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The Best Victim
You don’t deserve to live.
The ugly words delivered online finally hit their mark. The younger sister of web security specialist Lauren Miller took the taunts to heart—and took her own life. Devastated, introverted Lauren has nowhere else to turn but the arms of a man who shares a similar pain…and a burning need for vengeance.
FBI agent Brent Durant is determined to unmask the Troll King, a vicious Internet stalker he suspects of preying on the weak, goading his victims into suicide. Victims like Lauren’s sister. Working off the grid as a rogue agent, Brent risks it all—even his freedom—to bait the clever killer. But when he involves Lauren in his deadly game, their unexpected chemistry complicates an already tangled web. With his dark obsession all-consuming, can there be any room in Brent’s life for the passion Lauren stirs within him?
The ugly words delivered online finally hit their mark. The younger sister of web security specialist Lauren Miller took the taunts to heart—and took her own life. Devastated, introverted Lauren has nowhere else to turn but the arms of a man who shares a similar pain…and a burning need for vengeance.
FBI agent Brent Durant is determined to unmask the Troll King, a vicious Internet stalker he suspects of preying on the weak, goading his victims into suicide. Victims like Lauren’s sister. Working off the grid as a rogue agent, Brent risks it all—even his freedom—to bait the clever killer. But when he involves Lauren in his deadly game, their unexpected chemistry complicates an already tangled web. With his dark obsession all-consuming, can there be any room in Brent’s life for the passion Lauren stirs within him?
325 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 2013
207 people are currently reading
748 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Thompson
84 books171 followersColleen Thompson began writing the contemporary romantic suspense novels she loves in 2004. Since then, her work has been honored with the Texas Gold Award, nominations for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, multiple reviewers' choice honors, along with starred reviews from Romantic Times and Publisher's Weekly. A former teacher living with her family and their latest rescue dog in the Houston area, Colleen can be found on the web at www.colleen-thompson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 11, 2016
Lauren has just received the phone call that her younger sister has committed suicide.
Brent Durant shows up on her doorstep with a wild tale. He presents himself as an FBI Agent, but that's not entirely the truth. He has this fantastic tale of someone who literally talks young beautiful blond women into killing themselves.
And he wants Lauren's help. Actually he wants her hacking skills to track down this particular predator. All the blonde victims were involved in some sort of situation that sent them into a merry-go-round of depression prior to their suicides.
Lauren is a loner .... just being around people sets her nerves on edge. She's not 'socially acceptable' and trusts no one. Brent is obsessed with hunting the killer ... a killer that no one else believes exists.
The action and suspense is non-stop. Twists and turns send the reader in this direction and then that direction. Bullets fly and bodies drop.
If you're looking for an exceptional Romantic Suspense, you just can't go wrong with a Colleen Thompson story. Her heroes are tall, dark, and handsome ...some are tortured souls, like Brent. The heroines are beautiful, damaged in some way, but still stronger than they believe they are.
Brent Durant shows up on her doorstep with a wild tale. He presents himself as an FBI Agent, but that's not entirely the truth. He has this fantastic tale of someone who literally talks young beautiful blond women into killing themselves.
And he wants Lauren's help. Actually he wants her hacking skills to track down this particular predator. All the blonde victims were involved in some sort of situation that sent them into a merry-go-round of depression prior to their suicides.
Lauren is a loner .... just being around people sets her nerves on edge. She's not 'socially acceptable' and trusts no one. Brent is obsessed with hunting the killer ... a killer that no one else believes exists.
The action and suspense is non-stop. Twists and turns send the reader in this direction and then that direction. Bullets fly and bodies drop.
If you're looking for an exceptional Romantic Suspense, you just can't go wrong with a Colleen Thompson story. Her heroes are tall, dark, and handsome ...some are tortured souls, like Brent. The heroines are beautiful, damaged in some way, but still stronger than they believe they are.
July 6, 2018
Pretty standard romantic-suspense. Nothing extraordinary but nothing bad either.
August 7, 2021
disappointed & ending was terrible
When we read what the book is about I feel I don’t have to give a rundown of the synopsis, so I’ll just review it on how I felt reading ‘The Best Victim’
Let’s put it this way. I stayed up nearly 2 nights extremely intrigued by this psychology thriller..until I got so confused by the amount of characters I nearly kicked myself for staying up 2 nights!
This book came out in 2018 so considering there’s no Part 2 by now, I completely feel like “What did I just read and what & who was the so called ‘TROLL’?” I know if you haven’t read the book you’re probably asking “A troll”? Well the ‘troll’ was a voice on the phone that supposedly caused certain woman to commit suicide.
Are we supposed to guess now Ms.Thompson? I seriously don’t get the 5-Star reviews either.
We have Lauren, whose sister killed herself, then there’s Brent who was an FBI agent who’s looking for the same ‘troll’ who caused his wife to kill herself, because she was tormented by it too. Then we have a detective Cruz, and his secrets & as I’m writing this I’m going crazy!!
Then as the end is coming near, it ends with Lauren & Brent together & he’s not who you think he is, but it’s love anyway! OMG 😳
Sorry..it’s not a 2 star but it’s not a complete 3 star either! I don’t tell readers what not to read, cuz it’s their decision but I was sfo upset with the ending, my 2 nights of sleeplessness upset me more!
When we read what the book is about I feel I don’t have to give a rundown of the synopsis, so I’ll just review it on how I felt reading ‘The Best Victim’
Let’s put it this way. I stayed up nearly 2 nights extremely intrigued by this psychology thriller..until I got so confused by the amount of characters I nearly kicked myself for staying up 2 nights!
This book came out in 2018 so considering there’s no Part 2 by now, I completely feel like “What did I just read and what & who was the so called ‘TROLL’?” I know if you haven’t read the book you’re probably asking “A troll”? Well the ‘troll’ was a voice on the phone that supposedly caused certain woman to commit suicide.
Are we supposed to guess now Ms.Thompson? I seriously don’t get the 5-Star reviews either.
We have Lauren, whose sister killed herself, then there’s Brent who was an FBI agent who’s looking for the same ‘troll’ who caused his wife to kill herself, because she was tormented by it too. Then we have a detective Cruz, and his secrets & as I’m writing this I’m going crazy!!
Then as the end is coming near, it ends with Lauren & Brent together & he’s not who you think he is, but it’s love anyway! OMG 😳
Sorry..it’s not a 2 star but it’s not a complete 3 star either! I don’t tell readers what not to read, cuz it’s their decision but I was sfo upset with the ending, my 2 nights of sleeplessness upset me more!
February 24, 2023
" ... the only way to a woman’s heart is along the path of torment. I know none other as sure." - Marquis de Sade.
And yet my marriage has lasted more than three decades without torment on either side, I'd have my doubts about using the Marquis de Sade as a guide.
"The Best Victim", which features the above quote, is a pared-down psychological thriller which packs a lot in, but it also leaves a lot out as it rushes to wherever it is going.
Lauren Miller has just been informed that her sister, Rachel, has committed suicide. An FBI agent, Brent Durant, arrives at her remote home and offers to drive her to identify the body. Only he's not exactly who he claims and what he plans to do with Lauren is something else entirely.
It is billed as a serial and ends on a cliff-hanger. Unfortunately it is now almost nine years later and a continuation has never appeared so you only get the start of the story.
2 Stars.
And yet my marriage has lasted more than three decades without torment on either side, I'd have my doubts about using the Marquis de Sade as a guide.
"The Best Victim", which features the above quote, is a pared-down psychological thriller which packs a lot in, but it also leaves a lot out as it rushes to wherever it is going.
Lauren Miller has just been informed that her sister, Rachel, has committed suicide. An FBI agent, Brent Durant, arrives at her remote home and offers to drive her to identify the body. Only he's not exactly who he claims and what he plans to do with Lauren is something else entirely.
It is billed as a serial and ends on a cliff-hanger. Unfortunately it is now almost nine years later and a continuation has never appeared so you only get the start of the story.
2 Stars.
May 7, 2019
Wonderful
This story was very riveting. For once I did not figure out who was the villain until the end. If I have one complaint about this book it would be editing. Wrong or missed words are scattered throughout the pages. Heck, give me the job. Not only would I get to read great stories but I could correct errors at the same time.
This story was very riveting. For once I did not figure out who was the villain until the end. If I have one complaint about this book it would be editing. Wrong or missed words are scattered throughout the pages. Heck, give me the job. Not only would I get to read great stories but I could correct errors at the same time.
March 31, 2023
This book was not good. Way too long, and Brent and Lauren were the worst. Their relationship was unhealthy and they both need therapy before they should ever be allowed to be a couple. Also, this narrator killed me with their Spanish accent for Jimenez, it was rough.
June 24, 2018
Great
Great book, kept me on the edge of my seat. Loved the characters and the plot. This is one of my favorite authors.
Great book, kept me on the edge of my seat. Loved the characters and the plot. This is one of my favorite authors.
April 20, 2021
One of the best novels I have read for the year.
July 2, 2021
Standard. Not great but not bad either!
October 22, 2021
Good story. It is almost a real life possible story but it has its fantasy part. It would have been better without it.
Read
January 18, 2022DNF. Read to 20%.
October 11, 2021
This book was a perfect example of mediocrity. It wasn't horrible, but also did nothing particularly well. Also, kind of a horrible representation of cybercrime and trolls in general, it was clear the author did not really do her research on these types of crime.
April 30, 2014
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
From the horrifying call that informs Lauren her sister has committed suicide, Colleen Thompson takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride that never lets up.
Lauren is reeling from the news of her sister's death, not able to believe she would take her own life. Enter Brent, a former FBI agent posing as an officer on the case, who tells her he believes her sister was murdered hoping to convince her to use her hacking skills to find a predator. Then he kidnaps her. Only Ms. Thompson would start a romantic relationship with an abduction.
Ms. Thompson is a master of plot twists and throwing suspicion on pretty much every character in the book except Lauren. Lauren is a socially inept loner and Brent is so obsessed with finding a killer no one else believes exists, he's lost everything--job, friends, touch with reality. Both are so damaged, they are totally isolated until Brent convinces Lauren she can help stop a monster from killing other women.
This story is non-stop action, each page seeming to bring the reader closer to the killer and then something unexpected sends the characters careening in another direction and undermining their growing trust. No newcomer to the suspense genre, Ms. Thompson has done her research and every detail rings true. And being a romance, we know there's going to be a happily-ever-after, but I couldn't figure out how she was going to pull that off! But she did. This is an exciting, engrossing story that's a must-read for romantic suspense fans.
From the horrifying call that informs Lauren her sister has committed suicide, Colleen Thompson takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride that never lets up.
Lauren is reeling from the news of her sister's death, not able to believe she would take her own life. Enter Brent, a former FBI agent posing as an officer on the case, who tells her he believes her sister was murdered hoping to convince her to use her hacking skills to find a predator. Then he kidnaps her. Only Ms. Thompson would start a romantic relationship with an abduction.
Ms. Thompson is a master of plot twists and throwing suspicion on pretty much every character in the book except Lauren. Lauren is a socially inept loner and Brent is so obsessed with finding a killer no one else believes exists, he's lost everything--job, friends, touch with reality. Both are so damaged, they are totally isolated until Brent convinces Lauren she can help stop a monster from killing other women.
This story is non-stop action, each page seeming to bring the reader closer to the killer and then something unexpected sends the characters careening in another direction and undermining their growing trust. No newcomer to the suspense genre, Ms. Thompson has done her research and every detail rings true. And being a romance, we know there's going to be a happily-ever-after, but I couldn't figure out how she was going to pull that off! But she did. This is an exciting, engrossing story that's a must-read for romantic suspense fans.
March 2, 2014
What makes THE BEST VICTIM stand out among other romantic suspense novels (and, honestly, this is true of all of Colleen Thompson’s novels) are the characters, Brent Durant, the strong, likeable, but obsessed FBI agent and Lauren Miller, the brilliant and beautiful but introverted computer geek, and then there’s Jiminez, the multi-layered and mysterious detective. These three come together to resolve a heartbreaking series of deaths that have one thing in common … the victims are all women and each one is a blond. The first one to die was Brent’s wife. But when the story opens, Lauren’s sister has also died in a similar fashion. Law enforcement, including the coroner and Jiminez, are convinced the deaths are suicides. Durant and Miller are equally convinced the cause of death is murder, that the loss of their loved ones is in fact the work of a monster, a serial killer who’s come to be known as the Troll King, for his habit of trolling the internet and creating a virtual hell for each of his blond targets. As the plot unfolds, the nature of the conflict between Durant and Miller pivots on a calamity that is as poignant as it is terrifying and compelling. THE BEST VICTIM is an altogether riveting and suspense laden page turner! Don't miss it!
February 5, 2014
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
I am loved this book. Colleen has written another great romantic suspense story. My heart ached for both Lauren and Brent because of the losses that they havd incurred thanks to the "troll".
Lauren and Brent developed into people that I really wish that I knew. They are broken but not down and out. They are survivors that grew into their own relationship working side by side during this hunt. They are learned new things about themselves, as well as each which added to the plot as I followed their story. The twists that Colleen had written kept me waiting impatiently for each new segment. Some times it can be frustrating to have to wait; but the next segments always made it worth the wait.
It was a first rate suspense novel. The twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing right up to the end. Brent and Lauren's relationship was filled with drama; but you could see them both growing as they struggled with their developing relationship and with their continued pursuit of the "bad guy". The story was so well developed as both a romance and a mystery, that I couldn't have asked for better
I am loved this book. Colleen has written another great romantic suspense story. My heart ached for both Lauren and Brent because of the losses that they havd incurred thanks to the "troll".
Lauren and Brent developed into people that I really wish that I knew. They are broken but not down and out. They are survivors that grew into their own relationship working side by side during this hunt. They are learned new things about themselves, as well as each which added to the plot as I followed their story. The twists that Colleen had written kept me waiting impatiently for each new segment. Some times it can be frustrating to have to wait; but the next segments always made it worth the wait.
It was a first rate suspense novel. The twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing right up to the end. Brent and Lauren's relationship was filled with drama; but you could see them both growing as they struggled with their developing relationship and with their continued pursuit of the "bad guy". The story was so well developed as both a romance and a mystery, that I couldn't have asked for better
January 30, 2014
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. You are kept guessing throughout this incredible murder mystery. The relationship that develops between Lauren and Brent is well written but not rushed, as they come to terms with their losses and learn to trust one another. The storyline has suspense, murders and a growing romance that keeps you enthralled from beginning to end. Loved this book and Colleen Thompson's way with the written word.
Received copy for review
Received copy for review
January 17, 2015
Up to the minute plot material and cyber-stalking and internet monkey business through this character and the FBI man who tries to help her together. I enjoyed this read. I can see it coming up as a TV or movie project in the near future. We just got a letter in the mail today that there is an unauthorized transaction on our credit card. This book could not be more timely. My thanks to the author and Goodreads for a complimentary copy.
February 6, 2017
The Best Victim by Colleen Thompson
This book was terrific and full of excitement and anticipation and adventure. I loved the romance that developed between the two main characters. I can't wait to read another book by this author.
This book was terrific and full of excitement and anticipation and adventure. I loved the romance that developed between the two main characters. I can't wait to read another book by this author.
January 30, 2014
I was given this book to read and review. I have never read a serial... I was truly addicted to the book and wanted more.. But had to wait each week... Which def. helped my household chores and other things..
Liked the book and the characters.. There were sometimes that I felt a bit lost and had to go back to Reread, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would try a serial again.
Liked the book and the characters.. There were sometimes that I felt a bit lost and had to go back to Reread, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would try a serial again.
September 8, 2015
Couldn't bring myself to care enough about the characters to finish the book. Made it to just under a third of the way through. Nothing particularly bad about it but nothing particularly good about it either. Didn't feel like "pushing" myself to finish it. There are too many other books on my "to read" list for me to bother.
March 5, 2016
THE BEST VICTIM
The story kept me interested, the characters were likeable. I thought the plot of the story was a little strange, people being goaded into killing themselves seems very odd to me.
The story kept me interested, the characters were likeable. I thought the plot of the story was a little strange, people being goaded into killing themselves seems very odd to me.
July 1, 2016
I felt it was worth reading
It had a good mix of mystery suspense, romance and drama. It was easy and light to read. Only thing that would have given it five stars for me would be if all these elements were amped up a little more.
It had a good mix of mystery suspense, romance and drama. It was easy and light to read. Only thing that would have given it five stars for me would be if all these elements were amped up a little more.
December 29, 2013
Attention getter
I am very I intrigued as to where th books are going. Just when you think you have things figured out it takes a turn.
I am very I intrigued as to where th books are going. Just when you think you have things figured out it takes a turn.
September 21, 2014
I received this book as good-reads giveaway!
This book was a true Mystery had me guessing the whole book! I will read more from her!
This book was a true Mystery had me guessing the whole book! I will read more from her!
October 28, 2014
this was vary slow but it got better but i won't read it again
March 7, 2015
I expected more.
March 30, 2015
I didn't really feel that the end of this book delivered the payoff that the set up required. I was underwhelmed with the explanation for what happened throughout the book.
August 17, 2015
The Best Victim review
The Best Victim is a psychological suspense thriller written by author Colleen Thompson. The plot is somewhat slow to develop, but overall a good story.
The Best Victim is a psychological suspense thriller written by author Colleen Thompson. The plot is somewhat slow to develop, but overall a good story.
May 15, 2016
Intriguing
I enjoyed this novel a lot more than I thought I would. The characters were believable and the author kept the right amount of suspense in the mix.
I enjoyed this novel a lot more than I thought I would. The characters were believable and the author kept the right amount of suspense in the mix.
June 20, 2016
Great book - outstanding suspense - loved the characters!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews