kristicuse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
nahyee's review against another edition
3.0
See my full review of this title on my blog: Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight): https://booksundertheblanket.com/what-do-we-have-on-the-dvr.html
ultimatefans's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
amandajane8205's review against another edition
4.0
This book had me guessing the entire time. I went from the priest. To Nick. To Joe. Never did I think it was the chief. Even at the end when the priest was talking about it, I thought he was messing with her. Great suspenseful book. I only wish we had more of a different ending with the three missing girls and maybe even more on the chiefs past
silkysullivan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
cj_mo_2222's review against another edition
5.0
Twenty-three year old Shea O'Connor is an officer for the city of Buffalo, New York police force. Her youthful looks can be a disadvantage on the job, but allowed her to go undercover and help the FBI catch a dangerous serial killer who was working at a school. They are calling on Shea's help again when three college freshman from a nearby town disappear on their Christmas break. Shea goes undercover at the local community college to try to solve the mystery of what happened to the missing girls and to discover if other young woman in the town of Kelly's Falls are in danger.
This book is either a standalone or the first in a series written by a retired Buffalo New York police officer. It sometimes reads like the second in a series with the frequent referrals to Shea's prior case. However, the flashbacks from the past case show the trauma she went through, but there isn't a previous book. The book has several elements of a procedural, but is more tense and suspenseful with the added element of Shea working undercover. Shea has to strike a balance between gaining the trust of the other students and getting the needed information for the case. I like that she feels uncomfortable making friends knowing she can't be fully honest about who she is. I've always thought that would be just one of the hard parts about working undercover and I am glad to see the author makes that an important part of the book.
I like Shea and although she sometimes acts impulsively, it's her instincts that make her so good at her job. She found a lot of clues as to what could have happened to the girls and although they didn't all pan out, she was determined to get to the truth and didn't give up. I thought I had guessed the solution and it wasn't until right before a dramatic scene involving Shea and someone very dangerous that things clicked into place for me. The solution was more shocking than I had expected and I loved the ending of the book. As someone who likes many different types of mystery novels, I really enjoyed the book. I also think it would appeal to fans of New Adult fiction since so many of the main characters are college students. I would give the book 4.5 stars and will look out for this author in the future.
I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Crooked Lane. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
This book is either a standalone or the first in a series written by a retired Buffalo New York police officer. It sometimes reads like the second in a series with the frequent referrals to Shea's prior case. However, the flashbacks from the past case show the trauma she went through, but there isn't a previous book. The book has several elements of a procedural, but is more tense and suspenseful with the added element of Shea working undercover. Shea has to strike a balance between gaining the trust of the other students and getting the needed information for the case. I like that she feels uncomfortable making friends knowing she can't be fully honest about who she is. I've always thought that would be just one of the hard parts about working undercover and I am glad to see the author makes that an important part of the book.
I like Shea and although she sometimes acts impulsively, it's her instincts that make her so good at her job. She found a lot of clues as to what could have happened to the girls and although they didn't all pan out, she was determined to get to the truth and didn't give up. I thought I had guessed the solution and it wasn't until right before a dramatic scene involving Shea and someone very dangerous that things clicked into place for me. The solution was more shocking than I had expected and I loved the ending of the book. As someone who likes many different types of mystery novels, I really enjoyed the book. I also think it would appeal to fans of New Adult fiction since so many of the main characters are college students. I would give the book 4.5 stars and will look out for this author in the future.
I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Crooked Lane. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Given the events in Idaho and the mystery around the murders there, this felt a little more relevant than it might have otherwise.
Anyway, the setting definitely works to the book's advantage: the small town where everyone pretty much knows everyone, so how do really investigate something? You insert a very young-looking person into the local community college and get everyone to spill their secrets. There's one twist that I thought I'd figured out, but no... I was wrong. That's worth a star!
Anyway, the setting definitely works to the book's advantage: the small town where everyone pretty much knows everyone, so how do really investigate something? You insert a very young-looking person into the local community college and get everyone to spill their secrets. There's one twist that I thought I'd figured out, but no... I was wrong. That's worth a star!
cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it! Shea Connor is a twenty three year old police officer from Buffalo. She feels like she has to compete with the men because she a woman. She’s previously worked undercover for the FBI and she helped them bring in a serial killer. So when she’s brought in again to go undercover again, she’s hesitant the last case was traumatic to say the lease. Her undercover case has her taking the name Shea Anderson and she’s an orphan college student, also the towns police chiefs niece so there won’t be any questions on why she’s seen with him. Attending the towns community college as a freshman she blends right in. Her case is the disappearance of three missing college students Skyalr, Olivia and Emma they have been gone now for two months. She’s hoping to befriend the missing girls friends and undercover what happened that night. The missing girls left their purses, cell phones and coats at the scene and disappeared into the night. As she mixes in with he college community her suspect lists grows, as more secrets come to light she begins to wonder if any other woman are in danger. This book was fast moving and just when I think I had the suspect figured out another twist happens and I was wrong! I give this four stars!