Nella is hovering on the edge of spinsterhood when her father sends her across state lines to start her life as a maid. But when she witnesses an assassination on the train to Tennessee, she’s certain she’ll be the next to die—especially when she’s captured by the killer himself.
After a desperate escape attempt leaves her permanently injured, she wakes in an attic, surrounded by a family of trained murderers prepared to end her life.
But Oliver, the one responsible for her abduction, can’t dispense of the problem: her.
This surprising ally makes Nella question her plans of escape and her own sanity as she finds herself falling for this freckle-faced man. How is she to stay safe in his blood-tinged world when she can’t even leave her desolate prison?
Oliver must learn to protect her from his own family and the rules that make up their intricate network of skilled killers. And it’s time for Nella to fight for herself, no matter what—or who—holds her back.
Filled with layers of family betrayal and the burn of unexpected love, The Killer’s Flaw is a gripping historical romance that transports readers to the 1850s—a time filled with elegant yet pesky hoop skirts, horse-drawn wagons, and hitmen with pistols at the ready.
Natalie Griffin is a historical fiction author, mom of two, and pianist.
As a toddler, she’d scribble illegible words on paper, then recite her fanciful stories to her mother.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, she can’t stand the triple-digit heat, but she does enjoy the excitement that comes from tornado season. If you talk about the storms, you’re guaranteed to have a long, animated conversation ahead of you.
She mainly writes stories set in the 19th century, believing she always belonged there, with corsets and log cabins. She’s a sucker for anything involving fairies. Anything. She stays busy with her hunter husband, two daughters, three dogs, and two cats.
Looking for a dark, suspenseful and thrilling ride look no further. The Killers Flaw is just that and more. The FMC is resilient despite it all. Natalie Griffin captured brutality, grit and the cruelty of the era and personified it in her male characters. Hop on the train and take a ride of a lifetime. All aboard!
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Killer's Flaw is the first book in a series by author Natalie Griffin. I'm usually not a big series fan but I was attracted by the era the book is set in.
Nella's life goes from bad to horrible...and it only takes a train ride. Oliver abducts Nella because he can't kill her.
The book is set in the 1850s in the US, and I honestly can still feel the dust and sun. The writing is good and I got hooked by the first few pages. I really wanted to know what was going to happen to Nella.
The book is on the longer side - 520+ pages, and maybe by 70/75% of it, I was a bit frustrated with the same back and forth between Nella and Oliver and their "adventures". I'm convinced Nella's characters will grow in the next book as her evolution starts showing by the end of book 1.
I will recommend this book to any romance lovers, historical romance lovers, and maybe 1850s amateurs. It's an entertaining story.
Make sure you are aware of the trigger warnings: Abuse, Profanity, Sex, Death, and Violence. (This was taken from the book description on BookSirens).
I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens. This review is my own, and i'm leaving it voluntarily.
The only thing I hate about the story is how shitty her survival instinct is. We know the story is dark- clans, killers, tortures. But the reason her situation got worse is because of the non existent survival instinct except some encounters but most of the time it was hers. I was sighing 'heavily' every time she made her decision and almost to the end of the story I thought she could learn better but NO she didn’t change at all. Okay maybe that’s a bit exaggerated but she really didn’t learn much.
For the sake of a story being dark okay fine. And it’s pretty reasonable for someone to be spoiled (brat) with no instinct because it’s realistic. There are people with the same mindset. Not everyone knows the right way to act. You made a mistake, I did too. And I understand her trauma made her have trust issues and also considering her background as a noble protected from society. But that fact doesn’t make it easier for me to read. And it took me way longer than it should. The only reason I would say it’s a dark story is because of Nella, her and her decision. Excluding that alone, I think the story left with only 1/5 rate of dark theme. Because of her not wanting to die but always making a decision that leads to her own ending. And Oliver was sweet enough for someone who is trained as a killer. A killer without a choice, I might add. Oliver being the gentleman here doesn’t deserve someone like Nella because all I see is Nella being selfish and not considering Oliver's situation at all. Girl if you don’t like the arrangement the world has put you into, just leave. I know it’s gonna be hard. It will be hard but if you can’t be as resilient as Rose, it’s gonna be tougher for you. And plus note, everyone is much smarter than Nella.
Despite everything, the story was really interesting. It was really engaging when Nella didn't put up with her spoiled act. And I was left curious what could be happening to them in the next book because of the unpredictable future and unfinished journey. Hopefully Nella could have her personality straighten out better and be more mature so I could read the book in peace.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
-A brutal and gripping tale set in 1850s America, this dark historical thriller hooks you fast. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
Nella’s abduction by Oliver sparks a tense, violent journey full of twisted motives and raw emotion. Though the length and repetitive dynamics may frustrate, the atmosphere and suspense never wane.
Griffin delivers a haunting blend of grit, romance, and psychological tension.
WOW this was incredible! I was enraptured from start to finish. The author really nailed the historical feeling, I felt like I was taken back to that time period. Plus, what a unique idea! I've never read anything like this before, I had a blast. Some of the shit in here was really brutal and dark, and I ate it up. I need the next book like rn!!
(blah blah am obligated to say that I received an advance review copy for free and that I'm leaving this review voluntarily)