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Ilse Beck FBI Suspense Thriller #1
Not Like Us
NOT LIKE US (An Ilse Beck FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 1) is the debut novel in a new series by mystery and suspense author Ava Strong.
FBI Special Agent Ilse Beck, victim of a traumatic childhood in Germany, moved to the U.S. to become a renowned psychologist specializing in PTSD, and the world’s leading expert in the unique trauma of serial-killer survivors. By studying the psychology of their survivors, Ilse has a unique and unparalleled expertise in the true psychology of serial killers. She had no idea, though, that she would become an FBI agent herself.
Nothing, though, can prepare Ilse for her new patient, a survivor from a roadside brush with a serial killer. The patient, paranoid, believes she is still being watched by the killer. And when the killer claims a new victim, the FBI needs Ilse’s help to solve it.
This case and this killer, though, strike too close to home for Ilse’s comfort. When she realizes that she herself is being targeted, the trauma of her own past comes full circle.
Can Ilse use her brilliant instincts to enter the mind of this killer and stop him before he strikes again?
And will she save herself?
A dark and suspenseful crime thriller, the ILSE BECK series is a breathtaking page-turner, unputdownable from the first word. A compelling and perplexing mystery, rife with twists and jaw-dropping secrets, it will make you fall in love with a brilliant new character, while it keeps you shocked late into the night.
FBI Special Agent Ilse Beck, victim of a traumatic childhood in Germany, moved to the U.S. to become a renowned psychologist specializing in PTSD, and the world’s leading expert in the unique trauma of serial-killer survivors. By studying the psychology of their survivors, Ilse has a unique and unparalleled expertise in the true psychology of serial killers. She had no idea, though, that she would become an FBI agent herself.
Nothing, though, can prepare Ilse for her new patient, a survivor from a roadside brush with a serial killer. The patient, paranoid, believes she is still being watched by the killer. And when the killer claims a new victim, the FBI needs Ilse’s help to solve it.
This case and this killer, though, strike too close to home for Ilse’s comfort. When she realizes that she herself is being targeted, the trauma of her own past comes full circle.
Can Ilse use her brilliant instincts to enter the mind of this killer and stop him before he strikes again?
And will she save herself?
A dark and suspenseful crime thriller, the ILSE BECK series is a breathtaking page-turner, unputdownable from the first word. A compelling and perplexing mystery, rife with twists and jaw-dropping secrets, it will make you fall in love with a brilliant new character, while it keeps you shocked late into the night.
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First published June 29, 2021
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About the author
Ava Strong
149 books223 followersAva Strong is author of the REMI LAURENT mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the ILSE BECK mystery series, comprising seven books (and counting); of the STELLA FALL psychological suspense thriller series, comprising six books (and counting); of the DAKOTA STEELE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising six books (and counting); of the LILY DAWN suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the MEGAN YORK suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting).
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Ava loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit her website.
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Ava loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
January 11, 2022
I almost didn’t read this book. It seemed like it might be too cheap/cheesy - another one of those series starters offered for free for Kindle to draw you in featuring some sort of female protagonist and a number of genre clichés - but it was actually quite decent.
Isle Beck survived severe childhood trauma in the Black Forrest (how atmospheric is that) to emerge as an expert psychologist specializing in helping trauma survivors, specifically survivors of serial killers. You’d think it would be a pretty narrow field, but apparently there’s enough for Isle to stay busy, because apparently Pacific Northwest has more serial killers than anywhere. And you thought it was just sparkling vampires out that way, but no, legit serial killers too. Must be all that rain and no sunshine.
Anyway, in the beginning of the book, Isle gets a new client, and the area gets a new serial killer. The local FBI agent, ever so gruff and dressed down, is around, exiled for behavior from the main offices, to help find the serial killer, but when the latest victim appears to be Ilse’ latest client, Isle also gets involved. And then continues to involve herself further and further.
So, the book proceeds the way thrillers like this do, except that maybe this one has more supposition in its plot, less evidence more leaps sort of thing. And then, around chapter 22 someone removes Isle’s cranium and beats on it with a stupid stick causing her to do wildly dangerous and wildly dumb things. She thinks she’s being heroic, and the gruff agent is impressed, and the readers might think…oh, is this it? But no, rest assured, it categorically isn’t it.
The plot goes on and twist quite nicely (if kinda predictably) and Isle gets a lot more to do and this time she has to fight for her life. Wham bam. A very action-style denouement and guess who’s getting a series all of her own?
But objectively speaking, there were some decent ideas here, the writing was solid, the pacing was good, the author had enough self-control not to dilute the proceedings with some inane romance (though maybe she’s just saving it for further installments) and it went by quickly enough. All in all, decent for a kindle freebie. Nothing special, but then again, few things are.
Isle Beck survived severe childhood trauma in the Black Forrest (how atmospheric is that) to emerge as an expert psychologist specializing in helping trauma survivors, specifically survivors of serial killers. You’d think it would be a pretty narrow field, but apparently there’s enough for Isle to stay busy, because apparently Pacific Northwest has more serial killers than anywhere. And you thought it was just sparkling vampires out that way, but no, legit serial killers too. Must be all that rain and no sunshine.
Anyway, in the beginning of the book, Isle gets a new client, and the area gets a new serial killer. The local FBI agent, ever so gruff and dressed down, is around, exiled for behavior from the main offices, to help find the serial killer, but when the latest victim appears to be Ilse’ latest client, Isle also gets involved. And then continues to involve herself further and further.
So, the book proceeds the way thrillers like this do, except that maybe this one has more supposition in its plot, less evidence more leaps sort of thing. And then, around chapter 22 someone removes Isle’s cranium and beats on it with a stupid stick causing her to do wildly dangerous and wildly dumb things. She thinks she’s being heroic, and the gruff agent is impressed, and the readers might think…oh, is this it? But no, rest assured, it categorically isn’t it.
The plot goes on and twist quite nicely (if kinda predictably) and Isle gets a lot more to do and this time she has to fight for her life. Wham bam. A very action-style denouement and guess who’s getting a series all of her own?
But objectively speaking, there were some decent ideas here, the writing was solid, the pacing was good, the author had enough self-control not to dilute the proceedings with some inane romance (though maybe she’s just saving it for further installments) and it went by quickly enough. All in all, decent for a kindle freebie. Nothing special, but then again, few things are.
March 10, 2023
So this one had a few pet peeves of mine...one being the storyline is too similar to Bundy. Also, procedure is big for me, and it is missed here.
March 3, 2024
In Not Like Us, Hilda Mueller, age 32, practices her profession of psychology under the fake name of Ilse Beck. She lives and works outside Seattle, Washington, and in the tranquility of her lakefront home she provides psychotherapy and counseling to traumatized survivors of serial killers. Evidently there are enough such survivors who need her services for her to make a living at it.
Ilse, as she now calls herself, has a harrowing history of her own. While inexplicably hiding her real name, she is tormented by fragments of repressed memories from 20 years ago about the terrible abuse she and her siblings suffered at the hands of their father back in Germany. Because of that fear of harm, she developed an obsessive compulsion to inspect and reinspect doors three times to make sure she really locked them.
Ilse has another odd quirk. Being a professional therapist, one would think she might need immediate access to information, but Ilse appears to abhor technology. She doesn’t use smartphones, claiming they are untrustworthy without telling us why she thinks so. She uses a clunky old computer which takes nearly 10 minutes to boot up, but she never explains why she doesn’t purchase a newer, smaller and faster model.
There is a serial killer on the loose in her vicinity, which is bad for the killer’s victims but good for Ilse’s business if any of them survive. According to the book’s author, the Pacific Northwest is the Serial Killer Capital of the World. Indeed, Google confirms that Alaska takes the dubious honor of having the highest per capita number of serial killers; evidently nearby Washington state is close enough to handle the overflow.
When the aforementioned serial killer appears to abduct a patient of Ilse who shares a past similar to hers, Ilse teams up with a taciturn FBI agent unlikely named Tom Sawyer, so named, he says, because his parents were readers, apparently of classical American literature. At least they didn’t name him Huckleberry.
Agent Sawyer is conveniently about the same age as Ilse so there is perhaps the prospect of more than a professional relationship between them. We are told way too many times that Sawyer’s hair is prematurely gray, but who cares? Will the color of his hair help him catch the serial killer?
Agent Sawyer, who favors wearing flannel shirts, a baseball cap and blue jeans described as old, dusty and ripped, was banished to the boondocks of Washington state for assaulting his boss, an activity the FBI frowns upon.
Speaking of frowning, the characters in this short book frown and shiver a tedious total of 140 times. You will find them doing one or both on nearly every page. Following a frenzy of frowning and shivering at the end of the book, with some snarling thrown in for good measure, we finally learn more about Ilse and her patient and why their pasts were similar.
Apparently author Ava Strong thinks Ilse Beck is so special she has spawned a series of six more books. I won’t be reading them, but for Ilse’s sake I hope that she and Huckleberry share many more adventurers together ridding an infested Pacific Northwest of its serial killers.
Ilse, as she now calls herself, has a harrowing history of her own. While inexplicably hiding her real name, she is tormented by fragments of repressed memories from 20 years ago about the terrible abuse she and her siblings suffered at the hands of their father back in Germany. Because of that fear of harm, she developed an obsessive compulsion to inspect and reinspect doors three times to make sure she really locked them.
Ilse has another odd quirk. Being a professional therapist, one would think she might need immediate access to information, but Ilse appears to abhor technology. She doesn’t use smartphones, claiming they are untrustworthy without telling us why she thinks so. She uses a clunky old computer which takes nearly 10 minutes to boot up, but she never explains why she doesn’t purchase a newer, smaller and faster model.
There is a serial killer on the loose in her vicinity, which is bad for the killer’s victims but good for Ilse’s business if any of them survive. According to the book’s author, the Pacific Northwest is the Serial Killer Capital of the World. Indeed, Google confirms that Alaska takes the dubious honor of having the highest per capita number of serial killers; evidently nearby Washington state is close enough to handle the overflow.
When the aforementioned serial killer appears to abduct a patient of Ilse who shares a past similar to hers, Ilse teams up with a taciturn FBI agent unlikely named Tom Sawyer, so named, he says, because his parents were readers, apparently of classical American literature. At least they didn’t name him Huckleberry.
Agent Sawyer is conveniently about the same age as Ilse so there is perhaps the prospect of more than a professional relationship between them. We are told way too many times that Sawyer’s hair is prematurely gray, but who cares? Will the color of his hair help him catch the serial killer?
Agent Sawyer, who favors wearing flannel shirts, a baseball cap and blue jeans described as old, dusty and ripped, was banished to the boondocks of Washington state for assaulting his boss, an activity the FBI frowns upon.
Speaking of frowning, the characters in this short book frown and shiver a tedious total of 140 times. You will find them doing one or both on nearly every page. Following a frenzy of frowning and shivering at the end of the book, with some snarling thrown in for good measure, we finally learn more about Ilse and her patient and why their pasts were similar.
Apparently author Ava Strong thinks Ilse Beck is so special she has spawned a series of six more books. I won’t be reading them, but for Ilse’s sake I hope that she and Huckleberry share many more adventurers together ridding an infested Pacific Northwest of its serial killers.
April 4, 2022
Twisty plot with a clear narration. 2nd reading - forgot to review. Read several of author’s work and most seem to connect to the main character, who survived a serial killer. I read them out of order but that seems to be the main thing in the novels I’ve read so far.
August 28, 2024
Revised after reflection: 2.5 stars
My initial rather scathing review was strongly colored by the absolutely over-the-top hysteria of the audio book narrator. I can't convey strongly enough how annoying it is to hear an entire book read by someone who sounds like they are weeping and on the verge of completely melting down into incoherent wails every single second. So read this book, don't listen. (Also, why is a novel set in Seattle narrated by a Brit? I'm not inherently opposed to cross-Atlantic narration, but it clashes here.)
That said, my original comments about the lack of realistic police behavior and especially psychology still apply. At times, it felt like she was just throwing out psychological terms to prove she'd done the research, but only succeeding in proving she didn't fully understand what she read. Also, if you removed all the bits about Ilse contemplating her feelings of shame, this already short novel would be half the length. Perhaps Strong should take a tip from her very stereotypical strong-and-silent cop, whose mystique is rather lessened by his silly name.
BUT there are the bones here of a pretty good novel. The plot moves right along and is interesting enough to keep you reading. As much as I despise novels that deliberately leave open questions so you'll have to read the next one, I'm actually tempted to take a look at the second in the series, despite knowing I'll spend half my time rolling my eyes. That says something for Strong's plotting, at least.
Original review:
Omg, the melodrama. And the purple prose. And the absolute disregard for both police procedure and the realities of trauma therapy.
I got this as a free audiobook and thought perhaps the problem was the narrator (who had to be taking the piss with her histrionics, right? Right?), so I switched to the ebook. It was also free, which ought to have been warning enough. Tbf, reading it was much less ridiculous than listening to it - enough so that it convinced me to finish it and added a star to my rating since I didn't dnf it.
There must be plenty of people who like this series, given its high rating - and that's great. Every book, its reader, etc. I'm not that reader.
My initial rather scathing review was strongly colored by the absolutely over-the-top hysteria of the audio book narrator. I can't convey strongly enough how annoying it is to hear an entire book read by someone who sounds like they are weeping and on the verge of completely melting down into incoherent wails every single second. So read this book, don't listen. (Also, why is a novel set in Seattle narrated by a Brit? I'm not inherently opposed to cross-Atlantic narration, but it clashes here.)
That said, my original comments about the lack of realistic police behavior and especially psychology still apply. At times, it felt like she was just throwing out psychological terms to prove she'd done the research, but only succeeding in proving she didn't fully understand what she read. Also, if you removed all the bits about Ilse contemplating her feelings of shame, this already short novel would be half the length. Perhaps Strong should take a tip from her very stereotypical strong-and-silent cop, whose mystique is rather lessened by his silly name.
BUT there are the bones here of a pretty good novel. The plot moves right along and is interesting enough to keep you reading. As much as I despise novels that deliberately leave open questions so you'll have to read the next one, I'm actually tempted to take a look at the second in the series, despite knowing I'll spend half my time rolling my eyes. That says something for Strong's plotting, at least.
Original review:
Omg, the melodrama. And the purple prose. And the absolute disregard for both police procedure and the realities of trauma therapy.
I got this as a free audiobook and thought perhaps the problem was the narrator (who had to be taking the piss with her histrionics, right? Right?), so I switched to the ebook. It was also free, which ought to have been warning enough. Tbf, reading it was much less ridiculous than listening to it - enough so that it convinced me to finish it and added a star to my rating since I didn't dnf it.
There must be plenty of people who like this series, given its high rating - and that's great. Every book, its reader, etc. I'm not that reader.
February 2, 2022
It was a short book, under 200 pages. So can't expect an intricate convoluted plot. It was narrated from 2 POVs - protagonist Ilse Beck, a survivor cum shrink and Agent Sawyer. Like Ilse, her new client, Samantha, was also abducted and now she feels she's been stalked again. Samantha's case look eerily similar to Ilse's own twenty years ago when she was held captive. To make matter worse, Ilse is now receiving anonymous postcards that suggest the captor is back. While I've read many suspense thrillers, I must say the revelation was shocking and not something I was expecting. It's a no nonsense thriller with no space for fluff. You're gonna enjoy it. A little suggestion for author: enroll your book on KU as well.
January 5, 2022
Intense thriller with many possible suspects that keeps you guessing or is it a random stranger... 🤔 Hmmmm ??? I guess you'll have to read it to find out. Strong characters, very graphic and gory at parts so take that into consideration if you are bothered by that sort of things. The author doesn't waste words and the entire book is all solid meat and action without any unnecessary fluffy to fill the pages. Today was a rather dreary rainy day and I was under the weather still attempting to get laundry, dishes, and some kitchen clean up done. This was ideal today. I thoroughly enjoyed and absolutely recommended this book. 👍
April 4, 2023
Great psychological thriller
Not Like Us is a terrific psychological thriller . I especially enjoyed the ending ( did not see it coming). Usually I can predict the outcome of these novels, but this one caught me by surprise. I didn't catch the real killer. A great read. Will be looking forward to the series. This was a good read giveaway.
Not Like Us is a terrific psychological thriller . I especially enjoyed the ending ( did not see it coming). Usually I can predict the outcome of these novels, but this one caught me by surprise. I didn't catch the real killer. A great read. Will be looking forward to the series. This was a good read giveaway.
September 22, 2024
Inappropriate narration for the story's setting and characters. Boring, repetitive dialogue. Made it to chapter 7. I'm done. DNF
July 15, 2023
I listened to this on an audiobook., which was free on Apple Books.
This has been the best experience so far with an audiobook. The story was good, quick paced, kept me interested, and the twists were good. The narrator is the best I’ve heard so far, don’t get me wrong, it could have been better but it didn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out like the “Alive” trilogy did.
Ilsa Beck is carrying emotional and physical baggage from her life before. Before…when she lived in Germany, when she lived with her multitude of siblings, when she suffered abuse of one kind or another by her father’s hand. Although she doesn’t remember much, she does have break through memories here and there that traumatize her.
Fast forward several years and she’s now a therapist in the United States helping people. But her quiet days are soon over when a new killer is on the loose attacking women and soon, one of her own patients is at risk.
Can Ilsa help her? Can Ilsa solve the crimes before she is next? And will her memories help or hinder her? Time is running out and someone wants her dead.
This has been the best experience so far with an audiobook. The story was good, quick paced, kept me interested, and the twists were good. The narrator is the best I’ve heard so far, don’t get me wrong, it could have been better but it didn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out like the “Alive” trilogy did.
Ilsa Beck is carrying emotional and physical baggage from her life before. Before…when she lived in Germany, when she lived with her multitude of siblings, when she suffered abuse of one kind or another by her father’s hand. Although she doesn’t remember much, she does have break through memories here and there that traumatize her.
Fast forward several years and she’s now a therapist in the United States helping people. But her quiet days are soon over when a new killer is on the loose attacking women and soon, one of her own patients is at risk.
Can Ilsa help her? Can Ilsa solve the crimes before she is next? And will her memories help or hinder her? Time is running out and someone wants her dead.
September 23, 2024
This was an audiobook for me and I didn’t really enjoy the narration. The reader was English and it was difficult to relate to the American characters. It was distracting during the suspenseful moments.
July 5, 2021
The murder mystery part of it was good. I get it is the first of a series so a lot of background for the main characters was given. Two things - I'm not enthralled with either character and while they live near Seattle, no area landmarks nor vibe was incorporated into the storyline.
July 27, 2021
FBI Special Agent Ilse Beck, victim of a traumatic childhood in Germany leads her to help victims of kidnaps and survivors of traumatic experiences . Her newest clients past leads agent beck to question everything that happened to herself as a child . Leads her down a road she doesnt want to go .A must read for people who love books that grab your attention and keeps it there . Looking forward to read her next book .
July 19, 2021
Not Like Us is Book 1 in the Ilse Beck Series by Ava Strong. This story opens with a hitchhiker getting into a truck. When the driver suddenly pulls off of the main road onto a road that leads to a long dead farm field. The driver hands Sarah a sticky note that read: “Run—I’ll give you a 10 second head start—then I’m going to slit your throat”. Not Like Us is a fast paced thriller that is scary, terrorizing, forget to breath and fabulous! Dr Ilse Beck is a therapist for victims of killers and abuse. She also has a history. Ilse joins forces with FBI Agent Tom Sawyer to find the serial killer. Ava Strong has written a very good thriller that left me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next. I can’t wait to read book 2 in a few months. Not Like Us is everything I want in a thriller. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
August 21, 2021
Not Like Us by Ava Strong is a recommended psychological thriller and the first book in the Ilse Beck series.
Dr. Ilse Beck is a psychologist who specializes in helping the survivors of serial killers. These survivors, her patients, are dealing with the PTSD. When Ilse has a new patient, Samantha, who survived being held captive and tortured by a serial killer twenty years ago but still struggles remembering details, Ilse begins to have flashbacks to her childhood. She is a survivor herself and suffered terrible abuse at the hands of her father. Samantha is sure that she is being followed and her captor from years ago is stalking her. At the same time a killer is loose in the area and two women have been found dead. Something happens to Samantha when she is one the phone with Ilse. After calling the police, Ilse rushes to the last known location of Samantha and meets FBI BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) agent Tom Sawyer, who is on those cases of the previous victims. The two end up working together in their search for Samantha.
Not Like Us is the first of four books featuring Dr. Ilse Beck working with the FBI and this first volume is the story behind her collaboration with the FBI and I'm assuming with Tom Sawyer. The other three books in the series are Not Liked He Seemed, Not Like Yesterday, and Not Like This. This is a quick read featuring a compelling search for a killer along with several gruesome and horrifying scenes. The opening pages will fly by as the killer chooses a victim, and you will want justice and be ready for the search. After that point, the writing and plotting becomes increasingly uneven. Where the writing shines the novel works well, however, the sections where it falls short lessen the impact of the entire novel.
Ilse Beck was actually an unlikable character for most of the book in many ways and a bit of an enigma. She has flashbacks of her traumatic, abusive childhood, which does elicit sympathy, but it also seems that she hasn't had the therapy she needs to move on and recover. Physician heal thyself, indeed. Tom Sawyer was much the same way only more of a taciturn curmudgeon. After being introduced to him in the narrative, I initially liked his character but, alas, he was sent down an irrational course of action which served to dampen my enthusiasm for the character. This was a quandary for rating. Parts were excellent and parts were not. I'm settling for 3 stars, recommending it with the hope that the series gets better.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the publisher/author via BookSirens.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/0...
Dr. Ilse Beck is a psychologist who specializes in helping the survivors of serial killers. These survivors, her patients, are dealing with the PTSD. When Ilse has a new patient, Samantha, who survived being held captive and tortured by a serial killer twenty years ago but still struggles remembering details, Ilse begins to have flashbacks to her childhood. She is a survivor herself and suffered terrible abuse at the hands of her father. Samantha is sure that she is being followed and her captor from years ago is stalking her. At the same time a killer is loose in the area and two women have been found dead. Something happens to Samantha when she is one the phone with Ilse. After calling the police, Ilse rushes to the last known location of Samantha and meets FBI BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) agent Tom Sawyer, who is on those cases of the previous victims. The two end up working together in their search for Samantha.
Not Like Us is the first of four books featuring Dr. Ilse Beck working with the FBI and this first volume is the story behind her collaboration with the FBI and I'm assuming with Tom Sawyer. The other three books in the series are Not Liked He Seemed, Not Like Yesterday, and Not Like This. This is a quick read featuring a compelling search for a killer along with several gruesome and horrifying scenes. The opening pages will fly by as the killer chooses a victim, and you will want justice and be ready for the search. After that point, the writing and plotting becomes increasingly uneven. Where the writing shines the novel works well, however, the sections where it falls short lessen the impact of the entire novel.
Ilse Beck was actually an unlikable character for most of the book in many ways and a bit of an enigma. She has flashbacks of her traumatic, abusive childhood, which does elicit sympathy, but it also seems that she hasn't had the therapy she needs to move on and recover. Physician heal thyself, indeed. Tom Sawyer was much the same way only more of a taciturn curmudgeon. After being introduced to him in the narrative, I initially liked his character but, alas, he was sent down an irrational course of action which served to dampen my enthusiasm for the character. This was a quandary for rating. Parts were excellent and parts were not. I'm settling for 3 stars, recommending it with the hope that the series gets better.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the publisher/author via BookSirens.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/0...
July 30, 2021
This is a very well written suspense thriller. I am that guy that watches serial killer documentaries and everything from NCIS to Criminal Minds so this was right up my alley. It starts off well. Someone, Dr. Beck, who has suffered through trauma then becoming a therapist who helps others with trauma and then getting sucked into a crime investigation while helping a client with a trauma identical to hers... what’s not to love. But as far as perfectly weaved stories go, the further I got into this story the less involved I became in it. It was very up and down overall. At some points I was on the edge of my seat and at others just annoyed.
One thing about the story that bothered me was the lead agent. Especially during one moment when he clearly arrests the wrong man on a feeling but even a novice could see all the evidence pointed to no. Just because someone is the scum of the earth doesn’t make them a killer. But the way he seemed to deject Dr. Beck and made it seem like her input wasn’t as spot-on as he knew it was but rather a regular observation was odd. Most detectives at the first sign of knowing they are way off base would’ve just cut their losses and let the suspect go. There’s a serial killer on the loose wasting time on wrong hunches is counterproductive. The main thing though is the way he acted towards the other detectives is frustrating because if no one wants to work with you and you have dead bodies popping up how you planning on finding the killer without adequate support? Ultimately his supposed demotion didn’t hold weight. When you added all the evidence the author piled for him, he read like he deserved much worse than he got. He definitely deserved the punishment and nothing in the entire novel hinted at anything to support he may have been unjustly treated.
The pieces in this story were laid out well. The plot flowed at a pretty good place. For a just under two-hundred-page book it probably took me about six hours to get through this and I’ve struggled for over a week with much shorter books so that’s a good thing. Dr. Beck reacted in weird ways sometimes that required a bit too my suspension of belief. Like when she went up to the first suspect's house the author crafts really good reasons why it’s the wrong man, however when she confronts the dismissive agent what she says instead is he’s too overweight to be the killer. What happened to all that clearly thought-out observation made outside of his house? Then, if she’s really trying to help someone, why does she leave her alone instead of taking her with her to get food and then in the same breath saying that she cares about the victim/client takes a detour that could get her killed on some elaborate hero mission when she herself suffers from an abusive past she can’t even remember.
Now to the memory loss. On the surface, it reads well. But the ending undid all that. The memories she does have of her father are clear, amazingly clear. Yet that is all she remembers. The story reads like she was huddled up in a basement tortured by herself. But, as far as I know, three other people were in there with her. The reason Stockholm Syndrome is a thing is because when sharing a traumatic experience over time a bond is created between captive and captor. On that same token, when locked in a basement most victims will bond with each other as they either lose hope, continue to think of ways to escape, or simply resign to their fate. They are sharing a trauma together and it is the only thing they know. Abuse is their one joining factor. It’s easy to believe she can forget specifics but after years of the same torture with three other witnesses forgetting them also is a big ask. They were, quite literally her only friends and reason to live. Forgetting what was done to her as a way to protect herself is easy to get on board with, but the room it was done in was her only world and she shared it with three people. I don’t know but it was extremely hard to believe she forgot the other humans immediately after escape. Especially when she needed help to escape in the first place and when bad memories of interactions with her father, the other human besides the four, seem so vivid.
This brings me to the end which begins at around 73 percent. This is not an exaggeration. There was so much talking, so much reveal, so much 'I’m sorry I can’t remember', that it took an entire quarter of book for the it to end. That was a lot of pages. I skimmed a good chunk of it only to find in the next chapter the book was still ending, and then again and, sigh. There were only so many times the same reveal could be rehashed and up until this point there were no real pacing issues, but the ending took forever and once I knew what was happening the longer it took to happen the less involved I became until I was just ready for it to be done. And as a therapist, it’s really hard for me to believe that she could not assess the situation well enough to know you can not talk a serial killer out of killing. I groaned really big at this bit of plot.
Honestly, I knew who the villain was, but not the serial killer. I definitely do not mind cause two deaths is not enough so that killer still at large is a big yaaaaay to more murder and mayhem. Knowing is a non-issue, it’s the how and conclusion that matter and once the payoff happened and I was like ‘yes I knew it’ dragging it on for so long killed my elation. Also, there is no way Beck couldn’t know how the killer still out there is related to her. Especially after another ending reveal that I can’t reveal. There’s enough plot spoilers in this review. My problem with her ending decision is specifically plot-related.
There’s no cliff-hanger in this book which I love. The ending ties up nice and leads into the possible next cases. But based on her not coming out and saying the truth about the ending of this book it makes me think one thing, it’s not happening in book two either. Almost as if the pull to keep reading the book hinges on Dr. Beck continuously refusing to come out with who she is and how it’s related to the murders. For me, I’m not that interested. I’m more interested in the bond she makes with the detective and how this helps her deal with her past as she solves other cases. This, however, is going to take a long time and more people will die because of a few simple sentences she won't say. Because, obviously, a non-detective going up against a serial killer on her own is the best thing to do. This is also something a successful therapist thinks is the smartest option.
For the most part, this story was good. The pacing was on point. The suspense great. It was an all-around decent thriller. As far as recommending it, it gets a high recommendation. Fans of suspense thrillers will love this, some may even be surprised by the twist ending. But for me, the monologing at the end went far beyond your typical villain speech, and Dr. Beck made some odd choices. And, the best thing about this book, the killer only got to kill two people. Yes, I’m hating that there weren’t enough deaths. At least three would’ve made that plot angle seem more real.
There was just a little bit too much suspension of belief required to make this work in some parts, that on top of the long ending left me feeling a bit frustrated in an otherwise excellently written book.
One thing about the story that bothered me was the lead agent. Especially during one moment when he clearly arrests the wrong man on a feeling but even a novice could see all the evidence pointed to no. Just because someone is the scum of the earth doesn’t make them a killer. But the way he seemed to deject Dr. Beck and made it seem like her input wasn’t as spot-on as he knew it was but rather a regular observation was odd. Most detectives at the first sign of knowing they are way off base would’ve just cut their losses and let the suspect go. There’s a serial killer on the loose wasting time on wrong hunches is counterproductive. The main thing though is the way he acted towards the other detectives is frustrating because if no one wants to work with you and you have dead bodies popping up how you planning on finding the killer without adequate support? Ultimately his supposed demotion didn’t hold weight. When you added all the evidence the author piled for him, he read like he deserved much worse than he got. He definitely deserved the punishment and nothing in the entire novel hinted at anything to support he may have been unjustly treated.
The pieces in this story were laid out well. The plot flowed at a pretty good place. For a just under two-hundred-page book it probably took me about six hours to get through this and I’ve struggled for over a week with much shorter books so that’s a good thing. Dr. Beck reacted in weird ways sometimes that required a bit too my suspension of belief. Like when she went up to the first suspect's house the author crafts really good reasons why it’s the wrong man, however when she confronts the dismissive agent what she says instead is he’s too overweight to be the killer. What happened to all that clearly thought-out observation made outside of his house? Then, if she’s really trying to help someone, why does she leave her alone instead of taking her with her to get food and then in the same breath saying that she cares about the victim/client takes a detour that could get her killed on some elaborate hero mission when she herself suffers from an abusive past she can’t even remember.
Now to the memory loss. On the surface, it reads well. But the ending undid all that. The memories she does have of her father are clear, amazingly clear. Yet that is all she remembers. The story reads like she was huddled up in a basement tortured by herself. But, as far as I know, three other people were in there with her. The reason Stockholm Syndrome is a thing is because when sharing a traumatic experience over time a bond is created between captive and captor. On that same token, when locked in a basement most victims will bond with each other as they either lose hope, continue to think of ways to escape, or simply resign to their fate. They are sharing a trauma together and it is the only thing they know. Abuse is their one joining factor. It’s easy to believe she can forget specifics but after years of the same torture with three other witnesses forgetting them also is a big ask. They were, quite literally her only friends and reason to live. Forgetting what was done to her as a way to protect herself is easy to get on board with, but the room it was done in was her only world and she shared it with three people. I don’t know but it was extremely hard to believe she forgot the other humans immediately after escape. Especially when she needed help to escape in the first place and when bad memories of interactions with her father, the other human besides the four, seem so vivid.
This brings me to the end which begins at around 73 percent. This is not an exaggeration. There was so much talking, so much reveal, so much 'I’m sorry I can’t remember', that it took an entire quarter of book for the it to end. That was a lot of pages. I skimmed a good chunk of it only to find in the next chapter the book was still ending, and then again and, sigh. There were only so many times the same reveal could be rehashed and up until this point there were no real pacing issues, but the ending took forever and once I knew what was happening the longer it took to happen the less involved I became until I was just ready for it to be done. And as a therapist, it’s really hard for me to believe that she could not assess the situation well enough to know you can not talk a serial killer out of killing. I groaned really big at this bit of plot.
Honestly, I knew who the villain was, but not the serial killer. I definitely do not mind cause two deaths is not enough so that killer still at large is a big yaaaaay to more murder and mayhem. Knowing is a non-issue, it’s the how and conclusion that matter and once the payoff happened and I was like ‘yes I knew it’ dragging it on for so long killed my elation. Also, there is no way Beck couldn’t know how the killer still out there is related to her. Especially after another ending reveal that I can’t reveal. There’s enough plot spoilers in this review. My problem with her ending decision is specifically plot-related.
There’s no cliff-hanger in this book which I love. The ending ties up nice and leads into the possible next cases. But based on her not coming out and saying the truth about the ending of this book it makes me think one thing, it’s not happening in book two either. Almost as if the pull to keep reading the book hinges on Dr. Beck continuously refusing to come out with who she is and how it’s related to the murders. For me, I’m not that interested. I’m more interested in the bond she makes with the detective and how this helps her deal with her past as she solves other cases. This, however, is going to take a long time and more people will die because of a few simple sentences she won't say. Because, obviously, a non-detective going up against a serial killer on her own is the best thing to do. This is also something a successful therapist thinks is the smartest option.
For the most part, this story was good. The pacing was on point. The suspense great. It was an all-around decent thriller. As far as recommending it, it gets a high recommendation. Fans of suspense thrillers will love this, some may even be surprised by the twist ending. But for me, the monologing at the end went far beyond your typical villain speech, and Dr. Beck made some odd choices. And, the best thing about this book, the killer only got to kill two people. Yes, I’m hating that there weren’t enough deaths. At least three would’ve made that plot angle seem more real.
There was just a little bit too much suspension of belief required to make this work in some parts, that on top of the long ending left me feeling a bit frustrated in an otherwise excellently written book.
December 29, 2021
The Apple Books app has this thing where the first book in a series is free. I’ve read several books in this category and “Not Like Us” was another such book.
The main character is real, flawed, and believable. She’s complicated. She’s dark. And she’s human.
The rest of the characters here were two dimensional at best and she was incongruent with her surroundings. Almost to the point that it was no longer believable, the events unfolding.
The story itself requires a healthy suspension of disbelief. Putting aside that much of what goes on in the story wouldn’t happen like that normally, makes it all the more enjoyable.
I want to read another in the series but most of that is a curiosity for the larger story arc and less of the plot of the next book.
Still it was a quick and fun read. And by the end of the book they all figured out what was kind of obvious from much earlier…
The main character is real, flawed, and believable. She’s complicated. She’s dark. And she’s human.
The rest of the characters here were two dimensional at best and she was incongruent with her surroundings. Almost to the point that it was no longer believable, the events unfolding.
The story itself requires a healthy suspension of disbelief. Putting aside that much of what goes on in the story wouldn’t happen like that normally, makes it all the more enjoyable.
I want to read another in the series but most of that is a curiosity for the larger story arc and less of the plot of the next book.
Still it was a quick and fun read. And by the end of the book they all figured out what was kind of obvious from much earlier…
February 27, 2023
This (Not Like Us by Ava Strong) has to be the worst book I have read on my Kindle. Spoiler alert! Lots of agonizing in the first part which did not make me want to continue. In fact I thought about just returning it unread. But I dislike not finishing a book. A supposed expert psychologist who apparently has not gotten her own childhood trauma resolved. More agonizing. She does one stupid thing after another - for example goes out in the middle of the night as bait for the killer - and we are supposed to have any empathy for her? Then the ending! A totally contrived plot. She hurls herself through a patio glass door! Really? Does the author have any idea how much force would be needed to break a glass patio door? And the fight scene was not remotely believable. Resolved by the oldest trick in the book - killer impales themself on the only weapon around. Really?
Not worth the time to read it and I certainly will not read anything else written by this author.
Not worth the time to read it and I certainly will not read anything else written by this author.
March 25, 2022
To be honest, I couldn't get past chapter 2. And this is my favorite genre.
It starts with drizzly Seattle. As someone from the NW, I hate it when authors do this. It's more than just rain here. I can't find anything about this author, even though it looks like she has many published books (not even an "about the author" at the end). But I wondered if she wasn't from Seattle, which would make sense.
I know it's a short book, and I thought for that reason, I could power through it. But I lost count of how many times the characters "shivered." That kind of repetition really bothers me.
Anyway, life is too short to read a book that I just can't get interested in.
It starts with drizzly Seattle. As someone from the NW, I hate it when authors do this. It's more than just rain here. I can't find anything about this author, even though it looks like she has many published books (not even an "about the author" at the end). But I wondered if she wasn't from Seattle, which would make sense.
I know it's a short book, and I thought for that reason, I could power through it. But I lost count of how many times the characters "shivered." That kind of repetition really bothers me.
Anyway, life is too short to read a book that I just can't get interested in.
Want to read
December 26, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/26/2021)! 🎁
May 19, 2022
Quit, I couldn't stand the narration. Pity :(
November 15, 2024
A trained psychologist and licensed therapist Dr. Ilse Beck helps a new client regain memories after a serial killer is re-targeting her. Dr. Ilse Beck, a victim herself of a traumatic childhood experience in Germany, moved to the U.S. to become a psychologist specializing in PTSD. She’s the world’s leading expert in the unique trauma of serial-killer survivors. During Samantha’s sessions Ilse begins to recover memories of her own. The similarities between them had her wanting to help Samantha track down the person who was targeting her.
…
Ava Strong writes in a way that had me laughing when in all seriousness I should be scared. The way she described the murder scenes meant to create a state of terror only brought laughter. The writing voice combined with the performance of the narrator didn’t provide the seriousness of the situation. The theatrics and dramatic effects were entertaining in a silly way.
…
The voice of the narrator gave me the impression this was a British thriller yet the writing voice of the author had me convinced it was meant for an English audience. I appreciate how the narrator tried to bring excitement, terror, and suspense into the story where I didn’t find any.
…
Not Like Us is part of the Ilse Beck mystery series. The series is comprised of seven books. This being book 1. The story takes place in the Pacific Northwest. Ilse Beck escaped her own traumatic childhood in Germany and moved to the US.
…
Ava Strong writes in a way that had me laughing when in all seriousness I should be scared. The way she described the murder scenes meant to create a state of terror only brought laughter. The writing voice combined with the performance of the narrator didn’t provide the seriousness of the situation. The theatrics and dramatic effects were entertaining in a silly way.
…
The voice of the narrator gave me the impression this was a British thriller yet the writing voice of the author had me convinced it was meant for an English audience. I appreciate how the narrator tried to bring excitement, terror, and suspense into the story where I didn’t find any.
…
Not Like Us is part of the Ilse Beck mystery series. The series is comprised of seven books. This being book 1. The story takes place in the Pacific Northwest. Ilse Beck escaped her own traumatic childhood in Germany and moved to the US.
January 9, 2022
Could Not Connect
If this were the Tom Sawyer series, I'd probably stay with it. He was an interesting and taciturn character: one who embodies the phrase, "still waters run deep."
However, Ilse Beck, the mental health specialist and heroine of the novel simply left me cringing. She carried entirely too much of a victim's mentality for me. She did not display strength, was reactionary, and appeared to only use her intellect when it suited her. Not the kind of character I can relate to.
In addition, the narration of the audiobook added to my frustration. To be sure, the narrator seemed quite competent. But she utilized a breathy, overly suspenseful, frantic style of voicing that made me tired. If it had been used in small doses it would have been useful (and probably appreciated). But it sounded like the narrator thought the killer was hiding around the corner preparing to strike for the entire book: nearly 7 hours of being on the edge of one's seat. No thank you.
I'm sure others will enjoy this novel. I would recommend the book instead of the audio. However, Ilse Beck's character and decision-making skills just aren't for me.
If this were the Tom Sawyer series, I'd probably stay with it. He was an interesting and taciturn character: one who embodies the phrase, "still waters run deep."
However, Ilse Beck, the mental health specialist and heroine of the novel simply left me cringing. She carried entirely too much of a victim's mentality for me. She did not display strength, was reactionary, and appeared to only use her intellect when it suited her. Not the kind of character I can relate to.
In addition, the narration of the audiobook added to my frustration. To be sure, the narrator seemed quite competent. But she utilized a breathy, overly suspenseful, frantic style of voicing that made me tired. If it had been used in small doses it would have been useful (and probably appreciated). But it sounded like the narrator thought the killer was hiding around the corner preparing to strike for the entire book: nearly 7 hours of being on the edge of one's seat. No thank you.
I'm sure others will enjoy this novel. I would recommend the book instead of the audio. However, Ilse Beck's character and decision-making skills just aren't for me.
July 26, 2024
This is for the audio version.
I am an avid audiobook listener and I have a few pet peeves. Probably the most annoying is when a book takes place in an area and the protagonist has an accent that is vastly different from the area and no explanation is given.
The narrator has a British accent and the main character, while born in Germany, mentions she has not trace of her accent left but instead of adopting and American accent, she adopted a British one. The book takes place in the Pacific Northwest.
I found the story very far fetched and none of the characters particularly likable. Maybe Tom Sawyer, yes you read that right, but not enough to make me listen to the second book.
There were situations that were not believable and stretched my limit of plausible fiction. The writing was bad in places. Towards the end of the book, when Ilsa is being attended by paramedics, she tells them she doesn’t want anymore medical attention. She states “It’s worse than it looks.” If it was worse than it looks I think you’d want medical care. I think she meant to say “it’s not as bad as it looks”.
I love a great police procedural, but this was a real dud for me.
I am an avid audiobook listener and I have a few pet peeves. Probably the most annoying is when a book takes place in an area and the protagonist has an accent that is vastly different from the area and no explanation is given.
The narrator has a British accent and the main character, while born in Germany, mentions she has not trace of her accent left but instead of adopting and American accent, she adopted a British one. The book takes place in the Pacific Northwest.
I found the story very far fetched and none of the characters particularly likable. Maybe Tom Sawyer, yes you read that right, but not enough to make me listen to the second book.
There were situations that were not believable and stretched my limit of plausible fiction. The writing was bad in places. Towards the end of the book, when Ilsa is being attended by paramedics, she tells them she doesn’t want anymore medical attention. She states “It’s worse than it looks.” If it was worse than it looks I think you’d want medical care. I think she meant to say “it’s not as bad as it looks”.
I love a great police procedural, but this was a real dud for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2024
Read this book on Kindle, and while we did finish it we got to the point where I just wanted it to be over with.
A few plot holes, mainly that Ilse decided to lure the serial killer when she was supposed to go out for 10 minutes to get pizza when she supposedly cared so much about her clients well being, when this obviously would have made her client spiral. Also, the whole reason Samantha was after her was because she took 3 weeks to get help? Sounds like Ilse was about 6 years old, what did Samantha expect sending a 6 year old out into the forest to get help? And help did come! How can Ilse be blamed for this. Didn’t seem like motivation enough for all the trouble/revenge Samantha went through. The paramedics/police just let Samantha go after finding her in the shack? Terribly unlikely. Allowing Ilse to literally work on a police department computer?
I also found it to be too repetitive, mainly having Ilse repeat things to herself and how she felt. But ultimately I didn’t guess the twist, so props for that. I didn’t like the twist but that’s okay.
Won’t continue the series but would maybe try another one of the authors books!
2.5-3 stars.
A few plot holes, mainly that Ilse decided to lure the serial killer when she was supposed to go out for 10 minutes to get pizza when she supposedly cared so much about her clients well being, when this obviously would have made her client spiral. Also, the whole reason Samantha was after her was because she took 3 weeks to get help? Sounds like Ilse was about 6 years old, what did Samantha expect sending a 6 year old out into the forest to get help? And help did come! How can Ilse be blamed for this. Didn’t seem like motivation enough for all the trouble/revenge Samantha went through. The paramedics/police just let Samantha go after finding her in the shack? Terribly unlikely. Allowing Ilse to literally work on a police department computer?
I also found it to be too repetitive, mainly having Ilse repeat things to herself and how she felt. But ultimately I didn’t guess the twist, so props for that. I didn’t like the twist but that’s okay.
Won’t continue the series but would maybe try another one of the authors books!
2.5-3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2022
I did enjoy the story though I did not enjoy Ilse's character. For someone to be a psychologist, she had too many demons of her own. To me she seemed incapable. She shows flashes of strength, but also too tentative and fearful to be effective. She needs to deal with her past to evolve as a character. For heaven sakes, a computer search should eliminate any questions she has! I figured out right away what was happening, and read just to determine if that were the case. I was only wrong in thinking who I identified was an accomplice, not the actual perpetrator. I assume we are to consider the murderer to be a psychopath....I mean seriously, who can't get over the fact that a little girl was not able to send help immediately? Who knows how long she wandered in the woods, or was hospitalized.....that part bugged me. It was a farfetched reason for even a psychopath. I could read more of the series if they came my way. But it's hard when you don't feel any affinity for any of the characters.
February 17, 2022
I liked Not Like Us by Ava Strong. However, I grew weary of Ilse constantly going over and over her many insecurities, compulsions, and her inability to remember her abusive and horrible childhood. Ilse went through literal hell growing up in Germany with her basement cellmates and abusive father figure. All she truly remembers is later in life when she was free of the abuse, somehow got out of Germany and to the United States, changed her name, and got intelligent enough to graduate college and become a therapist for victim survivors. Ilse begins treating a woman who is being stalked by the man she believes kidnapped her as a child, and everything about this woman gets stranger and stranger. Meanwhile, there's a serial killer on the loose and killing random women. Enter FBI Agent Thomas Sawyer who quickly becomes intrigued by Ilse and her apparent independence and skills. This story ends on quite a violent and traumatic way, and it leaves everything wide open for a second installment in the Ilse Beck saga.
August 30, 2025
Not like anything else!
I have never read anything like this before and ended up reading it in one sitting. Ilse is an odd duck and so is Tom. And the murders of a possible serial killer that bring them into each other's sphere don't really seem to have any rhyme or reason. Until the end. Whoa, mama, did not see that coming at all! The reason I was only going to give it 4 stars because I the felt that Time ignored the law enforcement procedural stuff often by letting Ilse be so involved and the local police just letting him do as he pleased. Maybe it was supposed to be a sign of Tom's "maverick" persona, but I just can't see it actually being real. (But I have it the 5 full stars, bvecause I DID believe all the things that the serial killer did and was impressed by the author's scary mind that came up with that stuff! I better read the next books in the series to get a better grasp on these two odd but intriguing main characters!
I have never read anything like this before and ended up reading it in one sitting. Ilse is an odd duck and so is Tom. And the murders of a possible serial killer that bring them into each other's sphere don't really seem to have any rhyme or reason. Until the end. Whoa, mama, did not see that coming at all! The reason I was only going to give it 4 stars because I the felt that Time ignored the law enforcement procedural stuff often by letting Ilse be so involved and the local police just letting him do as he pleased. Maybe it was supposed to be a sign of Tom's "maverick" persona, but I just can't see it actually being real. (But I have it the 5 full stars, bvecause I DID believe all the things that the serial killer did and was impressed by the author's scary mind that came up with that stuff! I better read the next books in the series to get a better grasp on these two odd but intriguing main characters!
July 17, 2021
Book: not like us
Author: ava strong
An exhilarating psychological thriller❣☠
Book 1 of Ilse beck FBI suspense thriller by author ava strong☘
A page-turner tale of Ilse beck who is a psychological therapist whose new client Samantha believes that she is being followed by a killer from whom she survived 20 years ago. While examining her patient's behaviours and listening to her story, ilse Beck has reoccurring memories of her childhood trauma. The story takes a turn for the worse when Samantha went missing😬😬😬 and ilse would do everything to help the FBI agents to save Samantha ☠
Will ilse be able to find Samantha? Is Samantha even alive? Will ilse be able to stop the killer from striking again?
The book hooks you up till the end will recommend to people who wants a little thrill in their life ☘
Author: ava strong
An exhilarating psychological thriller❣☠
Book 1 of Ilse beck FBI suspense thriller by author ava strong☘
A page-turner tale of Ilse beck who is a psychological therapist whose new client Samantha believes that she is being followed by a killer from whom she survived 20 years ago. While examining her patient's behaviours and listening to her story, ilse Beck has reoccurring memories of her childhood trauma. The story takes a turn for the worse when Samantha went missing😬😬😬 and ilse would do everything to help the FBI agents to save Samantha ☠
Will ilse be able to find Samantha? Is Samantha even alive? Will ilse be able to stop the killer from striking again?
The book hooks you up till the end will recommend to people who wants a little thrill in their life ☘
September 18, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I read The Other Wife by this same author, and did not enjoy that book at all. Then I read this one, and in the begining couldn't believe it was the same author.
This book really started strong, and it had me turning the pages as fast as I could. Even though there were some areas of the book that I didn't enjoy and it didn't finish as strong as it started, the book was overall good.
I did figure out almost everything before the big reveal, but there was enough that I was still guessing about that it wasn't a complete waste.
I will definitely be reading a bit more of Dr Ilse Beck, and hope that the author reveals more of Ilse's story in the rest of the books.
I wouldn't say highly recommended, but I would definitely say it is worth the read.
I read The Other Wife by this same author, and did not enjoy that book at all. Then I read this one, and in the begining couldn't believe it was the same author.
This book really started strong, and it had me turning the pages as fast as I could. Even though there were some areas of the book that I didn't enjoy and it didn't finish as strong as it started, the book was overall good.
I did figure out almost everything before the big reveal, but there was enough that I was still guessing about that it wasn't a complete waste.
I will definitely be reading a bit more of Dr Ilse Beck, and hope that the author reveals more of Ilse's story in the rest of the books.
I wouldn't say highly recommended, but I would definitely say it is worth the read.
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