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novelesque_life's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 STARS
" serial killer eludes an FBI profiler and a smalltown Nebraska sheriff in Kava's engaging debut, which manages to remain entertaining despite a fairly conventional plot line. As the story opens, recently appointed Sheriff Nick Morelli is as relieved as the rest of the citizens of Platte City that his predecessor, who also happens to be his father, has captured the child killer who plagued the town. But after the killer is executed, another child is discovered dead, and Morelli realizes that the convicted man was in fact a copycat killer, leaving the original criminal still on the prowl. Morelli gets some much-needed help in the investigation from FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell, but the hunt gets complicated when Morelli's sister, a journalist, leaks info to the media. Things become even stickier when O'Dell unearths a couple of unlikely suspects who've been dismissed by the police, and the search takes on a new level of urgency when Morelli's nephew is abducted and appears to be the next victim. Kava keeps her prose simple, but she does a nice job of setting up the chemistry between O'Dell and Morelli while balancing the various family issues Morelli faces in the investigation. She also makes good use of the smalltown milieu, tightening the tension by establishing that the killer is part of the fabric of the community. The result is a well-crafted page-turner involving the reader in the specter of murder in an intimate and disturbing fashion, with a plausible setup for a sequel." (From Amazon)
I love Maggie O'Dell! She is what a strong female lead should be, a fabulous story and great chemistry between the characters.
" serial killer eludes an FBI profiler and a smalltown Nebraska sheriff in Kava's engaging debut, which manages to remain entertaining despite a fairly conventional plot line. As the story opens, recently appointed Sheriff Nick Morelli is as relieved as the rest of the citizens of Platte City that his predecessor, who also happens to be his father, has captured the child killer who plagued the town. But after the killer is executed, another child is discovered dead, and Morelli realizes that the convicted man was in fact a copycat killer, leaving the original criminal still on the prowl. Morelli gets some much-needed help in the investigation from FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell, but the hunt gets complicated when Morelli's sister, a journalist, leaks info to the media. Things become even stickier when O'Dell unearths a couple of unlikely suspects who've been dismissed by the police, and the search takes on a new level of urgency when Morelli's nephew is abducted and appears to be the next victim. Kava keeps her prose simple, but she does a nice job of setting up the chemistry between O'Dell and Morelli while balancing the various family issues Morelli faces in the investigation. She also makes good use of the smalltown milieu, tightening the tension by establishing that the killer is part of the fabric of the community. The result is a well-crafted page-turner involving the reader in the specter of murder in an intimate and disturbing fashion, with a plausible setup for a sequel." (From Amazon)
I love Maggie O'Dell! She is what a strong female lead should be, a fabulous story and great chemistry between the characters.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Somewhat predictable but engrossing nonetheless.
The main characters are outlined well and there are hints of an underlying story that is still to come.
The main characters are outlined well and there are hints of an underlying story that is still to come.
mgrace221119's review against another edition
5.0
A very intense sort of disturbing thriller, with love and sacrifice splashed through it. A very enjoyable read, I didn't want to put the book down.
Beautifully written and easy to follow, over all just a really great crime book that had me constantly guessing and piecing together clues.
Beautifully written and easy to follow, over all just a really great crime book that had me constantly guessing and piecing together clues.
rainelle_barrett's review against another edition
5.0
Awesome book. Great read. Quick and easy page turner. Two thumbs up.
bettyboop25's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It got 4 stars only because of the ending...I feel like it was long and dragged out. I really liked the plot of the book and the characters were really developed and I can't wait to see where the Stucky case goes.
disastrouspenguin's review against another edition
3.0
The first novel in the Maggie O'Dell series, in which a serial killer of young boys is turned loose in a small town. Maggie is summoned to the scene and promptly identifies the culprit within the first few days. Despite this, the serial killer is never officially identified and easily escapes, leaving Maggie doubting her own intuition.
I liked this book both less and more than I thought I would. I was expecting greatness due to the 4+ average of stars here on GR. But just a couple pages into the book my hopes fell dramatically - the characters and the dialogue were almost child-like. This improved somewhat (Not much) as the book progress. On the other hand most of the plot was really well thought out, with well-paced chapters that kept me up past my bedtime a couple nights. 'Course, that's overlooking the fact that despite Maggie identifying the killer she doesn't take active steps to prove or disprove her theory. Ah well. I see potential in this series and will read more, but I am not holding my breath.
I liked this book both less and more than I thought I would. I was expecting greatness due to the 4+ average of stars here on GR. But just a couple pages into the book my hopes fell dramatically - the characters and the dialogue were almost child-like. This improved somewhat (Not much) as the book progress. On the other hand most of the plot was really well thought out, with well-paced chapters that kept me up past my bedtime a couple nights. 'Course, that's overlooking the fact that despite Maggie identifying the killer she doesn't take active steps to prove or disprove her theory. Ah well. I see potential in this series and will read more, but I am not holding my breath.
balthazarlawson's review against another edition
2.0
The ending of this book was rather predictable seeing as you have a serial killer and FBI profiler who has survived being attacked while solving her previous case. Clearly there is something lacking in the FBI training when supposedly intelligent people keep doing the same thing wrong. Plus the total lack of attention given to a child who has just survived being kidnapped is so wrong.
Many of the characters are flawed, not in a character sense but in the way the writer constructed them. It was just not well done. They don't fit together very well. I began to dislike many of them.
Half way through I just found it so frustrating and struggled to finish the book.
Many of the characters are flawed, not in a character sense but in the way the writer constructed them. It was just not well done. They don't fit together very well. I began to dislike many of them.
Half way through I just found it so frustrating and struggled to finish the book.
sjj169's review against another edition
4.0
I've just discoved the show "Criminal Minds" and it's become one of my very favorites. So when I picked up this book featuring Maggie O'Dell and she is a criminal profiler for the FBI I just jumped for joy.
maddileni's review against another edition
dark
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
3.75
sarah_bear's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0