What do you think?
Rate this book
Karin Schaeffer #1
You Are Next
HE TOOK EVERYTHING...THEN CAME BACK FOR MORE.
Former Detective Karin Schaeffer has nothing left to live for after serial killer Martin Price destroys all she holds dear. Known as "The Domino Killer," Price doesn't stop until an entire family is destroyed. When he leaves a message, scrawled in blood, on her bathroom mirror, she knows what's coming-- You are next. But Karin Schaeffer refuses to run and hide.
Praise for international bestseller Katia Lief's
Former Detective Karin Schaeffer has nothing left to live for after serial killer Martin Price destroys all she holds dear. Known as "The Domino Killer," Price doesn't stop until an entire family is destroyed. When he leaves a message, scrawled in blood, on her bathroom mirror, she knows what's coming-- You are next. But Karin Schaeffer refuses to run and hide.
Praise for international bestseller Katia Lief's
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
68 people are currently reading
795 people want to read
About the author
Katia Lief
29 books231 followersThe first thing I ever wrote that received any notice was a one page story for my third grade English teacher. I don't recall what the assignment was, but I somehow found myself writing about a woman at a dinner party who suddenly realizes her teeth are invisible. She sits there, wedged between two chattering guests, wondering how she will eat, how she will talk, and generally how she will get out of the situation without having to open her mouth and reveal her dilemma. My teacher showed the story to my parents with a note to this effect: Katia could be a writer.
What if her note had instead encouraged me to be a dentist?
But it didn't. And so here I am.
So far I've published two literary novels (as Katia Spiegelman, the name I was born with), and seven suspense novels--five as Kate Pepper (a pseudonym) and two as Katia Lief (the name I live by). And to complicated things even more, I'm adding a new pen name to my arsenal-Karen Ellis-with my new novel A MAP OF THE DARK, coming January 2, 2018.
I have loved writing every one of my novels, and hope you will enjoy reading them.
What if her note had instead encouraged me to be a dentist?
But it didn't. And so here I am.
So far I've published two literary novels (as Katia Spiegelman, the name I was born with), and seven suspense novels--five as Kate Pepper (a pseudonym) and two as Katia Lief (the name I live by). And to complicated things even more, I'm adding a new pen name to my arsenal-Karen Ellis-with my new novel A MAP OF THE DARK, coming January 2, 2018.
I have loved writing every one of my novels, and hope you will enjoy reading them.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
November 20, 2018
I'd like to have given this book "You Are Next" by Katia Lief four stars but in all honesty, although I finished the book and at no point wished to stop reading, I did find it was left wanting and at times incredibly boring. Considering it had a premise of a sadistic serial killer and an ex cop turned victim which initially drew me in, it unfortunately failed to deliver in content and lacked the suspense I am normally used to from this genre of books. Very character driven around Detective Karin Schaeffer and her emotions following the murder of her child and husband at the hands of the 'Domino Killer' it dominated the story too much for me and spoilt the overall enjoyment of a potentially very good book.
It's still a decent read if you prefer slower crime novels that focuses more on the characters, it is well written and the author is obviously very talented, I just prefer my murder books full on, fast paced and exceedingly suspenseful.
3 stars
It's still a decent read if you prefer slower crime novels that focuses more on the characters, it is well written and the author is obviously very talented, I just prefer my murder books full on, fast paced and exceedingly suspenseful.
3 stars
February 25, 2017
Pretty good thriller :) just found out it's the first of a series so I just purchased the next one :) would recommend!
July 6, 2014
Karin Schaeffer was a promising police detective. That was before she worked on the case of the Domino Killer, a serial murderer who liked to kill one family member at a time until all of them were dead. He chillingly left a clue with each body, a number made out of dominos, as to who was next. After he kills the last member of the Alderman family, a full scale police hunt searches for him, leaving no stone unturned. However, Karin is the one to find his hiding place and when he later manages to escape he comes after her family killing her husband and 3y old daughter and promises that she is next.
This was a real page turner, a roller coaster of a thriller. And just when you think all is fine and everything will be Ok now, something unexpected happens.Brrrr!!!
This was a real page turner, a roller coaster of a thriller. And just when you think all is fine and everything will be Ok now, something unexpected happens.Brrrr!!!
July 16, 2010
Katia, Below is the review I did for Suspense Magazine:
"You are Next" by Katia Lief:
When former police detective Karin Schaffer’s family is brutally murdered, she comes apart at the seams. She is an empty shell in every sense of the word and feels she’d be better off dead. Both her husband and daughter were murdered by JPP (Just Plan Psycho) or as he was also known, “The Domino Killer” because he would leave dominos at the crime scene as a clue about who his next victim will be. Mild-mannered Martin Price—if that’s his real name—does his best to torture Karin and keep her chasing him while trying to figure out what he’ll do next in order to catch him.
It’s not long before they get their man. With JPP in prison, the question now becomes, who took her niece Suzanna and is she still alive—unlike none of his other victims? With dominos left behind as a clue, it’s a race against time to find out if they have a copy cat killer or if JPP has a partner. What do you think?
Lief pens a diabolically brilliant story and takes us on an amazing, wild ride of, I can’t wait to see what happens next, all the while keeping uppermost in our minds what’s driving Karin. Her family, along with her very caring psychiatrist Joyce somehow keeps her going, even in her darkest moments. With her old partner Mac, Karin will not rest until she finds Suzanna and untangles the web of lies and murder to find out what’s really going on with all the players in this fantastic mystery.
Reviewed by: Terri Ann Armstrong author of “Morning Menace” and Executive Editor for Suspense Magazine
"You are Next" by Katia Lief:
When former police detective Karin Schaffer’s family is brutally murdered, she comes apart at the seams. She is an empty shell in every sense of the word and feels she’d be better off dead. Both her husband and daughter were murdered by JPP (Just Plan Psycho) or as he was also known, “The Domino Killer” because he would leave dominos at the crime scene as a clue about who his next victim will be. Mild-mannered Martin Price—if that’s his real name—does his best to torture Karin and keep her chasing him while trying to figure out what he’ll do next in order to catch him.
It’s not long before they get their man. With JPP in prison, the question now becomes, who took her niece Suzanna and is she still alive—unlike none of his other victims? With dominos left behind as a clue, it’s a race against time to find out if they have a copy cat killer or if JPP has a partner. What do you think?
Lief pens a diabolically brilliant story and takes us on an amazing, wild ride of, I can’t wait to see what happens next, all the while keeping uppermost in our minds what’s driving Karin. Her family, along with her very caring psychiatrist Joyce somehow keeps her going, even in her darkest moments. With her old partner Mac, Karin will not rest until she finds Suzanna and untangles the web of lies and murder to find out what’s really going on with all the players in this fantastic mystery.
Reviewed by: Terri Ann Armstrong author of “Morning Menace” and Executive Editor for Suspense Magazine
February 2, 2011
I was sent this book through Good reads and its not the normal sort of book I would pick and I was really surprised at how enjoyable it was !
From start to finish I found it difficult to put this book down the main character Karin is been hunted by a serial killer who has already murdered another family and her husband and daughter, she missed the clues the first time but will she miss them this time?
I really enjoyed the way the book was written with the flash backs to the deaths of her daughter and husband, court case, and escape of the killer, and how she was managing to keep herself sane and alive for the 1 year she promised her shrink.
The tension built really well, when she came face to face with the killer I could not read fast enough wanting to know what happens next!And holding my breath. I could nearly smell him myself ! The descriptions are brilliant and I had the images flashing through my mind. I was gripped the whole way through and was rooting for Karin and Mac all the way through the book.
I didnt expect the plot to deepen and thicken as much as it did as Karin faces the killer so early on in the book, I was not sure if the rest of the book would be just a chase between killer and victim, but I was very wrong!! I love the how the story weaved its way to the end including Karins extended family and her young Niece, also giving insight to the killers mentor and accomplice and his young history and was not predictable as I thought it would be, and as I was reading I was thinking " ah yes that makes sense now " and " I Didnt expect that "
I was kept guessing right till the very end, Does she beat the killer? you will have to read it to find out. I loved the supense created by the author, and the tension this was a thouroughly good book and look forward to more books from this author!
From start to finish I found it difficult to put this book down the main character Karin is been hunted by a serial killer who has already murdered another family and her husband and daughter, she missed the clues the first time but will she miss them this time?
I really enjoyed the way the book was written with the flash backs to the deaths of her daughter and husband, court case, and escape of the killer, and how she was managing to keep herself sane and alive for the 1 year she promised her shrink.
The tension built really well, when she came face to face with the killer I could not read fast enough wanting to know what happens next!And holding my breath. I could nearly smell him myself ! The descriptions are brilliant and I had the images flashing through my mind. I was gripped the whole way through and was rooting for Karin and Mac all the way through the book.
I didnt expect the plot to deepen and thicken as much as it did as Karin faces the killer so early on in the book, I was not sure if the rest of the book would be just a chase between killer and victim, but I was very wrong!! I love the how the story weaved its way to the end including Karins extended family and her young Niece, also giving insight to the killers mentor and accomplice and his young history and was not predictable as I thought it would be, and as I was reading I was thinking " ah yes that makes sense now " and " I Didnt expect that "
I was kept guessing right till the very end, Does she beat the killer? you will have to read it to find out. I loved the supense created by the author, and the tension this was a thouroughly good book and look forward to more books from this author!
February 2, 2011
I feel a little ungrateful as I received this book as I 'won' it as a free giveaway on here and was very excited as I do like a good trashy crime-thriller, catchy-killer book…but this one just didn’t live up to expectations.
Karin Schaeffer was a cop – happily married with a 3 yera old daughter, she had everything going for her – until she caught a serial killer. Martin Price (or JPP to her – Just Plain Psycho) managed to escape, and considering his thing was to kill families, there are no surprises as to how he took his revenge. And he left a message written in her daughter’s blood: “YOU ARE NEXT”.
So, Karin has lost her husband, daughter and has left her job and her home and when she hears that JPP has escaped prison again, she knows he is coming for her and she can’t wait.
This was SO formulaic. Nothing at all surprised me, there were no unexpected twists or turns in the story – everything was really obvious.
Also, the idea that he was called ‘The Domino Killer’ because he left dominoes as numerical clues as to who would be next seemed so far-fetched. The numbers were in no particular order, and could be anything from a building they go to or part of a social security number. They just seemed completely superfluous to the story – I know it’s nice to have your serial killer have a gimick, but it felt it was really grasping at straws.
I didn’t even feel sorry for the main character. Somone who had lost everything, and so violently, and yet she seemed so one-dimensional that I didn’t really care what happened to her.
And the final scenes were just so disappointingly obvious. It’s a shame – the promise was there, the ideas were good, it just felt not very thought through. Badly executed - but very easy to get through quickly!
Karin Schaeffer was a cop – happily married with a 3 yera old daughter, she had everything going for her – until she caught a serial killer. Martin Price (or JPP to her – Just Plain Psycho) managed to escape, and considering his thing was to kill families, there are no surprises as to how he took his revenge. And he left a message written in her daughter’s blood: “YOU ARE NEXT”.
So, Karin has lost her husband, daughter and has left her job and her home and when she hears that JPP has escaped prison again, she knows he is coming for her and she can’t wait.
This was SO formulaic. Nothing at all surprised me, there were no unexpected twists or turns in the story – everything was really obvious.
Also, the idea that he was called ‘The Domino Killer’ because he left dominoes as numerical clues as to who would be next seemed so far-fetched. The numbers were in no particular order, and could be anything from a building they go to or part of a social security number. They just seemed completely superfluous to the story – I know it’s nice to have your serial killer have a gimick, but it felt it was really grasping at straws.
I didn’t even feel sorry for the main character. Somone who had lost everything, and so violently, and yet she seemed so one-dimensional that I didn’t really care what happened to her.
And the final scenes were just so disappointingly obvious. It’s a shame – the promise was there, the ideas were good, it just felt not very thought through. Badly executed - but very easy to get through quickly!
September 1, 2010
When former police detective Karin Schaffer’s family is brutally murdered, she comes apart at the seams. She is an empty shell in every sense of the word and feels she’d be better off dead. Both her husband and daughter were murdered by JPP (Just Plan Psycho) or as he was also known, “The Domino Killer” because he would leave dominos at the crime scene as a clue about who his next victim will be. Mild-mannered Martin Price—if that’s his real name—does his best to torture Karin and keep her chasing him while trying to figure out what he’ll do next in order to catch him.
It’s not long before they get their man. With JPP in prison, the question now becomes, who took her niece Suzanna and is she still alive—unlike none of his other victims? With dominos left behind as a clue, it’s a race against time to find out if they have a copy cat killer or if JPP has a partner. What do you think?
Lief pens a diabolically brilliant story and takes us on an amazing, wild ride of, I can’t wait to see what happens next, all the while keeping uppermost in our minds what’s driving Karin. Her family, along with her very caring psychiatrist Joyce somehow keeps her going, even in her darkest moments. With her old partner Mac, Karin will not rest until she finds Suzanna and untangles the web of lies and murder to find out what’s really going on with all the players in this fantastic mystery.
Reviewed by: Terri Ann Armstrong author of “Morning Menace” and Executive Editor for Suspense Magazine
It’s not long before they get their man. With JPP in prison, the question now becomes, who took her niece Suzanna and is she still alive—unlike none of his other victims? With dominos left behind as a clue, it’s a race against time to find out if they have a copy cat killer or if JPP has a partner. What do you think?
Lief pens a diabolically brilliant story and takes us on an amazing, wild ride of, I can’t wait to see what happens next, all the while keeping uppermost in our minds what’s driving Karin. Her family, along with her very caring psychiatrist Joyce somehow keeps her going, even in her darkest moments. With her old partner Mac, Karin will not rest until she finds Suzanna and untangles the web of lies and murder to find out what’s really going on with all the players in this fantastic mystery.
Reviewed by: Terri Ann Armstrong author of “Morning Menace” and Executive Editor for Suspense Magazine
September 14, 2015
For quite a while with this one I feared I would be giving two stars. I felt as though there was a lot of starting and stopping as we flickered between the crime side of the story and the emotional side. Whilst I enjoyed the emotional impact, the way we saw inside of our main character’s mind, I also found it dragged the story a bit and pulled my attention from what I really cared about.
That being said, however, I really did enjoy the crime aspect of the story. For me, it was a short and gripping book. I would have liked more focus upon the crime, more twists and turns, but it was a nice change to the norm. We know most of the details to the story within minutes, but there is still more to be found out which keeps you gripped.
Relating back to my issue with the emotional aspects, I will say that the romance aspect of the book was somewhat cliché for me. Whilst I loved the characters involved the story seemed like something done many time before and I knew exactly where it was going. It left me somewhat annoyed, if I’m honest, and I would have been disappointed had the crime aspect not won me over.
Overall, it left me interesting to see what else is to come.
That being said, however, I really did enjoy the crime aspect of the story. For me, it was a short and gripping book. I would have liked more focus upon the crime, more twists and turns, but it was a nice change to the norm. We know most of the details to the story within minutes, but there is still more to be found out which keeps you gripped.
Relating back to my issue with the emotional aspects, I will say that the romance aspect of the book was somewhat cliché for me. Whilst I loved the characters involved the story seemed like something done many time before and I knew exactly where it was going. It left me somewhat annoyed, if I’m honest, and I would have been disappointed had the crime aspect not won me over.
Overall, it left me interesting to see what else is to come.
November 11, 2024
Tik štruntīgs krimiķis sen nebija gadījies. Pēc apm 70% grāmatas izlasīšanas uzradās intriga, bet fiksi izčākstēja un beigas bija vēl nejēdzīgākas par sākumu.
ps ceru, ka tomēr cīņa ar noziedzību ir kvalitatīvāka par grāmatā aprakstīto:)
pps 1* man par izturību, bet ja šī nebūtu grāmata, kas gadījās, laiku īsinot lidojumā, nebūtu izlasījusi līdz galam:)
ps ceru, ka tomēr cīņa ar noziedzību ir kvalitatīvāka par grāmatā aprakstīto:)
pps 1* man par izturību, bet ja šī nebūtu grāmata, kas gadījās, laiku īsinot lidojumā, nebūtu izlasījusi līdz galam:)
May 1, 2021
This is the first book in the Karin Schaeffer series. Schaeffer was a New York City cop until a serial killer she captured escaped and took the life of her husband and daughter.
As the book opens, Schaeffer is dealing with her broken life and economic status, and the serial killer escapes again. He sends her an unconventional communication indicating she is next.
I’m going to read the second book in this series eventually just to see whether I feel better about it than I have the first one. The narrator with her excellence across the board will also bring me back.
What I will tell you about it is it felt cheesy to me—like an old-time radio soap opera thing where life just dumps and dumps on one person without respite. It seemed over the top—I don’t know—I wish I were better at explaining exactly how I felt. I’ll read the second book eventually, but if it’s no better than the first, I’m done with the series.
As the book opens, Schaeffer is dealing with her broken life and economic status, and the serial killer escapes again. He sends her an unconventional communication indicating she is next.
I’m going to read the second book in this series eventually just to see whether I feel better about it than I have the first one. The narrator with her excellence across the board will also bring me back.
What I will tell you about it is it felt cheesy to me—like an old-time radio soap opera thing where life just dumps and dumps on one person without respite. It seemed over the top—I don’t know—I wish I were better at explaining exactly how I felt. I’ll read the second book eventually, but if it’s no better than the first, I’m done with the series.
October 26, 2022
Really disappointed by this book, it has the potential due to a great premise, but it was poorly executed. It felt like no planning went into the book and whatever popped into her head was what was written
Very disappointed. Read the first 10 pages of her next book and realised it didn’t get any better
I will avoid the author in future
Very disappointed. Read the first 10 pages of her next book and realised it didn’t get any better
I will avoid the author in future
February 3, 2018
I went in there clueless since the synopsis didn't give away major details of any upcoming surprise. So I had no idea what to expect in the beginning first fifty pages when the entire synopsis ended right there. That was it. The first fifty pages and the rest of the three hundred or so were nowhere on the back cover. Something that I found weird because this was a great book and the synopsis didn't do it any justice. Most people, I know, choose their books by reading what's behind. No doubt, what was written was good enough to catch my attention - who is a fanatic for serial killer thrillers - but it won't do much to anyone who is new into the genre. That kind of ruined the plot for me for the next hundred pages but from then on, say page 150, everything got so much better that I forgot what lacked in the previous pages. The pace was slow early on, too, but it picked up speed.
The ending left me breathless.
I have some comments to make on the writing style, which was different but I can't say if it was different good or different bad. In some places the abrupt full stops after every single word felt unnecessary but in others they made sense and set the tone for the scene.
I enjoyed the book overall, I wasn't expecting much from it but it surprised me and I was rushing through the pages toward the end.
The ending left me breathless.
I have some comments to make on the writing style, which was different but I can't say if it was different good or different bad. In some places the abrupt full stops after every single word felt unnecessary but in others they made sense and set the tone for the scene.
I enjoyed the book overall, I wasn't expecting much from it but it surprised me and I was rushing through the pages toward the end.
August 12, 2017
“You Are Next” is the first in a series of books about former detective Karin Schaeffer. Her career had come to an abrupt end a couple of years previously when a serial killer she was responsible for capturing escaped custody and turned his attention to her and her family.
Nicknamed the Domino Killer by the press at the time, as he left dominoes at each crime scene as a clue to his next victim. Karen and her colleagues managed to catch up with the mad man only after he had killer her husband and daughter.
And now he has escaped again, and is back to finish what he started. But this time, it is her brother’s family who look set to pay the price.
The twists and turns in this story are unpredictable. The plot is not particularly unique, but it is told with feeling and pace. An excellent introduction to a writer I will certainly be looking out for in future.
Nicknamed the Domino Killer by the press at the time, as he left dominoes at each crime scene as a clue to his next victim. Karen and her colleagues managed to catch up with the mad man only after he had killer her husband and daughter.
And now he has escaped again, and is back to finish what he started. But this time, it is her brother’s family who look set to pay the price.
The twists and turns in this story are unpredictable. The plot is not particularly unique, but it is told with feeling and pace. An excellent introduction to a writer I will certainly be looking out for in future.
September 11, 2016
Picked this book up when I was needing a book that started with "Y" for a challenge. So glad I found this one. Great start to a series. Love the characters. Love the writing. Love the plot. Not sure how I missed reading this author for so long. Will certainly be reading more. 4 stars
May 14, 2020
When Detective Karin Schaeffer arrests the notorious Domino Killer, she has no idea that her life will never be the same. As the Domino Killer strikes again and brings Karin's worst nightmare to life, she is forced to quit her job and live alone, healing her wounds and coping with her tremendous loss. But now, the Domino Killer has escaped...and he knows where Karin is.
You Are Next was a harrowing yet gripping book that kept my heart pounding from the moment I started it. The sheer horror that the Domino Killer brings into his victims' lives is sadistic and chilling. Katia Lief's writing not only helped me engage and connect with the characters but also made me genuinely fear for Karin when she came face to face to the one who had stripped her life away all those years ago. It was a very compelling and nightmarish read.
Despite how much I enjoyed this book, and how I was able to read it in a quick number of sittings, I am really on the fence about giving this book five stars. No matter how much I enjoyed it, I felt like there were some elements of this book that were repetitive as if the chase was going on for just a little too long. I also felt like some of the relationships between characters were very cliched and almost forced, with the sudden admittance of love being thrown in. It's because of those two factors, that I can only give this four stars. Enjoyable, but a cliche will always be a cliche.
You Are Next was a harrowing yet gripping book that kept my heart pounding from the moment I started it. The sheer horror that the Domino Killer brings into his victims' lives is sadistic and chilling. Katia Lief's writing not only helped me engage and connect with the characters but also made me genuinely fear for Karin when she came face to face to the one who had stripped her life away all those years ago. It was a very compelling and nightmarish read.
Despite how much I enjoyed this book, and how I was able to read it in a quick number of sittings, I am really on the fence about giving this book five stars. No matter how much I enjoyed it, I felt like there were some elements of this book that were repetitive as if the chase was going on for just a little too long. I also felt like some of the relationships between characters were very cliched and almost forced, with the sudden admittance of love being thrown in. It's because of those two factors, that I can only give this four stars. Enjoyable, but a cliche will always be a cliche.
September 2, 2011
Review from my blog The Word Fiend.
The Serial Killer sub-genre is very popular with readers. Maybe it's the fact that we can get close to such inhuman evil and still be able to walk away when we put the book down. Maybe it's a fascination with what humans are capable of. For me both these ideas play a part, but what I most enjoy is the chase – working with the investigators to solve the puzzle and catch the bad guy. You Are Next is a promising debut from a new voice in this popular sub-genre.
The cover image is quite simple, but striking. The read background immediately caught my eye and its implied reference to blood and violence can't be ignored. But, for me, the simple addition of a broken domino was especially effective in the context of the story. It is a reference to the killer, but also to the destruction his “game” has left in his wake.
Katia Lief's writing is direct, with very little unnecessary description and padding. This style suits the story she has set out to tell and exposes the stark reality of the investigation and the killer's actions. There isn't time for pretty words when lives are at stake. I did, however, think that the pacing of You Are Next was off. The book started strongly, immediately drawing me into the story, but then the pace near the middle of the book before picking up again for the climax. This lag frustrated me. I know that a story needs to ebb and flow, but the downtime in You Are Next was too long. It should have been broken up to keep the reader engaged in the story.
I did like the games and clues that the Domino Killer leaves for the investigators. They let me feel like I could help the case if I could just figure them out. The use of dominoes, which are in themselves such harmless objects, added an extra level of malice to the crimes.
Karin Schaeffer is something different as far as protagonists in this sub-genre go. She is broken. The Domino Killer murdered her husband and child and we meet her as she is trying to hold herself and her life together in the wake of this tragedy. But she's failing. Lief's exploration of Karin's suicidal thoughts and grief are well handled and the play a large part in the plot. It's difficult to write about these topics and keep the character from alienating the reader, but Lief manages it capably.
You Are Next is a thriller about the effects of a serial killer's actions as much as it is about the hunt. It's a different approach to this kind of story and I liked it. I'll be keeping an eye on this author.
The Serial Killer sub-genre is very popular with readers. Maybe it's the fact that we can get close to such inhuman evil and still be able to walk away when we put the book down. Maybe it's a fascination with what humans are capable of. For me both these ideas play a part, but what I most enjoy is the chase – working with the investigators to solve the puzzle and catch the bad guy. You Are Next is a promising debut from a new voice in this popular sub-genre.
The cover image is quite simple, but striking. The read background immediately caught my eye and its implied reference to blood and violence can't be ignored. But, for me, the simple addition of a broken domino was especially effective in the context of the story. It is a reference to the killer, but also to the destruction his “game” has left in his wake.
Katia Lief's writing is direct, with very little unnecessary description and padding. This style suits the story she has set out to tell and exposes the stark reality of the investigation and the killer's actions. There isn't time for pretty words when lives are at stake. I did, however, think that the pacing of You Are Next was off. The book started strongly, immediately drawing me into the story, but then the pace near the middle of the book before picking up again for the climax. This lag frustrated me. I know that a story needs to ebb and flow, but the downtime in You Are Next was too long. It should have been broken up to keep the reader engaged in the story.
I did like the games and clues that the Domino Killer leaves for the investigators. They let me feel like I could help the case if I could just figure them out. The use of dominoes, which are in themselves such harmless objects, added an extra level of malice to the crimes.
Karin Schaeffer is something different as far as protagonists in this sub-genre go. She is broken. The Domino Killer murdered her husband and child and we meet her as she is trying to hold herself and her life together in the wake of this tragedy. But she's failing. Lief's exploration of Karin's suicidal thoughts and grief are well handled and the play a large part in the plot. It's difficult to write about these topics and keep the character from alienating the reader, but Lief manages it capably.
You Are Next is a thriller about the effects of a serial killer's actions as much as it is about the hunt. It's a different approach to this kind of story and I liked it. I'll be keeping an eye on this author.
August 16, 2011
You Are Next was shelved in the romance section for some reason, as was its sequel. As a result, during the last frantic days of the Borders’ closing sale (sniff!), I bought them for 90% off. I may hate the closing of a bookstore, but dang it, I love a book sale.
Karin Schaeffer was a detective with the police department in Maplewood, New Jersey. While she and her partner Mac were investigating a serial killer, Martin Price, she caught Price’s attention. Unfortunately, Price liked to kill off whole families. He killed her husband, Jackson and three-year-old daughter, Cece. He was coming for her when he was captured.
This is not a romance. Let’s be clear about that. The story opens when Karin receives a call in her new home in Brooklyn to warn her that Martin Price has escaped prison. Karin doesn’t handle it well. She is no longer a detective. Her last day on the job, she tried to commit suicide. The news of his escape can only mean one thing – he’s coming after her and she hopes this time he’ll finish the job. She refuses police protection and waits for him to arrive.
Karin can’t go without a fight and ultimately he escapes, though he still wants to torture the woman who helped put him away. He decides his next target will be her brother, his pregnant wife, and their daughter, Suzanne.
I read this over a period of a month, so some of the details are a little fuzzy. Karin is a seriously damaged heroine. She’s wracked with guilt over the death of her little family. Life is just barely picking up when Price comes back into the picture.
Bottom-line: This was a pretty average book and nothing unexpected happened. If you like mysteries, this may float your boat, but there isn’t really anything new here. I like the character of Karin well enough, which means I’ll probably try the sequel just to see how things turn out for her. I'd like to give it more than 2 stars, but I really wasn't that impressed.
Minor spoiler ahead, but this type scene happens a couple of times, so I won’t really ruin anything: Maybe I’m a tad bloodthirsty, but it really bugs me when the good guy has the bad guy cornered, the bad guy is pleading for their life, and the good guy’s innate mercy and goodness keeps them from doing what we so desperately want them to do. I mean seriously, he killed your husband and child! I don’t think he’ll need both kneecaps in prison.
Karin Schaeffer was a detective with the police department in Maplewood, New Jersey. While she and her partner Mac were investigating a serial killer, Martin Price, she caught Price’s attention. Unfortunately, Price liked to kill off whole families. He killed her husband, Jackson and three-year-old daughter, Cece. He was coming for her when he was captured.
This is not a romance. Let’s be clear about that. The story opens when Karin receives a call in her new home in Brooklyn to warn her that Martin Price has escaped prison. Karin doesn’t handle it well. She is no longer a detective. Her last day on the job, she tried to commit suicide. The news of his escape can only mean one thing – he’s coming after her and she hopes this time he’ll finish the job. She refuses police protection and waits for him to arrive.
Karin can’t go without a fight and ultimately he escapes, though he still wants to torture the woman who helped put him away. He decides his next target will be her brother, his pregnant wife, and their daughter, Suzanne.
I read this over a period of a month, so some of the details are a little fuzzy. Karin is a seriously damaged heroine. She’s wracked with guilt over the death of her little family. Life is just barely picking up when Price comes back into the picture.
Bottom-line: This was a pretty average book and nothing unexpected happened. If you like mysteries, this may float your boat, but there isn’t really anything new here. I like the character of Karin well enough, which means I’ll probably try the sequel just to see how things turn out for her. I'd like to give it more than 2 stars, but I really wasn't that impressed.
Minor spoiler ahead, but this type scene happens a couple of times, so I won’t really ruin anything: Maybe I’m a tad bloodthirsty, but it really bugs me when the good guy has the bad guy cornered, the bad guy is pleading for their life, and the good guy’s innate mercy and goodness keeps them from doing what we so desperately want them to do. I mean seriously, he killed your husband and child! I don’t think he’ll need both kneecaps in prison.
August 23, 2010
Karin Schaeffer is a former detective whose life was destroyed by a serial killer known as The Domino Killer. In the blink of an eye her husband and daughter were brutally murdered and she's left coping with the grief. Just when she thinks the killer is behind bars, he escapes to come after the one that got away--her. But he's not the only killer Karin must deal with. Before she knows it there's another psycho on the loose who's terrorizing her and those she loves. Is this killer a copy cat or are they somehow connected to The Domino Killer? It's up to Karin to find out, with the help of her former partner Mac, before another family is destroyed.
This is a heart-pounding read with a very strong heroine. Everything she loved was taken from her and the grief she's dealing with is very realistic and makes the reader ache with her. The only thing keeping her going is her need for revenge and it's agonizing watching her unravel as she continues to deal with her grief and depression. You're rooting for her to not only catch the killers, but to find a way to mentally heal and move on with her life.
The other characters in the book are well fleshed out and each one plays an important part. Both of the killers are extremely creepy and the tortures they inflict on others stay in your thoughts long after the final page. The reasons behind their actions are never quite clear, but the motives of serial killers are rarely understood. Karin's family is very supportive of her and their reactions to their own traumas are very realistic and equally painful to read. Mac in particular stands out. He's been a friend to Karin for years, but with danger getting close to her again, he wants to be more. Having him be a part of Karin's healing process adds a much needed bit of romance to the story.
This is an exciting book that keeps you turning the pages with anticipation. You ache for the heroes and boo at the villains. Karin is a heroine you admire and I'm intrigued to see how her life progresses after everything she's been through. This is the first book in a series with the next installment due out soon. I eagerly await its arrival and highly recommend this to all readers.
This is a heart-pounding read with a very strong heroine. Everything she loved was taken from her and the grief she's dealing with is very realistic and makes the reader ache with her. The only thing keeping her going is her need for revenge and it's agonizing watching her unravel as she continues to deal with her grief and depression. You're rooting for her to not only catch the killers, but to find a way to mentally heal and move on with her life.
The other characters in the book are well fleshed out and each one plays an important part. Both of the killers are extremely creepy and the tortures they inflict on others stay in your thoughts long after the final page. The reasons behind their actions are never quite clear, but the motives of serial killers are rarely understood. Karin's family is very supportive of her and their reactions to their own traumas are very realistic and equally painful to read. Mac in particular stands out. He's been a friend to Karin for years, but with danger getting close to her again, he wants to be more. Having him be a part of Karin's healing process adds a much needed bit of romance to the story.
This is an exciting book that keeps you turning the pages with anticipation. You ache for the heroes and boo at the villains. Karin is a heroine you admire and I'm intrigued to see how her life progresses after everything she's been through. This is the first book in a series with the next installment due out soon. I eagerly await its arrival and highly recommend this to all readers.
February 10, 2011
Dominos have always held a special place in my heart – the game that is not the pizza! I remember as a kid, constantly playing the game with my lovely gran in front of a burning log fire that warmed the small cottage effortlessly. We had no central heating in those days – didn’t really need it – the fire was more than a match for cold winter evenings. We played relentlessly – neither willing to admit defeat!
I also remember sticking a piece of freshly cut bread on a fire fork and sitting impatiently, introducing the bread to the heat, tempting it to toast so I could feed my hunger – those were the days! Katia Lief has taken those magical memories from me in the space of two days with her new novel “You Are Next”! Comparing my childhood memories and a serial killer with a penchant for Dominos rather takes away the gloss of toasties, packets of monster munch and freshly made cuppas!
To be fair I knew, or at the very least an inkling, what I was letting myself into so I really have no excuse! “You Are Next” is a psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat as you anticipate the killer’s next move.
“Detective Karin Schaeffer was a happily married mother in New Jersey when her life was shattered by a serial killer who murdered her husband and daughter. Martin Price is known to the police as JPP for Just Plain Psycho because of the brutality of his attacks. To the press and the public he is known as The Domino Killer because he systematically murders whole families one by one, after leaving a trail of dominoes as clues. Now JPP has escaped prison...and with the help of her former partner and close friend, Mac MacLeary, Karin struggles to overcome despair and save her remaining loved ones as the clock ticks on all their lives.”
Karin is a highly complex character and is in a deeply disturbing and dark place throughout the book – there is no sunshine, her outlook on life is bleak – the temptation to give in to the killer’s demand for her life ever so tempting, but she learns to fight back despite her traumatic past all the while rebuilding her life step by painful step.
Full Review on the blog:-http://www.milorambles.com/2011/02/10...
I also remember sticking a piece of freshly cut bread on a fire fork and sitting impatiently, introducing the bread to the heat, tempting it to toast so I could feed my hunger – those were the days! Katia Lief has taken those magical memories from me in the space of two days with her new novel “You Are Next”! Comparing my childhood memories and a serial killer with a penchant for Dominos rather takes away the gloss of toasties, packets of monster munch and freshly made cuppas!
To be fair I knew, or at the very least an inkling, what I was letting myself into so I really have no excuse! “You Are Next” is a psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat as you anticipate the killer’s next move.
“Detective Karin Schaeffer was a happily married mother in New Jersey when her life was shattered by a serial killer who murdered her husband and daughter. Martin Price is known to the police as JPP for Just Plain Psycho because of the brutality of his attacks. To the press and the public he is known as The Domino Killer because he systematically murders whole families one by one, after leaving a trail of dominoes as clues. Now JPP has escaped prison...and with the help of her former partner and close friend, Mac MacLeary, Karin struggles to overcome despair and save her remaining loved ones as the clock ticks on all their lives.”
Karin is a highly complex character and is in a deeply disturbing and dark place throughout the book – there is no sunshine, her outlook on life is bleak – the temptation to give in to the killer’s demand for her life ever so tempting, but she learns to fight back despite her traumatic past all the while rebuilding her life step by painful step.
Full Review on the blog:-http://www.milorambles.com/2011/02/10...
February 1, 2011
Won this through the Goodreads Giveaways.
This book started very promisingly as we are introduced to Karen, an ex-detective who has lost her husband and child to a serial killer known as The Domino Killer (or JPP by the cops, which although a little cheesy I did find quite amusing), as she waits for the escaped murderer in her small Brooklyn flat. As he arrives the scene is tense as she battles with her desire to end her misery and join her family and the need to destroy the man who destroyed her life. After this tense and nerve racking opening the book dives into the sadness, misery and depression of Karin's life, post Domino, slowing the pace right down and bringing the reader with it. Granted she will feel depressed, miserable and suicidal after everything she has gone through but the constant rehashing and reiterising of this detracted from the thrill of the chase and the tension that should have been building with a killer on the loose.
The second half of the book does pick up as Karin begins to move on from her troubled past and looks to the future, only for mayhem and murder to interrupt it once more. The tension does build gradually as Karin and her ex-partner Mac follow the trail left by the Domino killer leading them down an ever darker path and the ending is both climatic and tense. Although there are parts of the book that are a little predictable, especially if you're familiar with this genre of writing, but this doesn't detract from the story too much and there are still a few surprises lurking around the corner.
The characters are generally well written even though Karin's was a little overly dominated by her bereavements and losses but she does begin to move on from these as the book progresses. Although I must say it was nice to see the more vulnerable side of a police detective rather than the more typical revenge and anger driven detective that often dominates this genre. I did find the character of Domino a little flat and a little more could have been done given the huge potential their past provided. On the whole a good read although not one that stands out hugely in this genre, but an author I would definitely read again.
This book started very promisingly as we are introduced to Karen, an ex-detective who has lost her husband and child to a serial killer known as The Domino Killer (or JPP by the cops, which although a little cheesy I did find quite amusing), as she waits for the escaped murderer in her small Brooklyn flat. As he arrives the scene is tense as she battles with her desire to end her misery and join her family and the need to destroy the man who destroyed her life. After this tense and nerve racking opening the book dives into the sadness, misery and depression of Karin's life, post Domino, slowing the pace right down and bringing the reader with it. Granted she will feel depressed, miserable and suicidal after everything she has gone through but the constant rehashing and reiterising of this detracted from the thrill of the chase and the tension that should have been building with a killer on the loose.
The second half of the book does pick up as Karin begins to move on from her troubled past and looks to the future, only for mayhem and murder to interrupt it once more. The tension does build gradually as Karin and her ex-partner Mac follow the trail left by the Domino killer leading them down an ever darker path and the ending is both climatic and tense. Although there are parts of the book that are a little predictable, especially if you're familiar with this genre of writing, but this doesn't detract from the story too much and there are still a few surprises lurking around the corner.
The characters are generally well written even though Karin's was a little overly dominated by her bereavements and losses but she does begin to move on from these as the book progresses. Although I must say it was nice to see the more vulnerable side of a police detective rather than the more typical revenge and anger driven detective that often dominates this genre. I did find the character of Domino a little flat and a little more could have been done given the huge potential their past provided. On the whole a good read although not one that stands out hugely in this genre, but an author I would definitely read again.
July 12, 2011
After reading the back cover I was looking forward to reading this. This book was not I was expecting it to be.
The story is about Karin ex- cop who lost her child and husband to a serial killer. He killed them because she caught him by accident. The story starts off a while after these events. So what we are left with is a first person story told from a depressed and suicidal woman. So after he escapes she waits for him, she knows exactly how he will enter her house (and yes that happens just the way she expects it) but fights back ones she figures out he is going to kill the rest of her family. He escapes, she is hurt and now they are going to try to catch this guy.
This guy escaped not once but twice. leaves domino's at the scene to let them know who is next the problem with this is the numbers are in any particular order and can mean anything from an age, to a birthday, to the last number of a social security number or a house adress, which kind of makes them useless unless you know where to look. And of course they know where to look this time.
There wasn't a single moment when I read this I was on the edge of my seat not when the guy was there to murder her nor when her niece disappeared. There were no fancy twists or plots nothing made me go "What!" or "Wow". When the crimes of this guy were described all I thought was "Mwaw". It was predictable.
You should think that you feel something for this woman or her family but to be honest I couldn't care less if anything happened to anyone of them.
But I must say this is an easy read and I went true it no time. And I still picked the book up to finish it. Katia's writing style is good, the story was just way to predictable.
The story is about Karin ex- cop who lost her child and husband to a serial killer. He killed them because she caught him by accident. The story starts off a while after these events. So what we are left with is a first person story told from a depressed and suicidal woman. So after he escapes she waits for him, she knows exactly how he will enter her house (and yes that happens just the way she expects it) but fights back ones she figures out he is going to kill the rest of her family. He escapes, she is hurt and now they are going to try to catch this guy.
This guy escaped not once but twice. leaves domino's at the scene to let them know who is next the problem with this is the numbers are in any particular order and can mean anything from an age, to a birthday, to the last number of a social security number or a house adress, which kind of makes them useless unless you know where to look. And of course they know where to look this time.
There wasn't a single moment when I read this I was on the edge of my seat not when the guy was there to murder her nor when her niece disappeared. There were no fancy twists or plots nothing made me go "What!" or "Wow". When the crimes of this guy were described all I thought was "Mwaw". It was predictable.
You should think that you feel something for this woman or her family but to be honest I couldn't care less if anything happened to anyone of them.
But I must say this is an easy read and I went true it no time. And I still picked the book up to finish it. Katia's writing style is good, the story was just way to predictable.
February 5, 2011
I must admit I found the beginning a little flat. Of course the best bit of crime genres is always the later part, but it was increased in this case by the fact that the precis given for the giveaway contained too much information. In my opinion it would have been better simply to type out the back cover blurb, because it took until I was halfway (maybe more) through the story before I'd caught up with the place where I didn't know any more of what was to happen next! Having said that, the recommendation: "Your heart will be pounding long after you've turned the last page" didn't run true for me. I can't say there was ever a moment I felt fear which was a little bit of a disappointment, but obviously as the quote proves, some would. I tried to base my rating keeping in mind how I would have experienced the plot had I known less.
It's an easy read so I enjoyed it from the point of view that it was a book one could relax with rather than it requiring intense concentration. The style of writing is modern.
It has a decent enough plot, but perhaps a little predictable. I found myself foreseeing events before they happened although this wasn't really detrimental. The domino theme didn't seem overly original and because there wasn't anything to set it apart from the rest as outstanding, I couldn't give it any more stars.
I wouldn't not recommend it, but equally it wouldn't be a book I'd be pushing.
** I received this free of charge through Goodreads First-Reads **
It's an easy read so I enjoyed it from the point of view that it was a book one could relax with rather than it requiring intense concentration. The style of writing is modern.
It has a decent enough plot, but perhaps a little predictable. I found myself foreseeing events before they happened although this wasn't really detrimental. The domino theme didn't seem overly original and because there wasn't anything to set it apart from the rest as outstanding, I couldn't give it any more stars.
I wouldn't not recommend it, but equally it wouldn't be a book I'd be pushing.
** I received this free of charge through Goodreads First-Reads **
July 25, 2018
In Nu jij nog maken we kennis met Karin Schaeffer, een ex-rechercheur wier man en dochter zijn omgebracht. Karin krijgt het bericht dat de moordenaar is ontsnapt en dat ze zelf moet vrezen voor haar leven. De politie wil dat ze, ter bescherming, meekomt. Karin weigert. Omdat ze niets meer heeft om voor te leven.
Deze moordenaar, die dominostenen achterlaat als aanwijzing voor zijn volgende moord en daarom de Dominokiller wordt genoemd, komt zoals verwacht bij Karin langs. Om haar ook te vermoorden. Karin vindt dat niet erg. Tot ze zich realiseert dat hij daarna wel eens achter haar familie aan kan gaan. Karin wil blijven leven. Om de Dominokiller te pakken te krijgen.
Nu jij nog is een boek dat bijzonder vlot leest. Dat zal deels te maken hebben met een redelijk aantal spannende hoofdstukken, maar ook met de schrijfstijl van Katia Lief. Die is luchtig en gemakkelijk begrijpbaar. Dat het boek niet overal spannend is, komt omdat de lezer ook kennismaakt met de personages Karin Schaeffer en haar oud-collega Mac.
Katia Lief werkt in het boek naar een climax toe. Naarmate het verhaal vordert wordt het spannender en speelt het zich in een steeds hoger tempo af. Met een toch wel verrassende ontknoping. Nu jij nog is een prima thrillerdebuut. Als de volgende thrillers van Lief hetzelfde niveau halen, zullen we nog veel van haar horen.
Deze moordenaar, die dominostenen achterlaat als aanwijzing voor zijn volgende moord en daarom de Dominokiller wordt genoemd, komt zoals verwacht bij Karin langs. Om haar ook te vermoorden. Karin vindt dat niet erg. Tot ze zich realiseert dat hij daarna wel eens achter haar familie aan kan gaan. Karin wil blijven leven. Om de Dominokiller te pakken te krijgen.
Nu jij nog is een boek dat bijzonder vlot leest. Dat zal deels te maken hebben met een redelijk aantal spannende hoofdstukken, maar ook met de schrijfstijl van Katia Lief. Die is luchtig en gemakkelijk begrijpbaar. Dat het boek niet overal spannend is, komt omdat de lezer ook kennismaakt met de personages Karin Schaeffer en haar oud-collega Mac.
Katia Lief werkt in het boek naar een climax toe. Naarmate het verhaal vordert wordt het spannender en speelt het zich in een steeds hoger tempo af. Met een toch wel verrassende ontknoping. Nu jij nog is een prima thrillerdebuut. Als de volgende thrillers van Lief hetzelfde niveau halen, zullen we nog veel van haar horen.
October 21, 2010
Martin Price is known as “The Domino Killer”. Former Detective Karin Schaeffer refers to him as JPP (Just Plain Psycho). Karin has every reason to despise Martin Price. Martin murdered her husband, Jackson, and her daughter, Cece. Karin is currently on leave from the police department. Martin is in prison and Karin is trying her best to rebuild a life for herself.
What little progress she has made is destroyed when Detective Billy Staples appears at her door to inform her that Martin has escaped. Martin had left a message for Karin when he escaped. The message consisted of three dominoes, the numbers 3, 5 and 1. Karin’s new address is 351 Pacific Street. Martin is letting Karin know that he can reach her whenever he wants.
Karin does not fear for herself. Martin has already destroyed the most important people in her life. However, Karin does fear for the rest of her family and is determined to track Martin down and put him back behind bars or kill him.
Karin tries to put herself in the twisted mind of the serial killer and in doing so, she risks her own life. It is a life and death race to see who will survive the contest between Karin and the killer. The ending is a surprise twist to a good story.
What little progress she has made is destroyed when Detective Billy Staples appears at her door to inform her that Martin has escaped. Martin had left a message for Karin when he escaped. The message consisted of three dominoes, the numbers 3, 5 and 1. Karin’s new address is 351 Pacific Street. Martin is letting Karin know that he can reach her whenever he wants.
Karin does not fear for herself. Martin has already destroyed the most important people in her life. However, Karin does fear for the rest of her family and is determined to track Martin down and put him back behind bars or kill him.
Karin tries to put herself in the twisted mind of the serial killer and in doing so, she risks her own life. It is a life and death race to see who will survive the contest between Karin and the killer. The ending is a surprise twist to a good story.
June 6, 2013
A psychotic killer who likes to give clues on who his next victim will be is caught by a rookie officer, escapes and to punish her kills her husband and infant daughter. This would make a great story by itself, however, what I found so interesting about this book was that the story picks up after the previously mentioned events.
The main character is Karin Schaeffer and she is struggling (as you would expect) to put her life back together, then comes the news, the monster who butchered her family has escaped again and is coming for her.
What I loved about this book is the fact it isn't your typical crime novel. We already know who the killer is, we know what his MO is and we know who his next target is. Instead of having to learn all this we get to learn more about the main character and what is going on in her head. Events that you'd expect to play out at the end of the book take place much sooner and you're left guessing what will happen next.
The only complaint I've got is the ending felt a litle clique, I can't say more without spoiling it but I've read a few crime books now where this was how it played out.
This though is a minor complaint, I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading more from Katia Lief
The main character is Karin Schaeffer and she is struggling (as you would expect) to put her life back together, then comes the news, the monster who butchered her family has escaped again and is coming for her.
What I loved about this book is the fact it isn't your typical crime novel. We already know who the killer is, we know what his MO is and we know who his next target is. Instead of having to learn all this we get to learn more about the main character and what is going on in her head. Events that you'd expect to play out at the end of the book take place much sooner and you're left guessing what will happen next.
The only complaint I've got is the ending felt a litle clique, I can't say more without spoiling it but I've read a few crime books now where this was how it played out.
This though is a minor complaint, I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading more from Katia Lief
January 1, 2012
This was an extremely gripping book.
I loved the character of Karin, and could really relate to her. Not relate in the same way obviously, because my husband is alive and I dont have any children yet, but I could imagine that how she felt would be exactly how most of us would feel if that happened to us. I felt bad for her when everyone was blaming her for the little girl going missing....especially when she was only a cop, doing her job. So I didnt see how it was her fault that some pyscho fixated on her because she happened to arrest him.
I also really like Detective Mac, and would have liked to have had some of the book from his perspective.
My only real disappointment with this was that I guessed who the "partner" was, and thought it was quite obvious. I might be in the minority but I like to be wrong with these kind of books.
If you like a good crime thriller, than I definately recommend this. The storyline actually reminded me a little of Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen, which is another great one in this genre.
I loved the character of Karin, and could really relate to her. Not relate in the same way obviously, because my husband is alive and I dont have any children yet, but I could imagine that how she felt would be exactly how most of us would feel if that happened to us. I felt bad for her when everyone was blaming her for the little girl going missing....especially when she was only a cop, doing her job. So I didnt see how it was her fault that some pyscho fixated on her because she happened to arrest him.
I also really like Detective Mac, and would have liked to have had some of the book from his perspective.
My only real disappointment with this was that I guessed who the "partner" was, and thought it was quite obvious. I might be in the minority but I like to be wrong with these kind of books.
If you like a good crime thriller, than I definately recommend this. The storyline actually reminded me a little of Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen, which is another great one in this genre.
February 21, 2011
This book is not the genre I usually read. Although I do have phases of reading detective fiction, this was much gorier than what I'm used to. Also, it differs from the stuff I usually read, int hat you already know who did it before you start. Karin's family have been murdered by the Domino Killer, and the book starts with the police informing her that he's escaped from jail and is coming for her. I did wonder where it could possibly go from there, but this book surprised me. It had great pace, believable characters and enough twists in the plot to keep me engrossed. Although it did eventually follow the usual arc of such stories, and actually the ending was very similar to a couple of Dennis Lehane novels I read a while ago (and I mean that in the most complimentary way - I really like Dennis Lehane) there was definately enough in it to keep my interested!
I was also very excited about this being my first ever review copy (won from Goodreads). It's so lovely and crisp and shiny...!
I was also very excited about this being my first ever review copy (won from Goodreads). It's so lovely and crisp and shiny...!
April 27, 2012
I won't lie... I'm digging this author. Her books are like reading an episode of Criminal Minds (which right now, is apparently appealing to me). I love the twists and turns her books seem to take, and I love trying to figure out who did what to whom and who the kidnapper/murderer/psycho is. She uses fantastic character development, and writes in a way so that I feel I'm right there experiencing everything along with the characters and feeling their anxiousness/sadness/nervousness/desperation.
I also like that many of her books (so far) only span from 24 hours to 2-3 days in time in the story. It seems to add more excitement to the books.
Again, I'd highly recommend Katia's books. Not if you're looking for great works of literature that have you thinking deeply and pondering life's lessons. But if you want a good, quick, exciting read. Fantastic pool/summer/I-want-a-book-I-finish-in-a-day-or-two reads. And with a price tag of only $.99 to $2.00 at BN.com for the Nook, it can't be beat...
I also like that many of her books (so far) only span from 24 hours to 2-3 days in time in the story. It seems to add more excitement to the books.
Again, I'd highly recommend Katia's books. Not if you're looking for great works of literature that have you thinking deeply and pondering life's lessons. But if you want a good, quick, exciting read. Fantastic pool/summer/I-want-a-book-I-finish-in-a-day-or-two reads. And with a price tag of only $.99 to $2.00 at BN.com for the Nook, it can't be beat...
January 30, 2011
I won this copy via first reads. It came through the post on friday and was finished by saturday!
This is the first crime book ive read in a while having gone off the genre due to overkill on it (no pun intended!)This is a very quick and easy read- no brain cells neccessary.
The heroine Karen Schaeffer isnt your typical leading lady. Mainly because she has a death wish (not the Jack Bauer type-she really is suicidal and depressed). Shes an ex cop involved in the case of the Domino Killer- a serial killer who brutally murders whole families.
I found the pace of the book to be a little on the slow side at first getting the general impression that we are being introduced to a series. The pace quickens until I was literally skimming words at breakneck speed and not really reading, definatley the sign of a good book when you need to put it down and take a beather!
I will definatley be following this series.
This is the first crime book ive read in a while having gone off the genre due to overkill on it (no pun intended!)This is a very quick and easy read- no brain cells neccessary.
The heroine Karen Schaeffer isnt your typical leading lady. Mainly because she has a death wish (not the Jack Bauer type-she really is suicidal and depressed). Shes an ex cop involved in the case of the Domino Killer- a serial killer who brutally murders whole families.
I found the pace of the book to be a little on the slow side at first getting the general impression that we are being introduced to a series. The pace quickens until I was literally skimming words at breakneck speed and not really reading, definatley the sign of a good book when you need to put it down and take a beather!
I will definatley be following this series.
June 3, 2016
You Are Next is the debut of a very complex character, Karin Schaeffer. She's struggling to continue her life after the murder of her husband and daughter by a serial killer named Martin Price. She was a police detective heading up the search for him, but once he killed her family she was no longer able to go on. When Price escapes custody, Karin knows he will eventually find her. She almost welcomes the thought that she will soon join her husband and daughter.
Karin makes a split second decision that will end up with her determination to either kill Price or end up dead herself. Either way, she's prepared. The first half of this book was fascinating in its depiction of the emotions and feelings of Karin, a completely broken woman. The second half is a twist heavy plot that really drives the story to it's conclusion. This psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat as you anticipate both Karin and the killer’s next move.
Karin makes a split second decision that will end up with her determination to either kill Price or end up dead herself. Either way, she's prepared. The first half of this book was fascinating in its depiction of the emotions and feelings of Karin, a completely broken woman. The second half is a twist heavy plot that really drives the story to it's conclusion. This psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat as you anticipate both Karin and the killer’s next move.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews