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karlyo83's review against another edition
3.0
My Rating System: 3.5 rounded down to 3⭐️⭐️⭐️ ticked some boxes and not others but was (to quote my good friend GirlWithThePinkSkiMask) HONDA CIVIC RELIABLE!!
Someone is banging furiously on your door…
You open it, it is the daughter of the woman you are dating…
She’s terrified, covered in blood and says her mum is hurt or dead.
You let her in and try and get the story straight - but as you’re speaking to her you get a text.
It is an Amber Alert for the young girl standing in front of you, the alert has been sent to four million phones in the Bay Area letting them know she has been abducted by a dangerous suspect… Who is the suspect… It’s You!!!
Wow what a catch line - this one got me and I have had it on my TBR list for AGES so I figured why not start the new year with a bang!!! It was definitely a page turner, filled with action (maybe not for everyone), its a standalone police/thriller type novel so no series to commit to… so why the 3 star rating you ask… wellllllll….
I will start with the positives - as mentioned it was high action and go go go from the start. I really liked the style of writing from the get go - it really reminded me of [a:Mark Griffin|8305935|Mark Griffin|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and his Holly Wakefield series (which is awesome so check that out) but similar style. It was not an alternating POV mostly told from the first person of whoever was the MC at the time which happened to be Jake Ellis the suspect who also happens to be a SF Police Officer. The writing was catchy the sentences short and it hooked me in.
I really liked the premise and to be honest even though the red herrings were there I didn’t guess the killer. AND the really good bit was it linked back to a legit (for a criminal) reason to commit said crimes. The police work was solid…. Leads were followed up, there was a podcaster angle which I normally hate but this was done quite well, it was amaturish but that was the point and I liked that. Chrissie the Podcaster was actually quite likeable. The FBI were involved and they were following up on leads and tips and taking all the legitimate action required.
There wasn’t too much crash, bang action movie action until the end up lets be honest these books always have that kind of full on ending with a tied up neatly bow on it so you know exactly who did what and why… it wasn’t annoying this time and I was glad to find out all the details I had actually missed.
I hear you say… for the love of god Karly…. Why the 3 stars … weeellll… It was LONG too long. There was so much repetition in this one that I simply couldn’t rate it any higher. We were told a lot of information two, three or four times by the same or different people. Or through inner monologue, I find this irritating and I begin to skip sections of the book looking for new information not stuff I have already read… so for me thats stars off.
Along with being repetitive there was a huge emphasis on location, I get it we need to know this stuff… but not down to street names. I live no where in the world near San Francisco so the street names of every turn really aren’t relevant to me, it was a little much like someone was trying to prove they had done their research on the place. I dunno it was just a filler for me.
Don’t get me wrong… I liked this book, I will read more by this author loved the style and it definitely had me committed to the ending… I just think considering my above points for me it wasn’t a 4 or 5 star book. But to quote a good friend of mine (here’s looking at you Pink
Someone is banging furiously on your door…
You open it, it is the daughter of the woman you are dating…
She’s terrified, covered in blood and says her mum is hurt or dead.
You let her in and try and get the story straight - but as you’re speaking to her you get a text.
It is an Amber Alert for the young girl standing in front of you, the alert has been sent to four million phones in the Bay Area letting them know she has been abducted by a dangerous suspect… Who is the suspect… It’s You!!!
Wow what a catch line - this one got me and I have had it on my TBR list for AGES so I figured why not start the new year with a bang!!! It was definitely a page turner, filled with action (maybe not for everyone), its a standalone police/thriller type novel so no series to commit to… so why the 3 star rating you ask… wellllllll….
I will start with the positives - as mentioned it was high action and go go go from the start. I really liked the style of writing from the get go - it really reminded me of [a:Mark Griffin|8305935|Mark Griffin|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and his Holly Wakefield series (which is awesome so check that out) but similar style. It was not an alternating POV mostly told from the first person of whoever was the MC at the time which happened to be Jake Ellis the suspect who also happens to be a SF Police Officer. The writing was catchy the sentences short and it hooked me in.
I really liked the premise and to be honest even though the red herrings were there I didn’t guess the killer. AND the really good bit was it linked back to a legit (for a criminal) reason to commit said crimes. The police work was solid…. Leads were followed up, there was a podcaster angle which I normally hate but this was done quite well, it was amaturish but that was the point and I liked that. Chrissie the Podcaster was actually quite likeable. The FBI were involved and they were following up on leads and tips and taking all the legitimate action required.
There wasn’t too much crash, bang action movie action until the end up lets be honest these books always have that kind of full on ending with a tied up neatly bow on it so you know exactly who did what and why… it wasn’t annoying this time and I was glad to find out all the details I had actually missed.
I hear you say… for the love of god Karly…. Why the 3 stars … weeellll… It was LONG too long. There was so much repetition in this one that I simply couldn’t rate it any higher. We were told a lot of information two, three or four times by the same or different people. Or through inner monologue, I find this irritating and I begin to skip sections of the book looking for new information not stuff I have already read… so for me thats stars off.
Along with being repetitive there was a huge emphasis on location, I get it we need to know this stuff… but not down to street names. I live no where in the world near San Francisco so the street names of every turn really aren’t relevant to me, it was a little much like someone was trying to prove they had done their research on the place. I dunno it was just a filler for me.
Don’t get me wrong… I liked this book, I will read more by this author loved the style and it definitely had me committed to the ending… I just think considering my above points for me it wasn’t a 4 or 5 star book. But to quote a good friend of mine (here’s looking at you Pink
emdee00's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
amys_booknook's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
marnold126's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
bethkilcoyne's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
readingmeg's review against another edition
3.0
Young Molly turns up at her mums boyfriend Jake Ellis's door covered in blood, scared and upset, her mum has been shot. There's an amber alert out for her abduction, the suspect is Jake.
I really enjoy this book, I loved the storyline behind it, it was something I haven't read before. The story kept me wanting to read on and find out what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed the opening, it had me gripped right from the start. The characters were well formed in the book, at first I didn't like FBI agent Catherine Lark but in the end she really grew on me. I love when a book can change your mind on a character.
The book flips between 4 different perspectives, Jake the abductor, Molly the young girl, Catherine the FBI agent and Kelly the reporter. I loved the addition of the online reporter Kelly, it was so unexpected when she was introduced to the book but it made it feel more real, like I could genuinely see someone wanting to get to the front of the story like she wanted!
The only downfall I have with the book is that I guessed the plot of the book quite early on though, I'm usually never able to do that! I felt like it was quite obvious, which was quite disappointing.
In all I still enjoyed it, it was a good read, I would definitely recommend it if your looking for a new crime, whodunnit book!
I really enjoy this book, I loved the storyline behind it, it was something I haven't read before. The story kept me wanting to read on and find out what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed the opening, it had me gripped right from the start. The characters were well formed in the book, at first I didn't like FBI agent Catherine Lark but in the end she really grew on me. I love when a book can change your mind on a character.
The book flips between 4 different perspectives, Jake the abductor, Molly the young girl, Catherine the FBI agent and Kelly the reporter. I loved the addition of the online reporter Kelly, it was so unexpected when she was introduced to the book but it made it feel more real, like I could genuinely see someone wanting to get to the front of the story like she wanted!
The only downfall I have with the book is that I guessed the plot of the book quite early on though, I'm usually never able to do that! I felt like it was quite obvious, which was quite disappointing.
In all I still enjoyed it, it was a good read, I would definitely recommend it if your looking for a new crime, whodunnit book!
laura_jf_17's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
4.0
tdavies1977's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, this book was all-action right from the word go! It sounds awful, but I kept expecting a plot-hole, just for something to not add up, but Knight pieced everything together perfectly.
Character development was interesting, even down to the secondary characters such as the woman who took Molly to hospital. I also enjoyed the angle of the blogger versus the police, certainly something I’ve not read about before.
I DID guess the perpetrator but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment; it was more of a ‘high-five, go me!’ moment!
Never read anything by this author before, but I would definitely be interested in his other work.
Thank you to NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Character development was interesting, even down to the secondary characters such as the woman who took Molly to hospital. I also enjoyed the angle of the blogger versus the police, certainly something I’ve not read about before.
I DID guess the perpetrator but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment; it was more of a ‘high-five, go me!’ moment!
Never read anything by this author before, but I would definitely be interested in his other work.
Thank you to NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
iceteaa's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
What I expected from this book is not at all what I got in the best possible way
bookworm_brad's review against another edition
5.0
I read the very short blurb for this one it sounded exciting, my kind of book. I wasn't familiar with the author as this appears to be his first book. All I can say is; what a fabulous first novel. Fast paced and up to date with social media aspects which added to the overall believability of the story.
I did work out the villain early on but not the reason, which did come a little out of nowhere.
Anyway, a great novel which I'd recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery/thriller.
The narration was top notch too with many different and distinct voices for the characters.
I did work out the villain early on but not the reason, which did come a little out of nowhere.
Anyway, a great novel which I'd recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery/thriller.
The narration was top notch too with many different and distinct voices for the characters.