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pam2375's review against another edition
3.0
This is a good (not great) crime novel. Our protag, Keye Street, is very Kinsey Millhouse like but grittier. Keye is an ex-FBI agent turned private detective. Her boyfriend is an Atlanta PD Detective.
This book is the second in a series and it seems that there will be more to come by Williams. I think that they will be a hit for those that like a quick crime drama with some comedy and a strong female lead.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing and Net Galley for this advanced readers copy.
This book is the second in a series and it seems that there will be more to come by Williams. I think that they will be a hit for those that like a quick crime drama with some comedy and a strong female lead.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing and Net Galley for this advanced readers copy.
karieh13's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve mostly moved away from reading mysteries/thrillers…unless 1) they are of the Jo Nesbo/Stieg Larsson variety or 2) it’s summertime. “Stranger in the Room” ended up on my reading list because of reason #2 – and I ended up liking it.
The first third or so was sort of “more of the same” when it comes to mysteries featuring former cop/FBI/CIA – turned PI. Keye Street is a recovering alcoholic, working on keeping her life and business together. I wasn’t totally involved in the plot – but did admire some of the descriptions of the South/Southern living.
“I’d been treated to this kind of suspicions from animals all my life, thanks to my mother’s attractions to wild things. But her love of nature and the desire to rescue the things it abandoned was, to her children, a glorious excursion into a heart she could not always freely share. My brother and I grew up with dew-covered grass slapping our ankles as we trailed behind our mother on early-morning treks through the rolling acreage behind the Methodist Children’s Home just a few blocks from our house. We followed her down the hill to the pond, where a pair of blue herons became so still at our arrival that we mistook them for driftwood at the water’s edge. But we always looked for them. Blue herons never fall out of love, Mother had told us. We tossed bread crumbs to the ducks and geese, and watched the fog light up out of the reeds, then burn off the lake in the early-morning sun. Jimmy and I know the songs of mockingbirds and the sudden stillness of a meadow at the shrill warning of a red-tailed hawk.”
At moments like these, what could be an average mystery, raises up to the level of a well written novel.
The latter part of the book was more interesting, as I settled into the writing and realized that Keye was not the hard-boiled, train wreck of a detective that is the star of most mysteries. There was something compelling about her, and the fact that she was able to maintain a healthy relationship with another detective, that kept me reading and at the end, put the book down with a sense of some well-spent summer reading time.
The first third or so was sort of “more of the same” when it comes to mysteries featuring former cop/FBI/CIA – turned PI. Keye Street is a recovering alcoholic, working on keeping her life and business together. I wasn’t totally involved in the plot – but did admire some of the descriptions of the South/Southern living.
“I’d been treated to this kind of suspicions from animals all my life, thanks to my mother’s attractions to wild things. But her love of nature and the desire to rescue the things it abandoned was, to her children, a glorious excursion into a heart she could not always freely share. My brother and I grew up with dew-covered grass slapping our ankles as we trailed behind our mother on early-morning treks through the rolling acreage behind the Methodist Children’s Home just a few blocks from our house. We followed her down the hill to the pond, where a pair of blue herons became so still at our arrival that we mistook them for driftwood at the water’s edge. But we always looked for them. Blue herons never fall out of love, Mother had told us. We tossed bread crumbs to the ducks and geese, and watched the fog light up out of the reeds, then burn off the lake in the early-morning sun. Jimmy and I know the songs of mockingbirds and the sudden stillness of a meadow at the shrill warning of a red-tailed hawk.”
At moments like these, what could be an average mystery, raises up to the level of a well written novel.
The latter part of the book was more interesting, as I settled into the writing and realized that Keye was not the hard-boiled, train wreck of a detective that is the star of most mysteries. There was something compelling about her, and the fact that she was able to maintain a healthy relationship with another detective, that kept me reading and at the end, put the book down with a sense of some well-spent summer reading time.
percy_keye_me's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
4.0
Listened for Fun!
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.25
Character Rating: 4.25
Audio Rating: 3.50 (not part of the overall rating)
First thought when finished: Keye is a leading character that has really grown on me. In this 2nd installment I have really grown to care what happens to her!
What I Thought of the Characters: Stranger in the Room continued the character development that I thought was so well done in The Stranger You Seek! Keye continues to grow, mess up, stumble, and struggle through while using her brilliant profiling skills. I said this when I reviewed The Stranger You Seek: "Character development was fantastically done and brilliantly executed." and it holds true for Stranger in the Room. Keye is a flawed character that you want to root for. There was a good bit of her family (mostly her cousin who is involved in this case) and Aaron Rauser (her lover and detective leading the main case)too. Keye's relationship with her adoptive parents is explored more too. What is brilliant is none of these elements take over the story. The case is still the main reason to be there!
What I Thought of the Case: Stranger in the Room was the type of thriller where you aren't really trying to guess who is doing it but more "why?". It really is a case of what goes with what and how do they all fall together. I really enjoyed how it played out and thought it was really well paced. The last 1/4 of the book really kicked it up a notch and the ending was really good. Amanda Kyle Williams did a good job of not forgetting that Keye had a job that wasn't helping Rauser track down his killer. The way she wove the two cases together worked really well!
What I Thought of the Audio: Narrated by Ann Marie Lee, Stranger in the Room runs 13 hrs and 2 mins. I grew to like the audio but I have to admit it took about half the book. I read the first one and I just didn't have Keye sounding quite the way that Ann Marie played her. I was also not a huge fan of how Rauser sounded. That being said the pacing was really well done. I also loved the emotion that Ann Marie brought to the story. Overall, I will probably stick to print in the future for this one (maybe) but I will try other audios with Ann Marie as the narrator.
Final Thought: I have read both The Stranger in the Room and The Stranger You Seek (book 1). This is a series that I am really enjoying and can't wait to see what Keye gets into next.
(Y'all her cat is named White Trash, there was a Mumu toe-sock wearing funeral home momma, AND poor Rauser's garden is being raided by the neighbor's cat. There is a nice little bit of humor in the book that will make you smile. It isn't a light thriller by any means but those moments are what I think makes Keye very human.)
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.25
Character Rating: 4.25
Audio Rating: 3.50 (not part of the overall rating)
First thought when finished: Keye is a leading character that has really grown on me. In this 2nd installment I have really grown to care what happens to her!
What I Thought of the Characters: Stranger in the Room continued the character development that I thought was so well done in The Stranger You Seek! Keye continues to grow, mess up, stumble, and struggle through while using her brilliant profiling skills. I said this when I reviewed The Stranger You Seek: "Character development was fantastically done and brilliantly executed." and it holds true for Stranger in the Room. Keye is a flawed character that you want to root for. There was a good bit of her family (mostly her cousin who is involved in this case) and Aaron Rauser (her lover and detective leading the main case)too. Keye's relationship with her adoptive parents is explored more too. What is brilliant is none of these elements take over the story. The case is still the main reason to be there!
What I Thought of the Case: Stranger in the Room was the type of thriller where you aren't really trying to guess who is doing it but more "why?". It really is a case of what goes with what and how do they all fall together. I really enjoyed how it played out and thought it was really well paced. The last 1/4 of the book really kicked it up a notch and the ending was really good. Amanda Kyle Williams did a good job of not forgetting that Keye had a job that wasn't helping Rauser track down his killer. The way she wove the two cases together worked really well!
What I Thought of the Audio: Narrated by Ann Marie Lee, Stranger in the Room runs 13 hrs and 2 mins. I grew to like the audio but I have to admit it took about half the book. I read the first one and I just didn't have Keye sounding quite the way that Ann Marie played her. I was also not a huge fan of how Rauser sounded. That being said the pacing was really well done. I also loved the emotion that Ann Marie brought to the story. Overall, I will probably stick to print in the future for this one (maybe) but I will try other audios with Ann Marie as the narrator.
Final Thought: I have read both The Stranger in the Room and The Stranger You Seek (book 1). This is a series that I am really enjoying and can't wait to see what Keye gets into next.
(Y'all her cat is named White Trash, there was a Mumu toe-sock wearing funeral home momma, AND poor Rauser's garden is being raided by the neighbor's cat. There is a nice little bit of humor in the book that will make you smile. It isn't a light thriller by any means but those moments are what I think makes Keye very human.)
sjj169's review against another edition
5.0
Ok..so I'm caught up with this series. Now what the hell am I going to read? Write fast Amanda Kyle Williams.
Keye Street is probably one of my all time favorite female characters in any book. I frigging want to be her. She is an recovering alcoholic, fired FBI profiler,Krispy Kreme do-nut eating, coffee swilling, "hot mess"...and I love her. She is full of snark and tough as nails. She doesn't of course see it that way.
And well...she drives this.
This book involves her cousin Miki a troubled drama queen who is trying to tell everyone that she is being stalked. At first no one takes her seriously because well...she is a dingbat. I know she is Keye's family but dang I never really liked her. So anyways, she calls Keye to help her out when she comes home and says she sees a man in her house. That's one part of the story.
The second story line going involves Rauser (Keye's boyfriend) tracking down a killer of a young teen-aged boy.
Then you have Keye hunting down what's going on in a northeast GA crematorium. Yes...that part is in GA's unsavory history.
This author blends the story-lines perfectly..she writes about Georgia so well that I fall in love with our state all over again each time I read one of these books.
As to why I gave this book the five star? Mrs. Mary Kate Stargell
Mary Kate gazed at Neil while he shoveled food in a way that made me uncomfortable. I entertained a vivid fantasy of her in a pointy witch's hat, cackling over a steaming pot of children.
I want more of these characters!!!
Keye Street is probably one of my all time favorite female characters in any book. I frigging want to be her. She is an recovering alcoholic, fired FBI profiler,Krispy Kreme do-nut eating, coffee swilling, "hot mess"...and I love her. She is full of snark and tough as nails. She doesn't of course see it that way.
And well...she drives this.
This book involves her cousin Miki a troubled drama queen who is trying to tell everyone that she is being stalked. At first no one takes her seriously because well...she is a dingbat. I know she is Keye's family but dang I never really liked her. So anyways, she calls Keye to help her out when she comes home and says she sees a man in her house. That's one part of the story.
The second story line going involves Rauser (Keye's boyfriend) tracking down a killer of a young teen-aged boy.
Then you have Keye hunting down what's going on in a northeast GA crematorium. Yes...that part is in GA's unsavory history.
This author blends the story-lines perfectly..she writes about Georgia so well that I fall in love with our state all over again each time I read one of these books.
As to why I gave this book the five star? Mrs. Mary Kate Stargell
Mary Kate gazed at Neil while he shoveled food in a way that made me uncomfortable. I entertained a vivid fantasy of her in a pointy witch's hat, cackling over a steaming pot of children.
I want more of these characters!!!
scknitter's review against another edition
5.0
If you haven’t yet discovered ex-fbi agent, recovering alcoholic, and current Atlanta PI Keye Street then you are missing out on a great new series featuring smart, sassy dialogue, lots of action, and wonderfully developed characters who help make the series so enjoyable. Fans of Karin Slaughter will love this hunt for a stalker and serial killer in the suburbs of Atlanta.
zacochsner's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
robinsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed the first in this series, THE STRANGER YOU SEEK and have been recommending it to anyone who likes thrillers in the Karin Slaughter/Lisa Gardner/Tess Gerritsen vein. This continues the series that features Keye Street, a former alcoholic who lost her FBI job and is now working as a PI in Atlanta, Georgia.
Publication date is late August 2012.
Publication date is late August 2012.
dgilmour's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the main character. Smart, sarcastic and funny. I thought it was well written and it kept me entertained so much that, I looked forward to curling up in my bed to see what happened next!