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Kovac and Liska #3.5
The 1st Victim
It's never an easy task matching a dead body to the scores of missing persons reports. Especially when no one seems to be looking for the victim. New Years Day is a time for new beginnings, but Minneapolis homicide detectives Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska are focused on specifically, the tragic end of their latest murder victim, an unidentified young woman. Kovac and Liska are determined to do the girl the small justice of returning her body to her family as they investigate her case, but it is no simple task matching the broken corpse to any of the scores of missing persons reports, especially when no one seems to be looking for her. Meanwhile, recent widow Jeannie Reiser is frantic when she is unable to get in touch with her daughter. And her desperate attempts to get the police to believe her child is in trouble lead her closer and closer to the New Year's Doe, and to an evil even Kovac and Liska may be unable to stop. The story continues in Tami Hoag's THE 9TH GIRL.
62 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2013
422 people are currently reading
2380 people want to read
About the author
Tami Hoag
106 books6,183 followersTami Hoag is the #1 internationally bestselling author of more than thirty books published in more than thirty languages worldwide, including her latest thrillers—BITTER SEASON, COLD COLD HEART and THE 9TH GIRL. Renowned for combining thrilling plots with character-driven suspense, Hoag first hit the New York Times Bestseller list with NIGHT SINS, and each of her books since has been a bestseller.
She leads a double life in Palm Beach County, Florida where she is also known as a top competitive equestrian in the Olympic discipline of dressage. Other interests include the study of psychology, and mixed martial arts fighting.
Visit her at www.tamihoag.com, Facebook.com/TamiHoag and on Twitter @TamiHoag
She leads a double life in Palm Beach County, Florida where she is also known as a top competitive equestrian in the Olympic discipline of dressage. Other interests include the study of psychology, and mixed martial arts fighting.
Visit her at www.tamihoag.com, Facebook.com/TamiHoag and on Twitter @TamiHoag
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
August 10, 2024
Prequel novella/short story to Hoag's The 9th Girl.
As the title suggests, it's about the first victim in a series of serial killings. It's more about the emotional trauma and logistical nightmare of the mother who tries to get anyone to take her daughter's absence seriously since she an adult and a college student.
No happy ending here.
As the title suggests, it's about the first victim in a series of serial killings. It's more about the emotional trauma and logistical nightmare of the mother who tries to get anyone to take her daughter's absence seriously since she an adult and a college student.
No happy ending here.
June 3, 2020
A short read but good. It seems to be a lead in to the next book. I have enjoyed all books in this series so far. Really like Kovac and Liska. Will definitely continue!
January 11, 2025
3 stars - Mystery/Thriller Novella
This is a prequel story to The 9th Girl, and it does a good job setting the stage for that book. What Rose's mother, Jeannie, had to go through to get the police to take action in her daughter's missing person case, and then finding out what happened to her daughter is absolutely heartbreaking and every parent's worst nightmare.
I just couldn't believe that Kovac and Liska weren't more suspicious of the
This is a prequel story to The 9th Girl, and it does a good job setting the stage for that book. What Rose's mother, Jeannie, had to go through to get the police to take action in her daughter's missing person case, and then finding out what happened to her daughter is absolutely heartbreaking and every parent's worst nightmare.
I just couldn't believe that Kovac and Liska weren't more suspicious of the
April 4, 2019
This was not worth the $1.99 Amazon charged me.
The 1st Victim is essentially a short prelude to The 9th Girl. Given that they're so related, I thought I should read this one quick, since I'm two discs in on the audio book. I shouldn't have bothered. All we really learn is the first victim's name, and that her mom loved her a lot.
What really bugs me is that most of the character descriptions are nearly word for word the same what Hoag uses in The 9th Girl. It makes the short feel even cheaper.
The 1st Victim is essentially a short prelude to The 9th Girl. Given that they're so related, I thought I should read this one quick, since I'm two discs in on the audio book. I shouldn't have bothered. All we really learn is the first victim's name, and that her mom loved her a lot.
What really bugs me is that most of the character descriptions are nearly word for word the same what Hoag uses in The 9th Girl. It makes the short feel even cheaper.
August 29, 2019
I don't usually rate four stars to short stories or prequels, but this one hit all the marks from the first page to the last.
June 11, 2014
It’s New Year’s Day and Jeannie Reiser hasn’t heard from her teenage daughter, Rose, in several days. After the death of Jeannie’s husband, Rose always kept in close contact with her mother even though she has been away at college. Jeannie reports Rose as missing to the police but they aren’t taking the case seriously. Rose is 18 years old and they figure kids that age often don’t contact their parents when they are at college. Jeannie can’t make them understand the special bond she shares with Rose. So, she takes matters into her own hands and tries to find her daughter herself.
Detectives Sam Kovac and Nikki Laska are called to the scene when a young girl is found dead alongside a road. She has no identification and is labeled New Year’s Jane Doe. The detectives are determined to find out who she is and give her family some type of closure.
Jeannie’s search leads her to Kovac and Laska, but is their Jane Doe her daughter?
This is a short novella but it’s packed with intense drama. I couldn’t put this down for a second. It’s part of Hoag’s Kovac and Laska series, which I didn’t realize before I started reading. It didn’t matter that I didn’t read the previous books (this is #3.5) as the mystery itself stood alone and seems to be a kind of prequel to the next book in the series. It appears that book #4, The 9th Girl, picks up where this one left off. So, I will definitely be reading that one too and, most likely, going back and start from the beginning. I want to know more about Kovac and Laska.
This is edge-of-your-seat reading. I know I kept anticipating what was going to happen and I was totally absorbed into this story. Sometimes novellas don’t have much of an impact on the readers, but I thought this one did.
FTC Disclosure: NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Detectives Sam Kovac and Nikki Laska are called to the scene when a young girl is found dead alongside a road. She has no identification and is labeled New Year’s Jane Doe. The detectives are determined to find out who she is and give her family some type of closure.
Jeannie’s search leads her to Kovac and Laska, but is their Jane Doe her daughter?
This is a short novella but it’s packed with intense drama. I couldn’t put this down for a second. It’s part of Hoag’s Kovac and Laska series, which I didn’t realize before I started reading. It didn’t matter that I didn’t read the previous books (this is #3.5) as the mystery itself stood alone and seems to be a kind of prequel to the next book in the series. It appears that book #4, The 9th Girl, picks up where this one left off. So, I will definitely be reading that one too and, most likely, going back and start from the beginning. I want to know more about Kovac and Laska.
This is edge-of-your-seat reading. I know I kept anticipating what was going to happen and I was totally absorbed into this story. Sometimes novellas don’t have much of an impact on the readers, but I thought this one did.
FTC Disclosure: NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 9, 2015
The First Victim by Tami Hoag is a fantastic crime thriller series featuring (Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska #3.5) novella, two detectives making a witty team; full of mystery, suspense, and humor. A short audiobook, narrated by David Colacci, delivering an outstanding performance, as an intro to the upcoming Doc Holiday serial killer series.
Have read the newer books in the series, and making my way backwards to catch up with the ones I missed. If you enjoy sarcastic humor with your crimes, this dynamic duo will keep you entertained throughout this series. As usual, Tami Hoag is "tops" when it comes to crime thrillers!
Have read the newer books in the series, and making my way backwards to catch up with the ones I missed. If you enjoy sarcastic humor with your crimes, this dynamic duo will keep you entertained throughout this series. As usual, Tami Hoag is "tops" when it comes to crime thrillers!
July 22, 2017
Although I like this series and the characters, this is not a book or a novella. This felt like it should be the prologue to the next book The 9th Girl. Yes it was long for a prologue but really it was a cliffhanger introduction to the next book.
It doesn't read as a stand alone.
SPOILER ALERT: This introduces the "Doc Holiday" serial killer and the first discovered victim. The resolution to this story is just putting an ID to the Jane Doe and not solving the crime. When it ended, I was like WTF?
Thank goodness I already had the next book checked out or I would have been royally annoyed. If this had been my first book by this author, I would have written her off.
As this is a teaser for her next book, it should be free.
It doesn't read as a stand alone.
SPOILER ALERT: This introduces the "Doc Holiday" serial killer and the first discovered victim. The resolution to this story is just putting an ID to the Jane Doe and not solving the crime. When it ended, I was like WTF?
Thank goodness I already had the next book checked out or I would have been royally annoyed. If this had been my first book by this author, I would have written her off.
As this is a teaser for her next book, it should be free.
August 2, 2017
This was a short and quick story~ a novella, that is a lead up to the next book in the Kovac/Liska series, The 9th Girl. I enjoyed the story, the the murder that was being solved was far from complete.
I'm looking forward to the next book.
I'm looking forward to the next book.
January 7, 2020
Enjoyable little short thriller with a nice focus on the next of kin.
November 29, 2024
The 1st Victim by Tami Hoag is a short story in the Kovac and Liska series. Detectives Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska investigate the brutal murder of a young girl found on the side of the freeway. A sad story with all the difficulties that her mother experienced in getting anyone to help when her daughter goes missing. Interesting but rather short and an inconclusive ending.
April 18, 2019
Not really a book, more of a taster for The 9th Girl, the next book in this series. It whetted my appetite.
December 22, 2025
The 1st Victim is a gripping, fast-paced thriller with strong characters and plenty of tension. Tami Hoag does a great job balancing the investigation with personal stakes, keeping the story engaging throughout. While a few moments felt familiar, the twists and momentum made it a very solid, enjoyable read.
September 10, 2016
"The 1st Victim" by Tami Hoag is out in e-book awaiting your next need to read. The book is a short novel (61 pages) that introduces the "Doc Holiday" serial Killer case that is continued in the fill length "The Ninth Girl" mystery.
Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska are the detectives who catch the case of the first Jane Doe of the New Year. The victim has been beaten, raped and tortured before her dead body is thrown onto a lonely stretch of seldom used highway. The detectives suffer late nights agonizing over the fact that they cannot seem to identify the body of a well cared for young woman. Who is missing their daughter? The medical examiner estimates her age to be between eighteen and twenty two so why is there no missing girl inquiry looking for someone of her description?
This short mystery is a precursor to Hoag's "The Ninth Girl". Some of the previous reviewers bought this kindle offering for the low price of $1.99 mistakenly thinking it was a full length book. I can understand their ire at being left hanging with no satisfying ending for this book. That ending will come after reading "The Ninth Girl" which I will be reviewing several days from now. This spicy tidbit really whets your appetite for the full book to come, it sets up the story well and gives you the background to Doc Holiday's story.
I like the two detectives in this story, Sam and Nikki specifically because although they do an unusual job, hunting murders, they also come off as normal people with lives outside the horror they see on the job day after day. Det. Nikki Liska is divorced from a lazy pompous man who doesn't seem to like visiting their two children. She worries about raising her sons right and keeping them from harm. Sam Kovac is a well worn old time cop, he's unmarried and finds himself wishing he could do more for the victims he stands for. I can't wait to read "The Ninth Girl". My appetite has been piqued and I'm hungry for more.
Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska are the detectives who catch the case of the first Jane Doe of the New Year. The victim has been beaten, raped and tortured before her dead body is thrown onto a lonely stretch of seldom used highway. The detectives suffer late nights agonizing over the fact that they cannot seem to identify the body of a well cared for young woman. Who is missing their daughter? The medical examiner estimates her age to be between eighteen and twenty two so why is there no missing girl inquiry looking for someone of her description?
This short mystery is a precursor to Hoag's "The Ninth Girl". Some of the previous reviewers bought this kindle offering for the low price of $1.99 mistakenly thinking it was a full length book. I can understand their ire at being left hanging with no satisfying ending for this book. That ending will come after reading "The Ninth Girl" which I will be reviewing several days from now. This spicy tidbit really whets your appetite for the full book to come, it sets up the story well and gives you the background to Doc Holiday's story.
I like the two detectives in this story, Sam and Nikki specifically because although they do an unusual job, hunting murders, they also come off as normal people with lives outside the horror they see on the job day after day. Det. Nikki Liska is divorced from a lazy pompous man who doesn't seem to like visiting their two children. She worries about raising her sons right and keeping them from harm. Sam Kovac is a well worn old time cop, he's unmarried and finds himself wishing he could do more for the victims he stands for. I can't wait to read "The Ninth Girl". My appetite has been piqued and I'm hungry for more.
March 1, 2016
The last novel that I read in the Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska series was Prior Bad Acts.
Please read the preceding novels in this series in order to catch yourself up with the history of both characters.
After I finished that novel I hoped that Tami Hoag would return to Sam and Nikki's tales so I could see how things turned out with the characters. At the end of Prior Bad Acts a lot of things were left up in the air. The only thing I was disappointed with was that Sam is still quite alone.
This novel is really a prequel to Tami Hoag's [[ASIN:0525952977 The 9th Girl]] and this Kindle Single re-introduces both Sam and Nikki and have them investigating the murder of a Jane Doe on New Year's Eve.
I was happy to immerse myself back with these two and Sam and Nikki's partnership is still cracking right along. The murder is quite brutal and that part of the novel did make me feel a bit queasy. I did like that the chapters alternated between Sam and Liska and the mother. I loved hearing her story and definitely felt for her angst in trying to find her daughter.
I know some reviewers were not quite happy with this being a Kindle Single but for the price I thought I got a great deal and this was a nice way to introduce readers to "The 9th Girl."
I 100 percent recommend this novel to long time fans and those who love a great mystery/thriller novel.
Please read the preceding novels in this series in order to catch yourself up with the history of both characters.
After I finished that novel I hoped that Tami Hoag would return to Sam and Nikki's tales so I could see how things turned out with the characters. At the end of Prior Bad Acts a lot of things were left up in the air. The only thing I was disappointed with was that Sam is still quite alone.
This novel is really a prequel to Tami Hoag's [[ASIN:0525952977 The 9th Girl]] and this Kindle Single re-introduces both Sam and Nikki and have them investigating the murder of a Jane Doe on New Year's Eve.
I was happy to immerse myself back with these two and Sam and Nikki's partnership is still cracking right along. The murder is quite brutal and that part of the novel did make me feel a bit queasy. I did like that the chapters alternated between Sam and Liska and the mother. I loved hearing her story and definitely felt for her angst in trying to find her daughter.
I know some reviewers were not quite happy with this being a Kindle Single but for the price I thought I got a great deal and this was a nice way to introduce readers to "The 9th Girl."
I 100 percent recommend this novel to long time fans and those who love a great mystery/thriller novel.
June 7, 2013
The 1st Victim by Tami Hoag is published by Penguin Group. This is a short story/novella that is the prelude to The Ninth Girl scheduled for release sometime this summer.
Sam Kovac and his partner Nikki Liska get a call about a body found on the side of the road on New Years Day. Jane Doe has apparently never been reported missing.
Meanwhile a mother in another state is frantic that she hasn't heard from her daughter. While she gets the run around from the cops, Jeannie Reiser knows deep down that something has happened to her daughter.
Set in the frigid atmosphere of winter in Minneapolis, the detectives find two odd details. One is the killer seems to strike around a holiday and that he seems to be killing in more than one state.
This novella sets the stage for what appears to be a long, gut wrenching investigation. The killer is depraved and clever.
I love the novels of Tami Hoag. This one is a little bit on the dark side. I'm looking forward to the upcoming full length novel featuring Kovan and Liska.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book. Over all an A
Sam Kovac and his partner Nikki Liska get a call about a body found on the side of the road on New Years Day. Jane Doe has apparently never been reported missing.
Meanwhile a mother in another state is frantic that she hasn't heard from her daughter. While she gets the run around from the cops, Jeannie Reiser knows deep down that something has happened to her daughter.
Set in the frigid atmosphere of winter in Minneapolis, the detectives find two odd details. One is the killer seems to strike around a holiday and that he seems to be killing in more than one state.
This novella sets the stage for what appears to be a long, gut wrenching investigation. The killer is depraved and clever.
I love the novels of Tami Hoag. This one is a little bit on the dark side. I'm looking forward to the upcoming full length novel featuring Kovan and Liska.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book. Over all an A
March 19, 2015
I bought this (and NOT for $.99) with the understanding that it was a prequel to The 9th Girl. It is not a prequel - it is a tease, and nearly everything in this ridiculously short book is covered in The 9th Girl. I am reluctant to even call it a book, since it has no actual story arc - it's just a handful of introductory chapters to what is eventually a pretty good serial killer mystery. In, you know, the next book.
Although I have enjoyed all of the Tami Hoag detective stories that I have read so far, this one just made me mad. My advice? Skip it and go right to The 9th Girl, you'll save yourself some cash and not miss a thing.
Although I have enjoyed all of the Tami Hoag detective stories that I have read so far, this one just made me mad. My advice? Skip it and go right to The 9th Girl, you'll save yourself some cash and not miss a thing.
June 1, 2013
Tami Hoag gets us all set up in this short story for what promises to be a roller coaster ride in her upcoming book The 9th Victim. In The 1st Victim, veteran homicide detectives, Kovac and Liska get a busy start to the new year when a young girl is found dead on the side of the road. As the investigation gets underway a pattern seems to be forming...young women across the country killed on Halloween, Thanksgiving, and now New Year's. What began as an isolated murder now points to a potential serial killer.
I am looking forward to the release of The 9th Victim hoping that Kovac and Liska get the bad guy and that justice will be served.
I am looking forward to the release of The 9th Victim hoping that Kovac and Liska get the bad guy and that justice will be served.
September 27, 2016
I wouldn't have missed anything if I didn't read/listen to this. It didn't do anything as a prequel to the next installment. In fact, it could have been trimmed then included in Book 4 (The 9th Girl) as a Prologue rather than making me have to pay for it. 
April 30, 2015
Čo? Kde je to pokračovanie?!?!?!
November 15, 2024
Pretty fast passed story and keeps you engaged and interested throughout the book… love this series though I didn’t read them in order it was still as good since they are separate cases.
October 13, 2023
Tami Hoag is one of my favorite writers! My old review is not here anymore. This series is really good but you should start from the beginning!
October 4, 2016
eeeehmm, kde mám sakra tú Devátou dívku? -_-
ech, ten koniec...
ech, ten koniec...
February 3, 2018
This needs to be read/listened to before "the ninth girl"
THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY
Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska are the detectives who catch the case of the first Jane Doe of the New Year. The victim has been beaten, raped and tortured before her dead body is thrown onto a lonely stretch of seldom used highway. The detectives suffer late nights agonizing over the fact that they cannot seem to identify the body of a well cared for young woman. Who is missing their daughter? The medical examiner estimates her age to be between eighteen and twenty two so why is there no missing girl inquiry looking for someone of her description?
This short mystery is a precursor to Hoag's "The Ninth Girl". Some of the previous reviewers bought this kindle offering for the low price of $1.99 mistakenly thinking it was a full length book. . That ending will come after reading "The Ninth Girl" which I will be reviewing several days from now. This spicy tidbit really whets your appetite for the full book to come, it sets up the story well and gives you the background to Doc Holiday's story.
**
The 1st Victim by Tami Hoag would be #3.5 in the Kovac/Liska Detective series. It is a short story that introduces a serial killer which will be fleshed out in her next book.
That being said, this is still a good story. It is about the death of a young girl, found at the side of the road on New Year's Day, and being investigated by Kovac & Liska. She has been tortured and raped. They can't identify her, and it is driving them both nuts.
It is also the story of a mother who knows her daughter is missing, but doesn't seem to be getting any help from the police. Rose is over 18, so there is nothing they can do. It doesn't matter how much her mother complains, or tries to explain that Rose would never just disappear, her rants seem to go unheard. Eventually a police report is filed, but even then, an error is made.
Tami Hoag, even in this short story, has brought the characters to life. Kovac & Liska are shown as having seen a lot in their careers, but still care about the victims. They also have normal lives outside of work. I think the author did a great job portraying the angst and frustration of the mother in dealing with the police. And, although this story didn't end with a happy ending, it didn't leave you exactly hanging. It did, however, make you want to read the next full-length novel
**
Sam Kovac and his partner Nikki Liska get a call about a body found on the side of the road on New Years Day. Jane Doe has apparently never been reported missing.
Meanwhile a mother in another state is frantic that she hasn't heard from her daughter. While she gets the run around from the cops, Jeannie Reiser knows deep down that something has happened to her daughter.
Set in the frigid atmosphere of winter in Minneapolis, the detectives find two odd details. One is the killer seems to strike around a holiday and that he seems to be killing in more than one state.
This novella sets the stage for what appears to be a long, gut wrenching investigation. The killer is depraved and clever.
THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY
Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska are the detectives who catch the case of the first Jane Doe of the New Year. The victim has been beaten, raped and tortured before her dead body is thrown onto a lonely stretch of seldom used highway. The detectives suffer late nights agonizing over the fact that they cannot seem to identify the body of a well cared for young woman. Who is missing their daughter? The medical examiner estimates her age to be between eighteen and twenty two so why is there no missing girl inquiry looking for someone of her description?
This short mystery is a precursor to Hoag's "The Ninth Girl". Some of the previous reviewers bought this kindle offering for the low price of $1.99 mistakenly thinking it was a full length book. . That ending will come after reading "The Ninth Girl" which I will be reviewing several days from now. This spicy tidbit really whets your appetite for the full book to come, it sets up the story well and gives you the background to Doc Holiday's story.
**
The 1st Victim by Tami Hoag would be #3.5 in the Kovac/Liska Detective series. It is a short story that introduces a serial killer which will be fleshed out in her next book.
That being said, this is still a good story. It is about the death of a young girl, found at the side of the road on New Year's Day, and being investigated by Kovac & Liska. She has been tortured and raped. They can't identify her, and it is driving them both nuts.
It is also the story of a mother who knows her daughter is missing, but doesn't seem to be getting any help from the police. Rose is over 18, so there is nothing they can do. It doesn't matter how much her mother complains, or tries to explain that Rose would never just disappear, her rants seem to go unheard. Eventually a police report is filed, but even then, an error is made.
Tami Hoag, even in this short story, has brought the characters to life. Kovac & Liska are shown as having seen a lot in their careers, but still care about the victims. They also have normal lives outside of work. I think the author did a great job portraying the angst and frustration of the mother in dealing with the police. And, although this story didn't end with a happy ending, it didn't leave you exactly hanging. It did, however, make you want to read the next full-length novel
**
Sam Kovac and his partner Nikki Liska get a call about a body found on the side of the road on New Years Day. Jane Doe has apparently never been reported missing.
Meanwhile a mother in another state is frantic that she hasn't heard from her daughter. While she gets the run around from the cops, Jeannie Reiser knows deep down that something has happened to her daughter.
Set in the frigid atmosphere of winter in Minneapolis, the detectives find two odd details. One is the killer seems to strike around a holiday and that he seems to be killing in more than one state.
This novella sets the stage for what appears to be a long, gut wrenching investigation. The killer is depraved and clever.
July 20, 2021
THE 1st VICTIM [2013] By Tami Hoag
My Review Four Stars****
This short story was published in May 2013 and the events that are related occur in the time frame following the last Novak & Liska novel PRIOR BAD ACTS. It also serves as a “teaser” for Hoag’s 4TH installment of the series [THE 9TH GIRL] also released in the Summer of 2013.
Homicide detective Kovac and his pint-sized wise cracking partner Liska find themselves investigating a dead body on New Years Day. The narrative style shifts between third person POVs of the police in Minnesota and Jeannie Reiser, a terrified mother from Kansas trying to report her missing 18-year-old daughter Rose to the disinterested authorities in St. Louis, Missouri.
It is revealed that finding the brutalized corpse of a young woman dumped near a major highway thoroughfare is not a new finding to cops across the Midwest. It is no coincidence that major holidays have been accompanied by body dumps of battered and violated victims. Kovac and others have postulated that a serial killer is traveling across the Midwest targeting his victims in one state and then dispatching what’s left of his prey on the doorsteps of another state line and police jurisdiction. The invisible unsub was dubbed “Doc Holiday” by Kovac and the moniker stuck. In this short story, the author effectively etches out a mother’s fear, frustration, and frantic steps to locate her missing daughter. Proverbial red tape and the inevitable innocent wrong entry on the Missing Person report delays the inevitable.
The conclusion of this quick read renders it both surprising and satisfying to the reader. Similarly, it sharpens the enthusiasm for reading the full-length novel to follow which picks up where the “teaser” ends. This was the first short story I have read by Hoag and I picked it up solely because it bridged the “gap” between installment three of her Kovac & Liska novels and THE 9th GIRL (preview of Book 4 is included with the short story).
SATISFYING INTRODUCTION TO HOAG’S BOOK 4 OF HER KOVAC & LISKA SERIES!!!
My Review Four Stars****
This short story was published in May 2013 and the events that are related occur in the time frame following the last Novak & Liska novel PRIOR BAD ACTS. It also serves as a “teaser” for Hoag’s 4TH installment of the series [THE 9TH GIRL] also released in the Summer of 2013.
Homicide detective Kovac and his pint-sized wise cracking partner Liska find themselves investigating a dead body on New Years Day. The narrative style shifts between third person POVs of the police in Minnesota and Jeannie Reiser, a terrified mother from Kansas trying to report her missing 18-year-old daughter Rose to the disinterested authorities in St. Louis, Missouri.
It is revealed that finding the brutalized corpse of a young woman dumped near a major highway thoroughfare is not a new finding to cops across the Midwest. It is no coincidence that major holidays have been accompanied by body dumps of battered and violated victims. Kovac and others have postulated that a serial killer is traveling across the Midwest targeting his victims in one state and then dispatching what’s left of his prey on the doorsteps of another state line and police jurisdiction. The invisible unsub was dubbed “Doc Holiday” by Kovac and the moniker stuck. In this short story, the author effectively etches out a mother’s fear, frustration, and frantic steps to locate her missing daughter. Proverbial red tape and the inevitable innocent wrong entry on the Missing Person report delays the inevitable.
The conclusion of this quick read renders it both surprising and satisfying to the reader. Similarly, it sharpens the enthusiasm for reading the full-length novel to follow which picks up where the “teaser” ends. This was the first short story I have read by Hoag and I picked it up solely because it bridged the “gap” between installment three of her Kovac & Liska novels and THE 9th GIRL (preview of Book 4 is included with the short story).
SATISFYING INTRODUCTION TO HOAG’S BOOK 4 OF HER KOVAC & LISKA SERIES!!!
December 18, 2025
3.5 Stars
The 1st Victim is Book #3.5 in the Kovac and Liska series by Tami Hoag. This is the first time I have read any of this author's books before, so I really didn't know what to expect from one of her stories - but I love a great crime thriller, so I took a chance and jumped right in. Well one book led to two, and pretty soon I had binged the entire series. I am happy I stumbled on this author and her books, and I look forward to reading everything else she has done.
It is a gritty, emotionally charged series of crime thrillers that blends sharp police procedural work with deeply human storytelling. Following Minneapolis homicide detectives Sam Kovac - a gruff, world-weary investigator - and Nikki Liska - a sharp-tongued, fiercely determined partner - the series delivers a compelling mix of dark mystery, tense pacing, and character-driven drama.
One of the series’ greatest strengths is how Ms. Hoag balances the brutality of the crimes with the humanity of her detectives. Kovac’s dry humor and cynicism play perfectly against Liska’s quick wit and emotional intelligence, creating a partnership that feels authentic.
The cases they tackle are often disturbing, layered with psychological complexity, and rooted in realistic investigative detail, which makes the stakes feel high and the resolutions more satisfying.
Each book can stand on its own, but reading them in sequential order allows you to watch Kovac and Liska’s relationship evolve — both professionally and personally — against the backdrop of increasingly challenging cases.
If you enjoy crime fiction that’s both hard-edged and heartfelt, with detectives you’ll want to follow from one case to the next, then the Kovac and Liska series is a rewarding choice.
Happy Reading…
The 1st Victim is Book #3.5 in the Kovac and Liska series by Tami Hoag. This is the first time I have read any of this author's books before, so I really didn't know what to expect from one of her stories - but I love a great crime thriller, so I took a chance and jumped right in. Well one book led to two, and pretty soon I had binged the entire series. I am happy I stumbled on this author and her books, and I look forward to reading everything else she has done.
It is a gritty, emotionally charged series of crime thrillers that blends sharp police procedural work with deeply human storytelling. Following Minneapolis homicide detectives Sam Kovac - a gruff, world-weary investigator - and Nikki Liska - a sharp-tongued, fiercely determined partner - the series delivers a compelling mix of dark mystery, tense pacing, and character-driven drama.
One of the series’ greatest strengths is how Ms. Hoag balances the brutality of the crimes with the humanity of her detectives. Kovac’s dry humor and cynicism play perfectly against Liska’s quick wit and emotional intelligence, creating a partnership that feels authentic.
The cases they tackle are often disturbing, layered with psychological complexity, and rooted in realistic investigative detail, which makes the stakes feel high and the resolutions more satisfying.
Each book can stand on its own, but reading them in sequential order allows you to watch Kovac and Liska’s relationship evolve — both professionally and personally — against the backdrop of increasingly challenging cases.
If you enjoy crime fiction that’s both hard-edged and heartfelt, with detectives you’ll want to follow from one case to the next, then the Kovac and Liska series is a rewarding choice.
Happy Reading…
October 30, 2022
This is a short little intro to the next story in the series, The 9th Girl. A girl is found severely beaten and dead, with no leads to her killer. She's also a Jane Doe, so Kovac and Liska have no idea who she is. While they're wondering and checking missing persons files, the story also follows a mother who knows her daughter has gone missing, but can't get anyone to listen. She finally gets a report filed, 7 days later, but it's little help. The happy ending here is that the mother finally does get closure, over a month later. While not particularly a happy story it sets up what's to come with Doc Holiday, the criminal of the next story. It also ends on a rather chilling note as the guy who claimed to have found the first girl, also finds the second...and it's suggested that it was no accident. It's definitely a good hook into the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2025
started finished 5th november 2025 good read three stars i liked it no less no more have read maybe nineteen from hoag tami and have enjoyed all but one that was too much something, fashionable, political, one or the other. this one is a shorty 60 kindle pages kovac and liska, a missing girl and a mother trying to get the police to investigate...in one state...kovac and liska...in another state, investigating the murder of a young girl and eventually they all meet. have another hoag story open and ready to go...some writers it's safe to just read without too much foreknowledge...until they begin to get political...or fashionable...as more than one writer i've enjoyed and no longer read because of that. onward and upward.
February 7, 2019
As a fan of Kovac & Liska, I don't regret purchasing this novella - the 1st victim - which will lead us to the full novel called The 9th Girl. This short story gave a pretty good picture of how it must feel to a mother to loose a daughter. That perspective, from this author, was something new to me.
Also, this short story was the perfect invitation to re-read the 9th Girl.
I've also listened to the audio-book and I have to say, that the lisp and too-much spittle narrator David Colacci produces when he talks, is pretty irritating if you pay too much attention to it, but at the same time, he's so engaging and does a great job - I forget it after awhile.
Also, this short story was the perfect invitation to re-read the 9th Girl.
I've also listened to the audio-book and I have to say, that the lisp and too-much spittle narrator David Colacci produces when he talks, is pretty irritating if you pay too much attention to it, but at the same time, he's so engaging and does a great job - I forget it after awhile.
December 15, 2019
This is a prequel/lead-in to another book. As such is it was really good, but be prepared that it does not have a solution.
What it does have is an interesting story about how they identify a murdered Jane Doe. I recently read The Skeleton Crew, a book about the amateurs who work to identify these unknown bodies. It was a fascinating book and it was good to see the problems discussed in this work of fiction.
What it does have is an interesting story about how they identify a murdered Jane Doe. I recently read The Skeleton Crew, a book about the amateurs who work to identify these unknown bodies. It was a fascinating book and it was good to see the problems discussed in this work of fiction.
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