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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Wow, this was an amazing psychological thriller.
Det. Elise Sutton is married with 2 small daughters. Life is good, until she is shopping and hears gunshots. She shoots the gunman who was aiming at another man - the tall man. Now, the dead man haunts her and the tall man is stalking Elise.
Elise has taught a class talking about mistakes that killers make that lead to them being caught. It seems that the tall man has studied her lessons and is using that against her. Elise knows that until she kills the tall man, she and her family will not be safe.
Chilling.
Det. Elise Sutton is married with 2 small daughters. Life is good, until she is shopping and hears gunshots. She shoots the gunman who was aiming at another man - the tall man. Now, the dead man haunts her and the tall man is stalking Elise.
Elise has taught a class talking about mistakes that killers make that lead to them being caught. It seems that the tall man has studied her lessons and is using that against her. Elise knows that until she kills the tall man, she and her family will not be safe.
Chilling.
Detective Sutton has been working cold cases with her partner Rowan. It's safe and she can provide closure. When they stop to buy towels at a local superstore, Det. Sutton is thrown into an active shooter situation. She kills the shooter, saving multiple lives and is hailed a hero. Thus begins her nightmare. What Remains is a suspenseful, action-packed thriller where nothing is as it seems.
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I zoomed through this action packed thriller and was completely invested in the intense cat-and-mouse chase along with the jaw-dropping conclusion. Another 5 star read for this author.
A long-time fan of author Wendy Walker, (my 7th of her books), returns following Don't Look for Me with her latest crime thriller, WHAT REMAINS. A kick-off to her new Detective Elise Sutton series—she saves a life and then becomes caught up in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
As the book opens, Elsie is in a department store, Nichols Depot buying pink towels for her daughters when she hears two pops. She thinks she hears gunshots. Again two pops.
Her partner Rowan (former marine) is circling the parking lot because she said she would not be long. He has his demons.
She has spent 12 years in the department; this is the first time she has drawn a weapon in the outside world. (Strange) Her four years on active patrol had been quiet, and for the last 8, she has worked cold cases. (wow, this is dangerous)!
She has to balance the loved ones missing and dead, the empathy and implications of horrific crime with everyday life. She has never sought the thrill of the chase or a crime unfolding before her eyes.
Now she is here, ill-equipped for what she knows is happening.
She is married to Mitch (who was unfaithful to her 4 yrs. ago), with two daughters, Fran and Amy. She is a cop. One that is being tested. Rowan hears everything on her microphone. He is coming in.
She has a second to react. A shooter is pointing a gun. There is another guy he is pointing to. She yells police officer drop your weapon. The other man moves toward the dressing room, and the gun is aimed at him, and moves with him.
She aims and pulls the trigger. Her life is forever changed. Guilt-ridden, she will worry if she did the right thing. She becomes obsessed with knowing what happened and why? Was he going to kill the other guy? Did the two guys know one another? Did she shoot the wrong guy?
What about the pregnant woman in the dressing room and Wade's behavior she learns of later?
Elsie studied forensics because she was drawn to the order it created—solving puzzles and mysteries. She taught at the local college classes on evidence and crime scenes.
The novel alternates between the shooting, Elsie, and the guy she saved, now her stalker and worst nightmare, and the Kill room.
The kill room is about 36 miles from the department store in a rural area with thousands of acres of woodland in state preservation. No public utilities and a trail to a lookout. Available to licensed hunters for two weeks during the fall to reduce the deep population.
Now there is a body. Two hunters discover the remains. Three years earlier, a man was murdered at the same shelter. The press dubbed it the Kill Room, where hunters take their kill to clean and dress.
This shelter had a wood-burning stove, a well, and a hand pump in the main room. It also had a large animal cremation oven in the basement, which the media focused on when the body was found.
We learn about bones, cremation, DNA, teeth, chemical composition, and the CODIS database. We also learn about how to commit murder and get away with it.
Mind-bending, alternating parts following Elise, Guy 404 (the victim she saved who says he is Wade Austin, but not his real name), now her stalker, and Clay Lucas with mental problems, who found the gun—the shooter.
Told from dual perspectives in alternating chapters, Wade (404) and Elsie. Wade is always one step ahead of her, and she learns he has taken her classes, so he knows how to get around cops and the law.
Detective Elise Sutton is very complex and not a normal cop. She is, at times unhinged, impulsive, and has fears and weaknesses.
The book started with a bang, and then with the other Kill Room, and the back-and-forth cat and mouse became a little drawn out and repetitive. I did not connect with Elise as a character at all. She seems withdrawn and out there. I cannot put my finger on it, never quite read anything this bazaar.
While I enjoy Wendy's books immensely (an excellent writer, especially the literary suspense) and psychological fiction (her strengths), I was honestly not wild about WHAT REMAINS.
This one does not have the normal literary elements I find appealing and drawn to with her past novels. This is more of a wacky crime suspense. Even though Elise is not experienced with street smarts, her strengths are forensics, planning, and teaching. She is more behind the scenes solving cases.
At times I thought she was as obsessed as the stalker, trying to beat him at his own game. I'm not sure I like this series; however, because this is Wendy Walker, I will try the next one and see if it is different. I had to skip through many parts to get to the end.
You are unsure how the two storylines connect, but with all the crazies, you anticipate where the showdown will occur. I found it drawn out and did not hold my interest. I had high expectations and think I was a bit disappointed. At the same time, this is still four stars for me, just not my usual WW 5 stars. I am sure it will appeal to a certain audience.
If this is your first book by Wendy, you may enjoy it; however, I am spoiled by her writing with her previous six books, so I am comparing it. I am getting a little picky since this is my 183rd book YTD (mostly thrillers), and this is only June 12th, not quite mid-year.
A bit of a cautionary tale/trigger about guns, violence, mental health, and why killers watch shows and read and learn about how to kill. (not a fan). Guns in the wrong hands are readily available for people with mental illness, kids, violent people, or those high on drugs—which is not a good thing in our society of gun control. It must be stopped. Elsie does not make you feel very safe either as a cop.
Thanks to #BlackstonePublishing for an ARC via #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a different publisher, so maybe the difference.
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
June 2023 Must-Read Books List
Other WW books I have read or listened to:
Don't Look For Me 5 Stars
Emma In the Night 5 Stars
All Is Not Forgotten 5 Stars
The Night Before 5 Stars
#AuthorElevatorSeries QA Interview with Wendy:
Don't Look for Me
Audio
American Girl 5 Stars
Hold Your Breath 4 Stars
As the book opens, Elsie is in a department store, Nichols Depot buying pink towels for her daughters when she hears two pops. She thinks she hears gunshots. Again two pops.
Her partner Rowan (former marine) is circling the parking lot because she said she would not be long. He has his demons.
She has spent 12 years in the department; this is the first time she has drawn a weapon in the outside world. (Strange) Her four years on active patrol had been quiet, and for the last 8, she has worked cold cases. (wow, this is dangerous)!
She has to balance the loved ones missing and dead, the empathy and implications of horrific crime with everyday life. She has never sought the thrill of the chase or a crime unfolding before her eyes.
Now she is here, ill-equipped for what she knows is happening.
She is married to Mitch (who was unfaithful to her 4 yrs. ago), with two daughters, Fran and Amy. She is a cop. One that is being tested. Rowan hears everything on her microphone. He is coming in.
She has a second to react. A shooter is pointing a gun. There is another guy he is pointing to. She yells police officer drop your weapon. The other man moves toward the dressing room, and the gun is aimed at him, and moves with him.
She aims and pulls the trigger. Her life is forever changed. Guilt-ridden, she will worry if she did the right thing. She becomes obsessed with knowing what happened and why? Was he going to kill the other guy? Did the two guys know one another? Did she shoot the wrong guy?
What about the pregnant woman in the dressing room and Wade's behavior she learns of later?
Elsie studied forensics because she was drawn to the order it created—solving puzzles and mysteries. She taught at the local college classes on evidence and crime scenes.
The novel alternates between the shooting, Elsie, and the guy she saved, now her stalker and worst nightmare, and the Kill room.
The kill room is about 36 miles from the department store in a rural area with thousands of acres of woodland in state preservation. No public utilities and a trail to a lookout. Available to licensed hunters for two weeks during the fall to reduce the deep population.
Now there is a body. Two hunters discover the remains. Three years earlier, a man was murdered at the same shelter. The press dubbed it the Kill Room, where hunters take their kill to clean and dress.
This shelter had a wood-burning stove, a well, and a hand pump in the main room. It also had a large animal cremation oven in the basement, which the media focused on when the body was found.
We learn about bones, cremation, DNA, teeth, chemical composition, and the CODIS database. We also learn about how to commit murder and get away with it.
Mind-bending, alternating parts following Elise, Guy 404 (the victim she saved who says he is Wade Austin, but not his real name), now her stalker, and Clay Lucas with mental problems, who found the gun—the shooter.
Told from dual perspectives in alternating chapters, Wade (404) and Elsie. Wade is always one step ahead of her, and she learns he has taken her classes, so he knows how to get around cops and the law.
Detective Elise Sutton is very complex and not a normal cop. She is, at times unhinged, impulsive, and has fears and weaknesses.
The book started with a bang, and then with the other Kill Room, and the back-and-forth cat and mouse became a little drawn out and repetitive. I did not connect with Elise as a character at all. She seems withdrawn and out there. I cannot put my finger on it, never quite read anything this bazaar.
While I enjoy Wendy's books immensely (an excellent writer, especially the literary suspense) and psychological fiction (her strengths), I was honestly not wild about WHAT REMAINS.
This one does not have the normal literary elements I find appealing and drawn to with her past novels. This is more of a wacky crime suspense. Even though Elise is not experienced with street smarts, her strengths are forensics, planning, and teaching. She is more behind the scenes solving cases.
At times I thought she was as obsessed as the stalker, trying to beat him at his own game. I'm not sure I like this series; however, because this is Wendy Walker, I will try the next one and see if it is different. I had to skip through many parts to get to the end.
You are unsure how the two storylines connect, but with all the crazies, you anticipate where the showdown will occur. I found it drawn out and did not hold my interest. I had high expectations and think I was a bit disappointed. At the same time, this is still four stars for me, just not my usual WW 5 stars. I am sure it will appeal to a certain audience.
If this is your first book by Wendy, you may enjoy it; however, I am spoiled by her writing with her previous six books, so I am comparing it. I am getting a little picky since this is my 183rd book YTD (mostly thrillers), and this is only June 12th, not quite mid-year.
A bit of a cautionary tale/trigger about guns, violence, mental health, and why killers watch shows and read and learn about how to kill. (not a fan). Guns in the wrong hands are readily available for people with mental illness, kids, violent people, or those high on drugs—which is not a good thing in our society of gun control. It must be stopped. Elsie does not make you feel very safe either as a cop.
Thanks to #BlackstonePublishing for an ARC via #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a different publisher, so maybe the difference.
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
June 2023 Must-Read Books List
Other WW books I have read or listened to:
Don't Look For Me 5 Stars
Emma In the Night 5 Stars
All Is Not Forgotten 5 Stars
The Night Before 5 Stars
#AuthorElevatorSeries QA Interview with Wendy:
Don't Look for Me
Audio
American Girl 5 Stars
Hold Your Breath 4 Stars
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
This book had kind of a duel pov, I liked the stuff from detective Elise's perspective, although I didn't really care for her much as a character and I didn't like a lot of her choices. It wasn't revealed until the end who the other perspective was. Honestly, it was a little choppy for me and I wasn't overly invested or shocked by any of it.
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This was insanely good! To save a man only for him to go crazy and take things too far. It's not a murder mystery in the sense that you have to find out who the killer is, because you already know who it is. What you have to try and figure out is "why".
I will definitely be adding more Wendy Walker to my TBR. Her writing was on point. She had me drawn in from the get-go, and didn't release me until the book was finished. I very much enjoyed this chaotic ride... and I learned the best way to dispose of a body! (BAWHAHAHAHA!!)
I will definitely be adding more Wendy Walker to my TBR. Her writing was on point. She had me drawn in from the get-go, and didn't release me until the book was finished. I very much enjoyed this chaotic ride... and I learned the best way to dispose of a body! (BAWHAHAHAHA!!)
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Kidnapping
Wendy Walker hit it out of the park (yet again).
I became an immediate fan of her writing when I devoured "All is Not Forgotten" - it kept me on the edge of my seat and then slammed me with a sucker punch at the end of it.
This is a thriller/ mystery - so I don`t want to get too into the details but basically:
We start the story with our main character, Elise, in a department store when an individual comes in and starts shooting.
AND
Elise is a detective.
From there we jump into her feelings following the incident and as she tries to piece everything together. This book is told from dual POV - Elise is one of the narrators, but we don`t know who the other perspective is. What we do know is that as Elise tries to solve what happened in that department store there is another crime that might somehow be related to her incident.
As usual, I enjoyed the writing, the character development and the story. I thought that this one wasn't as shocking as some of Wendy Walker's previous thrillers - but was still really solid.
A fast-paced page turner. I would go back for more.
Happy publication day to Wendy Walker and "What Remains".
Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy in return for my honest review.
I became an immediate fan of her writing when I devoured "All is Not Forgotten" - it kept me on the edge of my seat and then slammed me with a sucker punch at the end of it.
This is a thriller/ mystery - so I don`t want to get too into the details but basically:
We start the story with our main character, Elise, in a department store when an individual comes in and starts shooting.
AND
Elise is a detective.
From there we jump into her feelings following the incident and as she tries to piece everything together. This book is told from dual POV - Elise is one of the narrators, but we don`t know who the other perspective is. What we do know is that as Elise tries to solve what happened in that department store there is another crime that might somehow be related to her incident.
As usual, I enjoyed the writing, the character development and the story. I thought that this one wasn't as shocking as some of Wendy Walker's previous thrillers - but was still really solid.
A fast-paced page turner. I would go back for more.
Happy publication day to Wendy Walker and "What Remains".
Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy in return for my honest review.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A