Eight stars
In another of her series, D. K. Hood shows her abilities with yet another strong thriller collection. Exciting to the core, Hood develops a stunning story that has all the needed elements to keep the reader hooked well into the night. FBI Special Agent Beth Katz has a secret, though she is able to keep it under wraps as she hunts for serial killers. Someone has been killing local women and Katz chooses a risky means of catching the killer, putting herself and the case in danger. However, she seeks results, which cannot be found without some hard work on her part. Hood does well with this piece and keeps the reader hooked.
A dark and deserted cabin is quiet, though the eeriness pervades the area. A young woman‘s body is cold to the touch, though her cherry lips and pinkish cheeks show that she was once quite the looker. No longer, and for someone, this is the greatest prize of all.
It is the circling murder of crows that calls attention to the abandoned cabin in the woods. FBI Special Agent Beth Katz arrives on scene near Rattlesnake Creek, Montana. Alongside her, Dax Styles, the rebellious partner who gets results. Special Agent Katz knows that there is something off though she cannot put her finger on it. She knows that ther is a killer out there, but Montana is large. Still, she senses that this is not the only body and that the killer has a plan. Locating them will take more work that she might have imagined.
When Cassie Durham goes missing, her friends are in a panic. She was last seen at a bar, but her friends say that she is highly responsible. Once Cassie’s lifeless body is located, her rouged cheeks and painted eyelids are nothing like the photos of her that Special Agents Katz and Styles have seen. Could this killer be turning their kills into personal playthings?
After another body turns up, Special Agent Katz turns to the darker side to pick up whispers about a potential suspect. She is sure luring the killer out of hiding will simply take patience. Choosing to go undercover, Special Agent Katz hopes to locate someone watching her and strike before any other women are found dead. When someone appears to be following her, Special Agent Katz thinks that she has her man. However, she must decide if this is a time to bring him to justice or use her own rules, as a serial killer herself. Hood weaves things together masterfully and keeps the reader in suspense.
I have come to really enjoy the work that D.K. Hood puts into her novels. A fan of her larger and more complex series, I readily reached for this collection when it became available. I love the detail and narrative flow, which always keeps me wondering as I flip pages to get some answers. The story’s momentum pushes things along and keeps me eager to see where things are headed, as I try to juggle the story and Special Agent Beth Katz’s own personal narrative. The characters are well placed and keep me hoping to discover their own backstories and development. I hope more find their way into the next novel, so I can delve a little deeper
Plot twists are plentiful in this piece, which has an unpredictable protagonist at its centre. These twists keeps things from being too presumptive and I can never tell where things might go next. Hood has created a strong story, as well as a sturdy series that I hope stands up for many novels to come. I am eager to see where things might go and who will be next to cross Beth Katz.
Kudos, Madam Hood, for surprising me with every new idea.
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