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tkdon2590's review
4.0
Unexpected find
This was a random dollar store book find but I was pleasantly surprised. Even I was unsure of my guess of the killer until the end which is rare. Pace was a tiny bit slower than some thrillers but not a drag . The characters were all very realistic and great in the small town setting portrayed. The side story of the two main investigators was a great balance against the darker crimes being described.
This was a random dollar store book find but I was pleasantly surprised. Even I was unsure of my guess of the killer until the end which is rare. Pace was a tiny bit slower than some thrillers but not a drag . The characters were all very realistic and great in the small town setting portrayed. The side story of the two main investigators was a great balance against the darker crimes being described.
angay_reads's review against another edition
4.0
*3.5
After finding the body of a man on top of his own grave, with a girl's corpse hastily buried inside the grave. Zac Evans has to work alongside his ex-wife to solve the murder and hunt down a serial killer.
This is a very thrilling book and I love that it moves at a pretty quick pace. It's very well-written and it kept me guessing the whole time. Although I didn't correctly guess the identity of the killer, it was a very exciting story to read.
The romance was...okay? I mean both Zac and Rachel were clearly not over each other, I kinda get it. But did they really have to have sex when there was a serial killer terrorizing the town??
It's a great book but I guess it just didn't really hit me as some other books do. Hence, the 3.5 stars. But I recommend this book if you're looking for a quick and gripping mystery to read! I hope you enjoy it!
*P.S I know I said I would be reading more books but December was just really busy but I'm very excited for what 2023 holds for me!
After finding the body of a man on top of his own grave, with a girl's corpse hastily buried inside the grave. Zac Evans has to work alongside his ex-wife to solve the murder and hunt down a serial killer.
This is a very thrilling book and I love that it moves at a pretty quick pace. It's very well-written and it kept me guessing the whole time. Although I didn't correctly guess the identity of the killer, it was a very exciting story to read.
The romance was...okay? I mean both Zac and Rachel were clearly not over each other, I kinda get it. But did they really have to have sex when there was a serial killer terrorizing the town??
It's a great book but I guess it just didn't really hit me as some other books do. Hence, the 3.5 stars. But I recommend this book if you're looking for a quick and gripping mystery to read! I hope you enjoy it!
*P.S I know I said I would be reading more books but December was just really busy but I'm very excited for what 2023 holds for me!
nicolefurman's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
lin456's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
romancejunkie1025's review
4.0
a very good suspense read, though lacking a bit when it comes to the romance angle sadly. I am enjoying the series for sure, but was hoping for more of that.
Full review coming soon the blog.
Full review coming soon the blog.
emily_loves_2_read's review
4.0
Unstable
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 4/26/22
Author: Alexandra Ivy
Publisher: Zebra
Pages: 352
Goodreads Rating: 4.15
Thank you to NetGalley and Zebra for providing a copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: A dead man in a cemetery isn’t news—unless he’s found on top of a grave, with a bullet through his head. The body belongs to Jude Henley, who was supposed to be buried below. Instead, the grave contains the remains of Staci Gale, thought to have run away nearly three decades ago. Then an old VCR tape arrives at the sheriff station, showing Staci before her death—bound and terrified—with a note, claiming to be from the killer’s apprentice. In this small town a killer walks—twisted, ruthless, determined to continue his master’s work. And unless Rachel and Zac can find a way to get ahead of him, the nightmare will never end.
My Thoughts: The chapters are average length. The POV of the books is from Zac, Interim Sheriff of Pike. With a serial killer lurking in town, Zak and Rachel has to find to a way to stop him before more women are murdered,the clock is ticking. Even though this a third book in a series, I was able to follow along with no issues, making this a great stand alone book. The author created these characters, primarily Rachel and Zak, that work well together, even though they are divorced, it just works. The descriptions the author portrays in the book is so vivid, you feel like you are right there investigating with them. The author keeps you engaged, fast-pace, chilling thriller. This was a great read and makes me want to go back to the other books in the series. I recommend you pick up this book that is already out.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 4/26/22
Author: Alexandra Ivy
Publisher: Zebra
Pages: 352
Goodreads Rating: 4.15
Thank you to NetGalley and Zebra for providing a copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: A dead man in a cemetery isn’t news—unless he’s found on top of a grave, with a bullet through his head. The body belongs to Jude Henley, who was supposed to be buried below. Instead, the grave contains the remains of Staci Gale, thought to have run away nearly three decades ago. Then an old VCR tape arrives at the sheriff station, showing Staci before her death—bound and terrified—with a note, claiming to be from the killer’s apprentice. In this small town a killer walks—twisted, ruthless, determined to continue his master’s work. And unless Rachel and Zac can find a way to get ahead of him, the nightmare will never end.
My Thoughts: The chapters are average length. The POV of the books is from Zac, Interim Sheriff of Pike. With a serial killer lurking in town, Zak and Rachel has to find to a way to stop him before more women are murdered,the clock is ticking. Even though this a third book in a series, I was able to follow along with no issues, making this a great stand alone book. The author created these characters, primarily Rachel and Zak, that work well together, even though they are divorced, it just works. The descriptions the author portrays in the book is so vivid, you feel like you are right there investigating with them. The author keeps you engaged, fast-pace, chilling thriller. This was a great read and makes me want to go back to the other books in the series. I recommend you pick up this book that is already out.
hookedbythatbook's review
4.0
Unstable is an attention-grabbing amalgamation of the past and the present, packaged in a fast-moving and exciting plot.
Pike’s interim sheriff, Zac Evans, has his hands full when the body of Jude Henley is found, not inside his grave where it is supposed to be, but on top. And after a missing woman’s body is discovered inside the grave instead, Zac is willing to concede that he might need help. Zac’s ex, Rachel Fischer, arrives back in town just as all of this is unfolding. And now, it is a race against time and a serial killer with something to prove and a penchant for copying past unsolved murders.
After Jude’s body showed up in the cemetery, this story was one convoluted plot twist after another. And Zac and Rachel always seemed to be just one step behind. It was quite thrilling, and I had no idea who the killer was. Zac and Rachel worked well together. I also enjoyed watching them deal with the reasons for their marriage breaking up and finding each other again. Their rekindled romance wasn’t the focus, but it provided a lovely diversion.
I can definitely recommend this is you like suspense and mystery, with some romance. Unstable is the third book in the Pike, Wisconsin series. It’s not necessary to read them in order.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
beaksmeep's review
4.0
This one was good. Decent amount of mystery. Kept guessing and getting it wrong but It sort of makes you do that. Didn’t realize it was 3rd in a series until I got the book and started reading. But it can be read on its own.
laurenjodi's review
3.0
Unstable
3.5 Stars
The body of a supposedly long-dead man is found on top of his grave, and an exhumation reveals the remains of Staci Gale, the local vet's absentee mother. Pike's interim Sheriff, Zac Evans, is further surprised when Rachel Fisher, a cold case detective and his former wife, arrives with information that Zac's bodies are related to a series of unsolved murders. Is there another serial killer in Pike?
Series note: Although set in the same small town as book #1, the characters and plot are unrelated to previous books.
Similar to the first two books in this series, the focus is on the suspense plot and the romance is secondary. Ivy's writing flows; the action is suspenseful, and there are some solid twists along the way. That said, the descriptions of the murders are graphic (although not nearly as detailed or gruesome as Tess Gerritsen or Karin Slaughter). The killer's identity is pretty obvious mainly because the red herrings may as well be labeled with flashing neon signs.
Rachel and Zac are likable as individuals, but their second-chances romance is the weakest in the series. The reasons for their divorce are never fully explained, and their reunion is very proforma without much chemistry or emotion.
All in all, Pike is turning out to be a small-town nexus for killers of all types. I definitely won't be moving there.
3.5 Stars
The body of a supposedly long-dead man is found on top of his grave, and an exhumation reveals the remains of Staci Gale, the local vet's absentee mother. Pike's interim Sheriff, Zac Evans, is further surprised when Rachel Fisher, a cold case detective and his former wife, arrives with information that Zac's bodies are related to a series of unsolved murders. Is there another serial killer in Pike?
Series note: Although set in the same small town as book #1, the characters and plot are unrelated to previous books.
Similar to the first two books in this series, the focus is on the suspense plot and the romance is secondary. Ivy's writing flows; the action is suspenseful, and there are some solid twists along the way. That said, the descriptions of the murders are graphic (although not nearly as detailed or gruesome as Tess Gerritsen or Karin Slaughter). The killer's identity is pretty obvious mainly because the red herrings may as well be labeled with flashing neon signs.
Rachel and Zac are likable as individuals, but their second-chances romance is the weakest in the series. The reasons for their divorce are never fully explained, and their reunion is very proforma without much chemistry or emotion.
All in all, Pike is turning out to be a small-town nexus for killers of all types. I definitely won't be moving there.
ladysadiereads's review
2.0
This was a great mystery that started in book one and had a great conclusion! That being said - it was wicked disappointing as a romance. This felt very much like a mystery with romantic elements and not a romance with a mystery. It was so plot driven that both Rachel and Zac felt like they didn’t get enough time on the page as a pair. They are divorced so this is a second chance romance - which I love when done well! - but honestly this wasn’t… They had real issues that broken them up that seemed to just… disappear since the serial killer made them “realize what is important.” I would say read if you want a mystery but don’t expect any sizzle or swoon if you pick this up.
Thank you to the author and publisher for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author and publisher for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.