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Body of Evidence #2
Thief of Hearts: A Jenna Blake Body of Evidence Thriller
"Why would anyone want to tear out someone's heart..."
That's the very real question facing college freshman Jenna Blake, and it has nothing to do with romance and heartbreak. A second grisly murder-mystery is unfolding at Somerset University, and her job as a pathology assistant at the local hospital brings Jenna too close to the haunting crimes.
Everyone has a theory on the nature of the killings, including Jenna's older half-brother, Pierce Logan, who's new in town and has some odd ideas about why someone would want to steal a human heart.
Meanwhile, Jenna is working on her own heart, and starting to realize she's not as "guy-blind" as she thought, when she meets a fascinating older man.
But there's little time for dating when the Thief of Hearts declares Somerset the perfect hunting ground -- and someone very close to Jenna is the prey.
That's the very real question facing college freshman Jenna Blake, and it has nothing to do with romance and heartbreak. A second grisly murder-mystery is unfolding at Somerset University, and her job as a pathology assistant at the local hospital brings Jenna too close to the haunting crimes.
Everyone has a theory on the nature of the killings, including Jenna's older half-brother, Pierce Logan, who's new in town and has some odd ideas about why someone would want to steal a human heart.
Meanwhile, Jenna is working on her own heart, and starting to realize she's not as "guy-blind" as she thought, when she meets a fascinating older man.
But there's little time for dating when the Thief of Hearts declares Somerset the perfect hunting ground -- and someone very close to Jenna is the prey.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 1999
8 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Golden
800 books2,982 followersCHRISTOPHER GOLDEN is the New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of such novels as Road of Bones, Ararat, Snowblind, Of Saints and Shadows, and Red Hands. With Mike Mignola, he is the co-creator of the Outerverse comic book universe, including such series as Baltimore, Joe Golem: Occult Detective, and Lady Baltimore. As an editor, he has worked on the short story anthologies Seize the Night, Dark Cities, and The New Dead, among others, and he has also written and co-written comic books, video games, screenplays, and a network television pilot. Golden co-hosts the podcast Defenders Dialogue with horror author Brian Keene. In 2015 he founded the popular Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival. He was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. His work has been nominated for the British Fantasy Award, the Eisner Award, and multiple Shirley Jackson Awards. For the Bram Stoker Awards, Golden has been nominated ten times in eight different categories. His original novels have been published in more than fifteen languages in countries around the world. Please visit him at www.christophergolden.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 18, 2017
I just really like this series it takes me back to when I was younger. Which you know does nothing for a review.
October 23, 2017
Second in a series, but the first for me. Held my interest throughout. Good characters. Some good twists and turns. Would read more in the series.
September 28, 2019
Four stars for the entertainment factor. One star for the 30 year old detective being attracted to an 18 year old girl. It’s just creepy.
Read
February 3, 2021I remember liking the covers of these, the kind of CSI vibe.
June 22, 2025
Another nostalgia read. This book isn’t about to win any awards, but it’s a good CSI type book for a younger audience.
November 11, 2012
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
After Jenna Blake's very eventful first week at Somerset University in Masachusetts (BODY BAGS) which included politically motivated killings and attempts on her life, it would be hard to believe that college could get even more complicated. But in THIEF OF HEARTS, it does just that, and in true style!
Jenna's been at college for a month now, getting into the rythm of classes, friendship (with her roommate Yoshiko, best friend Melody, and Melody's brother Hunter), and a renewed relationship with her father, Professor Logan, who teaches at the school. Now, her half-brother, Pierce, has shown up to spend his thirty-day leave from the Marine Corps with their father, and Jenna is thrilled. She hasn't seen her much older brother in years, and she's looking forward to renewing their relationship.
There's a problem though--more murders start happening on and around campus, just about the time Pierce shows up in Somerset. And Jenna's doubly dismayed when she assists in the first autopsy as part of her job with the Medical Examiner's office, and realizes that these murders are particularly grisly. Whoever is killing men and women around Somerset isn't just murdering them, but taking their hearts.
As the suspense builds--Pierce becomes a suspect of local detectives Audrey Gaines and Danny Mariano; Jenna and her friends just might be in danger--the book picks up speed. I read THIEF OF HEARTS in one sitting, much the same way I did with the first book in the series, BODY BAGS.
This is a great series for readers of all ages who are interested in forensic work. Highly recommended, and I can't wait to get started on the next book in the series.
****SPOILER***** ******SPOILER****** *****SPOILER******
Christopher Golden threw me for a loop with this story, with the death of a major character. It definitely added to the sense of urgency in finding the killer, but I admit I was shocked! Just don't be surprised if you find yourself caught up in the shock, sadness, and sense of desperation that this story brings!
After Jenna Blake's very eventful first week at Somerset University in Masachusetts (BODY BAGS) which included politically motivated killings and attempts on her life, it would be hard to believe that college could get even more complicated. But in THIEF OF HEARTS, it does just that, and in true style!
Jenna's been at college for a month now, getting into the rythm of classes, friendship (with her roommate Yoshiko, best friend Melody, and Melody's brother Hunter), and a renewed relationship with her father, Professor Logan, who teaches at the school. Now, her half-brother, Pierce, has shown up to spend his thirty-day leave from the Marine Corps with their father, and Jenna is thrilled. She hasn't seen her much older brother in years, and she's looking forward to renewing their relationship.
There's a problem though--more murders start happening on and around campus, just about the time Pierce shows up in Somerset. And Jenna's doubly dismayed when she assists in the first autopsy as part of her job with the Medical Examiner's office, and realizes that these murders are particularly grisly. Whoever is killing men and women around Somerset isn't just murdering them, but taking their hearts.
As the suspense builds--Pierce becomes a suspect of local detectives Audrey Gaines and Danny Mariano; Jenna and her friends just might be in danger--the book picks up speed. I read THIEF OF HEARTS in one sitting, much the same way I did with the first book in the series, BODY BAGS.
This is a great series for readers of all ages who are interested in forensic work. Highly recommended, and I can't wait to get started on the next book in the series.
****SPOILER***** ******SPOILER****** *****SPOILER******
Christopher Golden threw me for a loop with this story, with the death of a major character. It definitely added to the sense of urgency in finding the killer, but I admit I was shocked! Just don't be surprised if you find yourself caught up in the shock, sadness, and sense of desperation that this story brings!
July 4, 2012
This book was in many ways an improvement over the first in the series, the mystery and the killer was a lot more put together and thought out. I was impressed.
I could do without the weird not exactly a love interest side of it between the 18-year-old college student and the 31-year-old detective. It got a little repetitive and boring.
I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about the biggest plot twist of the book. It definitely was well done and didn't feel gratuitous but at the same time I wasn't entirely sure if it was necessary. Perhaps I'll decide after I read more of the series and see how it effects the characters in later books.
Now if only my library had the later books.
I could do without the weird not exactly a love interest side of it between the 18-year-old college student and the 31-year-old detective. It got a little repetitive and boring.
I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about the biggest plot twist of the book. It definitely was well done and didn't feel gratuitous but at the same time I wasn't entirely sure if it was necessary. Perhaps I'll decide after I read more of the series and see how it effects the characters in later books.
Now if only my library had the later books.
May 18, 2014
Fast read, not as good as the last one, but for a series ok.
Some books feel too long or have too much unnecessary romance scenes, this is here luckily not the case, the romance is ok.
And it is 3.5 stars, but as that is not possible and up until the second victim it is ok, but after that gets slow and takes too long.
Liked the killings and cannot share the sentiment of other reviews about the killer coming from left field or whatever.
Recommended if you liked the first book and want more of the same, also for continuity in the series - I will certainly read the next one, but am not sure when (see shelf backlog) and wether I will still recommend the books then.
Some books feel too long or have too much unnecessary romance scenes, this is here luckily not the case, the romance is ok.
And it is 3.5 stars, but as that is not possible and up until the second victim it is ok, but after that gets slow and takes too long.
Liked the killings and cannot share the sentiment of other reviews about the killer coming from left field or whatever.
Recommended if you liked the first book and want more of the same, also for continuity in the series - I will certainly read the next one, but am not sure when (see shelf backlog) and wether I will still recommend the books then.
July 1, 2011
High 4. It's really too bad that I had to be right about what I said while reading the first book, but yay I was right!
I liked it I really did but it wasn't much different from the first. Jenna's only been in college two months and they've already tried to kill her twice?
Great mystery and good story but kind of repetitive.
I liked it I really did but it wasn't much different from the first. Jenna's only been in college two months and they've already tried to kill her twice?
Great mystery and good story but kind of repetitive.
July 11, 2019
Another gruesome MO and twisted motive - it makes for an interesting case for Jenna. And when it hits too close to home, it tests Jenna's resolve to make this sort of thing her career. It puts pressure on her relationships, but her puzzle-loving mind can't help working out the intricacies of the case.
It's a good read, the writing a little simply at times, but good, especially for young readers (very clean). Though it is old fashioned - they still use dial up!
It's a good read, the writing a little simply at times, but good, especially for young readers (very clean). Though it is old fashioned - they still use dial up!
February 17, 2011
Another in this TV like book series. Characters aren't to deep and the plot is a little thin, but they are fun and perfectly meet the need I am trying to fill. That is, they are my small paperback mystery need - fits into my pocket.
That said the murder victim is a little shocking gien the style of the book.
That said the murder victim is a little shocking gien the style of the book.
April 12, 2010
The second in the Body of Evidence series is just as good as the first. Someone is stealing hearts, no really stealing hearts. Jenna's brother who is new in town becomes a suspect. This series is fun for older teens and even adults.
May 8, 2008
Liked the first one so much, went straight for the second one. Read it with a friend during the cheerleading championships in Chattanooga, TN.
April 27, 2010
This is a young adults series but I am enjoying it.
Read
March 26, 2010F GOL boe bk. 2
Forensics
Forensics
June 21, 2013
This is a great book, I recommend this to everyone I know
January 31, 2014
It was predictable, but decent.
February 24, 2014
Killer on campus. Delightfully grisly at times.
May 9, 2014
I liked the book although I didn't like who they killed off.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews