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kelseyrae15's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
neiljostenn's review against another edition
4.0
Very upset. I thought this series was a trilogy but it clearly isn’t and there’s no news on the fourth book and i waNT IT
verumsolum's review against another edition
4.0
I have really enjoyed getting to know Ziba MacKenzie. These are very tense books but her humanity is an excellent counter-balance to that (even when it sometimes is the cause of extra tension!). But the case was a very interesting one and… I liked the Quantico bookends to the book (even though most of the book is in the UK). I definitely want to read more of her!
dakegra's review against another edition
4.0
I do love a good serial killer book, and Snakes and Ladders fits the bill. It’s the third in Victoria Selman’s Ziba MacKenzie series, following on from Blood for Blood (nominated for the 2017 Crime Writer’s Award Debut Dagger) and Nothing to Lose, but can easily be read as a standalone.
Ziba MacKenzie is an ace profiler with the FBI, called back to London to deal with imprisoned serial killer Dr Vernon Sange, who says he knows the identity of the PRK, a new murderer on the loose. Shades of Silence of the Lambs at work here then, but this is very much its own story, and a gripping one at that!
Ziba and the team are faced with a deadly countdown until the Pink Rose Killer strikes again. Can she elude Sange’s mind games and figure out the clues?
Loved it – raced through this book in no time. The action comes thick and fast, and I thought I was *so* clever and had figured things out early on, only to find out that Selman had been playing me much like Dr Sange plays Ziba throughout the book! Tricksy authors…
I’ve not read the first two books in the series, but on the strength of Snakes and Ladders, I will definitely be adding them to my reading list.
If you like a good psychological thriller, with strong characters and a great plot that’ll keep you guessing, then I can highly recommend this book.
Ziba MacKenzie is an ace profiler with the FBI, called back to London to deal with imprisoned serial killer Dr Vernon Sange, who says he knows the identity of the PRK, a new murderer on the loose. Shades of Silence of the Lambs at work here then, but this is very much its own story, and a gripping one at that!
Ziba and the team are faced with a deadly countdown until the Pink Rose Killer strikes again. Can she elude Sange’s mind games and figure out the clues?
Loved it – raced through this book in no time. The action comes thick and fast, and I thought I was *so* clever and had figured things out early on, only to find out that Selman had been playing me much like Dr Sange plays Ziba throughout the book! Tricksy authors…
I’ve not read the first two books in the series, but on the strength of Snakes and Ladders, I will definitely be adding them to my reading list.
If you like a good psychological thriller, with strong characters and a great plot that’ll keep you guessing, then I can highly recommend this book.
mistymist15's review against another edition
4.0
This is the 3rd in the Ziba Mackenzie series. But it can be read as a standalone book. The mystery is independent of Ziba’s life. But being a part of the series, it has shown Ziba’s character progresses with time and she’s trying to overcome the death of her husband. Ziba is intelligent and strong, but she has her flaws. The storyline is gripping and keeps you guessing until the end. I love Victoria Selman’s book because she writes simple yet a gripping story with a great twist.
traceymlee's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book, the short chapters mean that it is punchy and rattles along at a quick pace, which matched the urgency with which Ziba and her team have to find the killer. It is the third book in the Ziba MacKenzie series, but it can be read as a stand-alone, I haven’t read the first two and it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this one. Ziba is a well drawn, well rounded character and generally I liked her, although I preferred the character of the love interest Jack. I expect the will they, won’t they, nature of their relationship to continue in future books and I hope they do eventually get it together, hopeless romantic that I am!
The plot is reminiscent of the Silence of the Lambs, but set on British soil. At times it was a bit too close to Harris’ book for me, but it was different enough to keep me reading. I liked that the book focused on a profiler as opposed to a police officer, but I would have perhaps preferred a little more insight into her profiling. I did find it really interesting that Sange was American, perhaps we don’t like to think that the UK can produce serial killers of his ilk!
Overall I enjoyed the book and will now read the first two in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy!
The plot is reminiscent of the Silence of the Lambs, but set on British soil. At times it was a bit too close to Harris’ book for me, but it was different enough to keep me reading. I liked that the book focused on a profiler as opposed to a police officer, but I would have perhaps preferred a little more insight into her profiling. I did find it really interesting that Sange was American, perhaps we don’t like to think that the UK can produce serial killers of his ilk!
Overall I enjoyed the book and will now read the first two in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy!
_tomeraider's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tinamoo's review against another edition
3.0
I would like to thank Pigeonhole and the author for allowing me to read along.
I would like to make it as clear as possible that this book is the THIRD in a series. I had no idea when I started reading along with this until it became pretty obvious. The author insists that this can be read as a stand-alone. I think that it can but I would have enjoyed it so much more if I had read the other books in the series. There was so much that had obviously happened in previous books with several of the characters and I felt that I needed to know a bit more.
I would like to make it as clear as possible that this book is the THIRD in a series. I had no idea when I started reading along with this until it became pretty obvious. The author insists that this can be read as a stand-alone. I think that it can but I would have enjoyed it so much more if I had read the other books in the series. There was so much that had obviously happened in previous books with several of the characters and I felt that I needed to know a bit more.
pvn's review
4.0
There a lot of helpful reviews already for this serial killer thriller. I can only add that this is for you if you like this genre.
I really appreciate the copy for review!
I really appreciate the copy for review!