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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
A gripping romantic suspense novel featuring Laurel Snow, an FBI profiler with a dysfunctional and psychopathic family. When a serial killer escapes from custody and a woman’s body is soon found, the assumption is that the escaped prisoner is responsible, but the MO is wrong. Fast paced and spanning a period of around a week or so Laurel with the aid of Huck Rivers, the Wildlife and Fisheries officer and her partner must recapture a serial killer intent on revenge. As the body count rises so does the list of suspects including her sociopath half sister Abigail, her evil rapist father, and the ambitious journalist out to make a name for themselves who has a knack of turning up in just the right place. But as the victims are identified a link between them appears and it isn’t long before the clues start to point towards someone a little closer to home.
You Can Kill had everything I love in romantic suspense. With an intricate plot laden with twists, turns and intrigue. From psychological mind games between Laurel and the various protagonists, to Abigail’s seeming obsession with her sister, to the unwanted reappearance of father intent on forcing his way into her life, all these details kept me absorbed throughout my read. All set against the darkly atmospheric setting of the Pacific Northwest and if their professional lives weren’t turbulent enough, Laurel and Huck were dealing with impending changes in their personal lives together. This was romantic suspense at its best and Rebecca Zanetti is an author I’ll happily read again.
While not my first read by Rebecca Zanetti, this is the first book in the Laurel Snow series that I’ve read and events in You Can Kill do follow on from events in the earlier books. It didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this particular book, but it probably has affected how I’ll feel when I go back and read the rest of the series – my own fault for reading the series out of order.
Heart-stopping action and intrigue at the center of this gripping thriller had me glued to the pages.
You have got to admire the sheer audacity of Abigail and Zeke. I was also amazed at how similar these two were, and yet so different. And how they both wanted to be close to Laurel, but each for sinister reasons of their own.
Things got quite chaotic, with Laurel’s team scattered all over and Huck receiving more unwanted attention than he’d like. I felt like there were more enemies than friends around. Abigail and Zeke were their usual unpleasant, disturbing selves, with Abigail being significantly stealthier about it. Rachel was extremely annoying as well, as expected.
The murder suspects were a bit more predictable this time, but the way it unfolded wasn’t. Laurel and Huck’s relationship was also thoroughly put through the wringer. Despite everything thrown their way, they stayed true to each other. I love the two of them so much.
I thoroughly enjoyed every chilling reveal, every Huck/Laurel interaction, and even all the uncomfortable moments with Abigail and Zeke. This series is an excellent choice if you like suspense and romance. It is best to read the books in order.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I feel like I have to put this warning up front: there will not be spoilers for this book in my review but there may be spoilers for previous books. These books are, in my opinion, not meant to be read out of order. There is too much backstory between Laurel, her love interest Huck, her half-sister Abigail, and her bio “father” Ezekial. Not to mention the plethora of other characters, both good and evil.
The serial killer from one of Laurel’s previous cases has escaped, but he doesn’t leave town. He is out for vengeance, against both Laurel and Abigail. At the same time, a string of murders has Laurel, and everyone else, if there is a new killer on the loose or if the escaped prisoner has changed his usual MO. This story keeps you guessing if Abigail is up to her tricks again and whether or not she is in cahoots with their “father”, who seems to be even more diabolical and evil than I had initially thought. Meanwhile, Laurel’s team, her support system, are being forced out of her circle left and right.
As always, I adore Huck’s care and love for Laurel. He always gives her room to be herself while also being uber-protective. He knows Laurel is an independent woman and exceptionally good at her job, and he doesn’t want to get in the way of that. Laurel, for her part, is learning what it is to be in a relationship and sees things from a more emotional side rather than always analytically.
Abigail is not featured in this story as much as in previous books, and I was okay with that. The author does such a good job with her character that she if often hard for me to read she is just that creepy. But when Abigail is on page she does not disappoint. The last few chapters of this story are a whirlwind and left me with my jaw on the floor. Again, I don’t want to give spoilers, but seeing some characters break their usual mold was interesting. I cannot even begin to guess how they’ll get out of this new mess!
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Rape
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
You Can Kill by Rebecca Zanetti
Laurel Snow series #4. Romantic thriller. Best read in series order although this can be read as a stand-alone.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Laurel Snow is called to the local hospital in Genesis Valley where the last murderer she put in jail is under death watch. He still manages to escape even as Laurel tried to stop him. Brutal murder victims are now being found across the Pacific Northwest. Is it Jason Abbott finding new ways to kill, or is it someone else targeting family and friends of Laurel and Fish and Wildlife Captain Huck Rivers? Every victim is related to past cases the two have worked. No one is safe and everyone is suspect.
A reporter stirs up trouble. She’s visited Jason in jail and should be worried about her own safety but she’s more interested in ratings and scandal. And her targets are Laurel and Huck.
Laurel’s sister, Abigail, who is just as smart as Laurel, is playing a game only she knows.
Between Pastor John or Pastor Zeke, who is running the church and is there a connection to the body found on the property?
Who will be the next victim? Can they connect all the details and prevent another murder?
I’m not going into anymore detail. I don’t want to spoil the suspense.
“Icicles hung like sharpened spikes” - a great opening line to this next Laurel Snow thriller.
I feel each book in this series has gotten progressively better, and I think this is the best one yet.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to reread.
In You Can Kill by Rebecca Zanetti, a chilling wave of brutal murders sweeps through the Genesis Valley, WA, pulling rising star FBI profiler Laurel Snow into a web of danger and personal turmoil. This suspense thriller brings back all of Laurel’s nemeses, including her chaotic sister Abigail, her manipulative father, the relentless reporter Rachel Raprenzi, and the escaped serial killer Jason Abbott—plus a few intriguing newcomers!
What I loved most was diving deeper into Huck’s backstory while witnessing the evolution of his relationship with Laurel. Their dynamic adds an emotional layer to the suspense, making every twist and turn even more impactful.
With its perfect blend of crime, suspense, and romance, You Can Kill had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The dramatic conclusion will leave you wanting more of this series! If you’re a fan of thrilling reads that keep you guessing, this is a must-add to your TBR list!
I received an early copy of this book.
What I loved most was diving deeper into Huck’s backstory while witnessing the evolution of his relationship with Laurel. Their dynamic adds an emotional layer to the suspense, making every twist and turn even more impactful.
With its perfect blend of crime, suspense, and romance, You Can Kill had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The dramatic conclusion will leave you wanting more of this series! If you’re a fan of thrilling reads that keep you guessing, this is a must-add to your TBR list!
I received an early copy of this book.
First and foremost, for those reading this now and who don’t follow of my reviews, I am a long-time, devoted and die-hard Rebecca Zanetti fangirl. This is the sixth series of hers that I have read. While I absolutely love her paranormal/urban fantasy, Dark Protectors, series that started it all for me, I have also really enjoyed all of the crime thriller/romantic suspense series, like the Laurel Snow series, that she has transitioned into for many years now.
The gangs all back for this fourth installment: FBI Special Agent, Laurel, along with her motley crew of agents in the small, rural, FBI office in Genesis Valley, WA. Her significant other, Huck, a Fish and Game Warden is also back along with his K9 partner, Aeneas, a Karelian Bear dog (a massive and fierce doggie) and his Captain, Monty. I really enjoy crime thrillers with bad@$$ FMC’s, and I like Laurel, she’s a great character with some interesting quirks. Additionally, Laurel’s psycho sister, Abigail, is as crazy as ever and definitely has that totally creepy character going on that adds a lot to the series. In this installment, they’re wacko dad is back in town (he took off in book 2) and wreaking havoc – again!
The story picks up shortly after the last one where Laurel and Huck found out that they’re going to be parents. Laurel is still in her first trimester so she has a way to go and her and Huck haven’t told anyone. Furthermore, after getting attacked by Jason Abbott (the killer Laurel caught in the last installment) during his escape from a hospital (he tried to kill himself – again!), Laurel is concerned that once she does go public with the pregnancy, she will be benched, so to speak. Laurel can’t have that, especially now, since Jason escaped on her watch, so to speak. None of this is a spoiler since it’s how the story started.
Shortly after Jason’s escape, dead bodies start showing up (one of them Huck’s estranged mother who abandoned Huck when he was a baby) and everyone suspects Jason, until they don’t. There is also a secondary storyline of Laurel and Abigail’s father, Pastor Zeke, who is desperate to get alone in a room with Laurel and her mother, Deirdra, to make sure they don’t go public with the accusations that he raped Deirdra when she was a teenager. He just signed a deal to take his ridiculous holy roller show national and doesn’t want a scandal to ruin it.
This is not a standalone read! Actually, none of the series installments are standalone reads. The series needs to be read in order to get the whole story behind all the players’ lives, secrets and machinations and fully enjoy the series and all of its installments. JMHO The character development in this installment was a continuation of the character development throughout the series thus far. The pacing was steady to fast and the storylines were interesting and engrossing. The writing was classic Zanetti and what I’ve come to expect and enjoy with her work. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.6 that I will be rounding down to a 4.5star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #KensingtonPublishing #YouCanKill
The gangs all back for this fourth installment: FBI Special Agent, Laurel, along with her motley crew of agents in the small, rural, FBI office in Genesis Valley, WA. Her significant other, Huck, a Fish and Game Warden is also back along with his K9 partner, Aeneas, a Karelian Bear dog (a massive and fierce doggie) and his Captain, Monty. I really enjoy crime thrillers with bad@$$ FMC’s, and I like Laurel, she’s a great character with some interesting quirks. Additionally, Laurel’s psycho sister, Abigail, is as crazy as ever and definitely has that totally creepy character going on that adds a lot to the series. In this installment, they’re wacko dad is back in town (he took off in book 2) and wreaking havoc – again!
The story picks up shortly after the last one where Laurel and Huck found out that they’re going to be parents. Laurel is still in her first trimester so she has a way to go and her and Huck haven’t told anyone. Furthermore, after getting attacked by Jason Abbott (the killer Laurel caught in the last installment) during his escape from a hospital (he tried to kill himself – again!), Laurel is concerned that once she does go public with the pregnancy, she will be benched, so to speak. Laurel can’t have that, especially now, since Jason escaped on her watch, so to speak. None of this is a spoiler since it’s how the story started.
Shortly after Jason’s escape, dead bodies start showing up (one of them Huck’s estranged mother who abandoned Huck when he was a baby) and everyone suspects Jason, until they don’t. There is also a secondary storyline of Laurel and Abigail’s father, Pastor Zeke, who is desperate to get alone in a room with Laurel and her mother, Deirdra, to make sure they don’t go public with the accusations that he raped Deirdra when she was a teenager. He just signed a deal to take his ridiculous holy roller show national and doesn’t want a scandal to ruin it.
This is not a standalone read! Actually, none of the series installments are standalone reads. The series needs to be read in order to get the whole story behind all the players’ lives, secrets and machinations and fully enjoy the series and all of its installments. JMHO The character development in this installment was a continuation of the character development throughout the series thus far. The pacing was steady to fast and the storylines were interesting and engrossing. The writing was classic Zanetti and what I’ve come to expect and enjoy with her work. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.6 that I will be rounding down to a 4.5star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #KensingtonPublishing #YouCanKill
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
'How many people have you seen in the last two weeks who have worn red shoes?' She tried to take a moment away from thinking about the murder. 'That's a game I play with the deputy director of the FBI.''Yeah, but it's a fun game.' Her stomach finally settled. ' In the last two weeks, I would say probably twenty-eight.' 'Probably?' Sometimes she liked to sound as if she was being thoughtful about something when the number just popped into her head. 'Okay. Most certainly twenty-eight.'
Because of her emotional challenges and her quirky nature, Laurel Snow should be a completely unlovable character, but she has most definitely become one of my favorite persons in fiction. Her attempts to appear 'normal' make her lovable to me.
As the FBI agent in charge of the Pacific Northwest Violent Crimes Unit, Laurel Snow has proven herself to be superior at catching serial killers. Unfortunately, her most recent capture, Jason Abbott, has escaped from prison and a new series of killings has begun. Coincidence? Most likely not. Because the first murder victim was discovered half on federal land and half on state, Laurel and her significant other, Washington Fish and Wildlife captain Huck Rivers will once agin work together to solve the most recent crime spree.
Many families consider themselves to be dysfunctional but Laurel's family dynamics make yours and mine look like your average, everyday, run of the mill family. Her father has most definitely lead a nefarious lifestyle. He hides behind his role as pastor of the community church, giving the appearance of a pillar of the Genesis Valley society. Unfortunately, Laurel has no evidence to prove his past crimes. Her sister, Abagail, is most certainly a sociopath or psychopath. With a higher intelligence than the average person, Abagail believes no one will uncover her evil deeds; she is always two steps ahead of local law enforcement. No doubt, eventually Laurel will find what she needs to put her father and sister away for their multitude of violations. I do not look forward to that day because I fear it will be the end of a series that I have grown so fond of and eagerly anticipate reading future installments.
Every single book in this series has captivated me and held me in it's thrall. 'You Can Kill' was no exception. The story is filled with a number of strong, capable, and intelligent women, both good and evil. Even knowing that Abigail is not a good person, her dysfunction and wicked ways are intriguing. I want her to be caught in the act and at the same time I am curious what she will come up with next. To see two minds of the same caliber, one for good and one for evil, pitted against one another has made for a suspenseful, dynamic, and powerful read. I have recommended this series a number of times to friends and family.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wow! This series just keeps getting better! I love the feeling of danger that lingers at the edges of this story with each turn of the page. I never know what to expect or when something alarming and terrifying is going to happen. Which of course keeps me turning the pages. When you add in that Laurel is a character unlike any I’ve read before I have found myself totally addicted.
This storyline, at times, gave me creepy crawlies…and it was awesome! While this book gives us a resolution to these murders, there are still issues to be dealt with and I just know Abigail is going to show us what she’s really made of at some point. The fact that I don’t know where, when or how keeps me on edge constantly. Mrs. Zanetti is a master at romantic suspense and I’m for the ride til the very end!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
🇫🇷French & English reviews🇬🇧
*Cette chronique est basée sur un NetGalley ARC en échange d'un avis neutre et honnête*
Genre & Tropes : suspense romance x serial killers plot x psycho family x thriller x very cold small town x Unforgettable tv series vibes
Le quatrième tome des aventures Lauren Snow que j'ai absolument dévoré
OK c'est difficile pour moi de faire cette chronique sans spoilers parce qu'il se passe TELLEMENT DE TRUCS DE DINGUES dans ce tome !! Ce qui explique que je l'ai lu en une seule journée ce que je regrette beaucoup maintenant ><
Après la révélation du dernier tome concernant Lauren et sa vie personnelle, j'étais hyper impatiente de voir ce que ça allait donner et je dois avouer que j'ai un petit faible pour toute la relation entre Huck et Lauren qui est tout en douceur et en réconfort (même si mon coeur s'est fortement brisé ><) Leur relation est LE gros point fort pour moi de ce tome et même de toute cette série !
Les intrigues très tordues créent une ambiance forte en tension et en stress et j'ai adoré soupçonner tout le monde (même si j'avoue, un peu déçue qu'une certaine ex particulièrement pénible ne se fasse pas tuer pour de bon !)
Et CETTE FIN ! Je m'attendais pas à ça et j'ai tellement hâte de mettre la main sur le prochain tome !
Bref, une romance à suspense avec des intrigues bien tordues à dévorer sans modération ! Si vous aimez les thrillers bien tordus mais aussi les romances toutes douces, je recommande toute cette série !
PS : to the publisher and Netgalley, thank you so much for the ARC =D
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*This review is based on a NetGalley ARC in exchange for a neutral and honest review*
The fourth book of the Lauren Snow adventures that I absolutely devoured
OK it's hard for me to do this review without spoilers because SO MUCH CRAZY STUFF happens in this book !! Which explains why I read it in one day, which I regret a lot now ><
After the revelation in the last book concerning Lauren and her personal life, I was really impatient to see what it would be like and I must admit that I have a little weakness for the whole relationship between Huck and Lauren which is all sweetness and comfort (even if my heart was seriously broken ><) Their relationship is THE big strong point for me of this book and even of this whole series !
The very twisted plots create an atmosphere full of tension and stress and I loved suspecting everyone (even if I must admit, a little disappointed that a certain particularly annoying ex didn't get killed for good !)
And THIS END ! I didn't expect that and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book !
In short, a suspense romance with twisted plots to devour without moderation! If you like twisted thrillers but also sweet romances, I recommend this whole series !
PS: to the publisher and Netgalley, thank you so much for the ARC =D
*Cette chronique est basée sur un NetGalley ARC en échange d'un avis neutre et honnête*
Genre & Tropes : suspense romance x serial killers plot x psycho family x thriller x very cold small town x Unforgettable tv series vibes
Le quatrième tome des aventures Lauren Snow que j'ai absolument dévoré
OK c'est difficile pour moi de faire cette chronique sans spoilers parce qu'il se passe TELLEMENT DE TRUCS DE DINGUES dans ce tome !! Ce qui explique que je l'ai lu en une seule journée ce que je regrette beaucoup maintenant ><
Après la révélation du dernier tome concernant Lauren et sa vie personnelle, j'étais hyper impatiente de voir ce que ça allait donner et je dois avouer que j'ai un petit faible pour toute la relation entre Huck et Lauren qui est tout en douceur et en réconfort (même si mon coeur s'est fortement brisé ><) Leur relation est LE gros point fort pour moi de ce tome et même de toute cette série !
Les intrigues très tordues créent une ambiance forte en tension et en stress et j'ai adoré soupçonner tout le monde (même si j'avoue, un peu déçue qu'une certaine ex particulièrement pénible ne se fasse pas tuer pour de bon !)
Et CETTE FIN ! Je m'attendais pas à ça et j'ai tellement hâte de mettre la main sur le prochain tome !
Bref, une romance à suspense avec des intrigues bien tordues à dévorer sans modération ! Si vous aimez les thrillers bien tordus mais aussi les romances toutes douces, je recommande toute cette série !
PS : to the publisher and Netgalley, thank you so much for the ARC =D
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*This review is based on a NetGalley ARC in exchange for a neutral and honest review*
The fourth book of the Lauren Snow adventures that I absolutely devoured
OK it's hard for me to do this review without spoilers because SO MUCH CRAZY STUFF happens in this book !! Which explains why I read it in one day, which I regret a lot now ><
After the revelation in the last book concerning Lauren and her personal life, I was really impatient to see what it would be like and I must admit that I have a little weakness for the whole relationship between Huck and Lauren which is all sweetness and comfort (even if my heart was seriously broken ><) Their relationship is THE big strong point for me of this book and even of this whole series !
The very twisted plots create an atmosphere full of tension and stress and I loved suspecting everyone (even if I must admit, a little disappointed that a certain particularly annoying ex didn't get killed for good !)
And THIS END ! I didn't expect that and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book !
In short, a suspense romance with twisted plots to devour without moderation! If you like twisted thrillers but also sweet romances, I recommend this whole series !
PS: to the publisher and Netgalley, thank you so much for the ARC =D
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I love this series. The twisted family members add so much tension. Abigail stresses me out because you never know what she's going to do next. I did struggle a bit with Laurel in this book because she's super smart but seemed to miss a lot of connections during this investigation. She did have a lot going on in her personal life though.
There are some great side characters that I love getting to know and Huck's dog is adorable. Laurel & Huck are really cute together and it's been so nice to watch them both come out of their shells. I was so stressed for both of them in this investigation. They always seem to end up with a target on their backs and I never know how it'll be resolved. The ending was explosive with a rollercoaster of emotions. I can't wait to see what Abigail gets up to in the next and how Laurel & Huck will deal with everything.
I read an ARC via NetGalley
There are some great side characters that I love getting to know and Huck's dog is adorable. Laurel & Huck are really cute together and it's been so nice to watch them both come out of their shells. I was so stressed for both of them in this investigation. They always seem to end up with a target on their backs and I never know how it'll be resolved. The ending was explosive with a rollercoaster of emotions. I can't wait to see what Abigail gets up to in the next and how Laurel & Huck will deal with everything.
I read an ARC via NetGalley