The Recipient

Emerald City #1

by Audrey J. Cole, Marcio Catalano (Narrator), Veronica Pace (Narrator)

🎧Run Time = 6 hours and 39 minutes

Sergeant Wade McKinnon is stunned to see a murder that mirrors the work of a serial killer who was executed the year before. Meanwhile, a wife begins to notice strange behavior from her husband — the recent recipient of an organ transplant…

✳Read by dual narrators, this chilling listen has over 2,500 five-star ratings!

Sergeant Wade McKinnon knows who killed Samantha the moment he arrives at her crime scene. Problem is, he watched her killer die a year ago.
​
A year after serial killer Michael Rhodes is executed and allowed to donate part of his brain as an organ transplant, Wade gets called to a murder scene that shares uncanny similarities to those of the late Michael Rhodes. Other similar killings happen around Seattle, and Wade seems to be the only person still alive who knows enough about Michael Rhodes’s murders to be able to replicate them. When evidence found at one of the crime scenes points to Wade as the killer, he races to find the real culprit before it’s too late to clear his own name.
 
Elle is overjoyed when her husband, Brian, gets a second chance at life when he receives a partial brain transplant after suffering a debilitating stroke at the age of thirty-seven. Their lives seem to return to normal, but Elle notices a disturbing change in Brian’s behavior. When Elle learns that her husband’s brain cell transplant came from Michael Rhodes, she fears that Brian now has the mind of a serial killer.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published June 8, 2017

About the author

Audrey J. Cole is a USA TODAY bestselling thriller author. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children. Before writing full time, she worked as a neonatal intensive care nurse for eleven years. She’s also a pilot's daughter.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that quote about expecting horses not zebras when you hear hoofbeats?🐴

When I read the blurb for this one I was doing just that.

I should have known from the high rating that I would get a ZEBRA of a surprise. 🦓

All I can say is that I don't know why it took me so long to get to this thriller and I am definitely going to be reading more of the books in this series.

Just in case you are like me and have been holding off on reading this one, I am going to keep this brief and avoid any spoilers. 🙈

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐
Genre ~ crime thriller
Series ~ Emerald City, #1
Setting ~ Seattle, Washington
Publication date ~ book ~ June 8, 2017, audio ~ April 22, 2019
Est Page Count ~ 306 (33 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 6 hours 39 minutes
Narrators ~ Marcio Catalano, Veronica Pace
POV ~ mostly dual 3rd, but a couple parts from other characters
Featuring ~ police procedural, murders, serial killer copy cat

Sergeant Wade McKinnon caught notorious serial killer Michael Rhodes and watched him be executed a year ago. But now murders are happening again that leads Wade on the hunt for a possible copy cat killer.

Elle is the wife of Brian, who has received a brain cell transplant. He’s starting to act weird and she suspects cheating, because of course. But perhaps there is something more sinister going on? Well, yes, yes of course, it is a crime thriller after all.

I think the blurb gives a little too much away for this one, however, unless I nodded off and was already made aware, I was totally shocked about one of the twists. I thought the plot had some unique qualities with the whole brain cell transplant.

Overall, it was fast paced with pretty solid police work.

Series notes:
The start of a 4 book series that will follow the same law enforcement characters we have met. I’d probably continue on as time allows.

Narration notes:
Duet narration! 🙌🥳

[Laur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone is copying the murders of the notorious serial killer Michael Rhodes, a serial killer who had been convicted, was in jail, and then died by execution. The serial killer had killed eleven women and shot a police officer to death.

Now a copy-cat killer is killing women in the exact same manner of the deceased serial killer, and the body account continues. No defensive wounds on victims, the victims rendered incapacitated, tazered, and injected with a shot of blood thinner to make the victims bleed out faster.

A complicated and very personal case, the wrong person is put in jail. Sergeant Wade McKinnon, seems to be the only person still alive who knows enough about Michael Rhodes murders to be able to replicate them. (He is the one who put Rhodes away.)

Enter another character, Brian (a judge). Brian receives a partial brain transplant after suffering a debilitating stroke at the age of thirty-seven. Brian, a sweetheart, a professional man with a well to do rich family, has been undergoing a disturbing change in behavior. Brian's wife, Elle, thinks he is having an affair. Later, through a letter they receive in the mail, she learns that her husband’s brain cell transplant, actually came from Michael Rhodes the serial killer that was executed! She fears that Brian now has the mind of a serial killer after receiving some of his brains cells. Can that be true...even possible? The doctors say this has never happened in the handful of patients the procedure has been done on - they doubt if it's possible! So, is there truly a copy-cat killer on the loose?? Is it Wade? Brian? Someone else??

What a wild ride this one is! I thought I had everything figured out towards the beginning of the book. Uh, not so much, there happens to be much more uncovered by the end!

Clean mystery, no foul language, no sex, a suspenseful thriller with a quick pace.

Audio book has dual narrators for male and female characters, Marcio Catalano and Veronica Pace. Both narrators do a good job of realism and their delivery and synchronization are perfect.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly captivating story with an unexpected twist. The narrators, Marcio Catalano and Audrey J. Pace, do an outstanding job bringing the characters to life. Many thanks to my Goodreads friend, Darla, whose glowing review led me to this gem.

[asdf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starts out somewhat promising but falls apart badly near the end. Avoid.
Being a debut work I could overlook some things, but too much in this book doesn't make any sense, is poorly written and/or is a (borderline) cheat.

-The premise of the brain transplant aside, it's utterly implausible that the fake killer's organ would go to the real killer—extremely sloppy and no reason for it is given because none can be given as it doesn't make sense to begin with.
The character does say "it's just a big coincidence" in an attempt to lampshade it, but that's not how it works.
This was only done to give the story a sensational background and is no different from clickbait from junk news sources.

-The biggest problem I have with the book and this author's writing style, is that she omits a lot of pertinent points and just expects the reader to fill it in or give her the benefit of the doubt.
Again, that is not how it works and feels disrespectful to the reader.

For example: one of the supposedly most prolific serial killers in history has been killing undetected for years, but suddenly his wife notices "changes" in her husbands behavior. Why?
No reason for this is given, except that "it might be related to his stroke."
But the real reason is because the author needed to get her plot going in some way that makes it fit the donor-killer theory, and the killer suddenly slipping up in front of his wife and having his personality "changed" is the artificial push she needed.

-A female detective on the investigation is killed with the same M.O. as the other victims, why?
Again, no reason for this was given at all. Did she find something out? Was it done to taunt the main character? You can make several guesses, but you won't find the answer in the book because it's not brought up in any way.

-The junior detective whose partner was killed just goes "I know it wasn't you, boss and I trust you." when his sergeant is framed for the murder. Again, why? Show us the reasoning why this rookie believes in his boss while the other cop rightfully is suspicious.

-Or how near the end of the book, the status of the main character was upgraded from "suspect" to "wanted and APB out."
No reason for this development is given either, except that it adds to the tension ("time is running out!")

-No reason for the killer's motive is given, except "it's his art."
You could argue that it adds to the killer's mystique, but I just see it as an easy way out, just as all the other corner cutting this author has liberally taken advantage of.

-The other things like the sergeant drinking and having supposed blackouts that are so severe he doesn't remember anything, but he is able to do specific actions such as driving to a gas station to buy beer and visiting gravesites to adorn it with said beer.
This is done to provide the illusion that the main character might be the killer after all and doing it unconsciously.
Not only is this completely implausible, the author even overlooks her own timeline where several kills happened before he started drinking again!

-The idea of the killer's girlfriend's suicide having the exact same M.O. as one of the most prolific serial killers, and no one bringing it up "because it was covered up by a rich family" is so ridiculous it makes you wonder how it can be a plot point in a serious book.
There must've been a whole group of people working on investigating that suicide/homicide, and even if the investigation was dropped, would it really be possible that from the entire team of forensics, doctors, cops and others, not one of them would've noticed the similarities between that death and the serial murders?

-The sergeant not being able to figure out that the fake killer was framed even until the very last moment when the real killer spells it out for him, is laughably incompetent.
He was framed in the same way himself!
But still he chooses to believe that it's the brain transplant that causes the honorable judge to turn into his serial killer donor instead of the much more obvious explanation.
And then at the end he doesn't even bother to kick the gun away from the killer, nor bother to make sure he is really dead/incapacitated nor does he try to mind his surroundings so the killer can't sneak up behind him with gun in hand.
That must be just about the dimmest detective around, despite all the praise he got for being a top cop.

Could go on and on, but suffice to say that this book isn't very good, it's chock-full plot cheats, generic characters and unexplained plot points.
Set your expectations low if you intend to read it.
I see there's a prequel and other books by this author, but seeing the caliber of this book has convinced me I need to look somewhere else.

No idea how it has one of the highest ratings on GR.

[Miriam still reading! HIATUS from GR · Rating 2 out of 5]

4 stars audio
2.5 meh stars story

[Charlotte Brackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't hand out five star ratings basically ever. But I believe that this book is fully deserving of such a rating.

What. A. Book. It took me a little while to get into it (probably because I have a problem with trying to read multiple books at once, so as soon as I freed myself up, it got gripping), but it grabbed me about 50 pages in and never let go.

The premise was interesting and could've easily been screwed up by becoming too far-fetched, but Cole expertly worked her way through the book until arriving at the tense conclusion. I've been recommending it to basically anyone that will listen to me blab for long enough.

Thank you to Goodreads (and to Cole) for the free Kindle version in exchange for my honest review. I can't wait to read more by her.

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant! This is a perfect blend between a riveting thriller and a hint of futuristic, science fiction. With the only thread between a serial killer’s body count being his own brain, even though he is long gone. I loved getting to know each of the characters, watching as the evidence piled up and trying to decide whether a partial brain transplant would be enough, or if the killer was someone else entirely. The author did a brilliant job of keeping you guessing, as well as keeping you on your toes, as the main character rushes to prove their innocence, if they even are.

Cole has a way with thrilling reads, and really knows how to write the perfect amount of detail to really keep you right in the mix of the happenings. I felt as though I was there myself, trying to collect the evidence, guessing what was next and trying to decipher the clues. Enough detail is written in every chapter to make it very realistic and very easy to jump right in and enjoy.

We were also given a good number of characters, each with plenty of detail and personality, to really give us the opportunity to connect with the story and fully enjoy it, as it unfolds. There a a blend of those whom you will connect with, in either love or hate, straight away and some who sneak about in the corners, giving you only snippets of detail into their lives, until exactly the right moment.

The pace was great. It really kept me entranced in the story and I loved being kept on the edge of my seat, but not feeling rushed. It was written perfectly.

Overall, this is definitely a thriller that is not to be missed. It is exciting and thought-provoking, as well as very unique. I highly recommend it.

**I received an arc and chose to provide my honest review.

[Marina · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5) The book was ok...frankly I thought all the characters were so stereotypical and the plot just was too simple. There were no twists or turns and you knew exactly what was going to happen next. However, one redeeming quality to this novel was the description of the writing. It made me squirm in my seat because I could almost see the scenes happening in front of me.
It was a well written book none the less but the CREATIVITY was just not there.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one, mostly because I'm a sucker for a great crime thriller, but also, the story takes place in my most favorite place, Seattle! I liked the storyline a lot but loved all the references to and about Seattle and its surrounding areas. With this being the first book in the Emerald City thriller series, I definitely look forward to continuing onto the next book because of the location, but also because this is solid storytelling.

[Oyinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 82 of 2021

Just finished this book, which I read for book club, and I have to say, it was good. Not great or mind blowing, because the big reveal left more questions than answers.

[Nikki Jangula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I listen to this in a few hours? Yes, yes I did. It was rather predictable and you kinda know exactly what is going to happen the whole time, but it was still a good listen. Seattle based, so that’s always interesting to me since it is local for me. Overall not bad, not anything groundbreaking.

[Samichtime · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot had good characters, tension, etc, but I dnf'd this book when one of the characters had a heart problem which I've also had so I didn't really wanna rehash that topic in my free time. 😩Nothing gruesome and I enjoyed the story up until that point but this book's just not for me. 🫠

[Raven (_birdiesbookclub_) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read! Very crazy concept to think this could actually happen. The pacing was decent and I liked how everything tied together in the end.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this thriller.
This is my first audiobook from this author and I definitely want to read more! It actually reminds me of something John Marrs would write, so if you like him, I think you’ll like this author.

So for the story:
You have a male police officer hunting down a serial killer
You have a judge and a judge’s wife
You have a partial brain transplant
You have a bunch of dead women
You have a dead, convicted serial killer

Check it out!

[Ally Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Wow! Wow!

This book is so creative, intriguing, and entertaining! This book keeps you in suspense and fully engaged to the very last page!

So I missed the sign up for this review tour, but was contacted a few days ago to fill a spot that a blogger who had an emergency and had to pull out. I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t be able to finish reading the book and write the review in time. However, after starting this book I was instantly glued to it and couldn’t put it down! Who needs three days??? I read it in less than two days lol. And honestly, I probably would have finished it in one sitting if I didn’t have to go to work lol.

This book is about Michael Rhodes, a serial killer in Seattle, known as the Seattle Slasher, who tormented the city until Sergeant Wade McKinnon and his partner arrested him. Unfortunately, Wade’s partner was killed during Rhodes’ apprehension. Six years later Rhodes is executed and it finally seems like justice has been served. However, only one year later, Wade arrives at a crime scene that has the M.O. and Signature of Rhodes. How can this be? Rhodes was put to death. There’s no way he could have engineered this. So many questions arise and it’s not long before the evidence starts piling up and pointing to Wade as the Copycat Killer.

Elle is the wife of Brian, who at the young age of thirty-seven suffered from a stroke. Brian receives a partial brain transplant which allows him to fully recover and have a second chance at life. Elle is thrilled to have her husband back, but she starts noticing Brian behaving oddly that she’s not so sure her husband is the one who came back after the stroke. Elle begins to research her husband’s donor and learns that Rhodes, the Seattle Slasher was her husband’s brain cell donor. Is it possible that Brian has become Rhodes? Is Brian the Copycat Killer? Now fearing the worst, she teams up with Wade to find out who the real Copycat Killer is and if her husband is somehow involved.

This book was such a chilling and intriguing read! I was totally captivated by the story and couldn’t wait to solve the case and learn the identity of the Copycat Killer.

I love a good mystery, suspense book and this one takes the cake!

I really liked the main characters, Elle and Wade. They were honest, hardworking, realistic, and relatable. I felt ties to both and wanted things to workout in each of their lives.

I loved the storyline! So creative and riveting! I’ve always been curious about the warrior gene and the Klinefelter Syndrome in serial killers so I was fascinated to see this take on brain cells possibly causing killer fantasies.

The storyline flows and is well written with such detailed scenes.

I used to live in Seattle so I was excited that this book takes place there. I love reading books that are set in locations that I’m familiar with. I feel closer to the story and the characters when I feel like I’ve walked in their shoes.

This book is fast paced. It takes off right from page one and keeps you fully engaged through the last page!

There are some surprises, and lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing to the very end! But no spoilers here!

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and I would absolutely recommend this book to all mystery and suspense lovers! You won’t regret reading this book!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the type of books I like to read, a page turner and not boring. I got immersed in that book. Looking forward to read the rest of the books of the Emerald City Thriller.

[Blue · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a pretty good book to listen to, and it’s hard for me to make through this type of genre since it’s not my thing but this story kept me engaged throughout.
The cop was useless honestly, only reason he got anywhere was because of the wife.

As an immature thriller reader, the first twist was neat and the second twist, which I did see coming just before the reveal, was pretty good.
Only reason I’m not rating it a 4 or higher since I genuinely enjoy the book because it’s not my genre so I don’t see myself rereading.

As a DR reader….hear me out, he’s rich, he’s not cheating, he’s hot, he’s not SAing his victims, his profession was cool, so….?

[Donna Mallery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this author’s writing style when I want an uncomplicated thriller or mystery. She goes just enough into extemporaneous details. This book is about a serial killer, but it isn’t overly violent. The serial killer was executed years prior so it seems we have a copycat who is committing the crimes eerily similar. The detective/sergeant is a troubled alcoholic but likable character. There is also a very wealthy female protagonist, and after awhile, these two people cross each others’ paths. It is a very quick, but interesting story. I continue to seek out her books, and haven’t found any yet that I didn’t like!

[Allison Bishop · Rating 1 out of 5]

No. This book does not deserve 4.36 stars. You failed me, Goodreads.

I’ve had it on my to-read list forever but it was nowhere in our statewide library system. That should have been my first clue. I ended up buying it and regretted it almost immediately. The whole thing was just cliches strung together. There was one twist that did take me by surprise, but overall it was very predictable. It was almost written as a tv script (and it might actually work in that format).

[Sandra R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of some of the writing in this police crime investigation/mystery. While the style was simple, (which is not a problem in itself), I felt many sections in the first half needed more polished editing, whilst he writing was much tighter in the second half. The narration is third person and is written from several points of view. I really enjoyed the plot and needed to read to the end to discover the outcome. The story was fast paced, with twists and turns and quickly became addictive. I have the set of five books in this series, so I'll be reading more from this author.

[Linda Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ this was multiple POV and I loved the concept of the judge having the experimental brain surgery with a doner from a notorious serial killer. The killings starting up again even though that serial killer was dead kept me intrigued but you sort of already knew the “twist” from the start. It was a fun ride but nothing ground breaking

[Misstdennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO GOOD!?

If you love reading a fast paced crime thriller with a sprinkle of domestic suspense, read this now.

[Abby Kroening · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven’t been shocked by a book like this in a long time!! So good.

[Jennifer Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. It was pretty good and a quick read.

[Rhonda 🌒🌕🌘 🐈‍⬛ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟

Insane! Creepy! Taking on the personality traits and behaviors of an organ/tissue donor.

[Proserpine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75🧠🤯

This was something. It's my first time reading this author book, and I'm instantly enraptured by this series. Add another fact that this was my random pick, so yum! what a win.

The premise was promising and the mystery plot was intriguing, but sadly the execution felt lack of something. There were none twist or turn because surely the reader can exactly guess who's the culprit. Even if the medical or whatever we said was having an "oh wow" vibes, I still don't see how this can happen. The writing style was engaging for me, because it made me can see and felt the crime scenes that happening in there and it's like it suddenly appears in front of me.

Cheers to Marcio Catalano and Veronica Pace for narrating this book. I did not expect this to be a duet style, and oh wow! what a happy surprise this was. It made the listening experience even more enjoyable.

[tayler!💌 · Rating 5 out of 5]

finished over 60% of this book today alone…

SO good. I’m loyal to Frieda through and through but WOW this book and plot twist… *chefs kiss* first book in a hot minute that had my jaw dropped

[Lem · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Why are we not hyping this book more?? It’s so fun, and bingeable! Sometimes I don’t need a perfectly plotted thriller. I just need one that keeps me glued to the pages until I realize I’ve finished the whole thing. Finished The Recipient in one sitting, and honestly, that says enough.

[Bethany Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

lol. I mean yeah. It was a thriller. It was fine, good audiobook. Didn’t wow me.. called the “twist” pretty quickly on, but I liked the two narrators.