Sinnerman

Sloane Monroe #2

by Cheryl Bradshaw

What if you’d been given a second chance to catch your sister’s killer—would you take it? And if you did, would a lifetime behind bars be justice enough, or would you need to see him dead?

Meet Sloane

Private Investigator Sloane Monroe has solved every case that’s come across her desk with the exception of one—the brutal murder of her sister Gabrielle.

Three years have passed without a trace of the killer until today, when a young woman’s body is discovered on a patch of dirt in front of the local supermarket at daybreak. Now Sloane is faced with the most difficult challenge of her life—finding a man who’s a master at concealing his identity before he captures his next victim and sends them to eternal rest.

Meet Sam

Park City, Utah was a peaceful place until Sinnerman came to town. Enter the mind of Sam Reids, a serial killer who slashes his trademark letter S into the wrist of his female victims before he discards their body in the same place he found them.

Who is he, and why does he prey on innocent women?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Crime, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2011

About the author

Cheryl Bradshaw is a New York Times and 11-time USA Today bestselling author writing in multiple genres, including mystery, thriller, romantic suspense, supernatural suspense, and poetry. She is a Shamus Award finalist for best private eye novel of the year, an eFestival of Words winner for best thriller, and has published over fifty books since 2011.

Raised in Southern California, she now lives in North Texas. When she's not writing, she loves jet-setting to new countries, exploring the outdoors, and playing with her grandbabies.

For a free eBook, click here: http://cherylbradshaw.com/get-a-free-...

Book series in order by Cheryl Bradshaw:

Georgiana Germaine (Mystery Series)

1. Little Girl Lost - USA Today Bestseller
2. Little Lost Secrets
3. Little Broken Things
4. Little White Lies
5. Little Tangled Webs
6. Little Shattered Dreams
7. Little Last Words
8. Little Buried Secrets
9. Little Stolen Memories
10. Little Empty Promises
11. Little Hidden Fears

Sloane Monroe Mystery/Thriller Series

0. Silent As the Grave (prequel to series)
1. Black Diamond Death
2. Murder in Mind
3. I Have a Secret
4. Stranger in Town - Shamus Award Finalist
5. Bed of Bones - USA Today Bestseller
6. Hush Now Baby - USA Today Bestseller
7. Gone Daddy Gone - USA Today Bestseller
8. Smoke and Mirrors - USA Today Bestseller

Sloane Monroe Stories - Mystery Novella Series
(with characters from the main series)

1. Deadly Sins: Sloth
2. Deadly Sins: Wrath
3. Deadly Sins: Lust
4. Deadly Sins: Greed
5. Deadly Sins: Envy
6. Deadly Sins: Pride

Sloane & Maddie Peril Awaits - Mystery Series
(Spinoff Series with Sloane Monroe & her sidekick Maddie)

1. The Silent Boy
2. The Shadow Children
3. The Broken Soul
4. The Widow Maker
5. The Familiar Stranger

Addison Lockhart Ghost Mystery Series

1. Grayson Manor Haunting
2. Rosecliff Manor Haunting
3. Blackthorn Manor Haunting
4. Belle Manor Haunting
5. Crawley Manor Haunting

Stand Alone Mystery/Thriller Novels

1. Eye for Revenge - USA Today Bestseller
2. The Perfect Lie
3. Hickory Dickory Dead - USA Today Bestseller
4. Roadkill - USA Today Bestseller

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful!

Small backstory:

Sloane Monroe is back in this second installment with maybe finally getting close to her sister's killer who was never caught and who disappeared years ago called the Sinnerman. The Sinnerman is back and bodies are starting to turn up along with "cat and mouse" notes to Sloane as he becomes brave enough to enter her realm.

As Sloane tries to keep pace with the killer she will have to do everything she can to bring him to justice before he lays waste to bodies all over her city. Does Sloan catch the Sinnerman?

No spoilers here as you will need to read the book and this series!

Thoughts:

As always with books by this author - the story is fast paced and keeps me on the edge of my seat. I ended up reading almost 25% in one sitting as I just become caught up in the writing style of the author and cannot seem to lay the book down!

I love all the characters in this series as everyone seems so real as I become caught up in the storyline. The villain the Sinnerman is one scary baddie as parts of the book has his thoughts thrown in as well as he plays this mind game with Sloane.

All in all this was a great sequel to the first book and I will be looking forward to continuing on with the series in the future. Giving this book four "Thriller Chiller" stars!

[Mandy Sickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review -

This is the second book in the Sloane Monroe series, you can see my review of the first in the series (Black Diamond Death here). This one follow the first one a few months later, Nick and Sloane are living together but everything isn't like they wanted it to be. Nick is a little bit of a control freak, who doesn't want Sloane taking dangerous cases.

This book focus around the Sinnerman who was the killer that is responsible for Sloane's sisters murder as well as many other young women. However the cops never caught him and he went into hiding for several years. Suddenly he's back killing again, this time he's made it personal he's targeting Sloane. When Sinnerman was last on his killing spree Sloane had a hard time getting the cops to work with her it's much the same this time.

Thanks to her best friend Maddie who happens to be a medical examiner has also kept her in the loop but the local cops are trying to keep her out. In part because Sinnerman is infatuated with Sloane and part because she's a civilian. Thankfully in the last book Sloane made a friend when she saved Daniela from being abused by Parker in the first one. Her brother Giovanni gave Sloane a card with his number telling her if she needs his help to let call.

When she runs into road blocks with the cops she reaches out to Giovanni. With the help of Giovanni's brother a FBI agent, and his connections she has a chance to find Sinnerman. She follows a paper trail that leads them to his father's house, however his father hasn't seem him in twenty years. As the book progress's Sinnerman has let his obsession for Sloane cause him to leave loose ends forcing him to clean up after himself.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat through most of it. I was thrilled that Sloane would have the chance to go after her sister's killer. She deserved the chance to bring her sister justice and I loved that part of the book. I also love the relationship between Sloane and Giovanni he's a much better partner for her. This book is well written just like the first, however I think this one was way better then the first one even though the first one is still really good. I liked that chemistry of the relationships in the book, as well as reading about Sloane getting close Sinnerman. I really enjoy reading the books in the series and look forward to reading number 3 next.

[Kerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every once in a while I need to read something mindless like this very lightweight crime thriller, the second in a series of books about Private Investigator Sloane Monroe.

I've said this before, and I'll probably say it again: authors of Kindle freebies need get their work professionally edited.

--"Grizzly" instead of "grisly"
--"Shuttered" and not "shuddered"
--Confusion between "pour" and "pore" (not just once, but several times)
--Blatant misuse of apostrophes and commas
--Implausible plot points (the protagonist enters a murder suspect's home, where the police have not searched and the front door just happens to be unlocked; the abrupt brush-off Sloane gives her live-in boyfriend, Nick)

These very severe weaknesses are redeemed by occasionally snappy dialogue between Sloane and her BFF, Maddie.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looks like I found myself another favorite series to follow! Sinnerman is the second book in the Sloane Monroe series and I must say, it was an IMPRESSIVE addition to the series. The fact that book 2 is more compelling than the first (of which, in itself, I was quite satisfied) is a very good sign. I like the direction the author is going - with the new mafia king boyfriend. There is huge potential for what a person like Giovanni could add to Sloane's life story. Admittedly, it did seem a little 'convenient' to have had those resources served up on a silver platter exactly when she needed it most...but okay, hey - I like Giovanni and I like the future story potential his presence offers to the series. It reminds me a little of the In Death series J.D Robb (aka Nora Roberts) has going on. The access to all kinds of "extras" that play a huge role in helping Eve solve her cases, provided to her by her ultra rich husband who operates a little, shall we say, 'under the radar'. To have everything and anything available in materials or information, regardless of cost or legality - Sloane will be an investigative star in no time! Giovanni, his FBI agent brother and his bodyguarding 'goons' could be the start of a really good thing! :)

But...if Giovanni gets the boot, I still like and admire Ms Monroe. She has brains, guts and grit and she lets nothing stand in her way. Sloane intrigues me and I feel myself wanting to learn more about her. She is keeping herself encased within a veil, of sorts. She's holding back and it only makes me want to keep on reading and gain a more accurate perception. Nothing thus far has been said about her family other than her sister who had been one of Sinnerman's victims a few years prior. Very little is offered about her past per installment, thus saving something good for each next book. A good tactic for the author to use, this way we don't ever get bored.

5 stars. Highly Recommended.

[Marleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Luckily this was a free book, because such a generic story wouldn't be worth the money spent. The plot is boring and the characters have little if any personality. And why, oh, why do certain authors enjoy dedicating so many pages to sickos ? I have to wonder, what's captivating about being in the presence of such a psychopath killer? For me it's simple. I prefer the perspective of the investigation, and intelligent detective work. Unfortunately no smart investigation here. Here, the law enforcement officers are all spoiled children or idiots. I felt no connection, no depth, no personality.
What a waste.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found I liked the second book of this series much better than I liked the first. Unlike the first book this one didn't seem to be racing to the conclusion. It was drawn out and actually had me flipping the pages wondering what new development the author had in store for me. I also found the main character, Slosne Monroe, to be better developed. Having said that, I found myself more then slightly annoyed with Sloane. She is portrayed as this tough, independent woman but she leaves one relationship only to find herself in another relationship with a man she barely knows. To me it seems out of character, the author can't have it both ways. On to the next in the series because I just can't help myself.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like Black Diamond Death, the story was solid, but littered with punctuation errors.

[Ted Tayler · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Competent thriller"

This one delivers the goods. A quick, easy read with a solid, cast of characters. They may be a tad stereotypical, but the story line and dialogue held everything together. I wish I'd read Book One now.

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Sloane Monroe mystery and I really enjoyed it.

[Shannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I couldn’t stop reading! Loved it.

[Douglas Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sloan Monroe #2
Fans of Robert Parker's Sunny Randall will enjoy this book. Creepy serial killer.

CHAPTER 1 Sam Reids reclined back into the seat of his black 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and examined the women that shuffled in and out of the supermarket like predictable herds of cattle.  It had been three long years since he felt the steady churn of butterflies in his stomach, but the anticipation of the nights soon-to-be events made it all worthwhile.  The wait hadn’t been easy, and whenever he felt he couldn’t control his urges any longer, he walked down the steep series of steps that led to the basement and gazed at the trinkets he’d collected.  They were all spaced two inches apart in single-file formation on a shelf.  In total, there were fifteen glass bottles.  Each container had a white label about the size of a Post-It note affixed to the front with the date and a name written in thick black marker.

Bradshaw, Cheryl (2012-05-03). Sloane Monroe Series Boxed Set (Books 1-3) (Kindle Locations 2958-2964). Pixie Publishing. Kindle Edition.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinnerman is an awesome read. Once I had started reading Sinnerman I couldn't put it down. Sinnerman is the second book in the Sloane Monroe series. Cheryl Bradshaw did a fantastic job writing this book.

Sloane Monroe is a PI whose sister was murdered 3 years ago by a serial killer who goes by the name of Sinnerman. He hasn't killed for three years and when he returns Sloane is determined to find out who he is and to bring him to justice.

Sloane has a new found friend who helps her and protects her without being over bearing like Nick usually is. His name is Giovanni Luciani. We met Gio at the end of the first book Black Diamond Death. She wasn't sure what to think of him.

If you are looking for a fantastic series to read then I suggest you read the Sloane Monroe Series by starting with Black Diamond Death.

[Marti · Rating 2 out of 5]

As you might guess from only two stars--and maybe it should have been one, this was not much of a book, in my estimation. The cover art is creepy--wouldn't make me want to buy the book! It is one of the books Barnes & Noble asked me to review. The title comes, it seems, from a Nina Simone song--her mother was a minister and against sin and evil. Madison, now a PI had a sister who was killed some years back by the Sinnerman, who gets a chance to voice himself now and then. He wants to be the first serial killer who murders twins. Madison ditches her overbearing cop lover, and here is where one especially implausible part occurs--Out of the blue, Giovanni and a passel of relatives and buddies shows up to help her find Sinnerman! Go figure!

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Private Investigator Sloane Monroe has solved every case that's come across her desk with the exception of one - the brutal murder of sister Gabrielle. This book focus around the Sinnerman who was the killer that is responsible for Sloane's sisters murder, as well as many other young women. However the cops never caught him and he went into hiding for several years. Suddenly he's back killing again, this time he's made it personal - he's targeting Sloane.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

good story..not great, but good. not the best book I ever read, but definitely a good way to pass the time. (isn't that what a book should be?) If you can get past the inappropriate use of apostrophes, some incorrect wording and "all of the sudden" instead of "all of a sudden" this book will entertain you. If those are your major pet peeves...try the book version, because these errors may be specific to the kindle version....

[Lillie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the second book in this series, serial killings become very personal for PI Sloane Monroe. Some chapters were written in third person from the point of view of the villain, and the rest were written in first person from the point of view of the protagonist. The personal life of the main characters continues to develop from the first book.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thriller but not at all like I thought. Sloane swore to get her sister's murderer (plus many others) and she did. The chase was the good part. The finale was a little bit of a let down-not as much action as I normally would expect.

In all I did enjoy Sinnerman and will be reading the third in the series in the near future.

[Candi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another quick and fun read. There were numerous typographical errors in the book, which frustrated me as they drew my attention away from what I was reading. This book was good like the first one, but felt like it was more personal since the PI was also trying to solve her sister's murder (from years prior).

[Lindabtx · Rating 4 out of 5]

S/b 3.5 stars, but I'll give 4 stars because it is a good, fast read. A lot of it is still highly improbable and there seemed to be some major personality changes in a couple of people between the 1st book and this second in the series but I enjoyed the story and the quick pace.

[Brad Larsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Formulaic serial killer story. Decent read. Didn't change my world, but I would read another book by the same author.

[Mical · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the volume 1 but this was written so you understand what the history behind this was. Well written and kept my interest. A fast smooth read. I like it...

[Valerie Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good mystery. Kept me on my toes wondering what would happen next and there was the light love story.

[Linda J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Sloane the PI really had her job cut out for her. Now, I'm on to the next one in the series, I Have A Secret. Enjoying the mystery/suspense!

[Tom Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Sloane Monroe book of Bradshaw and was all that I expected. Will be reading the third book in a while hoping the same quality and suspense.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

much better than the 1st Sloane Mystery book. couldn't put it down!

[Kathy Brust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! The story held me till I had to finish and at this moment my eyes are so tired!!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This kept me on th edge of my seat. Enough said. This book made me want to read more.

[Lynelle Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Where you gonna run to?
All on that day
Well I run to the rock, please hide me
I run to the Rock, please hide me
I run to the Rock, please hide me, Lord."


I understand that the original book title of this book was Sinnerman. A very apt name for the second book in the book set I downloaded.

In this book, Sloane Monroe came face to face with a man that haunted her thoughts for three years. A man that caused her much pain in the past. Still not over the death of her sister, she vowed to catch him one way or the other.

Sloane Monroe proved to be a woman that never backs down from a challenge. Even willing to put her own life on the line to capture the man who had Park City in a fearful grip.

When another body immersed, that looked very similar to previous murders committed in the city, Monroe and the police had a tough time to capture the culprit. This time, with the help of the FBI, she was allowed to be part of the investigation and Coop was his usual self—pissed about her involvement.

With Nick out of the picture, she had the freedom to go full-throttle on this case.

Her nose and wit leading her on a very unlikely road to eventually catch the man that haunted her and the city.

Sloane's character had grown from the first book and I can't wait to learn more about her and her dare-devil antics.

Together with Maddie and Lord Berkley, she forged on and left no rock unturned, even if it meant to put herself at risk. She was willing to do so to stop this sadistic person.

A fast-paced thriller mystery that entertains and excites till the very end.

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

NOTE TO READERS: This is a review for “Murder in Mind,”
NOT “Sinnerman” which I won’t be reading. I reviewed this book after reading it on Kindle and utilizing the Kindle review/comment section. It posted correctly on Kindle but not on Good Reads, which posted this review in both “Murder in Mind” and “Sinnerman.” Deleting either book deletes both. I apologize for inconvenience. M


MURDER IN MIND

A Serial Killer Fantasy

I needed a very quick-read to decompress and started reading this book. After a few chapters, I was gritting my teeth. I made it through this not-a-police-procedural by skimming much of the time. I did read the beginning, middle and ending, and I finished this book, so I could review it without a DNF.

Whilst reading I suspended all disbelief and at intervals, repeated the following as though a mantra: “It’s a fantasy! A fantasy!”
It worked. I let slide impossible plot elements, incredibly incompetent police & FBI agents, unrealistic murderer behavior, flat & indistinguishable dialogue, the desperate need of a good editor, etc. Plus the quintessential Mary Sue protagonist, a handsome mobster to the rescue, cliched & muscled bodyguards, police officers who cater to the heroine protagonist, etc.

[Jerry B · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Murder in Mind” is just our second reading of Bradshaw’s PI (Ms.) Sloane Monroe series. As before, we like the author’s writing style and ability to create a suspenseful tale well enough to at least continue to sample additional stories in what is currently an eight-book set..

In both novels, aside from some secretive help from Sloane’s best friend ME Maddie, our protagonist works with the police (frequently to their chagrin and irritation) to track down the villain. In this particular tale, Sloane is hunting the probable killer of her sister, now a cold case, when some new murders echo the MO of that earlier killing and a few others. While we did not find the plot overly original, it was suspenseful and held our interest even when the villain is identified to us readers late in the game.

Speaking of Bradshaw’s word-craft, we had to admire this description, as often a character’s hair color and appearance are typically part of the narrative – how’s this for one’s mind’s eye (!): “Her long hair was the color of the inside of a banana and was loosely tied with a rubber band, the kind you get from a newspaper.”

Wonder what else is Sloane is up to? {3.5}