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Sharper than a Manolo six-inch heel, sexier than a Versace fashion show, and riskier than all seven deadly sins, COVET will set your pulse racing. Makedde Vanderwall is back - and trouble's not far behind ... Eighteen months after her ordeal at the hands of the sadistic 'Stiletto Killer', Makedde Vanderwall must confront her demons when she returns to Sydney for the trial. But just as the verdict is handed down, the unthinkable happens - the killer makes a daring escape, aided and abetted by a twisted accomplice whom no one expected. Mak is terrified. She decides to leave the country, but the press dogs her every move, hindering her safe passage and unknowingly helping the Stiletto Killer, who's busy rekindling an old fetish - her.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2004
26 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
Tara Moss
30 books1,028 followersTara Moss is an internationally bestselling author, documentary host and human rights advocate. She is the author of 15 books, published in 19 countries and 13 languages. Her latest, The Italian Secret, follows on from the internationally bestselling historical thrillers The War Widow, and The Ghosts of Paris, both set in the postwar 1940s and featuring '‘staunchly feminist, champagne-swilling, fast-driving Nazi hunter’ investigator' PI Billie Walker.
Moss is an outspoken advocate for the rights of women and children, and people with disabilities, and has also published two best-selling non-fiction books, The Fictional Woman and Speaking Out - A 21st Century Guide for Women and Girls.
She has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2007 and as of 2013 is UNICEF Australia’s National Ambassador for Child Survival, and has visited Australian hospitals, maternity wards and schools as well as Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon in her UNICEF role. In 2015 she received an Edna Ryan Award for her significant contribution to feminist debate, speaking out for women and children and inspiring others to challenge the status quo.
Her in-depth novel research has seen her tour the FBI Academy at Quantico, spend time in squad cars, morgues, prisons, the Hare Psychopathy Lab, the Supreme Court and criminology conferences, take polygraph tests, shoot weapons, conduct surveillance, pass the Firearms Training Simulator (FATSII) with the LAPD, pull 4.2 G’s doing loops over the Sydney Opera House flying with the RAAF, and acquire her CAMS race driver licence. She has hosted the true crime documentary series Tough Nuts – Australia’s Hardest Criminals on the Crime & Investigation Network, ‘Tara Moss Investigates’ on the National Geographic Channel and the author interview show Tara in Conversation on 13th Street Universal. In 2014 she was recognised for Outstanding Advocacy for her blog Manus Island: An insider’s report, which helped to break information to the public about the events surrounding the alleged murder of Reza Barati inside the Australian-run Manus Island Immigration Detention Centre.
She has earned her private investigator credentials (Cert III) from the Australian Security Academy.
Moss is a dual Australian/Canadian citizen. Visit her at TaraRaeMoss.com
Recent Awards and Accolades:
2012 Australia’s 20 Most Influential Female Voices
2013 Australia’s Most inspiring Women ‘who push boundaries, create change and motivate’
2014 Outstanding Advocacy Award for Manus Island: An insider’s report
2014 Cosmo’s The Women Who Made 2014 Better for The Fictional Woman
2014 Influential Women of 2014, alongside Malala, Laura Bates, Angelina Jolie and more
2014 The Hoopla‘s The Female Eunuch Award for The Fictional Woman
2015 Best Designed Non-Fiction Book Award, for The Fictional Woman designed by Tara Moss and Matt Stanton
2015 Part of the University of Sydney’s Leadership for Good
2015 Edna Ryan Award - ‘Grand Stirrer Award’ for making a feminist difference by speaking out for women and children, for a significant contribution to feminist debate and inciting others to challenge the status quo
2016 Champion of the West award for community service
2017 The Order of Lambrick Park
2018 International Top 50 Diversity Figures in Public Life ‘recognises the achievements of individuals who have used their position in public life, for example as a campaigner, politician or journalist to make an impact in diversity.’ Listed alongside Malala Yousufzai, Angelina Jolie, Bernie Sanders, Emma Watson, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet and more.
Moss is an outspoken advocate for the rights of women and children, and people with disabilities, and has also published two best-selling non-fiction books, The Fictional Woman and Speaking Out - A 21st Century Guide for Women and Girls.
She has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2007 and as of 2013 is UNICEF Australia’s National Ambassador for Child Survival, and has visited Australian hospitals, maternity wards and schools as well as Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon in her UNICEF role. In 2015 she received an Edna Ryan Award for her significant contribution to feminist debate, speaking out for women and children and inspiring others to challenge the status quo.
Her in-depth novel research has seen her tour the FBI Academy at Quantico, spend time in squad cars, morgues, prisons, the Hare Psychopathy Lab, the Supreme Court and criminology conferences, take polygraph tests, shoot weapons, conduct surveillance, pass the Firearms Training Simulator (FATSII) with the LAPD, pull 4.2 G’s doing loops over the Sydney Opera House flying with the RAAF, and acquire her CAMS race driver licence. She has hosted the true crime documentary series Tough Nuts – Australia’s Hardest Criminals on the Crime & Investigation Network, ‘Tara Moss Investigates’ on the National Geographic Channel and the author interview show Tara in Conversation on 13th Street Universal. In 2014 she was recognised for Outstanding Advocacy for her blog Manus Island: An insider’s report, which helped to break information to the public about the events surrounding the alleged murder of Reza Barati inside the Australian-run Manus Island Immigration Detention Centre.
She has earned her private investigator credentials (Cert III) from the Australian Security Academy.
Moss is a dual Australian/Canadian citizen. Visit her at TaraRaeMoss.com
Recent Awards and Accolades:
2012 Australia’s 20 Most Influential Female Voices
2013 Australia’s Most inspiring Women ‘who push boundaries, create change and motivate’
2014 Outstanding Advocacy Award for Manus Island: An insider’s report
2014 Cosmo’s The Women Who Made 2014 Better for The Fictional Woman
2014 Influential Women of 2014, alongside Malala, Laura Bates, Angelina Jolie and more
2014 The Hoopla‘s The Female Eunuch Award for The Fictional Woman
2015 Best Designed Non-Fiction Book Award, for The Fictional Woman designed by Tara Moss and Matt Stanton
2015 Part of the University of Sydney’s Leadership for Good
2015 Edna Ryan Award - ‘Grand Stirrer Award’ for making a feminist difference by speaking out for women and children, for a significant contribution to feminist debate and inciting others to challenge the status quo
2016 Champion of the West award for community service
2017 The Order of Lambrick Park
2018 International Top 50 Diversity Figures in Public Life ‘recognises the achievements of individuals who have used their position in public life, for example as a campaigner, politician or journalist to make an impact in diversity.’ Listed alongside Malala Yousufzai, Angelina Jolie, Bernie Sanders, Emma Watson, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
January 26, 2015
I would have given this book five stars if only the author would do something better with the Mak / Andy relationship or lack thereof. She really does not write romance well and after three books I am still totally confused as to what their problem is. However I can forgive her heaps once the action starts and the book becomes unputdownable! Plus I always enjoy books set in Australia! I have her next two books lined up on my shelf already and I am looking forward to them.
June 17, 2025
this one was probably the best one i’ve read so far in the series, but even so it’s still just average.
it was more exciting with the whole ‘escaped from prison’ plot, and it was nice to go back to the villian from book 1 and close that chapter properly (considering book 1 was left on somewhat of a cliffhanger, and then book 2 was a psychology lesson).
the characters are just so … boring? uninteresting? annoying? i have no attachment to any of them whatsoever. mak was somewhat more tolerable in this because she has her head screwed on more and doesn’t feel as naive, but even so, she just does nothing for me. even andy, in book 1 i had higher hopes for him since he was the rescuer, but nothing really pulled through. he’s becoming more bland as the series continues. and with mysteries or thrillers i never really expect to love the characters, but when im on book 3 in a series, i do expect to feel SOMETHING other than indifference or annoyance for them.
there are very questionable parts of the plot that i really tried to just ignore and look past for the sake of the story, but what do you mean we have allowed a man convicted of killing (brutally) 10 women to just roam around on a police excursion? what do you actually mean? he didn’t even need to do much manipulation for this to happen, they just allowed it😭
ed’s relationship with the ‘cop lady’ was quite interesting tbh, love seeing crazy x crazy. they kept the story worth listening to.
onto book 4
it was more exciting with the whole ‘escaped from prison’ plot, and it was nice to go back to the villian from book 1 and close that chapter properly (considering book 1 was left on somewhat of a cliffhanger, and then book 2 was a psychology lesson).
the characters are just so … boring? uninteresting? annoying? i have no attachment to any of them whatsoever. mak was somewhat more tolerable in this because she has her head screwed on more and doesn’t feel as naive, but even so, she just does nothing for me. even andy, in book 1 i had higher hopes for him since he was the rescuer, but nothing really pulled through. he’s becoming more bland as the series continues. and with mysteries or thrillers i never really expect to love the characters, but when im on book 3 in a series, i do expect to feel SOMETHING other than indifference or annoyance for them.
there are very questionable parts of the plot that i really tried to just ignore and look past for the sake of the story, but what do you mean we have allowed a man convicted of killing (brutally) 10 women to just roam around on a police excursion? what do you actually mean? he didn’t even need to do much manipulation for this to happen, they just allowed it😭
ed’s relationship with the ‘cop lady’ was quite interesting tbh, love seeing crazy x crazy. they kept the story worth listening to.
onto book 4
August 21, 2019
For some reason I like this on a lot more than the earlier books in this series. I think it was because Mak is a lot less naïve and does less stupid things in it.
March 31, 2013
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
This (Book 3) is probably the best book in the series so far, but given that I slammed book 1 and 2 that is probably not a good thing. :-)
I quite like Ms Moss's writing, so I would like to read a series of hers that does not have a pompous, irritating model as the lead character. I have heard that she is writing paranormal now and I think that is probably a better move. These books have shown that writing about the world that you know is not always the best path. Alas, Moss is no Patricia Cornwell so a change of genre is probably a good thing.
My issue with these books has always been the characters. They are all unlikeable. Mak is just a pompous and annoying character. The author is either telling you how brilliant she (by quoting her superior IQ) or by trying to show you that the rest of the world are imbeciles compared to Mak (ie opening with her answering jeopardy questions and of course getting them all right because after all she is brilliant). When we are not hearing about how brilliant she is, we are being told how beautiful she is. What can I say....I like my characters a little grey and a little flawed. Mak just irritated me. The detective boyfriend is just too silly and not worth wasting words on (as is their so called relationship).
Storyline is another issue. Don't get me started on how a confessed serial killer of 10 women is actually allowed to escape jail and then able to leave the country on a fake passport all so he can get to Hong Kong to kill Mak. Yep. Actually that part I get. I felt the need to kill her many times myself.
I was given book 4 by my neighour to read and so have read this series in order (Thank-you OCD). At long last I can read book 4 now and return the book to my neighbour and then NEVER EVER again accept books from people with-out asking for reading references :-P
This (Book 3) is probably the best book in the series so far, but given that I slammed book 1 and 2 that is probably not a good thing. :-)
I quite like Ms Moss's writing, so I would like to read a series of hers that does not have a pompous, irritating model as the lead character. I have heard that she is writing paranormal now and I think that is probably a better move. These books have shown that writing about the world that you know is not always the best path. Alas, Moss is no Patricia Cornwell so a change of genre is probably a good thing.
My issue with these books has always been the characters. They are all unlikeable. Mak is just a pompous and annoying character. The author is either telling you how brilliant she (by quoting her superior IQ) or by trying to show you that the rest of the world are imbeciles compared to Mak (ie opening with her answering jeopardy questions and of course getting them all right because after all she is brilliant). When we are not hearing about how brilliant she is, we are being told how beautiful she is. What can I say....I like my characters a little grey and a little flawed. Mak just irritated me. The detective boyfriend is just too silly and not worth wasting words on (as is their so called relationship).
Storyline is another issue. Don't get me started on how a confessed serial killer of 10 women is actually allowed to escape jail and then able to leave the country on a fake passport all so he can get to Hong Kong to kill Mak. Yep. Actually that part I get. I felt the need to kill her many times myself.
I was given book 4 by my neighour to read and so have read this series in order (Thank-you OCD). At long last I can read book 4 now and return the book to my neighbour and then NEVER EVER again accept books from people with-out asking for reading references :-P
May 25, 2010
This was a playaway recording I was testing out for my mother who is going blind. The narrator had a terrible sibilant to her voice and although I tried listening to it several times, just couldn't get past it or the fact that the narrator has a fake Australian accent. I only got as far as the main character killing her brother with poison pie.
December 1, 2013
A follow on to 'Fetish' this Australian thriller is a good read for those who enjoy stalkers and sexy heroines. Set in the world of modelling and written by an ex-model it reads as well researched.
The plot is tight and nasty, the heroine suitably scared yet feisty and for all those who enjoy scary thrillers this novel will be a good read.
Do read Fetish first though.
October 13, 2012
Clearly I am obsessed by Mak. 2012 was her year on my bookshelf.
March 26, 2020
"Covet is my first read of Tara Moss but it is the third in the series. The plot a flow on from the first two books and relates back but it can easily be read as a stand-alone book.
Makedde Vanderwall is a Canadian model, tall and blonde. In the previous books she visited Australia where the original crime took place. Tara Moss is a Canadian who emigrated to Australia in the 1990's. Prior to becoming an author she was a tall blonde model. When she ended her modeling career she took up on her interest in forensics and crime, visiting the FBI facility in Quantico and spending a lot of time with the LAPD. It is obvious that Makedde is based on herself but Tara has the knowledge to bring both forensics and modeling knowledge to the plot line.
In Covet,
Makedde returns to Sydney, Australia as the prime witness in the trial of serial killer Ed Brown - the murders that took place in previous books. Full of trepidation, Makedde is not only going to have to face Ed across the courtroom but also again come face to face with Detective Andy Flynn, the man who saved her and became her lover against all protocols.
While it is certain that Brown will face Makedde across a courtroom, the future between Andy and herself is far from written. Should she rekindle it after a six-month separation, as her heart is telling her to or is it over and best to move on? And then there was the drinking, was Andy passed that?
The trial begins and ends swiftly due to a surprising decision, Mak is elated, now she can rest and enjoy Sydney before she is due to return home. Perhaps that will provide her with enough time to find the magic with Andy again and there are all her Sydney based friends to catch up with.
History with
Andy and history with Ed once again cross paths and her stay in Sydney is not what she had hoped it to be.
As mentioned, this is the third book but there is enough in this to get me back to the start and read the first two. Tara has brought her knowledge to the plot without ramming it down our throats. A solid and fast-paced crime novel!!"
Makedde Vanderwall is a Canadian model, tall and blonde. In the previous books she visited Australia where the original crime took place. Tara Moss is a Canadian who emigrated to Australia in the 1990's. Prior to becoming an author she was a tall blonde model. When she ended her modeling career she took up on her interest in forensics and crime, visiting the FBI facility in Quantico and spending a lot of time with the LAPD. It is obvious that Makedde is based on herself but Tara has the knowledge to bring both forensics and modeling knowledge to the plot line.
In Covet,
Makedde returns to Sydney, Australia as the prime witness in the trial of serial killer Ed Brown - the murders that took place in previous books. Full of trepidation, Makedde is not only going to have to face Ed across the courtroom but also again come face to face with Detective Andy Flynn, the man who saved her and became her lover against all protocols.
While it is certain that Brown will face Makedde across a courtroom, the future between Andy and herself is far from written. Should she rekindle it after a six-month separation, as her heart is telling her to or is it over and best to move on? And then there was the drinking, was Andy passed that?
The trial begins and ends swiftly due to a surprising decision, Mak is elated, now she can rest and enjoy Sydney before she is due to return home. Perhaps that will provide her with enough time to find the magic with Andy again and there are all her Sydney based friends to catch up with.
History with
Andy and history with Ed once again cross paths and her stay in Sydney is not what she had hoped it to be.
As mentioned, this is the third book but there is enough in this to get me back to the start and read the first two. Tara has brought her knowledge to the plot without ramming it down our throats. A solid and fast-paced crime novel!!"
December 29, 2019
In an effort to try and clear off my bookshelves I picked up "Covet" - a book whose origins I am still unsure of. The things I really like about "Covet" is that it's short, engrossing, and quite silly. I was not familiar with the previous two books, but with the amount of repetition I certainly didn't feel like I was missing out on anything story-wise.
Author Tara Moss, a former international model, has imbibed the protagonist, Mak, with the duel gifts of beauty and intelligence. Mak is attacked by one of Australia's most heinous serial killers (Ed Brown) and then must testify against him to seal Ed Brown away in prison for life. The novel is trying to be dark and dangerous, but it was more fun than fright.
I would have to classify this book as a Harlequin-Thriller - that the plot and characters are almost too vaudevillian and ridiculous to take seriously. But, it surely is a page-turner.
Author Tara Moss, a former international model, has imbibed the protagonist, Mak, with the duel gifts of beauty and intelligence. Mak is attacked by one of Australia's most heinous serial killers (Ed Brown) and then must testify against him to seal Ed Brown away in prison for life. The novel is trying to be dark and dangerous, but it was more fun than fright.
I would have to classify this book as a Harlequin-Thriller - that the plot and characters are almost too vaudevillian and ridiculous to take seriously. But, it surely is a page-turner.
March 15, 2019
The writing is definitely getting more solid as the series progresses, and it's clear that Tara Moss has done a lot of research, even if times it's almost *too* obvious, when technical details seem sort of shoehorned in. Much less in the way of character development this time, which was a shame, and it still seems like she's determined for her heroine to end up with the mundane, angry, misogynist. Most interesting this time was the side character of the prison guard, who was a creepier villain than the main serial killer, and who I was hoping would play a larger role than she did in the end (the best part of her final actions happening 'off-stage' as it were). Made the ending feel a little too convenient.
July 18, 2022
I've really enjoyed this series so far! Although I found some of the things that have happened in this book in particular pretty unrealistic - including the fact that Mak apparently attracts serial killers/gets herself into these situations constantly. I will be finishing the series because I'd like to see what happens with Andy and I like Tara's writing style but I hope the next 3 novels aren't just basically repeats of the last 3 books.
June 30, 2024
I was a little disappointed in this one, mainly due to what I thought were unbelievable scenarios. Without spoiling the story, the scene in the tunnels was very fanciful as well as flying on a passport of someone else and the whole tracking down in Hong Kong. Apart from that the author does get you in with the storyline and it does make you keen to know what happens next. I can understand that some people would love this book.
March 31, 2022
I'm enjoying this series. It's got a bit of everything: mystery, police drama, suspense, travel, fashion, friendship, romance.
Back in Sydney for this book and the trial of our first serial killer, but he has an accomplice and plans to prevent the case. It all ends in Hong Kong with a big chase through a night market.
Back in Sydney for this book and the trial of our first serial killer, but he has an accomplice and plans to prevent the case. It all ends in Hong Kong with a big chase through a night market.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2024
Fun holiday read. Third in a series which I didn't realise until the end and saw the previous two books advertised - having read this I think I know what happened so won't be rushing to catch up. The cover describes Moss as Australia's No. 1 Crime Writer and I can't agree with that claim, but it has good pace and I enjoyed the Sydney setting.
December 30, 2018
The third book in the series and totally predictable - following the same formula, beautiful model gets caught up in a random situation (I would be worried if I was her), her squeeze just happens to be in the right place at the right time to save her from herself. This is the last one I will read.
February 3, 2021
This is the third book in the series. It was interesting to see what happened next. I find Tara Moss' sentence structure quite simple, making her books a quick and easy read. Worth reading if your interested in seeing what happens to Makedde.
February 15, 2018
Good story
April 9, 2018
A great weekend read, compelling and suspenseful to the end.
May 31, 2018
Easy to read. Last chapters are the page turners. Good books to read if you are unable to concentrate.
October 8, 2018
Took awhile to get into this one. After a couple of chapters though I didn't want to put it down. Look forward to reading the next installment.
April 28, 2020
Very much enjoyed this, as Taras other books. These are especially enjoyable if you know Sydney.
May 8, 2020
Another excellent Makedde story loved it.
June 2, 2020
Loved it
June 20, 2020
Well written fast read!
May 29, 2021
Really enjoying this series & characters.
July 11, 2021
I quite liked this book. It was a quick and easy read. The ending was a little disappointing but overall I liked the characters and the locations where the action was set.
August 9, 2021
Another page turner! Loved the imagery and the fast pace. Very satisfying ending. 😌
May 18, 2025
Keep my engrossed though I felt the ending was a little rushed .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews