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Texas Rangers #1
The Seventh Victim
She was the one who got away….
If At First You Don't Succeed
It's been seven years since the Seattle Strangler terrorized the city. His victims were all young, pretty, their lifeless bodies found wrapped in a home-sewn white dress. But there was one who miraculously escaped death, just before the Strangler disappeared. . .
Kill
Lara Church has only hazy memories of her long-ago attack. What she does have is a home in Austin, a job, and a chance at a normal life at last. Then Texas Ranger James Beck arrives on her doorstep with shattering The Strangler is back. And this time, he's in Austin. . .
And Kill Again. . .
He's always craved her, even as he killed the others. For so long he's been waiting to unleash the beast within. And this time, he'll prove he holds her life in his hands--right before he ends it forever…
If At First You Don't Succeed
It's been seven years since the Seattle Strangler terrorized the city. His victims were all young, pretty, their lifeless bodies found wrapped in a home-sewn white dress. But there was one who miraculously escaped death, just before the Strangler disappeared. . .
Kill
Lara Church has only hazy memories of her long-ago attack. What she does have is a home in Austin, a job, and a chance at a normal life at last. Then Texas Ranger James Beck arrives on her doorstep with shattering The Strangler is back. And this time, he's in Austin. . .
And Kill Again. . .
He's always craved her, even as he killed the others. For so long he's been waiting to unleash the beast within. And this time, he'll prove he holds her life in his hands--right before he ends it forever…
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
2057 people are currently reading
3239 people want to read
About the author
Mary Burton
68 books4,066 followersMary Burton, whose latest novel is THE LIES I TOLD, loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.
Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense, thriller and mystery. Upon publication, her novels, including NEVER LOOK BACK and BURN YOU TWICE, consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List. Her novels CUT AND RUN and YOU'RE NOT SAFE were nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Romantic Suspense.
A Richmond native, Mary is the author of forty-five published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and as Mary Ellen Taylor.
A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters and/or place.
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April 9, 2013
The Seventh Victim by Mary Burton is a 2013 Zebra/ Kensington publication.
Seven years ago Lara Church was attacked and nearly strangled to death by the Seattle strangler. She doesn't remember anything about the attack, even after being harrassed unto death by Mike Raines, a dectective on the Seattle police force, and after seeing countless doctors. Lara goes on the run and finally has settled in Austin, Texas. Her grandmother has passed away and Lara has inherited her property.
Taking a job at the local university as a photography teacher she also does her own peculiar photography of crime scenes.
Now there have been several murders that mimic the Seattle strangler exactly. The case goes to James Beck, a Texas Ranger. It comes to his attention right away that Lara Church, the only survivor of the strangler now lives in Austin.
James wants Lara to see a doctor in Austin to see if her memory can be unlocked. The two clash because Lara wants to be left alone, but James won't let it go.
James comes to believe that the killer will eventually target Lara and she is the key to catching the killer.
Added to the mix is Mike Raines who has retired from the Seattle police force and started his own security company. He is also in Austin to help James find the killer, even if James doesn't initially welcome his input.
This is a dark serial killer mystery thriller. Lara's obsession with crime scenes, the creepy serial killer MO, the ever present tension of waiting for something bad to happen to Lara and maybe to other characters we come to care about. There is also the tension from the relationship between James and Lara. James comes on too strong, often forgetting that Lara is a victim ,not just a person that could help crack a case. Although she wants to help, she simply can't remember anything, which is just as frustrating to her as it is to the investigators.
Eventually, James begins to respect Lara a great deal and the ice between them begins to melt.
There are a lot of twist and turns in this one. The last quarter of the book is really, really tense. The romance part of the book is reserved for the proper time and place in the book and is not the primary focus of the book.
Overall this one gets an A. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
Seven years ago Lara Church was attacked and nearly strangled to death by the Seattle strangler. She doesn't remember anything about the attack, even after being harrassed unto death by Mike Raines, a dectective on the Seattle police force, and after seeing countless doctors. Lara goes on the run and finally has settled in Austin, Texas. Her grandmother has passed away and Lara has inherited her property.
Taking a job at the local university as a photography teacher she also does her own peculiar photography of crime scenes.
Now there have been several murders that mimic the Seattle strangler exactly. The case goes to James Beck, a Texas Ranger. It comes to his attention right away that Lara Church, the only survivor of the strangler now lives in Austin.
James wants Lara to see a doctor in Austin to see if her memory can be unlocked. The two clash because Lara wants to be left alone, but James won't let it go.
James comes to believe that the killer will eventually target Lara and she is the key to catching the killer.
Added to the mix is Mike Raines who has retired from the Seattle police force and started his own security company. He is also in Austin to help James find the killer, even if James doesn't initially welcome his input.
This is a dark serial killer mystery thriller. Lara's obsession with crime scenes, the creepy serial killer MO, the ever present tension of waiting for something bad to happen to Lara and maybe to other characters we come to care about. There is also the tension from the relationship between James and Lara. James comes on too strong, often forgetting that Lara is a victim ,not just a person that could help crack a case. Although she wants to help, she simply can't remember anything, which is just as frustrating to her as it is to the investigators.
Eventually, James begins to respect Lara a great deal and the ice between them begins to melt.
There are a lot of twist and turns in this one. The last quarter of the book is really, really tense. The romance part of the book is reserved for the proper time and place in the book and is not the primary focus of the book.
Overall this one gets an A. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
February 17, 2024
This is an entertaining, well-written, romantic suspense novel. It has a creative, likable female protagonist, a heroic, caring, male protagonist, a beloved dog, murder, mystery, intrigue, action, twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the audio version of this book, and the narrator, Ms. Johanna Parker, does an excellent job depicting the characters and their personalities.
February 3, 2013
Let me tell you a little story about this book. I accidentally requested to get an ARC. I thought that the author was a different author whom I have read and enjoyed before and I jumped out of my chair in joy at thinking she had a new book. After I realized that I was mistaken about who the author was, I ended up not caring too much because the story still sounded really fantastic. Oh, how I was wrong! Despite having an excellent cover and an astounding synopsis, this book was just a mess. I bring you, bullet points!
~ Predictable plot is predictable. By the second or third time we have the killer introduced into a scene, I knew who it was. It was so painfully obvious that it was…well painful. Also, by about the halfway point I had figured out what the twist was and by 70% I knew who the twist would revolve around. I don’t know whether to credit my obsession with the TV show Criminal Minds for this or maybe the plot was just that obvious and unimaginative.
~ Stubborn heroine who insists on protecting herself but seems to be incapable of doing so. Every time we talked to Lara she was insisting that she could take care of herself, but them proceeds to do completely idiotic things that seem to suggest otherwise. For example, going to a recent crime scene when it is nearly dark outside…by yourself…with just a camera…and a shotgun (that she left in a locked car). I mean, what good is a shotgun going to do you if it’s locked in your car 20 yards away? I’m pretty sure an assailant isn’t going to allow you to run 20 yards to the car, unlock the car, get the shotgun, load the shotgun, and then shoot him. She has a darkroom and leaves it unlocked while she is in there with her back to the door and in the dark. And then she ignores her dog when he starts barking at something from outside. Gee, that sounds smart! And don’t get your hopes up that the other female characters are any smarter, they aren’t. One notable moment is when one girl gets a flat tire, on an abandoned road at night, without cell phone service, hasn’t seen another sign of human life in at least a half hour, but is ever so grateful at the person who has been following her the whole time for offering his help! I sincerely hope that there are not that many stupid women in the world.
~ Cops who are either oblivious or inept. Anyone who has watched Law & Order knows that when a person is attacked, most of the time the attacker is someone they know. Yet, these cops mostly seem to sit around wondering which unknown stranger it could be without even bothering to look at people close to Lara. Their justification is, well it’s a serial killer so he probably doesn’t know the victims. That doesn’t hold water either. Criminal Minds has taught me that serial killers have their distinct signatures because the actions satisfy some need or fantasy they have. If a serial killer does not rape his victims and then suddenly a similar crime appears with a rape, it’s not the same guy. If a serial killer is going after prostitutes and homeless woman, and suddenly it’s a young blonde college student who was a big risk then it’s not the same guy! But all of this is overlooked too, despite the claim that a FBI profiler was advising them. Really? He must be inept too!
~ Lame romance. It was very cliche for the head cop to fall for Lara. And I just didn’t feel it. I knew that they had feelings for each other because the author told me they did, but that’s the only reason. Their actual actions and words didn’t lead me to that conclusion at all. Then they decide to have sex after the most traumatic and violent scene in the whole book? What? Nearly getting killed is an aphrodisiac for Lara? Yeah that was weird and made me feel like I needed a shower with bleach. Oh and let’s throw in another cliche, simultaneous orgasms. Has this honestly ever happened to anyone in real life? It’s never happened to me! The sex scene made me laugh though. In one paragraph Lara removed his pants and then on the next page she was undoing the button on his pants…when did he put them back on? *snicker*
~ Name a cliche, any cliche! Any cliche you can think of for a murder mystery/suspense/thriller and this book probably had it. Surviving victim becomes the obsession of the killer. Obsessed cop who couldn’t let this case go and is now sticking his nose into the current case. Lead cop falling for the poor surviving victim. Female characters with no sense of self preservation. The miraculous “ah ha!” moment that answers all of the questions surrounding the case just pages before the end. The police miraculously bursting in the door just in time to save the poor female victim with a few well placed bullets that never miss. I could name more but I think you get the idea.
~ Suspense? Where? This was supposedly a suspense novel, but I never once felt that rush in my veins that suspense novels usually give me. Mostly I just got bored. I started mentally counting cliches in my head and coming up with a scorecard for how well I predicted the book’s plot. There was no suspense, I knew exactly what would happen chapters before it actually happened.
So, there we have it. If you want to read a serial killer novel that is exactly like thousands of other serial killer novels then this is a book for you. If you’ve never read a serial killer novel then this is perfect since you won’t have a clue about how cliche it is! But otherwise, give this one a pass unless you’re suffering from insomnia…because then it might help.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Kensington books! This review is based on an uncorrected ARC of this book, certain things may differ from the final copy.
This and other reviews at Stefani's World of Words
~ Predictable plot is predictable. By the second or third time we have the killer introduced into a scene, I knew who it was. It was so painfully obvious that it was…well painful. Also, by about the halfway point I had figured out what the twist was and by 70% I knew who the twist would revolve around. I don’t know whether to credit my obsession with the TV show Criminal Minds for this or maybe the plot was just that obvious and unimaginative.
~ Stubborn heroine who insists on protecting herself but seems to be incapable of doing so. Every time we talked to Lara she was insisting that she could take care of herself, but them proceeds to do completely idiotic things that seem to suggest otherwise. For example, going to a recent crime scene when it is nearly dark outside…by yourself…with just a camera…and a shotgun (that she left in a locked car). I mean, what good is a shotgun going to do you if it’s locked in your car 20 yards away? I’m pretty sure an assailant isn’t going to allow you to run 20 yards to the car, unlock the car, get the shotgun, load the shotgun, and then shoot him. She has a darkroom and leaves it unlocked while she is in there with her back to the door and in the dark. And then she ignores her dog when he starts barking at something from outside. Gee, that sounds smart! And don’t get your hopes up that the other female characters are any smarter, they aren’t. One notable moment is when one girl gets a flat tire, on an abandoned road at night, without cell phone service, hasn’t seen another sign of human life in at least a half hour, but is ever so grateful at the person who has been following her the whole time for offering his help! I sincerely hope that there are not that many stupid women in the world.
~ Cops who are either oblivious or inept. Anyone who has watched Law & Order knows that when a person is attacked, most of the time the attacker is someone they know. Yet, these cops mostly seem to sit around wondering which unknown stranger it could be without even bothering to look at people close to Lara. Their justification is, well it’s a serial killer so he probably doesn’t know the victims. That doesn’t hold water either. Criminal Minds has taught me that serial killers have their distinct signatures because the actions satisfy some need or fantasy they have. If a serial killer does not rape his victims and then suddenly a similar crime appears with a rape, it’s not the same guy. If a serial killer is going after prostitutes and homeless woman, and suddenly it’s a young blonde college student who was a big risk then it’s not the same guy! But all of this is overlooked too, despite the claim that a FBI profiler was advising them. Really? He must be inept too!
~ Lame romance. It was very cliche for the head cop to fall for Lara. And I just didn’t feel it. I knew that they had feelings for each other because the author told me they did, but that’s the only reason. Their actual actions and words didn’t lead me to that conclusion at all. Then they decide to have sex after the most traumatic and violent scene in the whole book? What? Nearly getting killed is an aphrodisiac for Lara? Yeah that was weird and made me feel like I needed a shower with bleach. Oh and let’s throw in another cliche, simultaneous orgasms. Has this honestly ever happened to anyone in real life? It’s never happened to me! The sex scene made me laugh though. In one paragraph Lara removed his pants and then on the next page she was undoing the button on his pants…when did he put them back on? *snicker*
~ Name a cliche, any cliche! Any cliche you can think of for a murder mystery/suspense/thriller and this book probably had it. Surviving victim becomes the obsession of the killer. Obsessed cop who couldn’t let this case go and is now sticking his nose into the current case. Lead cop falling for the poor surviving victim. Female characters with no sense of self preservation. The miraculous “ah ha!” moment that answers all of the questions surrounding the case just pages before the end. The police miraculously bursting in the door just in time to save the poor female victim with a few well placed bullets that never miss. I could name more but I think you get the idea.
~ Suspense? Where? This was supposedly a suspense novel, but I never once felt that rush in my veins that suspense novels usually give me. Mostly I just got bored. I started mentally counting cliches in my head and coming up with a scorecard for how well I predicted the book’s plot. There was no suspense, I knew exactly what would happen chapters before it actually happened.
So, there we have it. If you want to read a serial killer novel that is exactly like thousands of other serial killer novels then this is a book for you. If you’ve never read a serial killer novel then this is perfect since you won’t have a clue about how cliche it is! But otherwise, give this one a pass unless you’re suffering from insomnia…because then it might help.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Kensington books! This review is based on an uncorrected ARC of this book, certain things may differ from the final copy.
This and other reviews at Stefani's World of Words
January 26, 2019
This one was pretty good. I liked Lara and Beck- I loved Lara’s dog! The mystery was really good!
November 16, 2016
This is a standard romantic suspense thriller, and I would have rated it higher if it weren't for the main character. James Beck is a jerk! Lara Church is a rape survivor and he outright bullies her! Whether or not she might be a suspect - and by the very nature of this genre we all know she isn't - you need to show some respect! There's no doubting she was the victim of a violent crime, so why is James Beck such an asshat? That they then go ahead and have sex made it even more repugnant! I'm surprised Mary started out in romance, because she's much better at the suspense.
January 5, 2019
2.5 stars.
This one follows the Mary Burton formula a little too closely. It reminded me of The Shark on many levels and the identity of the bad guy was easy to figure out. The twist at the end helped liven the plot up a bit, but by then I was ready for the story to be over. In general, I thought that the h took too many risks. Most of her actions were TSTL and I sighed deep sighs of frustration. It's one thing to stop living like a hermit rolling stone, and it's quite another to photograph crime scenes as your niche, knowing full well that some murderers like to return to the scene and relive their crime. Honestly. A dog doesn't protect you from ridiculous choices.
As for the romance part of this romantic suspense, it was just meh. It didn't offend me and the H seemed like a genuinely good guy. However, this book would've been perfectly fine without it. I will continue to read Mary Burton's books, but I just can't binge read them. They're all too similar to enjoy serially.
Safety
This one follows the Mary Burton formula a little too closely. It reminded me of The Shark on many levels and the identity of the bad guy was easy to figure out. The twist at the end helped liven the plot up a bit, but by then I was ready for the story to be over. In general, I thought that the h took too many risks. Most of her actions were TSTL and I sighed deep sighs of frustration. It's one thing to stop living like a hermit rolling stone, and it's quite another to photograph crime scenes as your niche, knowing full well that some murderers like to return to the scene and relive their crime. Honestly. A dog doesn't protect you from ridiculous choices.
As for the romance part of this romantic suspense, it was just meh. It didn't offend me and the H seemed like a genuinely good guy. However, this book would've been perfectly fine without it. I will continue to read Mary Burton's books, but I just can't binge read them. They're all too similar to enjoy serially.
Safety
June 19, 2025
I loved that this was set in Texas. It was a thrilling serial unaliver mystery. I enjoyed it so much! I would totally recommend reading it if you need to mix it up! Plot twist was weak though.
January 10, 2013
Well, at first I thought this was going to be a formula " mad libs" serial killer story. Theres a beautiful heroine, a survivor of an attack, who doesn't remember anything, unknowingly stalked for years, catches the attention of her local law enforcement officer who is hot, of course...blah blah blah, bodies start piling up. (Yawn!) oh there are a few holes in the plot big enough to drive a Bronco truck through, ( no college is going to hire an instructor who doesn't have an Masters Degree). Dispute the cookie cutter characters at the get go, they began to grow on me. Texas Ranger James Beck, grew on me, I liked him. He had depth, history, and morals. Laura our heroine in the other hand seemed reckless and put herself in harms way, at every turn, however at just the point where I was about to lose interest, this train went totally off the rails...say what? I had to read that first twisty paragraph again and again. I knew I was in for some skulduggery type fun and criminal high jinks, thank you!
I had it down to 3 suspects... ( I read this genre all the time so I can't help myself) was i right? Close....You think I'm going to tell you? Absolutely not! It's worth the read if you are into this genre.
I had it down to 3 suspects... ( I read this genre all the time so I can't help myself) was i right? Close....You think I'm going to tell you? Absolutely not! It's worth the read if you are into this genre.
December 18, 2018
I love Mary Burton’s books; they’re my favorite guilty pleasure, and I almost always give 4 stars. While this story certainly held my interest, I almost stopped reading because of the abusive and bullying behavior of the Texas Ranger character. Thus the 2 stars. He spends a portion of the book aggressively pushing a survivor to remember her attack in order to get his case solved. And then they end up in a relationship?? No. Just no.
December 3, 2022
This book was okay at first, but a few major things that were absolute turn offs. First, the main male character was a cop and absolutely bullied the main female character, who is a survivor of a rape/serial killer. And not just him, but the whole book was riddled with characters threatening her repeatedly, because she couldn’t remember details about the crime as it happened to her. You can’t force someone to remember something by threatening them! And then the MMC threatens to “take her in” because she’s not “cooperating” with him by remembering details of a 7 year old crime that she is still clearly traumatized by and didn’t have any details to give during the original investigation. I’m sorry, but what crime is it that she is committing and exactly what reason is it that you are going to remove her from her home and hold her somewhere else against her will? Because without a solid legal reason to do so, I believe that is actually kidnapping on your part sir. Way to reinforce the bad cop stereotype of bullying victims for no reason and making sure he’s working to solve his own cases at all costs, no matter who gets trampled in the process. Maybe the author’s heart was in the right place, but it sure brought the character across as someone I can only detest.
Okay, end of rant.
Okay, end of rant.
July 17, 2017
I checked out the Texas Rangers series (3 books) and read them on my vacation. Although the books stand alone, they do have characters from the previous books in them. I liked each of the books and the series. When you miss a series, it's nice to be able to quickly read the books as a set with no gaps of time.
Each of the three books was good. As always in a Mary Burton novel the suspense/mystery takes center stage and the romance is a secondary/minor plot. For me this is how I like my romantic suspense.
I liked the plot and the characters in all three of the books.
Each of the three books was good. As always in a Mary Burton novel the suspense/mystery takes center stage and the romance is a secondary/minor plot. For me this is how I like my romantic suspense.
I liked the plot and the characters in all three of the books.
August 27, 2019
DNF
The characters were frustrating to a degree I couldn’t get past.
The characters were frustrating to a degree I couldn’t get past.
March 29, 2025
Cringe and predictable. I rolled my eyes so many times, I thought I would need a surgeon to retrieve them.
May 2, 2018
Brilliant book, but then anything by this author usually is. Was gripped from start to finish. Loved it.
February 25, 2013
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...
It’s no use. Running from him hasn’t helped; he always finds her. Here she’s home in familiar territory and she has friends. If she’s going to fight back, this is the best place. It’s not safe but it’s best.
Mary Burton is an established author. This is her thirteenth book. I’ve read her work before and was glad to get the opportunity to read this new book. Ms. Burton writes action packed stories with lots of tension and suspense. You don’t have time to be bored, she never gives away the bad guy early, and she generally packs a punch in her endings. This book lived up to all that hype.
Lara is survivor. She was attacked by the Seattle Strangler and survived. She can’t help with the case because she has amnesia about the attack. Years have passed, she’s been to doctor after doctor trying to unlock those memories, and she still cannot recall anything. When the killer appears to have resurfaced in Austin, TX, the cops really want her to try to remember again. She refuses until the mother of one of the victims makes her own appeal. Then she tries…
I had suspicions about who the killer was. I was half right. This author always manages to sucker punch me with her endings. I would never have guessed the Seattle Strangler’s identity. Neither did anyone in the story.
This story winds around the past and the present and ties it all together as you reach the conclusion of the story. It’s a good thing Lara has a Texas Ranger in love with her; she’ll need him for more than her bed before the end of the story.
When you sit down to read this, make sure you set some time aside to do it. You won’t want to put it down
It’s no use. Running from him hasn’t helped; he always finds her. Here she’s home in familiar territory and she has friends. If she’s going to fight back, this is the best place. It’s not safe but it’s best.
Mary Burton is an established author. This is her thirteenth book. I’ve read her work before and was glad to get the opportunity to read this new book. Ms. Burton writes action packed stories with lots of tension and suspense. You don’t have time to be bored, she never gives away the bad guy early, and she generally packs a punch in her endings. This book lived up to all that hype.
Lara is survivor. She was attacked by the Seattle Strangler and survived. She can’t help with the case because she has amnesia about the attack. Years have passed, she’s been to doctor after doctor trying to unlock those memories, and she still cannot recall anything. When the killer appears to have resurfaced in Austin, TX, the cops really want her to try to remember again. She refuses until the mother of one of the victims makes her own appeal. Then she tries…
I had suspicions about who the killer was. I was half right. This author always manages to sucker punch me with her endings. I would never have guessed the Seattle Strangler’s identity. Neither did anyone in the story.
This story winds around the past and the present and ties it all together as you reach the conclusion of the story. It’s a good thing Lara has a Texas Ranger in love with her; she’ll need him for more than her bed before the end of the story.
When you sit down to read this, make sure you set some time aside to do it. You won’t want to put it down
February 4, 2024
oh obviously our romance needs to culminate in sex just mere hours after you were nearly raped and killed AGAIN by a man you grew up with and trusted. not to mention the romance is with a law officer who's supposed to be having an official and appropriate relationship with this VICTIM. haha ha nothing wrong with that,,, jesus christ. how is that even the slightest bit romantic??? gross. If that scene had been even a couple of chapters later, it would've been fine. i don't understand why you would do that to your character or readers lmao. not sexy in the slightest
May 7, 2022
the dog in this book was the true main character and you can’t tell me otherwise. he really went through it!
October 12, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is my personal 5 star rating system because I’m too lazy to write a review for every book.
5 stars -> OMFG. I couldn’t stop listening. I was engaged from beginning to end. The story & narrator was amazing. I 100% recommend this book & author. I was able to clearly follow each and every character.
4 stars -> It was pretty good. I would’ve rated 5 stars, But either the ending was lacking, I struggled to keep up with characters, or the story didn’t keep me fully engaged. The narrator was pretty good as well. I’m on the fence about recommending this book, It could go either way.
3 Stars -> It was boring at times & I missed chunks of the story. I most likely struggled to keep up with character developments. The only way I would recommend this book is if it was part of a series. The narrator was most likely average or just couldn’t fix a mediocre book.
2 Stars -> It was pretty horrible. I used it as background noise because I hadn’t had a chance to search for another book. The book either had a bad narrator, The character development was non existent, or the story was hot garbage. I would not recommend this book.
1 Star -> The absolute only reason I listened to this book was because i had no time to search for another one & I needed background noise. It was 1 step up from listening to the radio. I wouldn’t recommend this book to my worst enemy. Everything about this book was terrible. This is only recommended for people on death row and have absolutely nothing else to read.
5 stars -> OMFG. I couldn’t stop listening. I was engaged from beginning to end. The story & narrator was amazing. I 100% recommend this book & author. I was able to clearly follow each and every character.
4 stars -> It was pretty good. I would’ve rated 5 stars, But either the ending was lacking, I struggled to keep up with characters, or the story didn’t keep me fully engaged. The narrator was pretty good as well. I’m on the fence about recommending this book, It could go either way.
3 Stars -> It was boring at times & I missed chunks of the story. I most likely struggled to keep up with character developments. The only way I would recommend this book is if it was part of a series. The narrator was most likely average or just couldn’t fix a mediocre book.
2 Stars -> It was pretty horrible. I used it as background noise because I hadn’t had a chance to search for another book. The book either had a bad narrator, The character development was non existent, or the story was hot garbage. I would not recommend this book.
1 Star -> The absolute only reason I listened to this book was because i had no time to search for another one & I needed background noise. It was 1 step up from listening to the radio. I wouldn’t recommend this book to my worst enemy. Everything about this book was terrible. This is only recommended for people on death row and have absolutely nothing else to read.
April 18, 2025
i’ll read anything from mary burton! the details never disappoint and the intimate moments v spicy ✨ this was great and a series of hers i haven’t explored yet!
July 8, 2021
Another hit from Mary Burton. I don't think I've read anything by her that hasn't been great in my opinion. I highly recommend her romantic suspense novels!
April 5, 2018
If you are looking for a good suspense then this will work for you, but if you are looking for romance then you should probably give this a miss.
May 3, 2022
Kind of like a Criminal Minds episode where you know what's going to happen but you watch it anyway because you like a crime show (book).
June 19, 2025
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This was a great read. While I did make one correct prediction, I did not expect the twist that came at the end of the book. The first few chapters are quite confronting so read with care.
This was a great read. While I did make one correct prediction, I did not expect the twist that came at the end of the book. The first few chapters are quite confronting so read with care.
March 28, 2025
Hard pass.
Rangers a bully.
Who wants to listen to this garbage.
Rangers a bully.
Who wants to listen to this garbage.
June 12, 2025
I have been hoodwinked.
The cheek. The nerve. The gall. The audacity and the gumption.
I can't remember where I stumbled upon someone talking about this book, but they were raving about it like it was the greatest thing in the entire world. I looked it up and the rating backs it up, so I grabbed it free on Kindle Unlimited.
I am genuinely shocked at how many people liked this book. Did I get the wrong thing? Was there an error in the Amazon to Audible and then back to Amazon again delivery???
I started this on Audible while trying to sleep and it made me so angry that I couldn't fall asleep. I got about halfway through (why did I keep listening? I guess I just hate myself.) and then today I thought maybe it'll be better if I physically read the rest.
Nope!!!!
Beck was such a fucking asshole that I have to swear to describe it. Lara survived an unimaginably horrible event and he straight up bullied her about not being able to remember it. Threatening to arrest her? Seriously? He was a piece of garbage.
BUT THEN!!! He saw Lara dressed up with her makeup and hair done and everything changed!! He had his epiphany and is now on her side and is treating her somewhat better. While also commanding and directing her on what to do - literally words from the book, not mine. He was just an absolutely disgusting character and I hated everything he did. I also hated that Lara fell for it; she seems like the type that would tell him to fuck off, but we need the stupid corny romance!!!!!
Beck, and almost every other character, loved to threaten Lara's dog. Multiple characters kept talking about shooting the dog, as if dogs don't bark and protect their owners. Is this a Texas thing?? The dog is fine, he doesn't die, but it was too much. There was also other animal abuse spoken about that was really not necessary to the plot.
Then there's the killer. I had it figured out so quickly that I thought oh no, it's too obvious, I must be wrong. No :) I was not wrong :) It was the most obvious thing in the entire world and somehow no one thought of it in seven years.
So then there's a twist that most people seemed to love, but I saw it coming from a mile away.
I just hated absolutely everything about this book. Is it the northerner in me? The animal lover in me? The always rooting for the independent badass female character in me?? I don't know. Whatever it was, my day is ruined.
Don't read this.
The cheek. The nerve. The gall. The audacity and the gumption.
I can't remember where I stumbled upon someone talking about this book, but they were raving about it like it was the greatest thing in the entire world. I looked it up and the rating backs it up, so I grabbed it free on Kindle Unlimited.
I am genuinely shocked at how many people liked this book. Did I get the wrong thing? Was there an error in the Amazon to Audible and then back to Amazon again delivery???
I started this on Audible while trying to sleep and it made me so angry that I couldn't fall asleep. I got about halfway through (why did I keep listening? I guess I just hate myself.) and then today I thought maybe it'll be better if I physically read the rest.
Nope!!!!
Beck was such a fucking asshole that I have to swear to describe it. Lara survived an unimaginably horrible event and he straight up bullied her about not being able to remember it. Threatening to arrest her? Seriously? He was a piece of garbage.
BUT THEN!!! He saw Lara dressed up with her makeup and hair done and everything changed!! He had his epiphany and is now on her side and is treating her somewhat better. While also commanding and directing her on what to do - literally words from the book, not mine. He was just an absolutely disgusting character and I hated everything he did. I also hated that Lara fell for it; she seems like the type that would tell him to fuck off, but we need the stupid corny romance!!!!!
Beck, and almost every other character, loved to threaten Lara's dog. Multiple characters kept talking about shooting the dog, as if dogs don't bark and protect their owners. Is this a Texas thing?? The dog is fine, he doesn't die, but it was too much. There was also other animal abuse spoken about that was really not necessary to the plot.
Then there's the killer. I had it figured out so quickly that I thought oh no, it's too obvious, I must be wrong. No :) I was not wrong :) It was the most obvious thing in the entire world and somehow no one thought of it in seven years.
So then there's a twist that most people seemed to love, but I saw it coming from a mile away.
I just hated absolutely everything about this book. Is it the northerner in me? The animal lover in me? The always rooting for the independent badass female character in me?? I don't know. Whatever it was, my day is ruined.
Don't read this.
November 7, 2013
Texas Ranger Beck is searching for the Seattle Strangler, a serial killer who has left his victims in wooded areas, their blond hair fanned out, clad in white dresses trimmed in lace. Each victim has a penny clutched in her hand. His last victim, Lara Church, narrowly escaped death at his hands. She fled the Seattle area and has lived out of the public eye ever since. Lately, she has chosen to live in Austin, Texas working as a photographer and college instructor. Now it seems that the strangler has relocated to Austin as well, and is moving ever closer to finding her. Ranger Beck is convinced that the Strangler will not rest until he claims his seventh victim, Lara. Beck is determined not to let this happen, and tries to convince Lara to try to dredge up what he thinks are buried memories. She declines, claiming that there are no memories to resurrect. Both are headstrong and working at cross purposes. Enter retired Seattle detective Raines, who doggedly tried to solve this case back in Seattle. He has come to Austin, in pursuit of the strangler too. Three strong personalities, additional dead girls displayed with all of the Strangler's signature details at the crime scenes. Will Lara become the seventh victim?
This was an interesting premise, with some unexpected twists. Mary Burton knows how to build suspense, and is willing to write characters that are not necessarily likeable. The plot kept my interest. Some of my suspicions were realized but I did not figure out the entire plot, but I was close! Watching Criminal Minds all these years has to have taught me a little about sussing out the bad guy.
There are other Texas Ranger books by Mary Burton, but I do not know if they feature Ranger Beck. I will certainly give another Burton book a try. I thought she did a masterful job of showing what it must be like to narrowly escape death at the hands of such a deadly and determined killer, and to wonder when he would return for her. Her depiction of Lara and her mental anguish is at the heart of this novel.
This was an interesting premise, with some unexpected twists. Mary Burton knows how to build suspense, and is willing to write characters that are not necessarily likeable. The plot kept my interest. Some of my suspicions were realized but I did not figure out the entire plot, but I was close! Watching Criminal Minds all these years has to have taught me a little about sussing out the bad guy.
There are other Texas Ranger books by Mary Burton, but I do not know if they feature Ranger Beck. I will certainly give another Burton book a try. I thought she did a masterful job of showing what it must be like to narrowly escape death at the hands of such a deadly and determined killer, and to wonder when he would return for her. Her depiction of Lara and her mental anguish is at the heart of this novel.
July 26, 2018
3.5 ***
This was a RU listen and my first book by Mary Burton.
Lara was the seventh victim and sole survivor of a serial killer called the Seattle Strangler. As much as she wanted to help and the police pushed her she simply couldn't remember what happened to her. Seven years later Lara's a photographer and living in the farmhouse her grandmother left her in Austin, TX. Young women are being murdered. They are dressed in white homemade dresses and a penny put in their hand after they are strangled. The Seattle strangler is back and he'll be looking for Lara, the only one who got away. Texas ranger James Beck is on the case and so is the detective from Seattle who was never able to let the case go.
I liked the mystery and suspense of the book but nothing about the romance made sense. James was an ass to Lara. He never treated her like a surviving victim. From the start he behaved as though she was the criminal. He kept harassing her about her memory. It doesn't matter how much they were attracted to each other physically the Ranger was a jerk. So was the ex detective from Seattle. Lara needed a judge and retraining order against the cops more than her memory back.
This was a RU listen and my first book by Mary Burton.
Lara was the seventh victim and sole survivor of a serial killer called the Seattle Strangler. As much as she wanted to help and the police pushed her she simply couldn't remember what happened to her. Seven years later Lara's a photographer and living in the farmhouse her grandmother left her in Austin, TX. Young women are being murdered. They are dressed in white homemade dresses and a penny put in their hand after they are strangled. The Seattle strangler is back and he'll be looking for Lara, the only one who got away. Texas ranger James Beck is on the case and so is the detective from Seattle who was never able to let the case go.
I liked the mystery and suspense of the book but nothing about the romance made sense. James was an ass to Lara. He never treated her like a surviving victim. From the start he behaved as though she was the criminal. He kept harassing her about her memory. It doesn't matter how much they were attracted to each other physically the Ranger was a jerk. So was the ex detective from Seattle. Lara needed a judge and retraining order against the cops more than her memory back.
November 30, 2021
Horrible. DNF. After Beck first met and questioned Lara I was done. He had already shown his childish ego when the PI, and former detective, showed up to help. It was more important for Beck to mark his territory than it was for him to be thankful for the help and see what the man had to offer before ordering him away. So I was already disgusted with his machismo before he questioned Lara, the 7th victim. He shows up at her home, goes in yelling at her and trying to intimidate her, he even needed to stare down the dog to establish his dominance! He badgers her repeatedly, threatening to take her to the ranger station for questioning, and trying to traumatize her into remembering. The final straw for me was when he showed her the crime scene photos. The author always has a romance ensue with the victim and the ranger (or whatever legal officer is in charge) and that will make me hurl with this repugnant man. So, I'm out. I've enjoyed many other books by this author and other main characters who were a bit more evolved, but this one is not for me
February 1, 2013
Lara Church has no memory of the the Seattle Strangler who tried to kill her seven years ago. Left brutally attacked and with no memory, she spent her time adrift after Seattle finally making her way back to her grandmothers home in Austin. Trying to rebuild her life, the last thing Lara wants to is to be reminded of the victim she once was. When murders begin to share an uncanny resemblance to the ones in Seattle, Texas Ranger James Beck wants answers but Lara is adamant that no memories have resurfaced. Beck won't back down on his relentless pursuit to find the murderer and he needs Lara's help.
Hypnotic story, I thought this was an intriguing cat and mouse story. You are taken on a rollercoaster ride trying to figure out who is after Lara. Excellent read, will be picking up more from this author.
Hypnotic story, I thought this was an intriguing cat and mouse story. You are taken on a rollercoaster ride trying to figure out who is after Lara. Excellent read, will be picking up more from this author.
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