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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
3.5 Stars for this one...once again, I really enjoy Lanyon’s writing style but once again there’s a lot of vagueness and in this book way too abrupt a conclusion. This is now my 4th book in a row by this author (I’m binge reading her work so that tells you a little something about how much I like it.) Some commonalities in what I’ve read thus far are strong,well-structured writing, characters with defined personalities who have some kind of “issue”, intricate and well plotted murder mysteries, not a lot of steam (which is fine by me, I like the character development/story aspect of the romance better anyway) and a HFN ending.
One big negative I’ve found thus far is lack of detail in terms of the crime/criminals. Things are thrown out but never developed and the endings and explanation/motivations are on the anti-climatic side. That is especially true here and especially noticeable here. There are several crimes that may or may not be tied together. When we finally get to The Who Dunnit part it’s just this crash landing with no detail. This was noticeable in the first three books but it’s glaring in this one. Partly because of the different crimes and partly because it is so freaking abrupt. It’s like the author looked down, saw her word count and decided ok, that’s it. Also particularly irritating because this book references, it appears, the ending of a serial killer that’s a big part of the background story in another book so I was doubly invested in knowing the why etc. The exact end of the villain for one crime is also not detailed enough given the way the author describes the setup. How could that have happened (avoiding spoilers here). And the ending for the other crime, which is the whole premise for Darling being there is beyond anti-climatic with zero exposition.
It’s still overall an entertaining and well written read but you’ll likely come away unsatisfied with the ending...of both the crimes and the relationship.
One big negative I’ve found thus far is lack of detail in terms of the crime/criminals. Things are thrown out but never developed and the endings and explanation/motivations are on the anti-climatic side. That is especially true here and especially noticeable here. There are several crimes that may or may not be tied together. When we finally get to The Who Dunnit part it’s just this crash landing with no detail. This was noticeable in the first three books but it’s glaring in this one. Partly because of the different crimes and partly because it is so freaking abrupt. It’s like the author looked down, saw her word count and decided ok, that’s it. Also particularly irritating because this book references, it appears, the ending of a serial killer that’s a big part of the background story in another book so I was doubly invested in knowing the why etc. The exact end of the villain for one crime is also not detailed enough given the way the author describes the setup. How could that have happened (avoiding spoilers here). And the ending for the other crime, which is the whole premise for Darling being there is beyond anti-climatic with zero exposition.
It’s still overall an entertaining and well written read but you’ll likely come away unsatisfied with the ending...of both the crimes and the relationship.
Ask me how many times I read that epilogue!!! I finished the book, read the epilogue maybe 20 times, moved onto another book and had to go back and read the epilogue again. Rob and Adam!!! Oh my freaking gosh, this was superb!! I am such a book snob and like to remain in my own little book bubble and rarely read romantic suspense. I've said this before, but thank goodness for Goodreads challenges. Though I've owned the book since 2016, it never made it to the top of my tbr. I need my balance of romance, smexy and mystery and this was perfect. Adam is an FBI agent who fumbled his last case so it stuck doing morgue patrol-type cases. He meets Rob, a police officer in a very small town in Oregon, when there is a murder in the town. The minute they meet, you could see the sparks and hear the sizzle between these guys. Excellent writing, crackling good tension, multiple suspects, solid mystery and a romance between two mature men, each of whom has a history. There are those books where the MCs fall for each other after a very short time and often, I find it unbelievable. Well this worked. You believed in the love between Rob and Adam. I think this may be my second read by this author and yes, I know, there are many who dearly love her (Josh is a woman, right?) writing. Well consider me a convert!!
3 stars? Maybe.
Well, I saved quite my bucks and waited to buy this book and read it at a time when I was "so ready" for a good romantic suspense story. Winter Kill didn't disappoint - not completely. It didn't knock me off my feet, either. Rob Haskell, local cop in Nearby, has a skeleton on his hands and his superior invites the FBI to take a look. Because it could have something to do with a serial killer. Agent Darling shows up with his partner, takes one look and is... not sure. Maybe there could be a connection, but mostly he doesn't think so, so this is the end of that investigation in Nearby. Well, almost, because firstly, he has a little fun between the sheets with Rob. Nothing earth-shattering, just some uncomplicated pleasure between two adults.
Or not. Because some time later there is another body, and now Agent Darling is personally requested to help investigate the murder of one of the town's very own. Of course, there is sexual tension between Rob and Adam, amongst other things.
What I liked? The Writing. Lanyon just has a way with words that impresses me, and gets to me every. Single. Time. I love it!
But the story was something else. Firstly, the investigation is clearly more important than relationship building. Which is fine with me, because hello?! Serial killer on the move! And I'm a huge fan of suspense/crime mixed with a little romance, so this aspect made me like the book more.
Which is not what I can say about the rest of it. I'll hide it, because I'll probably spoiler a lot.
Firstly, the solution of the crime was awful, no two ways about it. Two serial killers, both not entirely convincing? Really? Uhm, no. Not for me. The way to the solution was good. I liked the suspense, the guessing. They actually did some investigating, and had some adventures doing it - in and outside of the bedroom. That was really fine with me. Not quite as fun as some of Lanyons previous works, but still good. But the end?! THe solutions?! So not my thing.
The other part? The epilogue! Actually, make that the last chapters and the epilogue! What, do you absolutely need a life altering, possibly fatal, catastrophy to bring people together?! I admit it, I'm tired of the whole "Oh my god, you almost died - I love you!" And the epilogue was just the icing of the cake. Because What. The Hell. And I'm supposed to believe that? Adam abandoning his city life and career with the BAU, with a legend profiler, to be with a man he barely knows? Come! On! Agent calm, controlled, and coll as a cucumber? Absolutely not. Sounds romantic in other stories? Maybe. I just didn't buy it here.
So, what's left to say? It was okay. Lanyon has a wonderful style that I enjoy immensely. But the plot here was just not "good enough" and the details didn't work together as a whole as I'm used to from her. For most authors it would have been 3.5 stars or something. But I already said it and I'll say it again: I hold Lanyon to higher standards. So 2.5 stars, because it was only okay. I liked it well enough, but I'd hoped for a lot more going in, and was somewhat disappointed.
Well, I saved quite my bucks and waited to buy this book and read it at a time when I was "so ready" for a good romantic suspense story. Winter Kill didn't disappoint - not completely. It didn't knock me off my feet, either. Rob Haskell, local cop in Nearby, has a skeleton on his hands and his superior invites the FBI to take a look. Because it could have something to do with a serial killer. Agent Darling shows up with his partner, takes one look and is... not sure. Maybe there could be a connection, but mostly he doesn't think so, so this is the end of that investigation in Nearby. Well, almost, because firstly, he has a little fun between the sheets with Rob. Nothing earth-shattering, just some uncomplicated pleasure between two adults.
Or not. Because some time later there is another body, and now Agent Darling is personally requested to help investigate the murder of one of the town's very own. Of course, there is sexual tension between Rob and Adam, amongst other things.
What I liked? The Writing. Lanyon just has a way with words that impresses me, and gets to me every. Single. Time. I love it!
But the story was something else. Firstly, the investigation is clearly more important than relationship building. Which is fine with me, because hello?! Serial killer on the move! And I'm a huge fan of suspense/crime mixed with a little romance, so this aspect made me like the book more.
Which is not what I can say about the rest of it. I'll hide it, because I'll probably spoiler a lot.
The other part? The epilogue! Actually, make that the last chapters and the epilogue! What, do you absolutely need a life altering, possibly fatal, catastrophy to bring people together?! I admit it, I'm tired of the whole "Oh my god, you almost died - I love you!" And the epilogue was just the icing of the cake. Because What. The Hell. And I'm supposed to believe that? Adam abandoning his city life and career with the BAU, with a legend profiler, to be with a man he barely knows? Come! On! Agent calm, controlled, and coll as a cucumber? Absolutely not. Sounds romantic in other stories? Maybe. I just didn't buy it here.
So, what's left to say? It was okay. Lanyon has a wonderful style that I enjoy immensely. But the plot here was just not "good enough" and the details didn't work together as a whole as I'm used to from her. For most authors it would have been 3.5 stars or something. But I already said it and I'll say it again: I hold Lanyon to higher standards. So 2.5 stars, because it was only okay. I liked it well enough, but I'd hoped for a lot more going in, and was somewhat disappointed.
I really liked it and the mystery was pretty damn good, it just needed s bit more time. End was rushed and some stuff went unresolved...
Mostly enjoyed this. I like the idea of the two separate killers, but the ending kind of petered out and half of it felt like rushed afterthought. "Oops I forgot to wrap this one up but I only have 3 pages left." I mostly liked the MCs but Rob irked me. He doesn't seem to be a very fair cop and that never sits well with me. Too true to life. It just makes me think someone needs to find a different line of work. But I did like how Adam and Rob's relationship was developed. I thought they were great together.
Question: Adam's ex that moved to Washington and found a new guy in a week......am I supposed to recognize who that is referring to? I feel like I should/do but I'm uncertain.
Question: Adam's ex that moved to Washington and found a new guy in a week......am I supposed to recognize who that is referring to? I feel like I should/do but I'm uncertain.
DNF @ 40%
Was a bore, no emotions or chemistry or fun plot. Just a cold, cold bore...
Was a bore, no emotions or chemistry or fun plot. Just a cold, cold bore...