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tsquare345's review against another edition
3.0
Of course, the one that wants you dead is the one that betrayed you in the worst way. I really want David and Elise to work through their baggage and be together in whatever way they can be together.
Part of the Kindle Unlimited catalog.
Part of the Kindle Unlimited catalog.
lordfarquadxi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Anne Frasier delivers the third in the gritty and edgy (Elise Sandburg Series) crime thriller, PRETTY DEAD. Taking readers to the mysterious southern Savannah, Georgia— a dynamic duo, with a past of their own--Homicide detective Elise Sandburg and partner/profiler, David Gould.
Savannah had a reputation for being weird. The city embraced it, with ghost tours and the ongoing stigma attached to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. However, it was a city of historic beauty and culture. A little of good and evil. “Beneath beauty lie many dark deeds.”
A deranged, psycho-evil, and twisted serial killer is out there, and these two are determined to track him down, no matter the dangers or obstacles. Will he outsmart this team? Have they met their match?
As the book opens, we meet a serial killer, hooked on death. The more he kills, the more he wanted to do so. Addiction to the quest for pleasure. The high. He needed variety so as not to be bored. Since he is sick of snow in Philadelphia, he is looking for warmer weather—Savannah seems like a good choice, so he makes his plan.
Elise Sandburg had been made head detective of Savannah Police Department and he was looking at a photo of her taken in a cemetery behind the police department. She was attractive and the man beside of her, David Gould—a handsome man. His favorite type – twenty-something, dark-haired males-younger versions of Gould. He likes to do them and then kill them. Since he was an opportunistic killer, in order to play against type, he sometimes went for females. Of course, they were not his drug of choice.
What comes first, the killer or the kill?
He devoured profiler books and he knew how to avoid the stereotypes. So with each move, he became a different person, a different profile. He was going to Savannah, Georgia.
Six month earlier David and Elise bonded over injuries and suffered at the hands of the monster the press called “The Organ Thief. Now they are stuck with Jay Thomas Paul, early forties an over enthusiastic reporter, for the New York Times. He shadows their every move. He seems to always be listening and watching.
At first the victims appear to be women involved in illegal activity. Prostitutes or drug deals gone bad, or so the mayor believes, so he can say the beautiful southern town is safe. Caroline, the mayor's daughter becomes a victim and is murdered. The pressure is on to find the killer.
Then there is her Elsie’s estranged father, Jackson Sweet who is called in to consult with the investigation, and an FBI profiler-- Vic Lamont who David blames for his son’s death. His dead ex-wife and Lamont—it had been two years since he lived in the darkness. In the past he turned to prescription drugs, alcohol, and sex with strangers. So now both Elsie and David both to re-live their past, now a major part of the present.
All the while there is tension between Elsie and Jackson, and her thirteen year old daughter, Audrey who wants to see her grandfather. Then another key player winds up murdered and suspicions mount-- no one can be trusted---some need protection, and loyalties are strong. Now David is a prime suspect.
A game of cat and mouse, puzzle patterns, with a serial killer trying to become the person he plays, while enjoying outsmarting David Gould. Now Audrey may be in danger. Will they discover the identity of the killer, before it is too late?
A lot of elements going on and the author keeps a fast pace, with heart- pounding intensity. Strong emotions and tensions mount between two key characters and people from their past. From crazy clues to crossword puzzles—crossing many genres: a mix of dark humor, wit, psycho, suspense, paranormal, and a delicious crime thriller.
Ending with a shocker, looking forward to the next in the series to see what comes next for this fun cast of characters.
Let me start off by saying, PRETTY DEAD hooked me from the first page to the last. Not sure why this author has not been on my radar; since this was my first book by Frasier; however, thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for introducing me to this fine crime thriller author and gripping series.
This situation is about to change—A new fan! I could not get to Audible fast enough to purchase PLAY DEAD (#1) AND STAY DEAD (#2). What an intriguing series – cannot wait to hear the back story of these flawed and complex characters!
In addition, to the PRETTY DEAD ARC I happened to be traveling-- could not wait to get back to reading, purchasing the audio to keep abreast, while driving. Loved the narrator Natalie Ross, with a suspenseful performance, and a wide range of voices.
At times, with the mention of the Georgia FBI, I felt like I was into Karin Slaughter’s world, one of my southern favorites; and strongly reminded of J. Carson Black, another one of my favorites. Being a Georgian for years, love Savannah and always find the town intriguing and mysterious—especially when you have such engaging characters as in this series. (love Strata Luna)
Hats off to the designer, a stickler for covers, marketing, and branding – encouraging you to read all the books in the series. It worked!
JDCMustReadBooks
Anne Frasier delivers the third in the gritty and edgy (Elise Sandburg Series) crime thriller, PRETTY DEAD. Taking readers to the mysterious southern Savannah, Georgia— a dynamic duo, with a past of their own--Homicide detective Elise Sandburg and partner/profiler, David Gould.
Savannah had a reputation for being weird. The city embraced it, with ghost tours and the ongoing stigma attached to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. However, it was a city of historic beauty and culture. A little of good and evil. “Beneath beauty lie many dark deeds.”
A deranged, psycho-evil, and twisted serial killer is out there, and these two are determined to track him down, no matter the dangers or obstacles. Will he outsmart this team? Have they met their match?
As the book opens, we meet a serial killer, hooked on death. The more he kills, the more he wanted to do so. Addiction to the quest for pleasure. The high. He needed variety so as not to be bored. Since he is sick of snow in Philadelphia, he is looking for warmer weather—Savannah seems like a good choice, so he makes his plan.
Elise Sandburg had been made head detective of Savannah Police Department and he was looking at a photo of her taken in a cemetery behind the police department. She was attractive and the man beside of her, David Gould—a handsome man. His favorite type – twenty-something, dark-haired males-younger versions of Gould. He likes to do them and then kill them. Since he was an opportunistic killer, in order to play against type, he sometimes went for females. Of course, they were not his drug of choice.
What comes first, the killer or the kill?
He devoured profiler books and he knew how to avoid the stereotypes. So with each move, he became a different person, a different profile. He was going to Savannah, Georgia.
Six month earlier David and Elise bonded over injuries and suffered at the hands of the monster the press called “The Organ Thief. Now they are stuck with Jay Thomas Paul, early forties an over enthusiastic reporter, for the New York Times. He shadows their every move. He seems to always be listening and watching.
At first the victims appear to be women involved in illegal activity. Prostitutes or drug deals gone bad, or so the mayor believes, so he can say the beautiful southern town is safe. Caroline, the mayor's daughter becomes a victim and is murdered. The pressure is on to find the killer.
Then there is her Elsie’s estranged father, Jackson Sweet who is called in to consult with the investigation, and an FBI profiler-- Vic Lamont who David blames for his son’s death. His dead ex-wife and Lamont—it had been two years since he lived in the darkness. In the past he turned to prescription drugs, alcohol, and sex with strangers. So now both Elsie and David both to re-live their past, now a major part of the present.
All the while there is tension between Elsie and Jackson, and her thirteen year old daughter, Audrey who wants to see her grandfather. Then another key player winds up murdered and suspicions mount-- no one can be trusted---some need protection, and loyalties are strong. Now David is a prime suspect.
A game of cat and mouse, puzzle patterns, with a serial killer trying to become the person he plays, while enjoying outsmarting David Gould. Now Audrey may be in danger. Will they discover the identity of the killer, before it is too late?
A lot of elements going on and the author keeps a fast pace, with heart- pounding intensity. Strong emotions and tensions mount between two key characters and people from their past. From crazy clues to crossword puzzles—crossing many genres: a mix of dark humor, wit, psycho, suspense, paranormal, and a delicious crime thriller.
Ending with a shocker, looking forward to the next in the series to see what comes next for this fun cast of characters.
Let me start off by saying, PRETTY DEAD hooked me from the first page to the last. Not sure why this author has not been on my radar; since this was my first book by Frasier; however, thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for introducing me to this fine crime thriller author and gripping series.
This situation is about to change—A new fan! I could not get to Audible fast enough to purchase PLAY DEAD (#1) AND STAY DEAD (#2). What an intriguing series – cannot wait to hear the back story of these flawed and complex characters!
In addition, to the PRETTY DEAD ARC I happened to be traveling-- could not wait to get back to reading, purchasing the audio to keep abreast, while driving. Loved the narrator Natalie Ross, with a suspenseful performance, and a wide range of voices.
At times, with the mention of the Georgia FBI, I felt like I was into Karin Slaughter’s world, one of my southern favorites; and strongly reminded of J. Carson Black, another one of my favorites. Being a Georgian for years, love Savannah and always find the town intriguing and mysterious—especially when you have such engaging characters as in this series. (love Strata Luna)
Hats off to the designer, a stickler for covers, marketing, and branding – encouraging you to read all the books in the series. It worked!
JDCMustReadBooks
cassiecat's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.75
Elise Sandburg book 3
Available on KU and listen
I had the audiobook performed by Natalie Ross who I think does an amazing job with the narration and voices, I just love listening to her soft dulcet tones.
Unusually for me I went pretty much straight into book 3 after finishing the last one. I’ve become invested in Elise and David and their dark investigations with a good dollop of magic and voodoo.
Another serial killer, stay away from the Savannah swamplands, it’s more notorious than midsomer for murderers.
There are new characters drawn into this storyline, Elise’s estranged father,an FBI profiler who David has beef with, and a New York journalist riding along with Elise and David. These new characters add interest and tension.
I still love Strata Luna, and Sweet is really growing on me. Elise and David continue to wow me.
We get the killers POV too which adds interest, it’s a format that I really enjoy. The writing style is tight to give a good pace, plenty of interest and twists throughout. The characterisation is excellent.
Due to necessity I’m diving straight into the last book in the series.
I’m loving this series, I highly recommend it, and if you like audiobooks definitely choose that option. I’ll be sad when I’ve caught up.
kittymauriciohh's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoy this series. This one was a little bit of a slow start but once it got going, I loved it!
coghlankirsty's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
5.0
nmichelle1984's review against another edition
2.0
This was the worst!
This story was horrible in delivery. It had potential to be such a classic thriller. Instead it was cliché and contrite. I have to ask, are cops really this dumb? Like...I can not believe how completely incompetent and ignorant Elyse and David were, mainly Elyse. She has to be the weakest"strong" woman I know!
Never mind the fact I feel as if this author only introduced Black characters to belittle them then have them murdered or arrested. She threw in some horrible stereotypes, and on top of that, she insulted Gullah-Geechee people, their heritage, and culture.
Why have a white man, Jackson Sweet, practice the rituals and culture just to insult it and blame it on his mess of a life?
On top of all of that, who didn't see the killer coming from a mile away? I mean it was so damn obvious that it was maddening! And this killer had potential to be the greatest of the whole series, instead...really??? Nothing in this story made sense.
David deserves better. A lot better.
This story was horrible in delivery. It had potential to be such a classic thriller. Instead it was cliché and contrite. I have to ask, are cops really this dumb? Like...I can not believe how completely incompetent and ignorant Elyse and David were, mainly Elyse. She has to be the weakest"strong" woman I know!
Never mind the fact I feel as if this author only introduced Black characters to belittle them then have them murdered or arrested. She threw in some horrible stereotypes, and on top of that, she insulted Gullah-Geechee people, their heritage, and culture.
Why have a white man, Jackson Sweet, practice the rituals and culture just to insult it and blame it on his mess of a life?
On top of all of that, who didn't see the killer coming from a mile away? I mean it was so damn obvious that it was maddening! And this killer had potential to be the greatest of the whole series, instead...really??? Nothing in this story made sense.
David deserves better. A lot better.
rusereviews's review against another edition
4.0
~3.75 or so. Better than the first book, but not as good as the second book. I figured it out way early.
smakk1337's review against another edition
2.0
This is a good book, in it's own right and the twist and turns a good. I know some people said they knew how the killer was right away. It took me a while to figure it out, but I know who it was not. It was not her partner, the way Elise starts to believe it is. She doubts David throughout this whole book, she doubts he is not the killer she doubts his profile, she doubts his connections with the crossword puzzles, she even doubts where she thinks the killer is hiding at the end. How many times does David have to prove himself to her. I just felt like she was a whiny little bitch the entire book and her doubt of David really pissed me off. He always follows her thoughts, her crazy theories especially in the last book where does she get the right to start doubting him now. While I will read the last book in the series so far I hope but doubt that it's going to be any better.
I feel the plots Anne Fraiser writes are good with great twist and intrigue. However her charterer development leaves something to be desired.
I feel the plots Anne Fraiser writes are good with great twist and intrigue. However her charterer development leaves something to be desired.
hufflebutt's review against another edition
5.0
This stories villain was the worst one yet. I may be the weird one but I enjoy when we can see the point of view from the murderer and I had my suspicions on who it was but none the less I was still a bit shocked. I believe this one is my favorite so far out of series. I am becoming quite attached to detectives Sandburg and Gould.