1st to Die by James Patterson

 

1st to Die by James Patterson - 488 pages

Four women-four friends-share a determination to stop a killer who has been stalking newlyweds in San Francisco. Each one holds a piece of the puzzle: Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector in the San Francisco Police Department, Claire Washburn is a medical examiner, Jill Bernhardt is an assistant D.A., and Cindy Thomas just started working the crime desk of the San Francisco Chronicle.

But the usual procedures aren't bringing them any closer to stopping the killings. So these women form a Women's Murder Club to collaborate outside the box and pursue the case by sidestepping their bosses and giving one another a hand.

The four women develop intense bonds as they pursue a killer whose crimes have stunned an entire city. Working together, they track down the most terrifying and unexpected killer they have ever encountered-before a shocking conclusion in which everything they knew turns out to be devastatingly wrong.

I thought I should read a Patterson to see what all the hype is about.  I was really surprised that I really, truly enjoyed this one. I like it enough that I will probably continue on with the series, at least for a while, there are too darn many of them.

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

 

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis - 399 pages

Patrick Bateman is twenty-six and works on Wall Street. He is handsome, sophisticated, charming and intelligent. He is also a psychopath. Taking us to head-on collision with America's greatest dream—and its worst nightmare—American Psycho is a bleak, bitter, black comedy about a world we all recognize but do not wish to confront.

I saw this book come up on many horror/thriller book lists so I thought I'd give it a try.  I was warned that it was not for the faint of heart, and the warning holds true, this is one of the most brutal books I've read, and that is saying something.  I cannot count the number of times my jaw dropped.  It was interesting reading, seeing his decent into madness.  I am not sure about the ending, it just...ends.  It was a very anti-climactic ending.  

I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells

 

I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells - 271 pages

John Wayne Cleaver is dangerous, and he knows it.

He's spent his life doing his best not to live up to his potential.

He's obsessed with serial killers, but really doesn't want to become one. So for his own sake, and the safety of those around him, he lives by rigid rules he's written for himself, practicing normal life as if it were a private religion that could save him from damnation.

Dead bodies are normal to John. He likes them, actually. They don't demand or expect the empathy he's unable to offer. Perhaps that's what gives him the objectivity to recognize that there's something different about the body the police have just found behind the Wash-n-Dry Laundromat---and to appreciate what that difference means.

Now, for the first time, John has to confront a danger outside himself, a threat he can't control, a menace to everything and everyone he would love, if only he could.

This wasn't too bad, the main character gives my Dexter vibes.  I didn't mind this one, I may check out the next in the series to see where it goes.

Raised by a Serial Killer: Discovering the Truth About My Father - by April Balascio

 

Raised by a Serial Killer: Discovering the Truth About My Father - by April Balascio - 352 pages

The untold story behind the hit true crime podcast The Clearing, this unforgettable memoir traces one daughter’s moving quest to understand her larger-than-life childhood as she searches for the truth about her father, the serial killer Edward Wayne Edwards. One evening in 2009, April Balascio was searching online, as she had been every night, for unsolved murders in the towns her family had lived growing up, when she stumbled across the latest investigations into the “Sweetheart Murders” cold case. All at once, the buried memories of her father’s dark history were awakened, and she knew she had to take action. She picked up the phone to call a detective and the rest is infamous true crime history. In her unflinching memoir, Balascio bravely reveals an astonishing tale of a lifetime of manipulation, unexplained upheavals, and silent fear. Some part of her had always known what her father was capable of, but the full truth of how she came to these revelations is as riveting as it is quietly terrifying. Through searing storytelling, dedicated research, and intimate insight, Raised by a Serial Killer is a gripping, courageous memoir unlike any other.

This is a great book if you like to read this type of subject.  It's put together well and easy to follow.  It mainly follows her life starting from childhood and what she endured, to how she suspected her father was a killer, to the aftermath.  A few chapters about Edward's earlier days are peppered in, but at the beginning of each chapter is the year it occurred so it's easy to follow.  His poor family was put through hell, and honestly, I wish he'd had to endure a few more miserable years in jail before he died.  I think he got off easy; he lived a full life before getting caught and died fairly soon after being imprisoned.  A well written book-highly recommend!

The Butcher Game (Dr. Wren Muller #2) by Alaina Urquhart

 

The Butcher Game (Dr. Wren Muller #2) by Alaina Urquhart - 352 pgs

From the New York Times bestselling author and co-host of chart-topping true crime podcast Morbid comes the thrilling book two in her national bestselling series, told from the dueling perspectives of a notorious serial killer and a medical examiner seeking justice.

I was not a fan of this one; I don't remember disliking the second one so this was a bit of a surprise.  I ended up skimming whole chapters at times b/c it seemed to ramble on and on about nothing.  This could have been a lot more exciting than it actually was.

The Sixth Wicked Child

 

The Sixth Wicked Child by J.D. Barker  626 pages

In the riveting conclusion of the 4MK trilogy, Barker takes the thriller to an entirely new level.

Hear No Evil
For Detective Sam Porter, the words “Father, forgive me” conjure memories long forgotten; a past intentionally buried. For Anson Bishop, these three words connect a childhood to the present as he unleashes a truth concealed for decades.
See No Evil
Found written on cardboard near each body, these words link multiple victims to a single killer—discovered within minutes of each other in both Chicago and South Carolina—clearly connected yet separated by impossible miles.
Speak No Evil
Chicago Metro and the FBI find themselves caught in chaos—a hospital on lockdown, a rogue officer, and corruption at the highest levels. When Anson Bishop, the prime suspect in the notorious 4MK serial murders turns himself in, he reveals a story completely unexpected, one that not only upends the current investigation, but one that will change the lives of all involved.
Do No Evil
With unrelenting tension and pulse-pounding suspense, the past unravels at breakneck speed as the truth behind the Four Monkey Killer’s motive is finally revealed in this masterfully crafted finale.

This one is a bit more interesting than The Fifth To Die. You HAVE TO read this to understand why he last book ended the way it did. All in all, it as a satisfying ending with a nice twist.

Trigger warning: sexual abuse of children

The Fifth to Die

 

The Fifth to Die by J.D. Barker    543 pages

In the thrilling sequel to The Fourth Monkey, a new serial killer stalks the streets of Chicago, while Detective Porter delves deeper into the dark past of the Four Monkey Killer.

Detective Porter and the team have been pulled from the hunt for Anson Bishop, the Four Monkey Killer, by the feds. When the body of a young girl is found beneath the frozen waters of Jackson Park Lagoon, she is quickly identified as Ella Reynolds, missing three weeks. But how did she get there? The lagoon froze months earlier. More baffling? She’s found wearing the clothes of another girl, missing less than two days. While the detectives of Chicago Metro try to make sense of the quickly developing case, Porter secretly continues his pursuit of 4MK, knowing the best way to find Bishop is to track down his mother. When the captain finds out about Porter’s activities, he’s suspended, leaving his partners Clair and Nash to continue the search for the new killer alone.

Obsessed with catching Bishop, Porter follows a single grainy photograph from Chicago to the streets of New Orleans and stumbles into a world darker than he could have possibly imagined, where he quickly realizes that the only place more frightening than the mind of a serial killer is the mind of the mother from which he came.

An interesting crime read. Lots of storylines going on at once. Just more torturing and killing of young girls. It ends abruptly as a TO BE CONTINUED to The Sixth Wicked Child.

This Girl's a Killer by Emma C. Wells

 

This Girl's a Killer by Emma C. Wells - 432 pages

Meet Cordelia Black. Cordelia loves exactly three things: her chosen family composed of her best friend Diane and her goddaughter; her hairdresser (worth every penny plus tip); and killing bad men.

By day she's a successful pharmaceutical rep with a pristine reputation and a designer wardrobe. By night she's culling South Louisiana of unscrupulous men—monsters who always seem to evade justice, until they meet her. It's a complicated yet fulfilling life that requires complete and total control at all times. But when the evening news starts throwing around the words "serial killer," pressure heightens for her in the South, and it's only exacerbated when Diane starts dating a man Cordelia isn't sure is a good person—someone who might unravel everything Cordelia has worked for. Soon Cordelia's world spirals, and she loses her grip on those tightly held threads that keep her safe.

This gave me female "Dexter" vibes for sure.  Definitely had a lot of brand name drops which got a bit old.  Overall a good story; I don't want to spoil the book but I was amused at the nonchalant-ness of Cordelia with having a head in her freezer. 

Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

 

Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose - 256 pages

After their mother passes, three estranged siblings reunite to sort out her estate. Beth, the oldest, never left home. She stayed with her mom, caring for her until the very end. Nicole, the middle child, has been kept at arm’s length due to her ongoing battle with a serious drug addiction. Michael, the youngest, lives out of state and hasn’t been back to their small Wisconsin town since their father ran out on them seven years before.

While going through their parent’s belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it, before the video abruptly ends.

Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave.

Book was slow in the first half but overall a good read.  The author does a great job of painting each sibling in a certain light.  The ending was quite a surprise!

Keep It In the Family by John Marrs

 

Keep It In the Family by John Marrs - 369 pages

Mia and Finn are busy turning a derelict house into their dream home when Mia unexpectedly falls pregnant. But just when they think the house is ready, Mia discovers a chilling message scored into a skirting board: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. Following the clue up into the eaves, the couple make a gruesome discovery: their dream home was once a house of horrors.

In the wake of their traumatic discovery, the baby arrives and Mia can’t shake her fixation with the monstrous crimes that happened right above them. Haunted by the terrible things she saw and desperate to find answers, her obsession pulls her ever further from her husband.

Secrecy shrouds the mystery of the attic, but when shards of a dark truth start to emerge, Mia realizes the danger is terrifyingly present. She is prepared to do anything to protect her family—but is it already too late?

Holy crow is this book good!  I'd heard about this book on different forums and was glad to finally read it.  I loved how this was written, with multiple character points of view.  It was non-stop from beginning to end, and I really loved how this ended!  It's not gory (there is one small part where someone cuts his own throat, but it doesn't go into detail) but it does involve children being killed if that's a trigger for you (again, doesn't go into detail).  

The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden

The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden-370 pages

A tale that only an author such as Freida McFadden can spin and leave you thinking about all of the possibilities long after you have finished the book.  Highly recommended.  I LOVED it!

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

 

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden - 348 pages

She's looking for the perfect man. He's looking for the perfect victim.

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.

Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.

Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim...

A dark story about obsession and the things we’ll do for love, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden proves that crimes of passion are often the bloodiest…

This is the latest book by McFadden and in my opinion, it was ok; I'd give it 3.5 stars.  The reason for the lower rating is because the main character frustrated me; she didn't put 2 and 2 together after her friend got murdered.  I don't want to spoil the book for anyone so won't give anything away but otherwise this book would've been 5 stars.  But, I did go back and forth with my theories and was very surprised by the ending, which as always, was good.

Raised By A Killer: Extreme Horror Book #4 Age 17 by Sea Caummisar

 

Raised By A Killer: Extreme Horror Book #4 Age 17 by Sea Caummisar - 150 pages

The story of a daughter being raised by a single father, who happens to be a serial killer.

As the series progresses, Deicide will grow older.

In this thrilling fourth book, experience the sights, smells and sounds through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Deicide.

After arriving at the Persuasion Faction, Deicide learns everything is not what it appears to be.

With each book, Deicide will grow older, giving us an inside look at how her life has been affected by her upbringing.

Warning: Graphic scenes that may disturb some readers.

Alright y'all, I think I'm tapping out on this series, at least for now.  I think eating babies is my line in the sand (spoiler alert), although I am curious of what happens next. This one was the worst of them all.  The writing style on the first couple books was fine, because the child was little but in these last two books she's a teen now and still sounds like a little child.  I've got to be done for now and read a nice inspirational book as a palate cleanser.  

Raised By A Killer: Extreme Horror Book #3 Age 16 by Sea Caummisar

 

Raised By A Killer: Extreme Horror Book #3 Age 16 by Sea Caummisar - 161 pages

The story of a daughter being raised by a single father, who happens to be a serial killer.

As the series progresses, Deicide will grow older.

In this thrilling third book, experience the sights, smells and sounds through the eyes of sixteen-year-old Deicide.

A surprise visit from an uncle that Deicide didn't know existed sparks a whirlwind of family events.

With each book, Deicide will grow older, giving us an inside look at how her life has been affected by her upbringing.

Warning: Graphic scenes that may disturb some readers.

Another disturbing and uncomfortable book.  This one was just ok, I wasn't going to go on and read #4 but the way this one ended I had to check it out to see what happens next but I'm nearing my limit on these...we'll see how this goes.

Raised By A Killer: Extreme Horror Book #2 Age 10 by Sea Caummisar

 

Raised By A Killer: Extreme Horror Book #2 Age 10 by Sea Caummisar - 154 pages

The story of a daughter being raised by a single father, who happens to be a serial killer. As the series progresses, Deicide will grow older.

In this thrilling second book, experience the sights, smells, and sounds through the eyes of ten-year-old Deicide.

This is the timeframe of her life where she is getting old enough to understand the events happening around her.

With each book, Deicide will grow older, giving us an inside look at how her life has been affected by her upbringing.

Warning: Graphic scenes that may disturb some readers

I was interested to see how the author handled Deicide in school.  It wasn't too bad, still with the trigger warnings but overall good if you can handle that type of thing.  I almost stopped reading this one, it was a tough and uncomfortable read. But overall it was good. (Please don't judge-I am really not disturbed ) 😇

Raised By A Killer: Extreme Horror Book #1 Age 4 by Sea Caummisar

 

Raised By A Killer: Extreme Horror Book #1 Age 4 by Sea Caummisar - 151 pages

The story of a daughter being raised by a single father, who happens to be a serial killer. As the series progresses, Deicide will grow older.

In this thrilling first book, experience the sights, smells, and sounds through the eyes of four-year-old Deicide.

The formative years of any child's life are crucial. In this time frame, she is curious and innocent.
With each book, Deicide will grow older, giving us an inside look at how her life has been affected due to her upbringing.

Warning: Graphic scenes that may disturb some readers

This is the first in a series of 10 extreme horror books.  This first one was disturbing (of course) and this whole series is full of trigger warnings.  I was curious how the author would handle this plot and it wasn't too bad.  I was shocked but curious about the next one.

Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert

 

Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert - 336 pages

The sole survivor of a serial killer might hold the key to stopping a new spree of murders in this propulsive thriller in the vein of The Black Phone and The Whisper Man.

Dark and twisting at every turn, fans of Catriona Ward will love this chilling new tale from the deviously inventive horror author that Peter Farris calls the “clear heir to Stephen King.”

Beware the one who got away . . .

Father Silence once terrorized the rural town of Twisted Tree, disguising himself as a priest to prey on the most vulnerable members of society. When the police finally found his “House of Horrors,” they uncovered nineteen bodies and one survivor–a boy now locked away in a hospital for the criminally insane.

Nearly two decades later, Father Silence is finally put to death, but by the next morning, the detective who made the original arrest is found dead. A new serial killer is taking credit for the murder and calling himself the Outcast.

The detective’s daughter, Tess Claibourne, is a detective herself, haunted by childhood trauma and horrified by the death of her father and the resurgence of Father Silence’s legacy.

When Tess’s daughter is kidnapped by the Outcast, Tess is forced to face her worst fears and long-buried memories. With no leads to follow, she travels back to Twisted Tree to visit the boy who survived and see what secrets might be buried in the tangled web of his broken mind.

I really enjoyed this read, it kept me guessing throughout.  A good creepy read, I couldn't put it down!

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

 

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart - 242 pages

A thrilling debut novel told from the dueling perspectives of a notorious serial killer and the medical examiner following where his trail of victims leads

Something dark is lurking in the Louisiana bayou: a methodical killer with a penchant for medical experimentation is hard at work completing his most harrowing crime yet, taunting the authorities who desperately try to catch up.

But forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller is the best there is. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of historical crimes, and years of experience working in the Medical Examiner's office, she's never encountered a case she couldn't solve. Until now. Case after case is piling up on Wren's examination table, and soon she is sucked into an all-consuming cat-and-mouse chase with a brutal murderer getting more brazen by the day.

An addictive read with straight-from-the-morgue details only an autopsy technician could provide, The Butcher and the Wren promises to ensnare all who enter.

This was a wonderful book!  The author has degrees in criminal justice, psychology, and biology, and works as a mortician tech by day so she offers great insight to those worlds in this book.  Such a great read, I hope there will be a sequel.

The Dead Years by Jeffrey B. Burton

 

The Dead Years by Jeffrey B. Burton - 294 pages

Siblings Cory and Crystal Pratt are still trying to get their lives together after a tragic accident which killed their parents years ago. The only thing that distracts them now is their jobs. With Crystal working as a newly minted detective at the Chicago Police Department and Cory owning a dog training academy with two human remains detection dogs of his own, their professional paths cross every now and then.Crime, and especially murder, in Chicago is nothing new, but when a string of killings happen that seem to be connected to a Netflix docuseries and its cast and crew, Cory and Crystal are called in to stop the number of bodies from piling any higher.But when the siblings start poking around the killer's business, the killer sets their sights on the pair . . . and particularly on Cory and his dogs! Will they be able to escape the fury of the serial killer or become the newest victims?

This is the first book by this author that I've read; it was pretty good.  It's written with alternative narratives, but sometimes it took me a paragraph or two to figure out whose narrative I was reading.  But, that aside, it was a good read if you like suspense/mystery.

Devils at the Door by Tessa Wegert (Shana Merchant series #5)

 

Devils at the Door by Tessa Wegert - 308 pages

A suspicious drowning throws New York State senior investigator Shana Merchant's life into turmoil in this taut, thrilling small-town mystery - perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Ruth Ware.

Sixteen-year-old Henrietta used to be happy. But that was before her family hit the national news. Before she - and the whole world - knew she was related to one of New York's most prolific serial killers. Senior Investigator Shana Merchant readily agrees when her brother asks her to take in his troubled, rebellious daughter for the fall semester. Doug's convinced that spending a few months in Alexandria Bay with Shana will straighten Hen out. But when Hen arrives, Shana's not so sure. She can't help but distrust the strange and manipulative teen, who binge-watches bloody movies and roams the house at night, taking things that aren't hers. Soon, though, Shana has more to worry about than missing heirlooms when she's called to investigate the suspicious drowning of a local teenager, only to discover her niece at the scene of the crime. What happened that night on the dark, uninhabited island of Devil's Oven? With Hen and her new friends not talking, and a community determined to keep their secrets dead and buried, Shana knows it's a race against time to uncover the truth before her niece is upgraded from key witness to prime suspect.

I read an ARC of this book because I saw it in a webinar.  This is book #5 in the Shana Merchant series but in the webinar it was mentioned that it could be read as a stand alone.  While I don't think they were wrong, I felt that I was missing some things by not reading the first 4 books. I am left with some questions about what happened with the serial killer cousin and will probably go back at some point and read the first books.  Overall it wasn't a bad story; I got frustrated with Hen's character in the beginning, it's not because of how she was written, she is just a crabby, moody, sneaky kid.