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jen286's review against another edition
3.0
While I did enjoy the thriller aspect of the book, Kate really annoyed me. I mean why can't we have a smart tough girl? She just can't trust anyone! So she finds some leads that might lead to the killer, but let's not tell anyone else, even Slater whom she trust enough to sleep with and keep her safe...all because he didn't tell her his past right away? There were so many times when I was just like AH!!!! Really Kate? Really. Why are you so stupid! You are supposed to be smarter than this!!! I still enjoyed the book though I wish we could get a lead female who was smart and tough and still female.
tvonwheelz's review against another edition
2.0
This read like an episode of Criminal Minds. Skipped the romance, stayed for the thriller.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
2.0
The Watcher
2 Stars
LAPD psychiatrist Kate Myers travels to Placer's Hill, California in search of the killer who murdered her twin sister 15 years ago. Kate must convince the local authorities, including skeptical detective, Ben Slater, that the killer at work in their community has been active for years, and that they must act quickly if they are to stop his psychotic descent into madness.
The prologue suggests this will be an intense serial killer thriller, but the remainder of the story does not live up to it's potential.
The serial killer premise is compelling and the killer's motivation quite original for this genre. The police procedural aspects start out well, but become contrived as if the author is trying too hard to make it all realistic and believable.
The finale is too drawn out and could have been more compact with about 50-75 fewer pages. Also, the heroine has a HUGE
The romance is the weakest part of the story mainly due to the fact that there is simply too much going on in the hero and heroine's personal lives that creates unnecessary and manufactured angst. Both Slater and Kate are very prickly with each other and keep secrets that ultimately come back to bite them.
One other element that grates on the nerves is the underlying misogyny not on the part of the killer (which is to be expected), but from every other male character. They ogle the heroine at every opportunity and even the hero's attitude is disrespectful. Moreover, Kate is the lone female character in the book aside from the killer's victims, and one has to ask oneself if this town had no other women capable of speech.
All in all, it is difficult to believe that this book won the RWA Golden Heart Award. I'll not be continuing with the series.
2 Stars
LAPD psychiatrist Kate Myers travels to Placer's Hill, California in search of the killer who murdered her twin sister 15 years ago. Kate must convince the local authorities, including skeptical detective, Ben Slater, that the killer at work in their community has been active for years, and that they must act quickly if they are to stop his psychotic descent into madness.
The prologue suggests this will be an intense serial killer thriller, but the remainder of the story does not live up to it's potential.
The serial killer premise is compelling and the killer's motivation quite original for this genre. The police procedural aspects start out well, but become contrived as if the author is trying too hard to make it all realistic and believable.
The finale is too drawn out and could have been more compact with about 50-75 fewer pages. Also, the heroine has a HUGE
Spoiler
TSTL moment at the end when she distracts the hero and almost gets him killed. Seriously?! She's a police psychiatrist and should know better than to call out someone's name when he is confronting a killer... *sigh*The romance is the weakest part of the story mainly due to the fact that there is simply too much going on in the hero and heroine's personal lives that creates unnecessary and manufactured angst. Both Slater and Kate are very prickly with each other and keep secrets that ultimately come back to bite them.
One other element that grates on the nerves is the underlying misogyny not on the part of the killer (which is to be expected), but from every other male character. They ogle the heroine at every opportunity and even the hero's attitude is disrespectful. Moreover, Kate is the lone female character in the book aside from the killer's victims, and one has to ask oneself if this town had no other women capable of speech.
All in all, it is difficult to believe that this book won the RWA Golden Heart Award. I'll not be continuing with the series.
hookerkitty's review against another edition
This relationship was neither romantic nor healthy, and I hope the author gets some serious therapy to learn why they think it is.
So much sexual harassment - apparently a pretty woman just existing means she’s flirting with you, and it also means it’s okay to ogle her and find ways to touch her as long as she doesn’t say no (but when she does repeatedly say no, it’s okay to stick your foot in the door so she can’t close it, because then she’ll give in and let you in, and later bang you). I absolutely hate this trope in books and Hollywood - badgering someone until they say yes is NOT OKAY.
I read way more of this book than I should’ve, considering it quickly was turning into a hate-read to see how much worse it was going to get (the limit does not exist). I finally decided that I have way too many books on my to-read list to waste my time on something that makes me this angry. Which is also why I’m going to stop this review now.
Absolutely avoid this book, unless you want to hate-read and scream at the audacity.
So much sexual harassment - apparently a pretty woman just existing means she’s flirting with you, and it also means it’s okay to ogle her and find ways to touch her as long as she doesn’t say no (but when she does repeatedly say no, it’s okay to stick your foot in the door so she can’t close it, because then she’ll give in and let you in, and later bang you). I absolutely hate this trope in books and Hollywood - badgering someone until they say yes is NOT OKAY.
I read way more of this book than I should’ve, considering it quickly was turning into a hate-read to see how much worse it was going to get (the limit does not exist). I finally decided that I have way too many books on my to-read list to waste my time on something that makes me this angry. Which is also why I’m going to stop this review now.
Absolutely avoid this book, unless you want to hate-read and scream at the audacity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexism, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Grief, Death, Murder, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gore
Minor: Vomit, Torture, Blood, Racism, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
themightydana's review against another edition
1.0
Free Kindle ebook. I'm glad I didn't pay for it! It was an ok read, but too predictable and unnecessary sex scenes!
m3l89's review against another edition
1.0
I didn’t warm to any of the characters; the two police officers felt too comical and just didn’t sit right with me and Katherine seemed too cold and standoffish. It is difficult to get into a novel when you don’t get a feel for any of the main characters and this was a problem that I struggled to overcome.
A good example of a thriller, but I felt it was very middle of the road; nothing too risky in the writing or execution.
A good example of a thriller, but I felt it was very middle of the road; nothing too risky in the writing or execution.
gailygirl527's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. Although I felt like Myers could have done a better job of presenting her case for a serial killer, in that she really didn't behave like anyone from an actual BAU Team, I still enjoyed this read. It was interesting, and was able to keep my attention even when the characters weren't chasing down the killer.
I wouldn't mind so much if this was a series, because I did like Ben Slater and Kate Myers as a team. I'd like to see them work more cases together.
I wouldn't mind so much if this was a series, because I did like Ben Slater and Kate Myers as a team. I'd like to see them work more cases together.