Vicki Fitzgerald

This is a murder mystery suspense thriller taking place from December 2015 to January 2016 in the UK. It switches the point of view and perspective frequently, but centers around three main characters: Detective Chief Inspector Will Beckley, Southern Chronicle news reporter Kate Rivendale, and the serial killer in their midst.

I had high expectations when starting the book; the beginning really drew me in and made me want to read more. However, halfway through the book the non-stop drama wore me down, and I had to take a break from it for a couple months before reattempting it. It had no off-switch with the drama, and it was a little much. The author does have a knack for dramatic writing, but it would make for a much better short story than for a long novel like this one.

I also was not very impressed with the characters. Detective Chief Inspector Will Beckley seemed kind of feminine, noticing a guy's clothing stretched tight over his pecs and that a woman was wearing a "dainty silver Pandora bangle", not just a piece of jewelry. He snaps his elastic wristband when he's stressed; something I've only ever heard of women and youngsters doing, and can't picture with a full-grown man. I didn't care for his character much. Kate Rivendale admitted herself, "I'm over emotional, I cry easily." She was indeed very over emotional, and very over dramatic, even before she had cause to be. She also lusted after a man other than her husband. This made me not care much for her character either. The final reveal of the serial killer's identity was unrealistic, more for shock-effect than plausibility.

Because the author has a unique writing style and flair for drama, I don't want to give the book a low rating, as I can see the author's talent. However, the novel was a little overkill, and I also wouldn't be honest if I gave it a high rating. I'd give it two and a half stars, or possibly three.… (meer)

** spoiler alert ** Briguella (Brighella) is a character out of Italian classical drama and the serial killer in this mystery wears the mask representing this character who was known to be cunning and deceitful. Random girls are being attacked and Kate, a newspaper investigative reporter, has been covering the story. After her sister is attacked as a warning to her, she feels compelled to help Det. Beckley by being bait to try to catch the elusive killer and put an end to the maniac's rampage. The tables are turned on her when she is abducted right out of her bed while the police are supposed to be protecting her, and taken to a secluded location, restrained and abused. The suspense in the book was good, but I was disappointed in the ending. For me it had a good pace, then at the end fell flat. The premise was good-- the good, loving and caring husband of the reporter is behind all of it in revenge of his twin brother's death, but usually there seems to be little "off" things periodically, that during the course of the story one might not put much into, then when it all wraps up and the reader looks back, they can say "Ah ha! I see it now!" But there was none of that... I progressed through the story expecting that sort of thing with one of the characters, and when it turned out to be the husband, which was so out of character for him I couldn't believe it, I was let down. I was disappointed that the story had been going so well, and then let down. If librarything had fractional ratings, I would give it a 3.5.
I received this book in exchange for a free review. Thank you… (meer)