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Sky Stone
The Profiler's Daughter
A grisly murder. A six-year-old eyewitness. A gun from the grave.
The Profiler's Daughter is a psychologically haunting thriller that combines murder mystery, love triangle, and family intrigue in one satisfying page burner.
Sky Stone was born into the wealth and privilege of Boston's oldest Brahmin family but chooses instead to follow in the footsteps of her deceased father, legendary FBI profiler Monk Stone. In the chilly morning hours before the Boston Marathon, when a beautiful university student is found strangled and mutilated, her body left at the base of Heartbreak Hill, Sky returns from self-imposed exile to investigate. Thirty-six hours into the investigation, Sky's world turns upside down when she is fired from the Homicide team. They pin the murder on an innocent man, forcing Sky into a life-threatening game of cat and mouse with the real killer. From the stately mansions of Beacon Hill to the flat scrubland of central Texas, Sky keeps the reader on a razor's edge, culminating in a no-holds-barred shoot-out.
The Profiler's Daughter, the first in the Sky Stone Thriller series, introduces a moody, enigmatic, and brilliant female heroine with the fierce bite of Stieg Larsson's Lisbeth Salander. As adeptly written as Martin Cruz Smith's complex Arkady Renko novels, this thriller offers an intriguing plot, richly detailed characters, and an astonishing conclusion guaranteed to leave the reader begging for more.
The Profiler's Daughter is a psychologically haunting thriller that combines murder mystery, love triangle, and family intrigue in one satisfying page burner.
Sky Stone was born into the wealth and privilege of Boston's oldest Brahmin family but chooses instead to follow in the footsteps of her deceased father, legendary FBI profiler Monk Stone. In the chilly morning hours before the Boston Marathon, when a beautiful university student is found strangled and mutilated, her body left at the base of Heartbreak Hill, Sky returns from self-imposed exile to investigate. Thirty-six hours into the investigation, Sky's world turns upside down when she is fired from the Homicide team. They pin the murder on an innocent man, forcing Sky into a life-threatening game of cat and mouse with the real killer. From the stately mansions of Beacon Hill to the flat scrubland of central Texas, Sky keeps the reader on a razor's edge, culminating in a no-holds-barred shoot-out.
The Profiler's Daughter, the first in the Sky Stone Thriller series, introduces a moody, enigmatic, and brilliant female heroine with the fierce bite of Stieg Larsson's Lisbeth Salander. As adeptly written as Martin Cruz Smith's complex Arkady Renko novels, this thriller offers an intriguing plot, richly detailed characters, and an astonishing conclusion guaranteed to leave the reader begging for more.
427 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
P.M. Steffen
3 books33 followersP.M. Steffen is a behavioral psychologist, artist, and author of the Sky Stone thriller series, which includes her breakout Amazon bestseller The Profiler’s Daughter.
The sequel, Killing Ulysses, is now available as an ebook on Amazon.
Before turning to writing, she specialized in behavioral treatments for aggression and violence. She lives in the Boston area with her family and splits her time between walking her dogs, writing the next great American thriller, and painting flowers, pears, and abstracts in her art studio.
Sign up for new book release updates at www.pmsteffen.com. Check out her artist website at www.pmsteffenart.com .
The sequel, Killing Ulysses, is now available as an ebook on Amazon.
Before turning to writing, she specialized in behavioral treatments for aggression and violence. She lives in the Boston area with her family and splits her time between walking her dogs, writing the next great American thriller, and painting flowers, pears, and abstracts in her art studio.
Sign up for new book release updates at www.pmsteffen.com. Check out her artist website at www.pmsteffenart.com .
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
November 21, 2012
I'm so angry that I need a few days to calm down. Not one of the characters - oh, ok, maybe Molly -- is not supremely irritating. And the main character is so flipping stupid that she's intolerable - and she's supposed to have a science Ph.D. and be super intelligent. More later. Ugh!
July 4, 2014
Main character is intolerably stupid, for all that she is touted as absurdly intelligent. Don't bother with this one. It was nails-on-chalkboard irritating. And how is it that EVERY female character, alive or dead, is/was pregnant, including the dog??
July 15, 2013
Well, I wasn't sure whether to give this one 3 or 4 stars. It did make the time I had to sit around do nothing due to a rib injury not suck. But really, I just wasn't sure exactly how much I liked it.
I liked Sky, hated Jake, really like Butch (and briefly Nadine - Texas girl wielding a shotgun, yes), thought Raj was the bomb. As for the other police guys, I a mad at them for chalking Sky up to having problems and not trusting her. Really? She's the best profiler. The same could have been said for Jake. Sorry, he was such a you-know-what.
Anyway, it could have been the haze of the pain killers. Or it could have been the book. Whatever the reason for my confusion on exactly how much I enjoyed it, I do remember finishing it and thinking, 'ummm, so where's the next one." That's gotta count for something. So 4 stars.
I liked Sky, hated Jake, really like Butch (and briefly Nadine - Texas girl wielding a shotgun, yes), thought Raj was the bomb. As for the other police guys, I a mad at them for chalking Sky up to having problems and not trusting her. Really? She's the best profiler. The same could have been said for Jake. Sorry, he was such a you-know-what.
Anyway, it could have been the haze of the pain killers. Or it could have been the book. Whatever the reason for my confusion on exactly how much I enjoyed it, I do remember finishing it and thinking, 'ummm, so where's the next one." That's gotta count for something. So 4 stars.
December 5, 2012
I love a good mystery and The Profiler's Daughter didn't disappoint in that regard, but the good stuff took a long time coming. The first half of the book was slow and bogged down with irrelevant details. I was close to giving up a few times and skipped a number of scenes altogether. The second half made up for the first with quick pacing and goal-driven action. I felt like there were a few loose ends left dangling, but I don't read series often so maybe they'll be tied up later.
I liked the protagonist and admired both her tenacity and her sense of self. She trusted her instincts and followed the case to its successful conclusion even when her male counterparts made it difficult for her. Overall, I'd only recommend this to women, and only to women who don't mind their murder mysteries muddled with fashion and trips to the salon.
I liked the protagonist and admired both her tenacity and her sense of self. She trusted her instincts and followed the case to its successful conclusion even when her male counterparts made it difficult for her. Overall, I'd only recommend this to women, and only to women who don't mind their murder mysteries muddled with fashion and trips to the salon.
July 2, 2014
Just didn't work for me, although I listened to the entire audible edition. The detective portion worked but juxtaposed with this inane female angst thing over her relationship. Why do authors make the mistake of having a brilliant intelligent protagonist and turn them into idiots with their guys? It infuriates me.
Then there were logic problems on why she did things the way she did, why she put herself over and over into harms way like an old melodrama tied to the tracks character. She routinely withholds key evidence that would prove the very points she angsts that others won't believe her.
No, I won't add her to my reading list for the future.
It was sad. It was so VERY CLOSE TO BEING GREAT if she'd tweaked those spots. She needed some hard-as-nail betas on this one, and she didn't get them.
Then there were logic problems on why she did things the way she did, why she put herself over and over into harms way like an old melodrama tied to the tracks character. She routinely withholds key evidence that would prove the very points she angsts that others won't believe her.
No, I won't add her to my reading list for the future.
It was sad. It was so VERY CLOSE TO BEING GREAT if she'd tweaked those spots. She needed some hard-as-nail betas on this one, and she didn't get them.
May 13, 2013
Good story. I liked Sky. I could have done with much less dog!!
June 10, 2020
Gets 2 stars because the writing was not bad. But Sky, the character?, made me want to scream. Supposedly so brilliant, but can't make an intelligent decision. Not to mention unprofessional & a doormat. Holy moly. And, please stop with the brand name jeans.
June 28, 2013
Well told who dunnit with a well developed main character. Sky Winthrop Stone is a well educated, true blue, Boston Blue Blood. Her father, Monk, was one of the most renowned profiler's in the nation. Sky is small in stature but full of surprises. She is forced to deal with her keenly developed investigative skills while overcoming great loss. Through it all she remains true to her process and herself even though others don't. The relationships between Sky and all of the other characters is well thought out and detailed to give this book many intricacies and facets, which Sky's life has. She is also, unbeknownst to her initially, having to deal with some of her father's enemies.
Thoroughly entertaining. The strong female main character, while dealing with many heartbreakingly sad instances doesn't break. She navigates through what is thrown at her and is able to focus her mind amidst the chaos. I hope there is another installment of Sky Winthrop Stone soon.
Thoroughly entertaining. The strong female main character, while dealing with many heartbreakingly sad instances doesn't break. She navigates through what is thrown at her and is able to focus her mind amidst the chaos. I hope there is another installment of Sky Winthrop Stone soon.
January 21, 2015
Great story
I read a lot, and after a while, many books tend to run together, because they are so similar. This one is one I'll remember, though, because the characters are well developed and interesting, as is the suspense. Hope to be able to read the next book soon, because I need to know what happens next, darn it.
I read a lot, and after a while, many books tend to run together, because they are so similar. This one is one I'll remember, though, because the characters are well developed and interesting, as is the suspense. Hope to be able to read the next book soon, because I need to know what happens next, darn it.
November 25, 2012
I enjoyed reading this book. It had good characters and a good plot line. A few things were left hanging at the end, but these will hopefully be addressed in the sequel. All in all this would be a book that I would recommend to friends and I am looking forward to the next book in the series
June 24, 2013
Overall I suppose it was a good book but I felt like there was a lot that didn't need to be included. Personally I was happy to get to the end since it dragged in places but the end still wasn't the best it could be. There are other mysteries I have enjoyed more.
June 29, 2013
I found this first novel to be well done. I liked reading about an intelligent woman who is totally unable to cope with her reality and who still manages to perform her professional duties in an exemplary manner. The ending is perfect for the situation and leaves the reader wanting to know more.
June 30, 2013
I really, really liked this book ... so much so that I found myself upset that the next book in the series has yet to be published. I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel, as well as future Sky Stone stories.
March 20, 2014
Very enjoyable!
I would recommend this book for anyone seeking a fast-paced mystery with a strong female protagonist, but also a bit of glamour combined with intelligence. Great read!
I would recommend this book for anyone seeking a fast-paced mystery with a strong female protagonist, but also a bit of glamour combined with intelligence. Great read!
November 30, 2012
Loved it! The characters were great and loved the mystery/intrigue. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it had SO much going on. Would definitely read more in this series.
December 5, 2012
This book was an easy read. I was able to figure out the villain but there were a lot of twist and turns leading up to solving the case.
December 15, 2012
I really enjoyed this book; I liked the main character especially and the subject matter is very current reality.
December 22, 2012
Loved the characters and was ready to jump into the next book in the series. Unfortunately, it isn't written yet.
December 25, 2012
Really enjoyed the character Sky Stone and looking forward to the next book in the series!!
January 2, 2013
Very well-written and well-paced. I look forward to more books in the series.
May 12, 2013
Sky Stone is a great character. Great storyline. Loved the way the book ended. I am excited to read the next book.
June 18, 2013
Interesting story line. The writer kept me wanting more. The characters were funny and interesting as well.
June 26, 2013
Loved it! Eagerly anticipating the next instalment :)
June 29, 2013
Very good story. Looking forward to another book in the Sky Stone series.
June 30, 2013
I need more of these books....
July 1, 2013
The plot twists kept me glued. I really enjoyed Sky Stone's character. I can't wait to read more in this series.
July 10, 2013
great book....I was really impressed with the technical investigations....Recommended!!
July 15, 2013
A good read. I liked the characters and hope there is another book following the story.
July 21, 2013
A great whodunit, with lots of twists and turns!!! A little slow in places, but thoroughly enjoyed!!!! From an independent author. Can't wait for the next installment in the series
July 23, 2013
Not a great mystery/thriller, but I enjoyed it because it's set in Newton, MA. Even more particularly in the Lake section of town, with lots of local detail.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews