Stacy Green

I will be reading more in the Nikki Hunt series.

Stacy Green, a new to me author who I picked up because of my love for and recommendation by author Lisa Regan, is a great writer who tells a good story.

The Girls in the Snow follows special agent Nikki Hunt back to her hometown of Stillwater, Minnesota, where her past and her parents' murders become front and center as the man accused of murdering them is looking to be exonerated. While hot on the trail of the person who killed two teenagers and then a working girl/dancer in Stillwater, Nikki wrestles with her conscience while trying to stay focused. Were her memories of the night her parents were killed real? Had the people she trusted then, who seemed to also be at the center of the two teenagers' murders now, guilty?

This is a dual storyline that I didn't see ending the way it did. One part of the story I figured would happen, but the second who-done-it part, not so much. Okay, not at all.

So much fun here. If you like fast-paced, female-driven, realistic cop stories, Nikki Hunt and The Girls in the Snow by Stacy Green is for you. I'm excited to see what's up next for Nikki (wow, I make her sound real LOL). Kudos to the author for that!… (meer)

Can it be possible that book #2 is even more riveting than the first? Yes. Not sure what it is, maybe the author's confidence is shining through, but special agent Nikki Hunt has more gumption, more pizzaz, and more grit in this sequel. One Perfect Grave (not sure of that title though if I'm being honest), is a great follow-up to the Nikki Hunt series.

While wrapping things up from her previous case in Stillwater (the one that came about to start the series), Nikki finds herself with romantic feelings over the brother of the man wrongly convicted of her parents' murders, as well as knee-deep in looking for the killer of a young mother and her son. If that isn't enough, a second young boy turns up missing and his mother is none other than reporter Caitlin Newport, Nikki's nemesis.

There is a lot of action in this one and you will not notice the time ticking as the pages seem to turn themselves. Well done, Stacy Green. I'm looking forward to reading book #3! Keep 'em coming.… (meer)

The story starts immediately, wasting no time but to begin the investigation of a crime. The book is predominantly from Erin Prince's point of view in a third-person voice, and readers are able to follow the investigation alongside her as well as Todd Brooks's. While the protagonist, Erin is very self-critical and doesn't come across as a likeable character. Erin already guesses the criminal, so it's a very long story, following leads to ultimately proving the guess that was made within the first few chapters. Though the twist is pleasantly revealed. The story is stiff and not gripping, but the book is very descriptive and easy to follow.

I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books and author.… (meer)

Thank you to @katieandbreypa and @authorstacygreen for an ARC of Killing Jane, the first book in the Erin Prince series. I will say that there are trigger warnings for gruesome murder details, date rape, and BDSM.

This book pulled me in from the start. Erin is a freshly promoted homicide investigator, and this is her first major case, alongside her newly arrived partner, Todd Brooks. Their first crime scene is that of Bonnie Archer, brutally murdered in the most despicable way possible. At the scene, the date of one of the Jack the Ripper murders is scratched into the wooden beam, along with the word "whore." Found near the body was a note with the name Jane, and now it's a race to find out who Jane is before more people die.

Erin Prince was born the rich, entitled daughter of a highly influential DC power player, but when she was able, she left that life to live on her own terms. She tries not to let her past effect her ability to do her job, but the family, friends, and suspects in this murder hit a little too close to home and her ability to stay neutral may be compromised. For the most part, Erin is a likeable character, a doting mother, close with her twin brother Brad, a good detective; however, she second-guesses herself a lot and seems to need validation for the things she's saying and doing. I guess that makes her flawed and human, but I could have done with a little more strength of character.

Todd Brooks is new to Erin's department and to being her partner, but he's been a cop for several years and handled his fair share of high-profile cases. He isn't overbearing with Erin, or talk down to her, but he does think she still has a lot to learn about how to investigate homicides. Overall, they get along well, although they do have their moments, just like any other partner relationship, especially one just starting out. I look forward to see how this partnership grows.

I was trying to figure this out the entire book, and failed at it miserably. There were multiple suspects, and no one seemed to fit, especially after the second murder when there didn't seem to be any overlap of the two women. And is the killer really a female? Are they truly searching for Jane the Ripper, or is that a red herring to distract them from the real killer?

All in all, a great, twisty read with an "I didn't see that coming" conclusion. I can hardly wait to pick up the next one. If you enjoy Karin Slaughter's books, then you will probably enjoy this fast-paced series.… (meer)