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paulabrandon's review against another edition
1.0
Lisa Jackson clearly had two different incomplete manuscripts sitting in her desk drawer, and decided to throw them together to make a full-length novel.
Then one of the main storylines isn't resolved (), expecting you to buy the next in the series to find out what happens! That is just cheap and lazy.
Also, Lisa never can seem to find a reason not to include the word "damn" in every other sentence. I'm no prude - it's another example of how lazy and uninspired her writing is.
All reasons why this shocker should be left to die a cold, freezing death on the shelf.
Then one of the main storylines isn't resolved (
Spoiler
THE IDENTITY OF THE FREAKING STAR-CROSSED KILLER!!!!Also, Lisa never can seem to find a reason not to include the word "damn" in every other sentence. I'm no prude - it's another example of how lazy and uninspired her writing is.
All reasons why this shocker should be left to die a cold, freezing death on the shelf.
joc_rhino's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
1st in a series. Will make you want to continue onto the next.
kaoticblissmlt's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ilaurin's review against another edition
3.0
This was just an OK read but hoping it is due to introducing a new serie with all the characters. Not quite a cliff hanger at the end but definitely big opened points. Mystery was fine but the romantic part was not very believable, you did not feel the big passion.
nixerix's review against another edition
4.0
I cannot deny to myself that I really loved this book. A fast-paced and engaging book that offers many POVs, some really good characters, enjoyable setting and a healthy amount of action. I liked that we see perspectives from the police, victims and also the antagonists. I pushed my bedtime back to keep reading this, which is always one of those indicators for me personally to say that a read is very good. HOWEVER.... I cannot give this 5 stars because there are some very plausible and unbelievable scenarios that bordered on being ridiculous. There was also a LOT that was too convenient, which is perhaps one of my biggest pet peeves when reading. Even with great authors it always feels cheap and lazy.
There are two intersecting storylines going on with multiple characters involved. The sub-plot (featuring Rivers and MacGregor) that finished was rushed to an ending and didn't feel terribly satisfying, given that I really enjoyed that sub-plot and the characters within. Not to mention that there was a tremendous amount of build-up, only for it to end so quickly. It felt incomplete. The main plot was left on a cliffhanger so that readers will be enticed to read the next book, which is of course a direct continuation. I understand that this book is the first in a series, but MANY great series do not depend on cliffhangers in order to keep interest. Lisa Jackson is a talented enough author that I didn't feel she needed to depend on this tactic and it irked me a bit.
Jackson probably could have fleshed the book out a little bit more and maybe not had to leave it on a cliffhanger at all if there weren't SO many pages dedicated to Pescoli's absolutely awful spawn, her complaints of her first husband dying (because how dare he), or her problems with her still living ex-husband. Of the two main detectives (Alvarez and Pescoli), I much prefer Alvarez. She isn't given nearly as much backstory or attention as her partner is, which I noticed and felt disappointed by. The author gushes over how much she just LOVES and relates to Pescoli's character which is probably why we hear so much about her life throughout. But who cares? It doesn't make me relate to her "tough-as-nails super cop who's married to her job but also a single mom" character. It's a trope played out often enough in detective novels and it didn't leave any kind of impression on me here. I wish more time was spent on the plot(s), or even to develop other characters.
Left to Die made enough of an impression that I do truly want to find out what happens next. It's a rarity for me to want to read the same author back-to-back, so I count this as another good point in this book's favor, as I am going to immediately start on the next book. There are so many unanswered questions, loose ends and unfinished business that all need attending to that I hope I will find in the next book.
There are two intersecting storylines going on with multiple characters involved. The sub-plot (featuring Rivers and MacGregor) that finished was rushed to an ending and didn't feel terribly satisfying, given that I really enjoyed that sub-plot and the characters within. Not to mention that there was a tremendous amount of build-up, only for it to end so quickly. It felt incomplete. The main plot was left on a cliffhanger so that readers will be enticed to read the next book, which is of course a direct continuation. I understand that this book is the first in a series, but MANY great series do not depend on cliffhangers in order to keep interest. Lisa Jackson is a talented enough author that I didn't feel she needed to depend on this tactic and it irked me a bit.
Jackson probably could have fleshed the book out a little bit more and maybe not had to leave it on a cliffhanger at all if there weren't SO many pages dedicated to Pescoli's absolutely awful spawn, her complaints of her first husband dying (because how dare he), or her problems with her still living ex-husband. Of the two main detectives (Alvarez and Pescoli), I much prefer Alvarez. She isn't given nearly as much backstory or attention as her partner is, which I noticed and felt disappointed by. The author gushes over how much she just LOVES and relates to Pescoli's character which is probably why we hear so much about her life throughout. But who cares? It doesn't make me relate to her "tough-as-nails super cop who's married to her job but also a single mom" character. It's a trope played out often enough in detective novels and it didn't leave any kind of impression on me here. I wish more time was spent on the plot(s), or even to develop other characters.
Left to Die made enough of an impression that I do truly want to find out what happens next. It's a rarity for me to want to read the same author back-to-back, so I count this as another good point in this book's favor, as I am going to immediately start on the next book. There are so many unanswered questions, loose ends and unfinished business that all need attending to that I hope I will find in the next book.
bikes_books_yarn's review
3.0
A great start to a series. I was guessing and second guessing myself throughout the book. I immediately downloaded the next book in the series to see where things are going to go. The first book ends with an unresolved plot, which annoys me, but it worked for them because I had to get the next book.
jazzrizz's review against another edition
3.0
Another great cliffhanger book from [author: Lisa Jackson].
I really like the characters in this book. I'm really looking forward to [book: Chosen to Die].
I really like the characters in this book. I'm really looking forward to [book: Chosen to Die].
siobhanward's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
If you're hoping you can read this as a standalone novel, just go ahead and give it a pass right now. Jackson uses this book to set up the rest of the series (fine), but does so by not resolving the main conflict. You're just left hanging with no inkling as to who the bad guy is or what is going to happen. I get that these series sometimes have one baddie that takes a few books to catch, but I don't think I've ever seen it happen in the first book, and certainly not to this degree.
Lack of ending aside, the book was fine. There was a whole lot of set up for no ending (and I don't want to read further into the series because really who knows how many books I'll have to read before I find a conclusion) and it felt like things just kept moving in circles. Regan's kids acted bratty but she seemed to find no fault in herself or her parenting, which was frustrating, and Selena had so little introduction into the story that for the first chunk of the book I kept thinking Jillian was the other agent... I'm sure this series gets better, since I picked up the book in a reprint, but this was a rough start.
Lack of ending aside, the book was fine. There was a whole lot of set up for no ending (and I don't want to read further into the series because really who knows how many books I'll have to read before I find a conclusion) and it felt like things just kept moving in circles. Regan's kids acted bratty but she seemed to find no fault in herself or her parenting, which was frustrating, and Selena had so little introduction into the story that for the first chunk of the book I kept thinking Jillian was the other agent... I'm sure this series gets better, since I picked up the book in a reprint, but this was a rough start.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Gun violence
Minor: Death of parent and Medical content
evanrude's review against another edition
2.0
Found this book irritatingly slow... skipped ahead through much of it to consider it read. Just not for me.
jennawhite0813's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting plot. It was a little slow at times, but the last few chapters was when it finally got to a point where I couldn't put the book down. Hoping the next book in the series will get things moving along.