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yvo_about_books's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.25
Finished reading: January 20th 2024
"Fear was the greatest weapon you could use to control someone."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Raven Street Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
I've been with this series since the first book was published back in 2016, so I'm very excited to see new sequels popping up more regularly again. The Detective Erika Foster series is easily one of my favorite detective series, both because of the cast of characters and the writing itself. The books tend to be fast-paced, extremely engaging and suspenseful, and Lethal Vengeance is no exception to that rule. It turned out to be yet another successful detective slash serial killer thriller!
Before I continue, I have to stress that while you can technically read Lethal Vengeance as a stand-alone without missing out on too much information, I personally wouldn't recommend it. The previous books are all excellent detective thrillers, and you won't fully appreciate the little nuances in Erika's character as well as the dynamics with the rest of the team otherwise... The case in this sequel stand on its own though, and it's another serial killer murder investigation; although this time with a conspiracy-vibe twist.
Lethal Vengeance uses a POV structure that switches between our detective Erika Foster and the killer: Annabelle. I always love a good serial killer POV, so I was especially intrigued to learn more about Annabelle and her motivations to do what she does. This doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy spending time with Erika though, and I liked what both POVs contributed to the plot. There is quite some focus on child abuse, abuse in general as well as rape along the way, so make sure to brace yourself for some trigger warning worthy content as well as the usual dose of murder.
There is something about the writing that makes it incredibly easy to fly through the story, and the only reason I didn't read Lethal Vengeance in one sitting was because I simply didn't have the time. The banter helps balance everything out, and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged... In a way it was a shame you already know who is behind it all with Annabelle's POV being so prominent, but since you don't know her 'real' identity there is still some speculation possible. There is also the conspiracy vibe to consider, and the mysterious man and threats popping up to keep you on your toes.
If you are looking for an engaging, suspenseful and twisted serial killer slash detective thriller, Lethal Vengeance is a great choice! I can highly recommend the whole series for that matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Alcohol, Death of parent, Infidelity, Rape, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Confinement, Murder, Violence, and Sexual assault
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