Dear Departed

The Serial Killer Chronicles #2

by Enes Smith

If You Love Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Robert Crais - it's time to meet Detective Natalie Collins. Smart, though, scary good. From #1 bestselling author Enes Smith. Decorated homicide Sergeant Natalie Collins arrived home only seconds after her sister was murdered. The killer was still at the house . . . a man who believed that with each kill he was closer to living forever. He was hunting survivors of certain death - searching for their secrets. He escaped, and the evidence in Natalie's house pointed to her. Now she is on the run, hunted by the police and the killer with unfinished business. A serial killer thriller in the best traditions of mystery, crime, and suspense novels. Originally published by The Berkley Publishing Group, this is a special Kindle edition. Crime writer Ann Rule said, "Smith is a cop who's been there, and a writer on his way straight up . . . chillingly authentic." WHO WILL LIKE Fans of John Sanford, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, and anyone who likes riveting suspense.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Ebooks, Suspense, Crime, Amazon

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 1994

Reviews

[Judi Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd in the series and really enjoyed it. Natalie Collins is a homicide Detective and returning home one night, she finds the smell of gunsmoke and blood in her apartment, she rushes to her sister's room and finds her dead. The killer is still in the house and as Natalie is trying to find him, another man is in the room struggling with the killer. The killer gets away and Natalie is left with the dead body of her sister and wondering what was going on.

When the man that was in the apartment contacts her, she finds out he is on the run and looking for the "killer" himself. He has been looking for this man for two years and he knows who he is.

In the meantime, the evidence that police gather into the investigation of the murder of Natalie's sister, points to Natalie and they are getting ready to arrest her. But, know she is on the run with the man that saved her life, but could he really be the killer?

I really enjoyed the book, it kept you turning the pages. Will continue to read the next one in this series.

[Antigone Walsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

The serial killer was creepy and original. Unfortunately, the writing was awful. Natalie, our intrepid heroine, and her companion on the run Dan are not believable or especially likeable. I detested the way the chapters ended with coming attractions, i.e., they didn't realize how much they would really need that gun, etc. Natalie was not credible as a cop or anyone with half a brain. The love on the run subplot was silly and implausible. The badly dressed greedy defense attorney was a bad joke. Too bad because there was a good idea for a plot.

[a u d r e y ♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea behind Dear Departed was interesting, but poorly executed. While it could have been written better, what bothered me more then anything was ending every chapter with phrases like "if they only knew what would happen next they never would have done X". Throughout the entire book, it drove me insane and it made reading this that much more difficult. Normally something like this I can read in a handful of days and the structure of this alone dragged this out.

[Beth Knowles · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a struggle to finish. The story line was good but the execution was not. There are a lot of inconsistencies and impossible scenarios, on top of annoying and repetitive words/sayings. It all just got to be too much.

[Sandra Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Departed

Heart stopping action, infuriating seemingly inept police work, unexpected love found and almost lost, everything a book needs to be complete. Can't wait to read another of Enes Smith's books!

[Gary Mcdowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing

Fast paced from the beginning with interesting and believable characters; all of them likable except for one. The very end of the book is surprising but no spoilers here. One of those books that is hard to put down.

[David Highton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as his first book, with Sergeant Nicola Collins of Portland PD finding her sister murdered but being accused of the crime goes on the run with the man who saved her life in the struggle. The serial killer lacks credibility in this tale and I did not find the ending very satisfactory.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good book in the Serial Killer Chronicles series. I would've rated it higher, but there were a couple of things keeping me back. The first is bad police investigating of the original crime. The second is the repeating of the detective's and the serial killers mantras.

[Barb VanderWel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA

[Sandra Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced, great characters, great story, and held my attention from start to finish. I really did enjoy this one. I would recommend it.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced, unique storyline. Enjoyed

[James Elliot Leighton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a clumsy attempt at a novel. There is too much expository prose, too little character development and the plot premise is so far-fetched and weak as to be laughable. A first year Law Student could have the supposed Internal Affairs case against the protagonist dismissed without having to pause the play in his favourite FPS game. I learned more about what was in the characters' wardrobes than what was in their minds and hearts. Character development requires more than describing where they live or what they are wearing. The writer seems not to have heard of the well known axiom, "show, don't tell" as he does a LOT of telling. The POV and voice changes - there are many "Meanwhile, back at the ranch" omniscient interjections that were unnecessary to the story and made the writing appear archaic and gauche. The sort of thing you find in childrens' storybooks. The constant authors asides coupled with the stilted, implausible dialogue, eventually irritated me so much that I stopped reading it.

The novel might be improved by introducing the writer to a competent editor, or failing that, gave him a copy of Steven King's "On Writing". It is very flawed.

[Gloria Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the second in a series about serial killers by the same author. Like the other one I read, I enjoyed it as a fast-moving, page-turner. Yes, there were things about it that didn't seem feasible, but by and large it was fun to read. This serial killer for some reason believes he will live for at least 400 years, but thinks it could be longer if he can eliminate the problem of accidental death, which would obviously cut his time short. So, he decides to research survivors of horrific events to see if they can give him insight...before he kills them. He also leaves clues behind that will incriminate someone else. Two of those people are the main characters, who know they must find and eliminate this killer before he kills again...or kills them.

[Will Decker · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for an edge of your seat thrill ride, this book comes close. If you're looking for a little romance without any graphic sex, this book comes close. If you're looking for a good read with likeable characters, a female heroine backed up by a strong male counterpart and an innocent child thrown in to tug at your heart strings, then read this book. The villain is evil incarnate, but the author doesn't dwell on that aspect or make it the entire story. It's well written and fast paced with a plot that keeps it interesting.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another suspenseful success!

Ohmygosh Enes Smith has a very descriptive vocabulary when writing his novels. I was on the edge of my seat nearly the entire book. The final scene that ends the case again had me holding my breath. Wow tears in my eyes worried for the good guys playing that evil doesn't win. Last page I can catch my breath. Most likely for just a short time as I am looking for another book of Enes Smith. If you like to be terrified if only for a short time in the safety of your own home read all his books. They have a Stephen King intensity they are that good.

[Mary Quire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Dear Departed

I read Dear Departed as a suggestion from Amazon. As crime novels go, the plot was very catching. Smith did a great job with his serial killer, his story, his motives, all of it. In fact, I believe the killer completely out shadowed the main characters of the story, leaving them more like empty pawns to be move around within the plot. I do think, overall, the book is chilling and fast placed enough to make an awesome movie. I can just see the attorney, David Attinger played by someone like Jack Black. It would be awesome.

[David Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took a long while to grab me but the last 100 pages were riveting. The heroine is a detective sergeant who finds her sister has been killed and the killer is still there. Unfortunately the killer escapes and the evidence points to the detective sergeant. The rest of the book is about escape and the pursuit to apprehend the real killer. Sadly, the detective's sister is not his first, or last victim. I found that the author over egged the pie a bit with his build up and this detracted a bit for me. Nonetheless, this is not a bad read.

[Black Butterfly · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEAR DEPARTED 4* 5/23/15
I WOULD HAVE ENJOYED IT MORE BUT IT HAD ENTIRELY TOO MUCH DETAIL ABOUT STUFF I REALLY DIDN’T WANT TO KNOW. THIS CAUSED THE STORY LINE TO DRAG AND GET BORING FOR ME IN SPOTS. THE ENDING WAS LIKE WATCHING A GOOD ACTION MOVIE SO MUCH WAS GOING ON I LOVED IT. THIS REALLY HAD IT GOING ON; KILLER, ROMANCE, THRILLS, SUSPENSE, COURT ROOM DRAMA AND CAR CASES. WHEW! I’M ALMOST AFRAID TO READ THE OTHER TWO IN THIS SERIES DON’T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE IT. ;D

[Jeanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book. I don't know if it was the copy I received but the print was too big & what is it with the phrase, "if only they knew"? Almost every other chapter had a version of it. Well, if we knew what the future would bring, we might all crawl in a hole or run away to Disney or a desert island. But then we wouldn't be living, we would just be existing. I am sorry to the author, if they see this. I am sorry but it was giving me a head ache

[Cynthia Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding

This book is very hard to put down. It kept me spellbound the entire time. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good thriller and mystery.

[Liv Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Thriller

I enjoyed this story, found it hard to put down at times. It received four stars because I feel the author could have and should have revealed more facts about the killer before the end. What really drove him to such madness? What was he doing with the turtle shells and alligators?

[April Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but it wasn't as good as the first book,so I'll have to give it three stars. I would have given it a higher mark if it had explored the psychosis of the killer a little more. Of all of the characters, I think he was the least three dimensional. Despite my small gripe, I did enjoy the story and would recommend it.

[Donna L. Zinser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalie Collins is a determined detective

Trying to clear her name and capture the man who killed her sister, Natalie joins forces with Dan who is also after the killer. A wild ride across the US from Portland to Florida and back, this story keeps you on your toes, right until the very end.

[R.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy reading this as much as I thought I would based on the first four chapters. The author used omniscient POV more than I like and there are way too many italics. The story line is interesting so I gave it stars for that.

[Petra Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Departed

This was a very good book after reading the first one I had to read this one. Now I will have to get the third book it just keeps getting more interesting I loved reading it

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book started out interesting but as I got to the half way mark, the less interested I became. the story just wasn't realistic and I had trouble with the characters motives & attitude. after weeks of trying to pick up where I left off, I finally called it quits. not bad, not good, just boring.

[Laura Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story

Likeable characters, great bad guy, just the right amount of suspense and action, no over the top drawn out plot building. This writer takes you by the hand from the beginning and it's off to the races! Couldn't put it down!

[Marcia Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid reader of thrillers this book was a winner. A homicide detective arrives home shortly after her sister is murdered. There are 2 men in her apartment-one the killer and one who is after the killer. It makes for a fast read and kept me engaged.

[Diane Bleyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another psychological thriller

This is the 4th. book I've read by this author. They are all filled with frightening incidents within interesting storylines.