kle105's review
3.0
I struggled with this book in many ways. While I liked the idea behind Maggie the forensic expert and Jack the sort of Robin Hood of serial killers I failed to really connect to the story. I guess it is better that this is a series as it could be much more enjoyable in a different setting.
This story takes place in a newspaper printing facility. The endless details on the printing process and the dying industry of print reporting was a little dry. I would probably read another book in this series to give it another chance but this one just fell short.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This story takes place in a newspaper printing facility. The endless details on the printing process and the dying industry of print reporting was a little dry. I would probably read another book in this series to give it another chance but this one just fell short.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
sus7's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advanced readers copy through NetGalley.
Although the dead bodies keep appearing, it's the characters with their personalities and interactions that I loved about this book.
Although the dead bodies keep appearing, it's the characters with their personalities and interactions that I loved about this book.
princesschela1978's review against another edition
4.0
This is #2 in the Gardiner and Renner series and I enjoyed it every bit as much as the first! (I do recommend reading this series in order, btw). Both main characters are well-developed and play well off each other; Maggie is the more straightforward "good guy," while Jack's story is a little more complicated... His vigilante tendencies sometimes lead him to take matters into his own hands, making it difficult for Maggie to really trust him 100%. This dynamic between them is as compelling as the plot, in my opinion. As for the plot, it had the right amount of complications for me- enough to keep it interesting, but still easy to follow. And there was a good twist or two in there, as well. Overall, I really liked this book and would definitely recommend the series.
thoughtsfromapage's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
Lisa Black’s second installment in her Gardiner and Renner series is every bit as good as her initial one. I loved That Darkness, and Unpunished is a great addition to the series. Maggie Gardiner, a forensic expert, and Jack Renner, a homicide detective, are thrown together again when a series of bizarre murders occur at the Cleveland Herald. The two work to solve the murders while Maggie also struggles to come to terms with her knowledge that Jack operates as a hero vigilante ridding the city of criminals that have eluded punishment for their crimes. The two have reached an uneasy truce that is constantly threatened by a variety of outside factors.
The mystery in Unpunished was highly entertaining to me and is very relevant to today’s world. The Cleveland Herald is struggling to stay afloat as newspapers are dying a slow death. Black spent countless hours immersing herself in the newspaper business even touring one to accurately depict the ins and outs of that industry and the difficulties currently facing the newspaper world. She manages to relay very detailed information in an engaging and interesting manner so I learned a lot without feeling like it was hard to wade through the story. Black also addresses the age old issue created by new inventions - the loss of jobs (sometimes entire professions) in certain fields, but the creation of entirely new fields and jobs that are created as a result. I found her reminder helpful as I was bemoaning the projected loss of printed newspapers as I read Unpunished.
I really enjoyed reading this book and love the originality of the series. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lisa Black’s second installment in her Gardiner and Renner series is every bit as good as her initial one. I loved That Darkness, and Unpunished is a great addition to the series. Maggie Gardiner, a forensic expert, and Jack Renner, a homicide detective, are thrown together again when a series of bizarre murders occur at the Cleveland Herald. The two work to solve the murders while Maggie also struggles to come to terms with her knowledge that Jack operates as a hero vigilante ridding the city of criminals that have eluded punishment for their crimes. The two have reached an uneasy truce that is constantly threatened by a variety of outside factors.
The mystery in Unpunished was highly entertaining to me and is very relevant to today’s world. The Cleveland Herald is struggling to stay afloat as newspapers are dying a slow death. Black spent countless hours immersing herself in the newspaper business even touring one to accurately depict the ins and outs of that industry and the difficulties currently facing the newspaper world. She manages to relay very detailed information in an engaging and interesting manner so I learned a lot without feeling like it was hard to wade through the story. Black also addresses the age old issue created by new inventions - the loss of jobs (sometimes entire professions) in certain fields, but the creation of entirely new fields and jobs that are created as a result. I found her reminder helpful as I was bemoaning the projected loss of printed newspapers as I read Unpunished.
I really enjoyed reading this book and love the originality of the series. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
kristi518's review against another edition
4.0
I came upon this book through an email from Netgalley. The publisher had pre-approved this title for me and since I can't say no to a book that sounds interesting I decided to give it a chance. After I read the opening scene I thought perhaps the book wasn't for me. It seemed to be too much of a police/gang member read and I'm not into that type of book. But, I don't like to start a book and then not finish it so I kept on. I'm glad I did because this turned out to be a really interesting read.
Maggie Gardiner is a forensic expert and Jack Renner is a cop. The two have a history and the details are somewhat of a mystery but bits and pieces are given to the reader throughout the book. At times I wondered if Jack was really a cop and after the book was finished I'm still wondering if he's a cop. There is a tension between these two and the fact that they are working a case together that keeps them in close contact doesn't help. There also seems to be a chemistry between the two as well. The two characters are strong and independent and easy to like.
This book has a good, solid storyline. The case the two are trying to solve is a murder at a newspaper. Throughout the case, there is much information about the state of print newspapers today and the evolving world of digital news. I found all of this very interesting and it made the newspaper another character in the book. News and our consumption of it have changed over the years and is still changing now. I thought the author did a great job of weaving this into the storyline. It seemed very "in the moment" and added a layer of realness to the book.
I found this book to be a quick read and a very entertaining one. Even though this book can be read as a standalone (which is how I read it) I would recommend reading the first book in the series before delving into this one. Doing this would make the Maggie/Jack storyline more clear. I like the author's writing style and will be looking forward to reading more of her work. A must-read for fans of the mystery/suspense genre.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.
Maggie Gardiner is a forensic expert and Jack Renner is a cop. The two have a history and the details are somewhat of a mystery but bits and pieces are given to the reader throughout the book. At times I wondered if Jack was really a cop and after the book was finished I'm still wondering if he's a cop. There is a tension between these two and the fact that they are working a case together that keeps them in close contact doesn't help. There also seems to be a chemistry between the two as well. The two characters are strong and independent and easy to like.
This book has a good, solid storyline. The case the two are trying to solve is a murder at a newspaper. Throughout the case, there is much information about the state of print newspapers today and the evolving world of digital news. I found all of this very interesting and it made the newspaper another character in the book. News and our consumption of it have changed over the years and is still changing now. I thought the author did a great job of weaving this into the storyline. It seemed very "in the moment" and added a layer of realness to the book.
I found this book to be a quick read and a very entertaining one. Even though this book can be read as a standalone (which is how I read it) I would recommend reading the first book in the series before delving into this one. Doing this would make the Maggie/Jack storyline more clear. I like the author's writing style and will be looking forward to reading more of her work. A must-read for fans of the mystery/suspense genre.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.
longtimereader's review against another edition
4.0
This is a slow paced book. I feel that it would have done far better with a bit less of something, and a bit more speed somehow. The slowness also seemed to take away from the main characters. The suspense was good, and the forensics was awesome. The over all plot and story still works, you have to be willing to pursue the leads to the very end, much like real life.
My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.
My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.
petra_reads's review against another edition
4.0
[b:Unpunished|30214944|Unpunished|Lisa Black|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465685333s/30214944.jpg|50669080] is [a:Lisa Black|115085|Lisa Black|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1479415008p2/115085.jpg]'s second book about forensic expert Maggie Gardener and homicide detective Jack Renner. Although the plot here works as a standalone, I would suggest reading [b:That Darkness|26025628|That Darkness (Gardiner and Renner, #1)|Lisa Black|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1438630732s/26025628.jpg|45949121] first in order to fully understand Maggie and Jack's complicated relationship and their shared history.
This case starts off with the apparent suicide of a copy editor at the Cleveland Herald. But soon further deaths follow, all related to the Herald newspaper. Why would anybody target the staff of a struggling newspaper?
I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. Maggie's character, in particular, is far better developed here. Jack's entertaining relationship with his cop partner, Riley, and his strained, ambivalent relationship with Maggie was fun to follow. The only thing that really slowed this down a little too much for me at times was the very detailed information regarding the decline of the print media industry. Ms. Black has obviously put a lot of research into this. I felt properly educated as to the processes of producing a newspaper and the sorry state of the print industry after reading this. Aside from that, this was a solid murder mystery. The vigilante theme is less prominent in this one than in the first book, but the ending leaves plenty of scope for an exciting third book in the future.
I look forward to it.
This case starts off with the apparent suicide of a copy editor at the Cleveland Herald. But soon further deaths follow, all related to the Herald newspaper. Why would anybody target the staff of a struggling newspaper?
I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. Maggie's character, in particular, is far better developed here. Jack's entertaining relationship with his cop partner, Riley, and his strained, ambivalent relationship with Maggie was fun to follow. The only thing that really slowed this down a little too much for me at times was the very detailed information regarding the decline of the print media industry. Ms. Black has obviously put a lot of research into this. I felt properly educated as to the processes of producing a newspaper and the sorry state of the print industry after reading this. Aside from that, this was a solid murder mystery. The vigilante theme is less prominent in this one than in the first book, but the ending leaves plenty of scope for an exciting third book in the future.
I look forward to it.
vesper1931's review against another edition
2.0
Who is killing the staff on the Herald and why. This is for Maggie Gardiner, a forensic expert, and policeman Jack Renner to determine. I hadn't read the previous book but I don't think it is necessary to do so.
In quite a few places the book bored me - the long explanations of the death of printed newspapers and their working. It would have been a lot tighter story without it and a definite three stars.
A NetGalley Book
In quite a few places the book bored me - the long explanations of the death of printed newspapers and their working. It would have been a lot tighter story without it and a definite three stars.
A NetGalley Book