodies, minds, and spirits once they were bound and gagged.

Fine writing, expert investigation and documentation, and a pace that speeds the reader through this grotesque tale make this a book to recommend and an introduction to a fine new writer. Incredible as it sounds, this book makes a fine novel! Grady Harp, August 17
3872389
FROM THE BACK OF THE BOOK-DESCRIPTION

The victim was young, lovely and seduced by the wrong man...

Mere hours before her wedding, the fiancee of real estate mogul JP Stratton is found strangled in her penthouse. New Orleans homicide detective Charlotte "Charlie" Le Blanc views the crime scene, finding a black silk stocking draped casually beside the body-a chilling calling card from the killer.

The dramatic clue leads Charlie to a world of privilege and wealth, and before long she singles out a suspect whose identity crEates a furor in the city: Cole Stratton, JP's estranged son. But what she doesn't know is that Cole has been set up, and while she sets out to prove his guilt a real killer is on the loose-a man who now has Charlie in his sights, a man with yet another black silk stocking.

There is far more to this novel than the description, but I feel if I expand too much on the plot, I may give too much away. It has murder, deception, betrayal, wealth, sex, and a lot of sinister behaviors. All it's missing is the non-stop action, but not needed in this police procedural novel.

This book is categorized as a romance, but is more of a comtemporary mystery. There is a hint of romance, but not until near the end and more of what you might find in a romantic suspense novel.

Needless to say, it was a fairly good read. There are plenty of suspects, and Metsy Hingles style of writing keeps you guessing who-dun-it for the majority of the book. It definitely held my attention and the only complaint I had was the authors repetition of the facts a few times. Other than that, it was well written. She has a unique style of capturing the characters thoughts as you are reading.

So, is it worth buying?

Yes. I believe so. This was my first novel by this author and without having any reviews to know if it was worth the money, I took the chance and bought it on a whim. I was not disappointed in my decision in the least.
3215001
10, 1988 Marie Kenning was sitting in the Lakedale Caf contemplating why she survived & John (husband) & Rebecca (their daughter) had died (6 yrs.). The drunk driver had not been severely punished for the crime.

A black Mustang pulled up in front of the Lakedale Caf & a little girl was kidnapped?

Bill Mackay owner called 911.

Officer Chris Whitley (LP/D) came to investigate the abduction incident.

The childs name was Rebecca (Becky) Landers. Hmmm?

Officer Chris Whitley & Marie went over the crime scene case again/again.
Marie meets Alice Landers (mother, Van Dyke). Hmmm? She however had married Robert Landers (husband/father, mechanic).

Marie worked for Darlington & Freeman as a legal aide. Her boss Roger sent her home.

Officer Chris Whitley put out an APB.

Officer Chris Whitley & Marie seeming to be having romantic notions. Hmmm?
Marie kept having flashbacks/nightmare (PTSD).

Marie started her own investigation & headed for Pennsylvania. She checked into a State
Line Motel for the night.

Black Mustang, another victim.

Marie gets another big clue off to New Spencer Indiana.

What could William Will Persky role be in this whole kidnapping caper?

Will Marie find Rebecca (Becky) Landers & get her returned home safely?

Will Marie & Officer Chris Whitley fall in love?

Wow, this book back memories. My biological dad did the same thing & got away with it. This happens all the time.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written CSI book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great CSI movie, or mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free book (Goodreads; Author)
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
3186170
Quinn is an undercover cop hunting down a serial killer and where Lucy sees romance, Quinn sees a top suspect - even if he is attracted to her. Blend a murder mystery with a dating scene romance and you have a satisfying blend of action and love in a candid, even humorous series of close encounters.
3164210
3.5 stars.  I liked the basic storyline (serial killer, one woman survives and attempts to stop the killer for claiming more victims; killer is based in the 1930s, but can travel through time to kill the various women, each a target because she "shines" or, in other words, she has something unique to her and she's a fighter).  And I enjoyed the main character Kirby.  The book is a fairly fast read, well paced and it should keep your interest until the end.

After the book's ending, there is an interview with the author where she highlights her intention that the book focus on the victims of violence, their lives and their humanity, rather than focusing on the criminal act or the criminal and his/her intentions.  As she says, she didn't want to write about "pretty corpses" (female victims of violence who become, simply, dead bodies, rather than the human stories they were before their deaths).  She wanted to write the book to have people focus on the perspective of the victim (and their families), and how it feels to be a victim of crime (the terror, the violence, the horror of it all), because have become a society that instead focuses on the "romanticism" of crime (not really understanding the sheer violence of it and the damage that it leaves it its wake).  I think the author DOES do a good job of trying to take the focus off the killer, putting it on the victims, but at the same time, there are so many killings, it's hard to really get attached to the victims in such a short period of time.... they are wonderful, and it's upsetting to lose each of them.  But I almost wonder if it would have been better to have less victims, and develop their stories more (their relationships with their families, loved ones, friends, kids, parents) if the goal was for the reader to relate more to them and the wider impact following each of their deaths.  By having so many deaths, the reader can't help but get caught up in the momentum of the killing (who is next? why is she attractive to the killer?  what time period will it be?).  At the same time, though, because there are so many killings, the larger impact is felt (SO many valuable women lost).

In addition to the basic mystery story line, I did enjoy the historical research that went into the book, and the glimpses of Chicago that show through in the story from decade to decade.  The author does a good job, in a short period of time, giving the reader a tiny sense of, say, the 1930s, the 1950s, the 1960s and more.  The general "fee" of each decade and how it was to be a woman of each decade.
1092753
Story of days gone by and a new romance and murder