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Faces of Evil #1
Obsession
Special Agent Jess Harris has spent more than a decade studying the many faces of evil. In her determination to stop a serial killer, she broke the rules, and it cost her everything. With her career in need of resuscitation and her love life dead and buried, Jess jumps at a chance to advise on a case that has the top detectives of Birmingham, Alabama, stumped. But the case forces her to confront all the reasons she put her hometown-and her first love-in her rearview mirror.
Four young women have gone missing, and Police Chief Dan Burnett will do anything to find them before it's too late-even if it means asking for help from the woman who has spent a decade avoiding him. Jess agrees to lend a hand and welcomes the diversion of a new case, a new life to save to make up for the victims she's lost. But then the unthinkable happens: the crazed serial killer from her past follows Jess to Birmingham. The situation is becoming increasingly desperate-and time is swiftly running out . . .
Four young women have gone missing, and Police Chief Dan Burnett will do anything to find them before it's too late-even if it means asking for help from the woman who has spent a decade avoiding him. Jess agrees to lend a hand and welcomes the diversion of a new case, a new life to save to make up for the victims she's lost. But then the unthinkable happens: the crazed serial killer from her past follows Jess to Birmingham. The situation is becoming increasingly desperate-and time is swiftly running out . . .
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2011
366 people are currently reading
2647 people want to read
About the author
Debra Webb
548 books2,406 followersDEBRA WEBB is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 170 novels, including reader favorites the Finley O'Sullivan and Devlin & Falco series. She is the recipient of the prestigious Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense as well as numerous Reviewers Choice Awards. In 2012 Debra was honored as the first recipient of the esteemed L. A. Banks Warrior Woman Award for her courage, strength, and grace in the face of adversity. Recently Debra was awarded the distinguished Centennial Award for having achieved publication of her 100th novel.
With more than four million books in print in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm. She spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go. Visit Debra at www.debrawebb.com.
With more than four million books in print in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm. She spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go. Visit Debra at www.debrawebb.com.
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July 31, 2024
Obsession by Debra Webb
Faces of Evil series #1. Suspense, thriller. A smidge of romance. Police procedural.
Special Agent Jess Harris accepts a profile case in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. She will have to work win her old boyfriend, Police Chief Dan Burnett, but she knows she can keep it professional. She’s not sure about him though as one of the missing young women is a relative of his. With his help and the other detectives, they review and reinterview friends and family to find common links. Jess is making headway when the crazy serial killer from her last case starts threatening her and her coworkers. The situation goes from desperate to worse as bodies are found and background information is tied together.
One of the POV’s is from one of the victims kidnapped. As we follow the police investigation and Jess’s instincts and years of experience, the story explodes with the desperation of the victim added in. Then another killer is added via notes and cruel threats. It’s a breathless race as the victim and the police get closer.
Chilling and a little sick. Only the main case solved. The outside threats remain.
I have most of this series in my tbr and hope to get to read more soon.
Faces of Evil series #1. Suspense, thriller. A smidge of romance. Police procedural.
Special Agent Jess Harris accepts a profile case in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. She will have to work win her old boyfriend, Police Chief Dan Burnett, but she knows she can keep it professional. She’s not sure about him though as one of the missing young women is a relative of his. With his help and the other detectives, they review and reinterview friends and family to find common links. Jess is making headway when the crazy serial killer from her last case starts threatening her and her coworkers. The situation goes from desperate to worse as bodies are found and background information is tied together.
One of the POV’s is from one of the victims kidnapped. As we follow the police investigation and Jess’s instincts and years of experience, the story explodes with the desperation of the victim added in. Then another killer is added via notes and cruel threats. It’s a breathless race as the victim and the police get closer.
Chilling and a little sick. Only the main case solved. The outside threats remain.
I have most of this series in my tbr and hope to get to read more soon.
July 1, 2014
Originally posted on The Book Nympho
Quick Summary
FBI Special Agent Jess Harris is a profiler assigned to the BAU in Quantico (for now). When four young women are reported missing in Birmingham and she's asked to advise on the case, Jess returns to her hometown to work with Police Chief Dan Burnett, the man who broke her heart years ago.
The case
Each of the missing girls' situations seem different and unconnected, which is puzzling in itself. The first order of business is to determine if they're actually missing. Jess is highly renowned for her skills and Dan fought to have her be a part of the team. Her style is unconventional and she really doesn't suffer fools very well. Unraveling the mystery was gnarly and complicated and held my interest until the last page. I must admit I didn't have a clue as to what was going on for quite some time. That's not normal!!!
If you read the prequel, you have sort of a leg up in understanding the dynamics of these two. She's fiercely independent and ambitious and he's more drawn to home and hearth, which explains what probably separated them. However, their chemistry is impossible to ignore, either by you or them. Jess is complicated with lots of layers and secrets. Dan is extremely likeable and more of an open book but makes so many mistakes with her. This is a romance that still is developing.
The bottom line
One of the things that really works is the multiple perspectives used to tell the story. We have the points of view from Jess, Dan and one of the victims, which helped fill in the blanks about the mystery and the romance. The tension level is extremely high all the way through the macabre climax. I am unbelievably hooked to the series already. 4.5 stars
Quick Summary
FBI Special Agent Jess Harris is a profiler assigned to the BAU in Quantico (for now). When four young women are reported missing in Birmingham and she's asked to advise on the case, Jess returns to her hometown to work with Police Chief Dan Burnett, the man who broke her heart years ago.
The case
Each of the missing girls' situations seem different and unconnected, which is puzzling in itself. The first order of business is to determine if they're actually missing. Jess is highly renowned for her skills and Dan fought to have her be a part of the team. Her style is unconventional and she really doesn't suffer fools very well. Unraveling the mystery was gnarly and complicated and held my interest until the last page. I must admit I didn't have a clue as to what was going on for quite some time. That's not normal!!!
If you read the prequel, you have sort of a leg up in understanding the dynamics of these two. She's fiercely independent and ambitious and he's more drawn to home and hearth, which explains what probably separated them. However, their chemistry is impossible to ignore, either by you or them. Jess is complicated with lots of layers and secrets. Dan is extremely likeable and more of an open book but makes so many mistakes with her. This is a romance that still is developing.
The bottom line
One of the things that really works is the multiple perspectives used to tell the story. We have the points of view from Jess, Dan and one of the victims, which helped fill in the blanks about the mystery and the romance. The tension level is extremely high all the way through the macabre climax. I am unbelievably hooked to the series already. 4.5 stars
January 13, 2012
An amazing beginning to this thrilling romantic suspense series by Debra Webb. Top that off with the 99-cent price and it's a steal. This one caught me from the beginning and never let go. The characterizations were so well presented, the crimes dark and gritty (which is just how I like them) and even some unanswered questions and a cliffhanger at the end didn't diminish the high I got from this reading experience. After visiting Webb's website, I now know that this will be a 12-book series. I'm hoping it doesn't lose its power and go stale after the first few. Right now, I can't wait to read the next in this highly entertaining new series. In my opinion, it's the best yet from this author.
September 6, 2012
Special Agent Jess Harris had made the sacrifice - career or love - choosing a career that she loved and was fabulously good at. So good that she had identified the maniacal serial killer The Player after five long years of murder and mayhem. However, The Player had played Jess and he was now off on a technicality and Jess was in jeopardy of both losing her job and becoming the players next target.
Now Jess has left Quantico behind to refocus and return home to Birmingham, Alabama and help an old friend solve missing persons cases -- all involving nice young women, who just disappear without a trace. Dan Burnett, Chief of Police was the old friend and lover Jess had left behind who’d broken her heart and when his call came she was more than ready to return and help in any way she could. But would her obsessive serial killer leave her be, or would he follow her to Birmingham?
*** Having never read this author before I am always ready to try someone different and expect they will have some talent. Well, enough said, Ms. Webb definitely has the talent - oodles of it! OBSESSION was one heck of a thrill ride for me and though I am a romantic at heart and love suspense riddled with romance, I am ecstatic when the suspense is a good 85% and the romance is at 15%. To my mind those percentages are my idea of a perfect combination of a romantic suspense genre book.
Combine that with a story that grips you from the very beginning of a life in peril; a woman with baggage and a maniacal psycho playing head games with her while she tries to balance a life changing career move and an old lover; plus the addition of an additional pair of psycho’s who are terrorizing young women and you have the makings of one very fine suspense thriller. The suspense and the sexual tension was very palatable as both Jess and Dan found themselves trying to focus on finding the missing girls, one of whom just happens to be Dan’s step-daughter, all the while trying to keep the flame between them, which never went out, down to a bare minimum. Ms. Webb, kept the tension high, as she brought more and more details into the forefront as Jess unearthed the tiniest bits of information that until beforehand had gone unnoticed.
I loved the way Webb explained and showed just how when the kidnappings were executed so brilliantly leaving no traces behind, Jess was able to find that one pin in the haystack that seemed to prick the case back into some semblance of focus. Webb’s thought process of tying ends together while adding more and more substance, characters and motives into OBSESSION was brilliantly conceived and marvelously told. AND, it doesn’t end here.
The second book to this series IMPULSE is already on my Kindle and I’m anxious to get it started. OBSESSION is a definite highly recommended read!
*** Having never read this author before I am always ready to try someone different and expect they will have some talent. Well, enough said, Ms. Webb definitely has the talent - oodles of it! OBSESSION was one heck of a thrill ride for me and though I am a romantic at heart and love suspense riddled with romance, I am ecstatic when the suspense is a good 85% and the romance is at 15%. To my mind those percentages are my idea of a perfect combination of a romantic suspense genre book.
Combine that with a story that grips you from the very beginning of a life in peril; a woman with baggage and a maniacal psycho playing head games with her while she tries to balance a life changing career move and an old lover; plus the addition of an additional pair of psycho’s who are terrorizing young women and you have the makings of one very fine suspense thriller. The suspense and the sexual tension was very palatable as both Jess and Dan found themselves trying to focus on finding the missing girls, one of whom just happens to be Dan’s step-daughter, all the while trying to keep the flame between them, which never went out, down to a bare minimum. Ms. Webb, kept the tension high, as she brought more and more details into the forefront as Jess unearthed the tiniest bits of information that until beforehand had gone unnoticed.
I loved the way Webb explained and showed just how when the kidnappings were executed so brilliantly leaving no traces behind, Jess was able to find that one pin in the haystack that seemed to prick the case back into some semblance of focus. Webb’s thought process of tying ends together while adding more and more substance, characters and motives into OBSESSION was brilliantly conceived and marvelously told. AND, it doesn’t end here.
The second book to this series IMPULSE is already on my Kindle and I’m anxious to get it started. OBSESSION is a definite highly recommended read!
November 30, 2015
First off, I really like the covers on this book series. I like the bright pop of the neon, and I like how each cover looks the same with the exception of the graphics on the film. Pretty.
Jess Harris is pretty much a rogue Special Agent at this point in time. She made a judgement error on a case with the FBI and is pretty much out the door. She gets called to her hometown of Birmingham by her former boyfriend, Chief of police Dan Burnett, to assist on a case involving missing teens. She was a top profiler with the bureau until the "incident", and doesn't reveal that she isn't working under an official capacity. So many secrets. Even Burnett has secrets of his own.
The suspense was quite light. This was more police procedural with very little victim involvement in the story telling. We do get to read about the victims and what is happening, but not nearly enough. What the book lacked in suspense, it definitely made up for with the "ick factor". The reasoning behind the abductions and the scenes around that towards the end were pretty gross.
The end is a giant cliffhanger, but luckily I have books 2 and 3 on hand. That takes away some of the disappointment with the unfinished business. This is a 12 book series. Books 1-3 are available now, books 4-6 will be released May, July, and August. (I am referring the the paperback versions. The ebook versions of 1-3 were released a while ago, 2011. I opted to wait for the print version because my Kindle is pretty full!) Even if they all end in cliffhangers, there doesn't seem to be much wait time between installments. I can live with that. I like Jess Harris, so I will more than likely finish out the series. At least books 2 and 3 since I already have them.
Jess Harris is pretty much a rogue Special Agent at this point in time. She made a judgement error on a case with the FBI and is pretty much out the door. She gets called to her hometown of Birmingham by her former boyfriend, Chief of police Dan Burnett, to assist on a case involving missing teens. She was a top profiler with the bureau until the "incident", and doesn't reveal that she isn't working under an official capacity. So many secrets. Even Burnett has secrets of his own.
The suspense was quite light. This was more police procedural with very little victim involvement in the story telling. We do get to read about the victims and what is happening, but not nearly enough. What the book lacked in suspense, it definitely made up for with the "ick factor". The reasoning behind the abductions and the scenes around that towards the end were pretty gross.
The end is a giant cliffhanger, but luckily I have books 2 and 3 on hand. That takes away some of the disappointment with the unfinished business. This is a 12 book series. Books 1-3 are available now, books 4-6 will be released May, July, and August. (I am referring the the paperback versions. The ebook versions of 1-3 were released a while ago, 2011. I opted to wait for the print version because my Kindle is pretty full!) Even if they all end in cliffhangers, there doesn't seem to be much wait time between installments. I can live with that. I like Jess Harris, so I will more than likely finish out the series. At least books 2 and 3 since I already have them.
January 9, 2013
Author: Debra Webb
Published By: Pink House Press
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 5
Review:
"Obsession" by Debra Webb was a excellent read that was full of suspense with a bit of romance that will not let you put it down until the end with so many twist and turns. All of the characters were very interesting and well developed that will give you a awesome read that will only have you wanting more. After FBI Jess Harris had made her first mistake and a bad man will walk because of it...with no family or husband...a boss who had 'thrown her career under the bus'...Jess returns to Birmingham, AL to help out Police Chief Dan Burnett who had been her first love, to help in the bizarre case of five girls who had disappeared. This novel really moves...from all of this to the serial killer who will be set free due to Jess'smistake. Now, this is where I say you must pick up "Obsession" to see how this author will present a outcome to all of this. This novel "Obsession" is a part of
a trilogy so be prepared that you may not get all of the answers to your questions in this one read. I am more than sure you will want to pick up the next book. You will be kept on the edge of your see with this investigation, the rekindled attraction that still seemed to be their for Dan and Jess, a serial killer (Eric Spears) being set free will only keep you reading.
"Obsession" is a excellent thriller with plenty of suspense that will only keep you reading this novel and even the series....and YES, I would definitely recommend this one to you.
March 5, 2016
She is his Obsession.
Obsession is the first book in Debra Webb’s planned twelve book Faces of Evil series. Webb crafted the series in a serial fashion; one overarching big bad (The Player) that spans all twelve books with individual perpetrators in each book. Each book brings clues to The Player but resolves the case of the week; similar to a season of a weekly television series. Obsession brings us the first introduction to The Player, a ruthless serial killer who’s gotten away with murder for years. It also introduces us to Jess Harris and Dan Burnett; high school and college sweethearts that went their separate ways but never forgot each other.
The case of the week revolves around five missing girls. The Birmingham police have no leads, so Chief Burnett calls in FBI Special Agent Jess Harris as a favor. Reeling from her recent brush with The Player, Harris accepts and returns home for the first time in ten years. Working together they are able to discover the motive behind the missing girls and bring about their safe return. At the same time, we begin to learn more about The Player and his newly formed obsession with Jess.
This book is fast paced. Webb is a master storyteller and manages to weave the two storylines together seamlessly. This is a strong start to a series that is only going to get better and better. The only problem is waiting between books.
Obsession is the first book in Debra Webb’s planned twelve book Faces of Evil series. Webb crafted the series in a serial fashion; one overarching big bad (The Player) that spans all twelve books with individual perpetrators in each book. Each book brings clues to The Player but resolves the case of the week; similar to a season of a weekly television series. Obsession brings us the first introduction to The Player, a ruthless serial killer who’s gotten away with murder for years. It also introduces us to Jess Harris and Dan Burnett; high school and college sweethearts that went their separate ways but never forgot each other.
The case of the week revolves around five missing girls. The Birmingham police have no leads, so Chief Burnett calls in FBI Special Agent Jess Harris as a favor. Reeling from her recent brush with The Player, Harris accepts and returns home for the first time in ten years. Working together they are able to discover the motive behind the missing girls and bring about their safe return. At the same time, we begin to learn more about The Player and his newly formed obsession with Jess.
This book is fast paced. Webb is a master storyteller and manages to weave the two storylines together seamlessly. This is a strong start to a series that is only going to get better and better. The only problem is waiting between books.
January 20, 2012
I am so glad that I purchased Obsession and its sequel, Impulse, at the same time! Trust me, I immediately started to read Impulse after I finished Obsession! The gist of the story is Jess Harris, an FBI profiler on administrative leave for for seriously messing up a case, returns home to Birmingham at the request of Dan Burnett, chief of police and her former lover. He believes he has a serial killer case.
Obsession grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. It is gritty and fast paced. I love the fact that Jess and Dan are in their 40' s and their undeniable feelings still are there.
This book ranks with Karen Rose, Christy Reece, Allison Brennan, Cindy Gerard, Laura Griffin books. Forgive me, if I have forgotten any of my favorite authors!
Be prepared to stay up late to read this book and its sequel, Impulse. I cannot wait for the next book!
A great read!
Obsession grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. It is gritty and fast paced. I love the fact that Jess and Dan are in their 40' s and their undeniable feelings still are there.
This book ranks with Karen Rose, Christy Reece, Allison Brennan, Cindy Gerard, Laura Griffin books. Forgive me, if I have forgotten any of my favorite authors!
Be prepared to stay up late to read this book and its sequel, Impulse. I cannot wait for the next book!
A great read!
December 9, 2011
Wow, wow, wow...what a bargain basement price for an unexpectedly great surprise read and all for the low, low price of .99 cents. I got waaaaay more than I bargained for with this offering from Debra Webb. I would have paid 10x times that amount.
Obsession reminds me of the works from some authors who are auto-buy authors for me: Karen Rose, Lisa Gardner and Tess Gerritsen. If you enjoy the suspense/thriller genre with edge-of-your-seat action then you won't want to miss out on Obsession. I’ve already purchased the second book in the series Impulse and after checking the author’s website - color me excited to learn she has a total of 12 books planned in this Faces of Evil series. I can only hope each and every book is as good as Obsession was.
FBI profiler Agent Jess Harris is at a bit of a crossroads in her career. After a stellar record for 12 years at the FBI, her record as a behavioural analyst is perfect except for her latest case involving the maniacal killer The Player. She played right into the hands of a cunning sociopath who set her up and now thanks to Jess‘s work on the case, he is about to go free.
Answering the call from an old friend and lover, Police Chief Dan Burnett, Jess who’s on administrative leave from the FBI heads home to Birmingham to assist in a particularly troubling case involving missing, young girls. A case in which Dan has a personal stake as one of the missing girls is actually his teenage step-daughter Andrea.
I liked that Dan and Jess were more mature characters (both are in their forties), well established in their careers and yet they have some pretty serious history dating back to when they were teenagers and college lovers. They both still obviously have strong feelings for each other, but solving this case is their top priority and for the most part they try desperately to ignore the lingering feelings between them. Obviously with more books in this series, I expect their relationship will grow over time.
In Obsession the race is on discover a link between the missing girls and find them before it’s too late. We are treated to the POV from the kidnapped girls and can you say...creeeeeeepy!
To further complicate and muddy the waters is the release of Eric Spears aka The Player, a sadistic serial killer. Jess knows beyond all doubt that he is the man who committed numerous, heinous crimes - she just wasn’t able to prove it and now her career is in ruins because of it. Eric has become fascinated with Jess...in fact Obsessed if you will. And he is far from done with playing games with Agent Harris. I’m sure Eric will be a “Player” in a number of upcoming books - I can’t see Webb making him go away any time soon. With so many possibilities and 12 books in the making, I expect him to be around torturing Jess for some time. Masterminds like The Player know how to commit crimes and get away without leaving a trace.
Fair WARNING: You are going to want to have book two in this series Impulse ready and waiting for when you are finished. The ending...O.M.G. I started Impulse immediately upon finishing Obsessive even though it was late and past my bedtime. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Obsession reminds me of the works from some authors who are auto-buy authors for me: Karen Rose, Lisa Gardner and Tess Gerritsen. If you enjoy the suspense/thriller genre with edge-of-your-seat action then you won't want to miss out on Obsession. I’ve already purchased the second book in the series Impulse and after checking the author’s website - color me excited to learn she has a total of 12 books planned in this Faces of Evil series. I can only hope each and every book is as good as Obsession was.
FBI profiler Agent Jess Harris is at a bit of a crossroads in her career. After a stellar record for 12 years at the FBI, her record as a behavioural analyst is perfect except for her latest case involving the maniacal killer The Player. She played right into the hands of a cunning sociopath who set her up and now thanks to Jess‘s work on the case, he is about to go free.
Answering the call from an old friend and lover, Police Chief Dan Burnett, Jess who’s on administrative leave from the FBI heads home to Birmingham to assist in a particularly troubling case involving missing, young girls. A case in which Dan has a personal stake as one of the missing girls is actually his teenage step-daughter Andrea.
I liked that Dan and Jess were more mature characters (both are in their forties), well established in their careers and yet they have some pretty serious history dating back to when they were teenagers and college lovers. They both still obviously have strong feelings for each other, but solving this case is their top priority and for the most part they try desperately to ignore the lingering feelings between them. Obviously with more books in this series, I expect their relationship will grow over time.
In Obsession the race is on discover a link between the missing girls and find them before it’s too late. We are treated to the POV from the kidnapped girls and can you say...creeeeeeepy!
To further complicate and muddy the waters is the release of Eric Spears aka The Player, a sadistic serial killer. Jess knows beyond all doubt that he is the man who committed numerous, heinous crimes - she just wasn’t able to prove it and now her career is in ruins because of it. Eric has become fascinated with Jess...in fact Obsessed if you will. And he is far from done with playing games with Agent Harris. I’m sure Eric will be a “Player” in a number of upcoming books - I can’t see Webb making him go away any time soon. With so many possibilities and 12 books in the making, I expect him to be around torturing Jess for some time. Masterminds like The Player know how to commit crimes and get away without leaving a trace.
Fair WARNING: You are going to want to have book two in this series Impulse ready and waiting for when you are finished. The ending...O.M.G. I started Impulse immediately upon finishing Obsessive even though it was late and past my bedtime. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
November 11, 2011
Debra Webb is one of my favorite authors, and she has done it again. FBI Special Agent Jess Harris is on a forced leave from her assignment as an investigator and profiler at Quantico, Virginia. In the pursuit of a serial killer her zeal got the better of her and she overstepped, breaking the rules and damaging her career. Meanwhile, her former beau (and first love) Dan Burnett, the Chief of Police in Birmingham, Alabama, needs her help and expertise. Four girls have gone missing in his town, and he reaches out to her to help him find them alive – even though he hasn’t seen her in ten years. The thrills just keep coming as another girl vanishes, time is running out, and the serial killer unexpectedly follows Jess to Birmingham. The romantic subplot which finds Dan and Jess dancing around their former romance runs very deftly under the main story line without interfering. The main story gets resolved, the romance remains unresolved, and the foundation is laid for more. This book is the first of 12 in the Faces of Evil series, and I am already eagerly awaiting the release of the next book.
April 26, 2012
Obsession will get you hooked!
I took my time reading this book, as it is full of minute details for you to pay attention to. As a fan of Dean Koontz and Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child, I think Webb is definitely a new force in the police/mystery/thriller range! She builds you slowly into liking the characters, until suddenly you are enraptured with the story and don't want to put it down. At that point it's a locomotive of a ride, steam rolling to the finish and not letting the reader down along the way!
Setting the story in Birmingham, AL, was unusual, but really worked well for the story. This is a thriller, involving teenage kidnapping, so it is definitely NOT a book for kids to read. I was glad to see that this is the first in a 12 book series for the 2 main characters, and that one of the main story lines continues into the next book. As I really liked the book! I will be buying the rest of the series to see how things turn out for the duo, and if Jess can 'fix' her past mistakes! This one is a great read, just don't read it before bed- it might haunt you!
I took my time reading this book, as it is full of minute details for you to pay attention to. As a fan of Dean Koontz and Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child, I think Webb is definitely a new force in the police/mystery/thriller range! She builds you slowly into liking the characters, until suddenly you are enraptured with the story and don't want to put it down. At that point it's a locomotive of a ride, steam rolling to the finish and not letting the reader down along the way!
Setting the story in Birmingham, AL, was unusual, but really worked well for the story. This is a thriller, involving teenage kidnapping, so it is definitely NOT a book for kids to read. I was glad to see that this is the first in a 12 book series for the 2 main characters, and that one of the main story lines continues into the next book. As I really liked the book! I will be buying the rest of the series to see how things turn out for the duo, and if Jess can 'fix' her past mistakes! This one is a great read, just don't read it before bed- it might haunt you!
April 30, 2013
I received a free copy of Obsession (Faces of Evil #1) by Debra Webb from Goodreads for my review. The main character, Special Agent Jess Harris, is returning to her hometown to assist with on going missing person cases. Jess Harris is leaving behind a broken marriage, loss of her stellar career, and is now being stalked by a serial killer. Ms. Webb is an Alabama native and gives a wonderful description from the humid climate, to the indicatve slow southern drawl, to how rivalary football is revered in the South. I was drawn into to this book by each character and the current kidnapping of four young women from Birmingham. Since I reside close to Birmimgham, I was able glide through the streets of my neighbor city as they were discribed and was able to feel a conection with the characters. Debra Webb can truly spin a wonderful suspense and I look forward to her sequals.
January 19, 2012
This is a brand new author for me and the reason I am reading these books is that in one of Christy Reece's updates, I saw she had added them on her 'to read' list on Goodreads. Loved the covers and they caught my attention. I have also checked out Debra Webb's site and apparently there are going to be twelve books in this series. I already have the 2nd one called 'Impulse'.
I finished reading Obsession yesterday morning and still feel restless and jumpy yet so excited as it was fabulous. Absolutely nail biting and I now need a manicure! Looking for suspense, romance, a thriller filled with mystery? I warn you though that if you have an annoying tendency to damage your nails as I do when reading books such as this one, wear gloves and don't hesitate to pick this series up. :D
You have to love Jess Harris, an FBI profiler at Quantico. I admire her, and her tenacious 'dog with a bone' reputation lands her in hot water more often than not, but ultimately gets the job done. She's not one to follow many rules and procedural steps. She's strong willed/minded and for this reason is at a stand still in her career due to a case she'd been working on involving Eric Spears known as the Player. After a 12 year career at the FBI, she was unfortunately set up playing right into this villain's hands. Add the fact that her marriage has gone south, things are looking pretty glum. Spears is on the verge of being set free although the FBI couldn't have held him regardless of her actions and of course someone must ultimately take the fall - she's number one on the list. Accepting a case from her ex-lover and friend, Dan Burnett, Jess who is on administrative leave, heads off to Birmingham, Alabama to help in the search for missing girls. She's a top notch profiler and since the BPD aren't getting anywhere, she's their best bet.
Jess and Dan have a long history and are both in their forties. Their issues concerning their past will eventually be resolved over time throughout this series, but they have started to communicate and talk over why things happened the way they did. There is another relationship forming in Obsession, which adds to the dynamic of the story and will continue in the next book as Detective Lori Wells, has been kidnapped by the Player. The POV's are all interesting and easy to follow, but where the young girls are concerned, bone chilling - OMG! To say I got the hibbie jibbies is putting it mildly. The story that unfolds here reminds me of the movie Psycho, just so much worse.
Not only do Dan and Jess have to contend with media releases and reprimands (the usual bureaucratic waste of time), the mayor (irritated me immensely), searching for practically non-existent clues as to what happened to the girls or where they could be, they now have to deal with the fact that Spears is free and has started taunting Jess by texting her. It's as if he can see her every move. He is 'obsessed' with her although she's not the type of female he kidnaps, tortures, plays with and eventually kills. She got in his face, literally, and he is fascinated. The game is on as he has Lori, and Jess has no choice but to play. Spears can't wait. It's a race against time as those kidnapped by the Player, never live to tell the tale.
I can just imagine what awaits me in the next book if this one was anything to go by. Three quarters of the way in, it became even more enthralling and was hard to put down. There is more than one villain here as you've gathered and both sickening for different reasons. This book concludes with news from Dan that a a special unit will be formed and classified as a Special Problems Unit (SPU). Essentially, a unit that will be solely devoted to crimes that don't normally fall into your everyday categories and to criminals who don't fall under the usual profile either. This is going to be an awesome team.
When I wrote this review, I was already late for everything that needed doing - this book was that good. I should thank Christy Reece for adding this author to her 'to read list', in turn making me do the same. I am glad she did, glad I did and you will be too. I promise.
Quote
"If you want to know what evil looks like, look in the mirror"
I finished reading Obsession yesterday morning and still feel restless and jumpy yet so excited as it was fabulous. Absolutely nail biting and I now need a manicure! Looking for suspense, romance, a thriller filled with mystery? I warn you though that if you have an annoying tendency to damage your nails as I do when reading books such as this one, wear gloves and don't hesitate to pick this series up. :D
You have to love Jess Harris, an FBI profiler at Quantico. I admire her, and her tenacious 'dog with a bone' reputation lands her in hot water more often than not, but ultimately gets the job done. She's not one to follow many rules and procedural steps. She's strong willed/minded and for this reason is at a stand still in her career due to a case she'd been working on involving Eric Spears known as the Player. After a 12 year career at the FBI, she was unfortunately set up playing right into this villain's hands. Add the fact that her marriage has gone south, things are looking pretty glum. Spears is on the verge of being set free although the FBI couldn't have held him regardless of her actions and of course someone must ultimately take the fall - she's number one on the list. Accepting a case from her ex-lover and friend, Dan Burnett, Jess who is on administrative leave, heads off to Birmingham, Alabama to help in the search for missing girls. She's a top notch profiler and since the BPD aren't getting anywhere, she's their best bet.
Jess and Dan have a long history and are both in their forties. Their issues concerning their past will eventually be resolved over time throughout this series, but they have started to communicate and talk over why things happened the way they did. There is another relationship forming in Obsession, which adds to the dynamic of the story and will continue in the next book as Detective Lori Wells, has been kidnapped by the Player. The POV's are all interesting and easy to follow, but where the young girls are concerned, bone chilling - OMG! To say I got the hibbie jibbies is putting it mildly. The story that unfolds here reminds me of the movie Psycho, just so much worse.
Not only do Dan and Jess have to contend with media releases and reprimands (the usual bureaucratic waste of time), the mayor (irritated me immensely), searching for practically non-existent clues as to what happened to the girls or where they could be, they now have to deal with the fact that Spears is free and has started taunting Jess by texting her. It's as if he can see her every move. He is 'obsessed' with her although she's not the type of female he kidnaps, tortures, plays with and eventually kills. She got in his face, literally, and he is fascinated. The game is on as he has Lori, and Jess has no choice but to play. Spears can't wait. It's a race against time as those kidnapped by the Player, never live to tell the tale.
I can just imagine what awaits me in the next book if this one was anything to go by. Three quarters of the way in, it became even more enthralling and was hard to put down. There is more than one villain here as you've gathered and both sickening for different reasons. This book concludes with news from Dan that a a special unit will be formed and classified as a Special Problems Unit (SPU). Essentially, a unit that will be solely devoted to crimes that don't normally fall into your everyday categories and to criminals who don't fall under the usual profile either. This is going to be an awesome team.
When I wrote this review, I was already late for everything that needed doing - this book was that good. I should thank Christy Reece for adding this author to her 'to read list', in turn making me do the same. I am glad she did, glad I did and you will be too. I promise.
Quote
"If you want to know what evil looks like, look in the mirror"
August 28, 2012
We start this series off with a bang, Jess has been called to Birmingham by her former lover who is now the Chief of Police to investigate the disappearance of multiple young women. These women are not the type to have just run away but instead are women who care deeply about their families. She is still smarting from the disaster she has left with the FBI which is about to get her fired from the Bureau. You see she got a little too involved in a case with a serial killer and went outside the lines to gather evidence which is now going to set the man free. Unfortunately this makes others think she has gone off the deep end since not only did that happen but she is also smarting from the breakup of her marriage. She is a smart woman who's only crime I think is wanting to do her job to the point that she won't always look before she leaps.
Jess is a brilliant profiler who can see things noone else notices. She immediately takes over the investigation and pushes the task force to look outside the box. She is also still in love with Dan which you see in this book but the tension between them is palpable in this book. They split in college when Dan wanted to go back home to Birmingham and she wanted to go to the FBI like she thought they both planned. They ran in to one another 10 years ago and had a memorable night together. The chemistry between them is not gone and will not leave them alone. They are a great match for one another but things just keep getting in their way during this book. She pushes the team in this book to the point where they aren't sure if she is truly sane or not but the results she gets give everyone a happy ending.
Dan is conflicted... He wants this case solved because his ex-stepdaughter is one of the missing. He sucks it up and calls Jess because he knows she will be able to solve this case. He still harbors feelings for her even though it has been 10 years since that memorable night and 20 since they were a couple. You feel for him since as the series progresses you understand more of what drove them apart originally and truly like him and them as a couple.
This story was a lot of fun and ends on a bang that sets up the next book perfectly. So go grab it and the others....
Overall this has been a great series to read and I am waiting for the final 2 books in the series.
Special thanks to NetGalley.com and Grand Central Publishing for letting me read these in exchange for my honest review.
Jess is a brilliant profiler who can see things noone else notices. She immediately takes over the investigation and pushes the task force to look outside the box. She is also still in love with Dan which you see in this book but the tension between them is palpable in this book. They split in college when Dan wanted to go back home to Birmingham and she wanted to go to the FBI like she thought they both planned. They ran in to one another 10 years ago and had a memorable night together. The chemistry between them is not gone and will not leave them alone. They are a great match for one another but things just keep getting in their way during this book. She pushes the team in this book to the point where they aren't sure if she is truly sane or not but the results she gets give everyone a happy ending.
Dan is conflicted... He wants this case solved because his ex-stepdaughter is one of the missing. He sucks it up and calls Jess because he knows she will be able to solve this case. He still harbors feelings for her even though it has been 10 years since that memorable night and 20 since they were a couple. You feel for him since as the series progresses you understand more of what drove them apart originally and truly like him and them as a couple.
This story was a lot of fun and ends on a bang that sets up the next book perfectly. So go grab it and the others....
Overall this has been a great series to read and I am waiting for the final 2 books in the series.
Special thanks to NetGalley.com and Grand Central Publishing for letting me read these in exchange for my honest review.
May 1, 2013
Synopsis (from bn.com): She thought she’d left the murders-and his obsession-behind . . .
Special Agent Jess Harris has spent more than a decade studying the many faces of evil. In her determination to stop a serial killer, she broke the rules, and it cost her everything. With her career in need of resuscitation and her love life dead and buried, Jess jumps at a chance to advise on a case that has the top detectives of Birmingham, Alabama, stumped. But the case forces her to confront all the reasons she put her hometown-and her first love-in her rearview mirror.
Four young women have gone missing, and Police Chief Dan Burnett will do anything to find them before it’s too late-even if it means asking for help from the woman who has spent a decade avoiding him. Jess agrees to lend a hand and welcomes the diversion of a new case, a new life to save to make up for the victims she’s lost. But then the unthinkable happens: the crazed serial killer from her past follows Jess to Birmingham. The situation is becoming increasingly desperate-and time is swiftly running out . . .
My thoughts: So after work on Friday night I was browsing at my local Barnes & Noble (which ok, like most book lovers, I admit I do frequently) and while looking for some new cozy mysteries on my favorite spinner display I find “Obsession” by Debra Webb. Right next to it are #2 and #3 in the series as well. Hmmmm, imagine my surprise when the front cover says “specially priced” each at $3.99. Yup, you guessed it I picked up all three and I am so glad that I did!
What a great series! I can’t believe I have never heard of it before. I was a bit leery when I got home and realized that it was classified as a romatic thriller as I feared a cheesy romance, but no fears it is definitely a great psychological thriller featuring disgraced FBI profiler Jess Harris and her old beau and police chief Dan Burnett. The characters are good, the serial killer storyline is great, and overall incredibly fast reads.
I started the second book in the series and literally couldn’t put it down.
If you like mystery/thrillers pick up this series. They would be great plane reads and also great beach reads for upcoming summer vacations.
And did I mention the price is certainly right. The paperbacks are about $3.99, ebooks about $2.99.
Special Agent Jess Harris has spent more than a decade studying the many faces of evil. In her determination to stop a serial killer, she broke the rules, and it cost her everything. With her career in need of resuscitation and her love life dead and buried, Jess jumps at a chance to advise on a case that has the top detectives of Birmingham, Alabama, stumped. But the case forces her to confront all the reasons she put her hometown-and her first love-in her rearview mirror.
Four young women have gone missing, and Police Chief Dan Burnett will do anything to find them before it’s too late-even if it means asking for help from the woman who has spent a decade avoiding him. Jess agrees to lend a hand and welcomes the diversion of a new case, a new life to save to make up for the victims she’s lost. But then the unthinkable happens: the crazed serial killer from her past follows Jess to Birmingham. The situation is becoming increasingly desperate-and time is swiftly running out . . .
My thoughts: So after work on Friday night I was browsing at my local Barnes & Noble (which ok, like most book lovers, I admit I do frequently) and while looking for some new cozy mysteries on my favorite spinner display I find “Obsession” by Debra Webb. Right next to it are #2 and #3 in the series as well. Hmmmm, imagine my surprise when the front cover says “specially priced” each at $3.99. Yup, you guessed it I picked up all three and I am so glad that I did!
What a great series! I can’t believe I have never heard of it before. I was a bit leery when I got home and realized that it was classified as a romatic thriller as I feared a cheesy romance, but no fears it is definitely a great psychological thriller featuring disgraced FBI profiler Jess Harris and her old beau and police chief Dan Burnett. The characters are good, the serial killer storyline is great, and overall incredibly fast reads.
I started the second book in the series and literally couldn’t put it down.
If you like mystery/thrillers pick up this series. They would be great plane reads and also great beach reads for upcoming summer vacations.
And did I mention the price is certainly right. The paperbacks are about $3.99, ebooks about $2.99.
September 5, 2012
5 STARS
Once the story start ti build did not want to stop reading. If I was not already tired I start the next book in the series.
Special Agent Jess Harris life was falling apart. Her marriage is over, her FBI career will be over soon. Worst of all because of her mistake a killer is going to go free.
Her old boyfriend back home in Birmingham has called her for help. He was the Chief of police of Birmingham. 5 collage age girls are missing. Thier is no proof of foul play or crime. They just up and left. They are not even from the same city and some in the county.
Everything the families say is they would not have run a way. Four of them are attending collage. Most have good grades, no way as far as they can see that connects the girls together.
Jess is a profiler and a good one till the last case against the PLAYER. She has worked for two decades for the FBI. She does not know what the future will be but she will do everything she can to find those missing girls. Jess wants to start by interviewing the families and see what they know that might show them a clue.
Jess fell in love Dan Burnett while they were in school together. He chose to stay at home and she chose to leave. Then 10 years ago they reconnected again for one day. He asked for help and she came.
Dan Burnett is Police Chief he has been married a few times. One of the missing girls is his stepdaughter. He does not believe she would runaway. He has never forgotten Jess and is counting on her help.
The Player is now out of jail and is sending Jess texts that is letting her know he is watching her.
The media has found out that Jess is in town and her roll in breaking rules to try and stop The Player is just adding more drama.
Jess chose to have a career over family and now she has neither. Lori is choosing to be a cop over family but is still undecided.
The missing girl's are brave and falling apart but they care too about the others. Andrea is counting on her stepfather to find her.
The drama builds slowly than you don't want to leave till the end and even them you want to read the next two books in the series Faces of Evil.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgally.
August 07, 2012 PUB Grand Central Publishing Imprint Forever Yours 332 pages
Once the story start ti build did not want to stop reading. If I was not already tired I start the next book in the series.
Special Agent Jess Harris life was falling apart. Her marriage is over, her FBI career will be over soon. Worst of all because of her mistake a killer is going to go free.
Her old boyfriend back home in Birmingham has called her for help. He was the Chief of police of Birmingham. 5 collage age girls are missing. Thier is no proof of foul play or crime. They just up and left. They are not even from the same city and some in the county.
Everything the families say is they would not have run a way. Four of them are attending collage. Most have good grades, no way as far as they can see that connects the girls together.
Jess is a profiler and a good one till the last case against the PLAYER. She has worked for two decades for the FBI. She does not know what the future will be but she will do everything she can to find those missing girls. Jess wants to start by interviewing the families and see what they know that might show them a clue.
Jess fell in love Dan Burnett while they were in school together. He chose to stay at home and she chose to leave. Then 10 years ago they reconnected again for one day. He asked for help and she came.
Dan Burnett is Police Chief he has been married a few times. One of the missing girls is his stepdaughter. He does not believe she would runaway. He has never forgotten Jess and is counting on her help.
The Player is now out of jail and is sending Jess texts that is letting her know he is watching her.
The media has found out that Jess is in town and her roll in breaking rules to try and stop The Player is just adding more drama.
Jess chose to have a career over family and now she has neither. Lori is choosing to be a cop over family but is still undecided.
The missing girl's are brave and falling apart but they care too about the others. Andrea is counting on her stepfather to find her.
The drama builds slowly than you don't want to leave till the end and even them you want to read the next two books in the series Faces of Evil.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgally.
August 07, 2012 PUB Grand Central Publishing Imprint Forever Yours 332 pages
April 23, 2012
This is a condensed version of this review. The extended version can be found here
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I'm so glad that World Literary Cafe is allowing me to review books for them.
I went into this book with absolutely no expectations. I honestly didn't know what to think. I just saw that this was romantic suspense/thriller and I was hooked. I was worried that this novel would be slightly questionable...and it was. But I still really liked it. Once again, I'll reiterate that this is a novel for mature readers.
I loved Debra and Dan and the chemistry between them. This book was definitely an electric read. I couldn't set it down. I was anxiously reading this one and read it in one sitting. I just couldn't do anything else until I had finished it.
The writing was really good and I found myself sucked into the story from the very beginning. Granted, I'm a succor for this genre, but this novel was great. I can definitely say that I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel. I won't get to reading it fast enough.
In Summary: An electric read that had me hooked from the very beginning, but definitely one for mature readers. Personally, I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel.
Warnings/Side-notes: This book is definitely for mature readers. There are some instances of strong language (f word) and multiple sexual references. The book isn't erotic by any means and isn't overly graphic, but is definitely more graphic than a young adult novel. Proceed with caution.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I'm so glad that World Literary Cafe is allowing me to review books for them.
I went into this book with absolutely no expectations. I honestly didn't know what to think. I just saw that this was romantic suspense/thriller and I was hooked. I was worried that this novel would be slightly questionable...and it was. But I still really liked it. Once again, I'll reiterate that this is a novel for mature readers.
I loved Debra and Dan and the chemistry between them. This book was definitely an electric read. I couldn't set it down. I was anxiously reading this one and read it in one sitting. I just couldn't do anything else until I had finished it.
The writing was really good and I found myself sucked into the story from the very beginning. Granted, I'm a succor for this genre, but this novel was great. I can definitely say that I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel. I won't get to reading it fast enough.
In Summary: An electric read that had me hooked from the very beginning, but definitely one for mature readers. Personally, I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel.
Warnings/Side-notes: This book is definitely for mature readers. There are some instances of strong language (f word) and multiple sexual references. The book isn't erotic by any means and isn't overly graphic, but is definitely more graphic than a young adult novel. Proceed with caution.
August 20, 2015
Wow, I really loved the start of this series! I devoured this book in one sitting I couldn't put it down. Honestly, I don’t even know how I came across this book, but I am so glad I did.
This story follows Jess, a FBI Profiler who is at the height of her career when she does something that risks everything she has worked so hard for, so when Dan the Chief of the Birmingham PD calls and asks her assistance on a case where college girls are disappearing, she leaves Virginia and heads back to her hometown in Alabama. Dan is the boy/man that broke her heart twice over the past 20 years, having said that I wish there was more a little more sexual tension between the 2 MC's, but that is just my preference. The story behind the case was a lesson in true human depravity, although it didn’t leave me constantly questioning the “who done it” aspect, it didn't disappoint the read for me at all. What I really loved is that there was another plot brewing on the side which has me hooked, a true cat and mouse game with a serial killer.
This story follows Jess, a FBI Profiler who is at the height of her career when she does something that risks everything she has worked so hard for, so when Dan the Chief of the Birmingham PD calls and asks her assistance on a case where college girls are disappearing, she leaves Virginia and heads back to her hometown in Alabama. Dan is the boy/man that broke her heart twice over the past 20 years, having said that I wish there was more a little more sexual tension between the 2 MC's, but that is just my preference. The story behind the case was a lesson in true human depravity, although it didn’t leave me constantly questioning the “who done it” aspect, it didn't disappoint the read for me at all. What I really loved is that there was another plot brewing on the side which has me hooked, a true cat and mouse game with a serial killer.
April 17, 2012
If you like romantic suspense tangled up in a psychological thriller, you'll relish OBSESSION, a white knuckle cliff-hanger from Debra Webb. It's the first in the Faces of Evil series and features fallen FBI profiler, Jess Harris and her ex, Police Chief Dan Burnett. Jess has returned to Birmingham, Alabama, a place she'd escaped years before, after being accused of botching a high-profile investigation that allows a known serial killer to walk. She's been hired by Dan to advise on a case of four missing young women, with few clues and no leads.
Between the tension of the investigation and the re-kindled attraction between Dan and Jess, there’s enough to keep the pages turning. But Debra Webb also weaves in engaging secondary characters, who add depth and reality to the story. Plus, she switches point-of-view from the investigation to the victims, a technique that is guaranteed to keep you reading. Once the serial killer, Eric Spears, appears in Birmingham, you won’t be able to put OBSESSION down until the end. And when you finish, you’ll want to have the next book in the series, IMPULSE, on hand.
Between the tension of the investigation and the re-kindled attraction between Dan and Jess, there’s enough to keep the pages turning. But Debra Webb also weaves in engaging secondary characters, who add depth and reality to the story. Plus, she switches point-of-view from the investigation to the victims, a technique that is guaranteed to keep you reading. Once the serial killer, Eric Spears, appears in Birmingham, you won’t be able to put OBSESSION down until the end. And when you finish, you’ll want to have the next book in the series, IMPULSE, on hand.
February 3, 2012
This is a very good mystery thriller. I really enjoyed the fast pace of the story. The resolution was satisfactory. What I did not like, or should I say, WHO I did not like was the main protagonist, an FBI profiler who had made a serious error of judgement and was now persona non grata in the FBI. But she had not yet been dismissed and so an old friend, a police chief, asked her to come to his town to help search for missing girls. We keep hearing about how smart and capable she is, but she is annoyingly smug and arrogant. It's her way or no way. She's always right and the only one who knows anything. She rejects or simply ignores authority of every kind and it is often difficult to have much respect for her. Ugh! I might just have to read the next one though, because the cliff hanger at the end, with regard to a secondary plot point, left me wanting more. So I guess I'll just have to persevere and put up with a protagonist who annoys me. :) I guess this is a testament to the skill of author Debra Webb.
May 18, 2013
It has been a long time since I have read a book that kept me on the edge of my chair like this one.
Ms. Webb you have got yourself a new fan!
This is the first book of Ms. Webb's that I have read and it will certainly not be the last. Her writing style is gripping and concise and always leaves the reader wondering what is really happening as the writing gives the illusion that they are not being shown the whole picture until they reach the end.
Ms. Webb has created charcters that have traits that all can realte to:
- Dan - loyal
- Jess - determined
- Chet - honest
- Lori - ambitious
These four characters mixed together bring the main storyline to life with their personal lives showing their traits and how they are responsible for their current situations.
Ms. Webb successful mixes the personal lives of the characters and the investigation of the missing girls seamlessly.
The ending was not what I saw coming, but thankfully I already had the second book and was not left to long in my despair.
I recommend to all bookworms that you must read this!
Ms. Webb you have got yourself a new fan!
This is the first book of Ms. Webb's that I have read and it will certainly not be the last. Her writing style is gripping and concise and always leaves the reader wondering what is really happening as the writing gives the illusion that they are not being shown the whole picture until they reach the end.
Ms. Webb has created charcters that have traits that all can realte to:
- Dan - loyal
- Jess - determined
- Chet - honest
- Lori - ambitious
These four characters mixed together bring the main storyline to life with their personal lives showing their traits and how they are responsible for their current situations.
Ms. Webb successful mixes the personal lives of the characters and the investigation of the missing girls seamlessly.
The ending was not what I saw coming, but thankfully I already had the second book and was not left to long in my despair.
I recommend to all bookworms that you must read this!
March 10, 2018
Really good start to the series! I'm looking forward to the journey as I suspect it's going to be a bumpy one on all levels. Special Agent Jess Harris has been called in by Police Chief Dan Burnett, her ex-lover from another time & place in her life. Five young women are missing, and time is running out. The local police don't have enough information to even make a profile, but that's where Jess comes in. She's one of the best profilers out there although she's currently in the middle of her own professional hell and fears the outcome. It's claimed that her unprofessional actions are the cause of a serial killer being allowed to walk. One who has Jess on his radar. Jess sets her personal safety aside and vows to find the missing girls. Needless to say, all hell breaks loose before it's over.
Obsession is a well-written story that remains intense from cover to cover. The tension mounts as clues begin to fall into place for Jess. I loved the multiple POVs taking place as it allows readers a front row seat to much of what is happening. The relationship between Jess and Daniel is electric even though they are both in denial. It appears it will take time to clear the air and issues that stand between them. The support cast is a good one with future couples appearing to emerge. While the primary case is solved by the end of this book, there is a cliffhanger type thread that continues on into the next book. It's enough to keep readers wanting more! A Must Read!
Obsession is a well-written story that remains intense from cover to cover. The tension mounts as clues begin to fall into place for Jess. I loved the multiple POVs taking place as it allows readers a front row seat to much of what is happening. The relationship between Jess and Daniel is electric even though they are both in denial. It appears it will take time to clear the air and issues that stand between them. The support cast is a good one with future couples appearing to emerge. While the primary case is solved by the end of this book, there is a cliffhanger type thread that continues on into the next book. It's enough to keep readers wanting more! A Must Read!
September 18, 2013
I am very fortunate to have won the first six books in the "Faces of Evil" books from the author, Debra Webb. My review is exactly that, my own. I was not paid for it, and I received the six books, which the author was kind enough to autograph for me.
I just completed OBSESSION in one day, and it was a page turner for me.
I know that the series continues, evenutally, for eleven more volumes, so it is tough to evaluate the first one and to expect that my opinions won't change on these topics in future readings.
Previous reviewers have summarized the story lines, so I will leave you to read that below, if you want to know more before you decide to read this book.
I find myself wanting to like the protagonist, Special Agent Jess Harris, more than I actually did. There is no question that she's competent at her job, nor that she must always be the lead investigator and call all the shots. Her romantic history with Police Chief Dan Burnett goes way back, to college years, and they are now in their forties. This is a plus, not to have our stars be super young.
I also wanted to like Dan more than I actually did; he apparently has been married three times and divorced, if I read this right. I just don't want this to be attributed to him not ever "getting over" Jess in 10-15-20 years since they split. He and Jess split up after their joint plans to join the FBI didn't work the same for both of them. Jess chose the job over their relationship and Dan chose to move back home to Birmingham over their relationship, so for different reasons, they feel they made the right decision all those years ago. Neither seems to have grown out of their earlier choices/mistakes when this story begins.
Nevertheless, Dan has asked Jess to come south to help with a missing persons case that seems to be the act of a serial-type personality; by good work done by all persons investigating the case, the missing young women are found by the end of this book; it is a bizarre story, and creepy but it wasn't nail biting suspense for me (I don't know why).
One hopes that Jess and Dan will forgive themselves and each other if a mature relationship is to be built between them twenty years after college.
The cliffhanger at the end -- a particularly sadistic serial killer who has gotten out of jail on a technicality (or poorly substantiated evidence)-- has reappeared to at least mentally torture Jess and other members of the law enforcement branches around Birmingham. I did come to like the supporting members of this cast and I expect we'll follow them in the next volume.
What I hope is that the writing will get tighter and that the plot(s) and characterizations will cause me to wax more eloquently in future reviews. I had been familiar with Debra Webb's earlier books and I liked them so very much. I will certainly begin the second book, IMPULSE, quite soon to pick up where the last page of this story left off.
Postscript - I have begun the second book and it is still holding my interest, in case you are wondering whether to give this series a try!
I just completed OBSESSION in one day, and it was a page turner for me.
I know that the series continues, evenutally, for eleven more volumes, so it is tough to evaluate the first one and to expect that my opinions won't change on these topics in future readings.
Previous reviewers have summarized the story lines, so I will leave you to read that below, if you want to know more before you decide to read this book.
I find myself wanting to like the protagonist, Special Agent Jess Harris, more than I actually did. There is no question that she's competent at her job, nor that she must always be the lead investigator and call all the shots. Her romantic history with Police Chief Dan Burnett goes way back, to college years, and they are now in their forties. This is a plus, not to have our stars be super young.
I also wanted to like Dan more than I actually did; he apparently has been married three times and divorced, if I read this right. I just don't want this to be attributed to him not ever "getting over" Jess in 10-15-20 years since they split. He and Jess split up after their joint plans to join the FBI didn't work the same for both of them. Jess chose the job over their relationship and Dan chose to move back home to Birmingham over their relationship, so for different reasons, they feel they made the right decision all those years ago. Neither seems to have grown out of their earlier choices/mistakes when this story begins.
Nevertheless, Dan has asked Jess to come south to help with a missing persons case that seems to be the act of a serial-type personality; by good work done by all persons investigating the case, the missing young women are found by the end of this book; it is a bizarre story, and creepy but it wasn't nail biting suspense for me (I don't know why).
One hopes that Jess and Dan will forgive themselves and each other if a mature relationship is to be built between them twenty years after college.
The cliffhanger at the end -- a particularly sadistic serial killer who has gotten out of jail on a technicality (or poorly substantiated evidence)-- has reappeared to at least mentally torture Jess and other members of the law enforcement branches around Birmingham. I did come to like the supporting members of this cast and I expect we'll follow them in the next volume.
What I hope is that the writing will get tighter and that the plot(s) and characterizations will cause me to wax more eloquently in future reviews. I had been familiar with Debra Webb's earlier books and I liked them so very much. I will certainly begin the second book, IMPULSE, quite soon to pick up where the last page of this story left off.
Postscript - I have begun the second book and it is still holding my interest, in case you are wondering whether to give this series a try!
July 13, 2014
“If you want to know what evil looks like, look in the mirror.”
4.25+ RATING- Obsession was a great suspense/thriller story that I really enjoyed. I'm glad I read the short prequel, Silence, before reading Obsession. Although asbolutely not necessary, it does provide some background as to the relationship between Jess and Dan and I'm glad I had some framework for past events when I started this book.
Obsession is primarily a suspense/thriller story involving several missing young women and the hunt for a possible serial killer. In the background is the relationship between Jess and Dan. Readers expecting a steamy romance will be disappointed. There is no hot and heavy bits here. There was potential for steamy but it never actually happened. Basically, the two main characters had a history together, the case brings them back together, but really the case stays the main focus of the book. The past feelings, tensions, and problems are definitely part of the story but any real romance is still developing at at the end of Obsession (and I'm guessing will continue developing in the next book). The suspense is well done, the creepy parts totally creeped me out, and the story was well crafted. I enjoyed the alternating POV's and was glad one of the perspectives was from one of the victims. I thought it added alot to the story.
Aside from the search for the missing women, a serial killer from Jess's past poses a potential danger for her and this helps set up the second book in this series, Impulse.
Overall, I like the author's writing style, I like the characters, and I definitely plan to continue with the series. I love finding a series that I like that has so many books already published, no waiting between books is a big plus! I recommend this for readers that enjoy suspense/thriller storylines and don't mind a lack of steam (at least in this book, the steam level in this book may not reflect future books in the series). Also, while the main story line of the missing women is resolved in this book, there is an overall story line that continues on to the next book. Readers that are looking for a stand-alone novel, should take that into consideration.
September 24, 2012
This was my first book by Debra Webb and will not be my last. I have been a big fan of JD Robb’s In Death books and this one reminded me of that series. Not so much in the characters (Jess is a lot different than Eve Dallas) but in the way the reader is a part of the investigation and the amount of mystery /suspense. It is fun to try and figure things out on your own as you read the story. I always find it fascinating to go through a case like this when the crime involves more than one victim. It is a huge puzzle with lots of emotions and stress involved. I found this book to be very well written. The descriptions of the settings as well as the feelings of her characters made you feel like you were living the story yourself.
I enjoyed the different points of view that were shared in this story. Not only did you get to see things through the main characters eyes but you got to see what was going on with the victims. I tend to be sensitive to things that are too descriptive and graphic but Ms. Webb did a very good job with this book. She took you to the edge but didn’t throw you over so to speak.
The only thing I would have wished for in this book was more romance between Jess and Dan. I think the romance was written appropriately for the story and the case, but wished Dan and Jess would have acted more often on feelings they had for one another. They have known each other so long and it was nice to read a book about people in their forties so I guess if they were jumping into bed with each other all the time, it wouldn’t have fit well with the story. Overall, I think this is the start of a great series. If you are looking for romantic suspense that gives you a lot of mystery and a touch of romance, I highly recommend this one.
I enjoyed the different points of view that were shared in this story. Not only did you get to see things through the main characters eyes but you got to see what was going on with the victims. I tend to be sensitive to things that are too descriptive and graphic but Ms. Webb did a very good job with this book. She took you to the edge but didn’t throw you over so to speak.
The only thing I would have wished for in this book was more romance between Jess and Dan. I think the romance was written appropriately for the story and the case, but wished Dan and Jess would have acted more often on feelings they had for one another. They have known each other so long and it was nice to read a book about people in their forties so I guess if they were jumping into bed with each other all the time, it wouldn’t have fit well with the story. Overall, I think this is the start of a great series. If you are looking for romantic suspense that gives you a lot of mystery and a touch of romance, I highly recommend this one.
January 23, 2015
Obsession
4 Stars
FBI Profiler Jess Harris is at a crossroads in her life. On the verge of losing her job and her marriage, Jess returns home to Birmingham, Alabama when an old beau, Dan Burnett, request her assistance on a case involving the disappearance of several young women. As Jess immerses herself in the case, a menacing specter from her past raises its ugly head and places those she cares about in serious danger...
A well-crafted if predictable plot with several similarities to Alex Kava’s A Perfect Evil including a female FBI profiler who has a past with a serial killer and a relationship with the chief of police. That said, the investigative aspects of the case have an authentic feel, the motivation behind the crime is original albeit rather disturbing, and the climax and resolution are exciting.
The characters are also very well developed. Jess is a strong and intelligent heroine, but it is difficult to truly empathize with her given that she often comes across as arrogant and dismissive. She is also in dire need of some sensitivity training. Dan gives the impression of being something of a ladies man although it is rather obvious that the women in his life are surrogates for the one who got away. While there is real potential in their slowly simmering second chances romance, it is the relationship between Lori and Chet that really grabs the reader.
While the primary storyline is resolved by the end, the book does end on a cliffhanger of sorts (I will be seriously annoyed if ) and I am eager to continue with the series.
4 Stars
FBI Profiler Jess Harris is at a crossroads in her life. On the verge of losing her job and her marriage, Jess returns home to Birmingham, Alabama when an old beau, Dan Burnett, request her assistance on a case involving the disappearance of several young women. As Jess immerses herself in the case, a menacing specter from her past raises its ugly head and places those she cares about in serious danger...
A well-crafted if predictable plot with several similarities to Alex Kava’s A Perfect Evil including a female FBI profiler who has a past with a serial killer and a relationship with the chief of police. That said, the investigative aspects of the case have an authentic feel, the motivation behind the crime is original albeit rather disturbing, and the climax and resolution are exciting.
The characters are also very well developed. Jess is a strong and intelligent heroine, but it is difficult to truly empathize with her given that she often comes across as arrogant and dismissive. She is also in dire need of some sensitivity training. Dan gives the impression of being something of a ladies man although it is rather obvious that the women in his life are surrogates for the one who got away. While there is real potential in their slowly simmering second chances romance, it is the relationship between Lori and Chet that really grabs the reader.
While the primary storyline is resolved by the end, the book does end on a cliffhanger of sorts (I will be seriously annoyed if ) and I am eager to continue with the series.
May 1, 2012
Obsession: Faces of Evil is Debra Webb's first foray into the genre of thrillers and wow, does she make an impression! FBI profiler Jess Harris, after having spent her adult life understanding and catching serial killers makes her first mistake and a very, very bad man will walk because of it. With no husband or family and a boss who has thrown her career under the bus, she's more than happy to return to Birmingham, AL to help her first love, Police Chief Dan Burnett figure out the link between five girls who have disappeared. This bizarre case could cost both of them their reputations, their friends or even their lives. Is obsession Jess's job - her relationship with Dan - or the serial killer who was set free by her mistake. This book is one to devour. You won't be able to put it down but remember - it is the first book of a trilogy, so all of the answers to your questions may not be found in this volume.
Webb wields a deft hand with her characters, plot and subplots,and her love and understanding of the South shines through the book.
Webb wields a deft hand with her characters, plot and subplots,and her love and understanding of the South shines through the book.
June 8, 2013
I'd heard this series buzzed about back when it was being self-pubbed, so when I saw it in the bookstore(it's since been picked up by Grand Central), I decided to give it a whirl. It wasn't bad, but just kind of a blah read for me. The general plot involves an FBI agent who has fallen from grace and is now back home in Birmingham helping an old flame with a case involving the mysterious disappearance of a number of young women.
I've enjoyed some of Webb's Harlequin books, but the leads in this story never really took off for me. I kept hoping the suspense story would catch fire, but that just plodded along a bit, too. I didn't hate it, but I never felt fully engaged either. In addition, we see parts of the action through the eyes of one of the kidnapped young woman, and the "ick factor" for most of that part of the story is pretty high. I like a good thriller, but this one doesn't really stand out from the crowd for me.
I've enjoyed some of Webb's Harlequin books, but the leads in this story never really took off for me. I kept hoping the suspense story would catch fire, but that just plodded along a bit, too. I didn't hate it, but I never felt fully engaged either. In addition, we see parts of the action through the eyes of one of the kidnapped young woman, and the "ick factor" for most of that part of the story is pretty high. I like a good thriller, but this one doesn't really stand out from the crowd for me.
May 5, 2013
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...
Special Agent Jess Harris isn’t having the best week. Staring at the inevitable loss of her job and the humiliation of having screwed up in a big way, she figures helping out her one-time boyfriend with a case couldn’t do her any more harm than she’d already done herself. What she doesn’t expect, however, is that the crazed serial killer that had cost her job is about to find her.
Jess Harris is a tough character to get to like. She’s strong, independent, and spunky, but she’s also had a huge blow to her ego as well as her confidence. It’s this last part that makes her a bit unlikable in the beginning. She’s so determined to do everything on her own and in her own way that she doesn’t care whose toes she might step on. Thankfully, as she becomes more a part of the group and less the outsider, she loosens up a little bit. That said, once she lets the petty things go, she becomes a virtual force of nature in profiling the kidnapper of the missing women. She’s bright, she’s sharp, and she’s very, very good at her job. I think I liked her more in her obsessive agent mode than when she was just simply Jess. I’m looking forward to seeing more character growth with her in the next novel because she has the potential to be a great person to know.
Police Chief Dan Burnett is Jess Harris’ complete opposite. Warm and friendly and so very southern from the get-go, he’s a very likable character, even though he does have his moments. In a sense, he’s in a similar situation as Jess. These missing women have him stumped and his department has little to no evidence tying anyone to the crime. At times, he lets his pride get in the way, but for all intents and purposes, he admits to it and moves on much more quickly than Jess does. However, because of this, the two of them are very dynamic as a couple – both romantic and as investigating partners. Their tendency to butt heads a bit before compromising holds a lot of promise for romantic sparks later on.
Obsession is a joyride of emotions from the very first page. Between the main story of the missing women and the backstory involving the serial killer that Jess had been attempting to arrest, there is constantly something happening to keep you on your toes. The author’s style and the whirlwind of events in the story made this a fast read for me and the shocking conclusion has left me eager for the sequel.
Special Agent Jess Harris isn’t having the best week. Staring at the inevitable loss of her job and the humiliation of having screwed up in a big way, she figures helping out her one-time boyfriend with a case couldn’t do her any more harm than she’d already done herself. What she doesn’t expect, however, is that the crazed serial killer that had cost her job is about to find her.
Jess Harris is a tough character to get to like. She’s strong, independent, and spunky, but she’s also had a huge blow to her ego as well as her confidence. It’s this last part that makes her a bit unlikable in the beginning. She’s so determined to do everything on her own and in her own way that she doesn’t care whose toes she might step on. Thankfully, as she becomes more a part of the group and less the outsider, she loosens up a little bit. That said, once she lets the petty things go, she becomes a virtual force of nature in profiling the kidnapper of the missing women. She’s bright, she’s sharp, and she’s very, very good at her job. I think I liked her more in her obsessive agent mode than when she was just simply Jess. I’m looking forward to seeing more character growth with her in the next novel because she has the potential to be a great person to know.
Police Chief Dan Burnett is Jess Harris’ complete opposite. Warm and friendly and so very southern from the get-go, he’s a very likable character, even though he does have his moments. In a sense, he’s in a similar situation as Jess. These missing women have him stumped and his department has little to no evidence tying anyone to the crime. At times, he lets his pride get in the way, but for all intents and purposes, he admits to it and moves on much more quickly than Jess does. However, because of this, the two of them are very dynamic as a couple – both romantic and as investigating partners. Their tendency to butt heads a bit before compromising holds a lot of promise for romantic sparks later on.
Obsession is a joyride of emotions from the very first page. Between the main story of the missing women and the backstory involving the serial killer that Jess had been attempting to arrest, there is constantly something happening to keep you on your toes. The author’s style and the whirlwind of events in the story made this a fast read for me and the shocking conclusion has left me eager for the sequel.
May 12, 2013
Disclaimer1: I won this in a goodreads giveaway.
Disclaimer2: 2 1/2 stars
A disgraced FBI agent; a police chief who happens to be a former lover; a case of five missing girls with no connections other than bad luck; a serial killer out for revenge. The elements of the mystery/suspense thriller are the same, just cast differently in each story (I suppose that's true of every genre), so a novel of this type has to be really innovative to stand out, and this one isn't and doesn't. Like a lot of this genre, it has a superficial feel to it.
Obssession isn't a terrible book; it's just...generic. I've read too many versions of this story and seen too many versions played out on the small and big screens. It never really grabbed me and I had to force myself to continue after only 50 pages, but it did finally kick in for me with a couple of chapters to go.
I never found Jess Harris compelling in any way and the sexual tension between her and the police chief was boring. A subplot of the same thing happening between two of the Birmingham Police Department's detectives was more interesting, even if it seemed a little unimaginative; I mean, it was the same story, just in a subplot.
My advice would be to pass this one by; I'll be doing that for the three sequels that are out.
Disclaimer2: 2 1/2 stars
A disgraced FBI agent; a police chief who happens to be a former lover; a case of five missing girls with no connections other than bad luck; a serial killer out for revenge. The elements of the mystery/suspense thriller are the same, just cast differently in each story (I suppose that's true of every genre), so a novel of this type has to be really innovative to stand out, and this one isn't and doesn't. Like a lot of this genre, it has a superficial feel to it.
Obssession isn't a terrible book; it's just...generic. I've read too many versions of this story and seen too many versions played out on the small and big screens. It never really grabbed me and I had to force myself to continue after only 50 pages, but it did finally kick in for me with a couple of chapters to go.
I never found Jess Harris compelling in any way and the sexual tension between her and the police chief was boring. A subplot of the same thing happening between two of the Birmingham Police Department's detectives was more interesting, even if it seemed a little unimaginative; I mean, it was the same story, just in a subplot.
My advice would be to pass this one by; I'll be doing that for the three sequels that are out.
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