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b0okcupidity's review against another edition
3.0
I'm really wishy-washy with the rating on this one.
For every urge to give Unspeakable the preordained 'it's okay' two stars, there's a little detail that I feel deserved of four.
Things that really worked in Untraceable couldn't be used here, namely the pre-existing attraction between the mains. Revisiting or revising a previous chemistry is a lot easier than creating from scratch - we easily accept what might of been by simply being told therefore skirting the issue of showing how two people could fall for each other in the first place.
Griffin has so much detail and story to pack into the book to make it a plausible mystery/thriller that there is very little time to be devoted to things like character development which make a really convincing romantic attachment beyond the physical.
Couple that with the fact (or illusion, I couldn't really tell) that Elaina is anti-social (and in the words of our authoress, "prickly") and you have a romance that is very tough feed. Troy's playboy past only adds to this dilemma. Why her, why now? We don't really know.
But there are some kudos to be given out...mostly that Griffin managed (really by the skin of her teeth) to write a heroine that was more accomplished than our hero, in the very traditional sense. Elaina is well educated and well trained, and to be shooting for a profilers spot with the FBI, highly intelligent. She comes from a somewhat jaded, but white-collar background, while Troy's past is far-less than stellar. He has money, but maybe not the cred...and especially not now that his previous best-selling true-crime novel is being shown as a simple fabrication. Troy comes off a little naive really.
Additionally, Griffin isn't afraid to get us nice and dirty (not in the way you're thinking, get your mind out of the gutter!). Elaina works hard - gets sunburned, mud caked, cut, bruised, smelly and sweaty and yet, yet, Troy still finds her attractive. Finally, some respect for women who aren't afraid to get the job done, even if that means dirt in the nails and forgoing the six-inch heals. Griffin writes women in a way that makes me say "YES!", tough women with the nuances of feminine softness (polished toes!).
Though we didn't really get cooking until 40% of the way through, it was still a good thrill..
For every urge to give Unspeakable the preordained 'it's okay' two stars, there's a little detail that I feel deserved of four.
Things that really worked in Untraceable couldn't be used here, namely the pre-existing attraction between the mains. Revisiting or revising a previous chemistry is a lot easier than creating from scratch - we easily accept what might of been by simply being told therefore skirting the issue of showing how two people could fall for each other in the first place.
Griffin has so much detail and story to pack into the book to make it a plausible mystery/thriller that there is very little time to be devoted to things like character development which make a really convincing romantic attachment beyond the physical.
Couple that with the fact (or illusion, I couldn't really tell) that Elaina is anti-social (and in the words of our authoress, "prickly") and you have a romance that is very tough feed. Troy's playboy past only adds to this dilemma. Why her, why now? We don't really know.
But there are some kudos to be given out...mostly that Griffin managed (really by the skin of her teeth) to write a heroine that was more accomplished than our hero, in the very traditional sense. Elaina is well educated and well trained, and to be shooting for a profilers spot with the FBI, highly intelligent. She comes from a somewhat jaded, but white-collar background, while Troy's past is far-less than stellar. He has money, but maybe not the cred...and especially not now that his previous best-selling true-crime novel is being shown as a simple fabrication. Troy comes off a little naive really.
Additionally, Griffin isn't afraid to get us nice and dirty (not in the way you're thinking, get your mind out of the gutter!). Elaina works hard - gets sunburned, mud caked, cut, bruised, smelly and sweaty and yet, yet, Troy still finds her attractive. Finally, some respect for women who aren't afraid to get the job done, even if that means dirt in the nails and forgoing the six-inch heals. Griffin writes women in a way that makes me say "YES!", tough women with the nuances of feminine softness (polished toes!).
Though we didn't really get cooking until 40% of the way through, it was still a good thrill.
Spoiler
My only hope is that in subsequent books we steer away from law-enforcement being a target/suspectcrystabrittany's review against another edition
2.0
An attempt to be both romance and crime drama. I like both of those genres when I need a light enjoyable read, but I felt this one lacked a little of the magic of each. It didn't seem to get the slightest bit interesting until more than halfway through. It was, though, a quick sprint to the end from there.
gwynt's review against another edition
4.0
Good action, believable romance. I liked it a lot, but didn't race through it in the same way I normally would with a thriller, just seemed to lack that "stay up all night to see what comes next" quality.
Still a great read though.
Still a great read though.
jonetta's review against another edition
3.0
FBI Special Agent Elaina McCord is withering away in the Brownsville office until she's assigned to help the Lito Island, Texas local authorities investigate a murder. When it's determined that a serial killer is at work, she gets Troy Stockton's attention who then decides to lend the assistance of the Delphi Center Tracers.
I was simply bored. Elaina was just too whiny for my sensibilities and for the life of me couldn't see what playboy Troy found so compelling that he was willing to change his lifestyle. I figured out whodunit right away, which didn't help my issues. The narration was also problematic, too. I'm not a fan of this narrator from prior experience (before you ask why I'd give her another go, I won this book and never noticed she was the narrator).
I think this was just a one-book fluke and will continue with the series. This one just missed the mark for me.
I was simply bored. Elaina was just too whiny for my sensibilities and for the life of me couldn't see what playboy Troy found so compelling that he was willing to change his lifestyle. I figured out whodunit right away, which didn't help my issues. The narration was also problematic, too. I'm not a fan of this narrator from prior experience (before you ask why I'd give her another go, I won this book and never noticed she was the narrator).
I think this was just a one-book fluke and will continue with the series. This one just missed the mark for me.
wondernikel's review against another edition
3.0
3...A couple steps down from the last novel, a bit saddened! But being as I am a sucker for whodunits...it was too bad! Great characters, steamy romance, with a side of murder!
ws_uds's review against another edition
3.0
The suspense was good, the romance side was a little bit weak though.
labraden's review against another edition
4.0
Elaina McCord is on her first real case as an FBI agent sorting through the evidence of a serial killer operating out of a Texas resort town. Troy Stockton is a womanizing true-crime writer who is looking to rectify a mistake he made in a previous book featuring one of the murders in this current serial killer's work. Troy was featured in the previous book in the series, so his character has already been established prior to the beginning of this story. Elaina uses her talents as a profiler to help local law enforcement solve the case, but she runs into chauvinism at every turn until she finally bullies her way into the investigation.
Many clues and information make this an interesting mystery. Also some of the Tracers from the Delphi group become part of this story. My only complaint is that the author gives us too much information about the killer midway through the book, but there is still a nice twist at the end when the killer and his motive are finally revealed. A good second book in this series.
Many clues and information make this an interesting mystery. Also some of the Tracers from the Delphi group become part of this story. My only complaint is that the author gives us too much information about the killer midway through the book, but there is still a nice twist at the end when the killer and his motive are finally revealed. A good second book in this series.
prgchrqltma's review against another edition
2.0
I read this ages ago and forgot to note it, I guess. I'm surprised, because I thought the heroine behaved in absolutely inexplicable ways. She had insta love with someone who should have looked like a suspect, and she's supposed to be a profiler. Ugh. I think this series isn't for me.