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beastreader's review against another edition
3.0
I have read books similar to this one but I liked the character dynamics in this one between Ellery, Reed, and Coben. Ellery and Reed both haunted and fighting demons about Ellery's kidnapping long ago. Although, Ellery is one of those tough survivors. She has not let the past dictate her future. While, I do like the strong character presence; I did find the overall story to be lacking in suspense. What I mean by this is that the suspense was a slow growing build up to a good third of the story. This is where the action and the story finally came together. Up until this point, however; you have to stick with the characters and the slow jog to the finish line. Yet, as I stated previously, I liked this book and am looking forward to seeing what Ms. Schaffhausen comes out with next.
bibliostorian's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Murder, Confinement, Violence, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, and Animal cruelty
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
The first in a series that I was excited to start. Ellery Hathaway has moved to a quiet town to escape her past in Chicago. She wants to leave it all behind and just do her job as a police officer. There have been three disappearances and some mystery things happening and she swears it is related to her past but can't get the attention of her co workers until she calls an old friend from the FBI and gets things moving.
This was such a great mystery. There were definitely some gruesome moments so if you don't love to hear the gruesome details you may want to skip this one.
The first in a series that I was excited to start. Ellery Hathaway has moved to a quiet town to escape her past in Chicago. She wants to leave it all behind and just do her job as a police officer. There have been three disappearances and some mystery things happening and she swears it is related to her past but can't get the attention of her co workers until she calls an old friend from the FBI and gets things moving.
This was such a great mystery. There were definitely some gruesome moments so if you don't love to hear the gruesome details you may want to skip this one.
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first Joanna Schaffhausen book and I've already started the next book in the Ellery Hathaway series and then still get to read the third book in the series. Happy days for me when I find a new author I want to follow. The Vanishing Season is book #1, followed by No Mercy and All the Best Lies and then the fourth book in the series, Every Waking Hour, will come out next year.
Ellery Hathaway was the only survivor of a serial killer who had raped, tortured and killed sixteen girls before he grabbed Ellery. She was held for three days before a young FBI agent rescued her. The agent, Reed Markham, earned fame and recognition for saving Ellery and catching the serial killer, Francis Michael Coben, and even wrote a best selling book about the case. Now though, fourteen years later, Reed has fallen from grace after an error in judgement on his last case and he's been put on "stress leave" from his job and his marriage has fallen apart.
Ellery has been working as a cop in a small town, a town that has had three unsolved missing persons cases, that Ellery thinks are the work of a serial killer. But no one will listen to Ellery so she contacts Reed for help in solving the cases. Ellery and Reed make a good but cantankerous team, skirting rules, authority, and sometimes each other, as they try to stop another person missing, as the disappearance anniversary of the first three people approaches. To round out this team is Speed Bump, Ellery's slobbering Basset Hound rescue.
Pub December 5, 2017.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
Ellery Hathaway was the only survivor of a serial killer who had raped, tortured and killed sixteen girls before he grabbed Ellery. She was held for three days before a young FBI agent rescued her. The agent, Reed Markham, earned fame and recognition for saving Ellery and catching the serial killer, Francis Michael Coben, and even wrote a best selling book about the case. Now though, fourteen years later, Reed has fallen from grace after an error in judgement on his last case and he's been put on "stress leave" from his job and his marriage has fallen apart.
Ellery has been working as a cop in a small town, a town that has had three unsolved missing persons cases, that Ellery thinks are the work of a serial killer. But no one will listen to Ellery so she contacts Reed for help in solving the cases. Ellery and Reed make a good but cantankerous team, skirting rules, authority, and sometimes each other, as they try to stop another person missing, as the disappearance anniversary of the first three people approaches. To round out this team is Speed Bump, Ellery's slobbering Basset Hound rescue.
Pub December 5, 2017.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
what_the_bec's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
missgrangerr's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Confinement, and Kidnapping
constantreader471's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars for a well done mystery set in a small Massachusetts town. The suspense builds up continuously and has a satisfying climax. Ellery Hathaway is a patrol officer in fictional Woodbury, Mass. She believes that there is a serial killer in town. However, although there are 3 missing persons, there are no bodies, so the police chief doesn't believe her. Ellery was abducted by a serial killer when she was 14. She now uses her middle name, instead of Abigail. No one knows about her past except her Mom and someone who sends her birthday cards. She hasn't told anyone in town her birthday. She believes the serial killer knows.
She calls Reed Markham, the FBI agent who rescued her, for help. This mystery was a enjoyable read. I finished it in 2 days. There are some gory parts. It is not a cozy mystery.
One quote:
"When at last he took the exit for Woodbury, it was if the forest rose up around the road, trees thick as a bear's fur, the sun rendered as a distant, filtered light."
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for sending me this book through NetGalley.
She calls Reed Markham, the FBI agent who rescued her, for help. This mystery was a enjoyable read. I finished it in 2 days. There are some gory parts. It is not a cozy mystery.
One quote:
"When at last he took the exit for Woodbury, it was if the forest rose up around the road, trees thick as a bear's fur, the sun rendered as a distant, filtered light."
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for sending me this book through NetGalley.
melissadelongcox's review against another edition
4.0
I started this before bed one night and made it halfway before I had to cave and go to sleep. I then woke up a couple hours later having a full on nightmare about being taken - so yeah, this gets my vote for a good, twisty thriller.