What do you think?
Rate this book
Luce Hansen Thriller #1
Crossed
Agent Luce Hansen returns home to Willow’s Ridge to catch a serial killer who has been murdering young women. It’s the case she’s been waiting for, the case that compels her to return to the small town she turned her back on nineteen years ago, the case she plans to ride from the Ohio BCI all the way to the FBI.
The case worth risking her shaky relationship with her lover, Rowan. But the horrors of the case recall the unsolved murder of Luce’s first girlfriend, and Luce is forced to confront the local ex-gay ministry that haunted her youth. When the past crosses the present, will Luce lose everything she’s worked so hard to build?
The case worth risking her shaky relationship with her lover, Rowan. But the horrors of the case recall the unsolved murder of Luce’s first girlfriend, and Luce is forced to confront the local ex-gay ministry that haunted her youth. When the past crosses the present, will Luce lose everything she’s worked so hard to build?
264 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2015
18 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Doench
7 books64 followersMeredith Doench is the author of the Luce Hansen LGBTQ Thriller series. These crime novels follow the work of Special Agent Luce Hansen of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation who specializes in tracking serial killers. Crossed, the first in the series, won Silver in the 2015 IndieFab Awards in the mystery genre. In 2017, Crossed was awarded the Mary Dasher Award for fiction from the College English Association of Ohio. The second novel, Forsaken Trust, was published in 2017 followed by Deadeye in 2019. All were mystery/thriller Goldie Award finalists in their respective years from Golden Crown Literary Society. Whereabouts Unknown, Doench’s fourth thriller and stand-alone novel, was published in 2022.
Doench’s works of short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in literary journals such as Hayden’s Ferry Review, Women’s Studies Quarterly, and The Tahoma Literary Review. She was one of the founding associate prose editors of the literary journal Camera Obscura: Journal of Literature and Photography and currently serves on the board of Mystery Writers of America, Midwest Chapter. She is a senior lecturer of creative writing, literature, and composition at the University of Dayton in Ohio.
Learn more about Meredith at www.meredithdoench.com
Doench’s works of short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in literary journals such as Hayden’s Ferry Review, Women’s Studies Quarterly, and The Tahoma Literary Review. She was one of the founding associate prose editors of the literary journal Camera Obscura: Journal of Literature and Photography and currently serves on the board of Mystery Writers of America, Midwest Chapter. She is a senior lecturer of creative writing, literature, and composition at the University of Dayton in Ohio.
Learn more about Meredith at www.meredithdoench.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 7, 2017
Wonderful read! it been her debut book this had great storytelling for a first timer...lots of action,there are cult-retreat: pastor preaching about people's sexual preference and all 'the why's' there is a serial killer and killings plus additional happenings involved in this storyline which was; suspenseful,mysterious and thriller worthy. Excellent writing with some good characters that all came together in this 1st installment that i highly recommend to everyone
March 17, 2017
A really good suspense mystery book. I had wanted to read this book for a while, but honestly forgot about it. With the second book in the series, coming out in a couple months, I finally remembered it. I am honestly shocked this was a debut book, very well written. But I guess that's what happens when the author has a PH.D, in creative writing.
The story is about Luce, an Agent in the BCI, who specializes in serial killers. When a serial killer shows up in a small town, Luce grew up in, she is put on the case. When Luce was 16, her girlfriend was murdered. With similarities in the killings, she wonders could these cases be connected. Could the killer of her first love be killing women now? It is up to Luce to find the killer before they strike again.
As I said before the book was really well written. Everything so well described, that it easily unfolds like a movie in your mind. There is only two small complaints for me. I thought sometimes there was too many flashbacks, and I had trouble knowing if I was in present or past time. Luckily that only happened a few times. The other, I wish there was a little more about Luce's current relationship. I didn't connect quite as much with her girlfriend as I wanted to. Although, I did end up liking both characters.
When it came to the mystery, is where this book really shines. I have read so many mysteries in my life, that I can normally pick out the "bad guy/girl" very quickly. This was not the case in this book. I had a guess, but I was far from sure. I really love a mystery that keeps me on my toes.
This book is a little tough to read in parts. The talk about the crime scene photographs turned my stomach. The is not a happy or fluffy or light story. But it is really well done, and I think mystery fans will absolutely enjoy this.
The story is about Luce, an Agent in the BCI, who specializes in serial killers. When a serial killer shows up in a small town, Luce grew up in, she is put on the case. When Luce was 16, her girlfriend was murdered. With similarities in the killings, she wonders could these cases be connected. Could the killer of her first love be killing women now? It is up to Luce to find the killer before they strike again.
As I said before the book was really well written. Everything so well described, that it easily unfolds like a movie in your mind. There is only two small complaints for me. I thought sometimes there was too many flashbacks, and I had trouble knowing if I was in present or past time. Luckily that only happened a few times. The other, I wish there was a little more about Luce's current relationship. I didn't connect quite as much with her girlfriend as I wanted to. Although, I did end up liking both characters.
When it came to the mystery, is where this book really shines. I have read so many mysteries in my life, that I can normally pick out the "bad guy/girl" very quickly. This was not the case in this book. I had a guess, but I was far from sure. I really love a mystery that keeps me on my toes.
This book is a little tough to read in parts. The talk about the crime scene photographs turned my stomach. The is not a happy or fluffy or light story. But it is really well done, and I think mystery fans will absolutely enjoy this.
July 17, 2019
Small Town, Freezing Tits Winter, Sunless Sky, Gruesome Murders. Can the daughter of the ex-police chief find the killer/s while in war with her own demons, strengthening her Berlin Wall to block her girlfriend from accessing her mind+heart, facing the people from her past that she never wanted to see again and working in a not so gay-friendly environment?
Can this reader survive the potential heavy waterworks when reading what happened to the victims, current cloudy weather not helping whatsoever with my emotions but suitable for the book's darkness, listen to Peter Cetera then Barney the purple dinosaur as I read to lift my mood and feeling deep sadness for the 16-year-olds who were not as lucky as I was when I told my religious Abah that I was interested in girls - dating one at that age and all he said was "broken heart is as serious as unplanned pregnancy, so do behave".
If you are like my brother, who expects the ghost to show up within minutes after the movie starts then stay away from this. This is a slow burn thriller, the author sugar coats nothing, a perfect suspect is presented at the beginning but we all know he's / she's not the one or is he/she? I am a bit sad that forensic's involvement is missing, I enjoy the feeling of frustration as the investigation team hit dead ends several times and I am happy that I am unable to pinpoint the perpetrator/s. Definitely not the butler.
Conversion therapy is a topic that I am totally unfamiliar with and this book has it. No words can describe the hideousness and how much I would love to turn the tables and let them taste their own bloodytwistedfcukedupinhuman medicines/methods.
I am highly recommending this but it's best to wait until you're in the mood for gloom and doom before diving in. Off to the second book? Gulp, not yet. I need to recuperate first - Star Wars roleplay with the Young Jedis, kittens/puppies videos and Jamoca Almond Fudge.
Can this reader survive the potential heavy waterworks when reading what happened to the victims, current cloudy weather not helping whatsoever with my emotions but suitable for the book's darkness, listen to Peter Cetera then Barney the purple dinosaur as I read to lift my mood and feeling deep sadness for the 16-year-olds who were not as lucky as I was when I told my religious Abah that I was interested in girls - dating one at that age and all he said was "broken heart is as serious as unplanned pregnancy, so do behave".
If you are like my brother, who expects the ghost to show up within minutes after the movie starts then stay away from this. This is a slow burn thriller, the author sugar coats nothing, a perfect suspect is presented at the beginning but we all know he's / she's not the one or is he/she? I am a bit sad that forensic's involvement is missing, I enjoy the feeling of frustration as the investigation team hit dead ends several times and I am happy that I am unable to pinpoint the perpetrator/s. Definitely not the butler.
Conversion therapy is a topic that I am totally unfamiliar with and this book has it. No words can describe the hideousness and how much I would love to turn the tables and let them taste their own bloodytwistedfcukedupinhuman medicines/methods.
I am highly recommending this but it's best to wait until you're in the mood for gloom and doom before diving in. Off to the second book? Gulp, not yet. I need to recuperate first - Star Wars roleplay with the Young Jedis, kittens/puppies videos and Jamoca Almond Fudge.
July 26, 2019
This is a gripping read but not a terribly pleasant one. Luce Hanson, a criminal investigation agent, is assigned to a murder in the small town she grew up in. The ghosts of her past and the power they have over her present are all still there. She leaves her partner for what she hopes won't be too long to try and solve a particularly gruesome murder of a young woman.
With Luce and Rowan already in an established relationship, the story is more about Luce's past and the murders of young women. It is a thrilling and nail-biting investigation and I couldn't put it down even though I didn't like much of the content. Religious bigotry and active gay conversion groups make me angry and my stomach twist into knots. Although, it does give a really clear idea of where Luce has come from and I didn't really like her much in the beginning but the revealing of her past clarified so much of that for me.
It is superbly written, tight and clever.
With Luce and Rowan already in an established relationship, the story is more about Luce's past and the murders of young women. It is a thrilling and nail-biting investigation and I couldn't put it down even though I didn't like much of the content. Religious bigotry and active gay conversion groups make me angry and my stomach twist into knots. Although, it does give a really clear idea of where Luce has come from and I didn't really like her much in the beginning but the revealing of her past clarified so much of that for me.
It is superbly written, tight and clever.
August 18, 2020
Oi! Tough read but quite good! MC Luce is a detective on a horrible serial killer case, who is very emotionally involved due to it merging with the unsolved murder of her first girlfriend. Luce is unlike other flawed heroines I have read in that she does have a visible caring nature, and I liked this. Talk about super complex. The amount of times the author used the term "Berlin wall" to describe Luce's closed off nature became extremely redundant, especially because I didn't find it took very long for her to find a way/partner to crack that wide open. But no matter, at least she did show some solid humanity.
The case involved many characters and unique settings. At times I thought the setting was Canadian prairies in the winter with the descriptions of the cold, reminding me of waiting for buses in -50 windchills while my eyeballs froze open. Brrr. The book lost a point for how very fast the ending was, wrapping up in a mere chapter. I would have enjoyed a little more beef in that area, but overall great read.
The case involved many characters and unique settings. At times I thought the setting was Canadian prairies in the winter with the descriptions of the cold, reminding me of waiting for buses in -50 windchills while my eyeballs froze open. Brrr. The book lost a point for how very fast the ending was, wrapping up in a mere chapter. I would have enjoyed a little more beef in that area, but overall great read.
September 1, 2015
Crossed is a debut novel, but you wouldn't know from reading it. The writing is strong and assured, the mystery is rich and complicated, the emotions and drama is explored in depth, the pacing is brisk and the resolutions are logical but real-life messy. There's even a beautiful love story or two tucked in there.
Detective Luce Hansen gets a dream assignment that will do wonders for her career--investigating a series of gruesome killings in a small town. But instead of enthusiasm, she approaches it with dread. The assignment will take her back to her hometown and all the depressing memories associated with it: the horrific and still unresolved murder of her first love and the ex-gay ministry that tried to fix her. Not to mention that the case might take her away for an extended period from Rowan and exacerbate their already rocky relationship. Once she sets foot in Willow's Ridge, she has to deal with an irascible partner, uncooperative and perhaps unreliable witnesses, some red herrings, possible multiple suspects or copycat killers or even a killer cop, and her own unresolved PTSD roaring back in full force.
The use of first person POV is very effective, as we get to ride figurative shotgun with the detective as she goes about the investigation. Police procedurals can tend to be tedious but the author interspersed Det. Hansen's daily routine with deftly placed flashbacks to her past, occasional 'chats' with her deceased father, recurring PTSD attacks, and both sweet and tension-filled moments with her love Rowan. Aside from the case, Luce also needs to deal with her own past issues, fend off more attempts to fix her sexuality ;) and the very real possibility of Rowan walking out of her life for good. Add to that the ever present threat of another killing hanging over the town and you've got one complex hell of a read. Edge-of-your-seat thrills in the last act complete this smartly-written, mostly unpredictable and very satisfying book.
Highly recommended.
4.9 stars
ARC copy received from Netgalley
O.T. ramblings:
I read this back to back with Rise of the Gorgon. I originally gave Gorgon 5 stars because I loved and thoroughly enjoyed it, and this book a little less, because well, Gorgon was a fun, thrilling read with a swoon-worthy MC, while this book has body mutilation, blood drinking and death everywhere. Ugh! right? Technically though this is a better written book, imho. So I'm back to the age-old dilemma of all book readers/reviewers--what to give more weight--enjoyment or excellence? :)
Detective Luce Hansen gets a dream assignment that will do wonders for her career--investigating a series of gruesome killings in a small town. But instead of enthusiasm, she approaches it with dread. The assignment will take her back to her hometown and all the depressing memories associated with it: the horrific and still unresolved murder of her first love and the ex-gay ministry that tried to fix her. Not to mention that the case might take her away for an extended period from Rowan and exacerbate their already rocky relationship. Once she sets foot in Willow's Ridge, she has to deal with an irascible partner, uncooperative and perhaps unreliable witnesses, some red herrings, possible multiple suspects or copycat killers or even a killer cop, and her own unresolved PTSD roaring back in full force.
The use of first person POV is very effective, as we get to ride figurative shotgun with the detective as she goes about the investigation. Police procedurals can tend to be tedious but the author interspersed Det. Hansen's daily routine with deftly placed flashbacks to her past, occasional 'chats' with her deceased father, recurring PTSD attacks, and both sweet and tension-filled moments with her love Rowan. Aside from the case, Luce also needs to deal with her own past issues, fend off more attempts to fix her sexuality ;) and the very real possibility of Rowan walking out of her life for good. Add to that the ever present threat of another killing hanging over the town and you've got one complex hell of a read. Edge-of-your-seat thrills in the last act complete this smartly-written, mostly unpredictable and very satisfying book.
Highly recommended.
4.9 stars
ARC copy received from Netgalley
O.T. ramblings:
I read this back to back with Rise of the Gorgon. I originally gave Gorgon 5 stars because I loved and thoroughly enjoyed it, and this book a little less, because well, Gorgon was a fun, thrilling read with a swoon-worthy MC, while this book has body mutilation, blood drinking and death everywhere. Ugh! right? Technically though this is a better written book, imho. So I'm back to the age-old dilemma of all book readers/reviewers--what to give more weight--enjoyment or excellence? :)
September 25, 2017
Very good police procedural. First person but i still felt like I knew the feelings of the characters around the lead. Well told. Looking forward to the next in the series.
September 15, 2025
Meredith Doench's debut novel, full of mystery, intrigue and suspense with a dash of romance on the side. A crime story reminiscent of Criminal Minds and CSI. So very well written and I enjoyed it immensely.
A suspected serial killer with a wave of brutal murders in a small town where Agent Luce Hansen grew up. It was also the place where her first girlfriend was brutally murdered 20 years ago.
That murder had affected Luce so deeply she built walls and has PTSD and her relationship with her current girlfriend is on the brink of falling apart as she's so consumed with the case and trying to find a connection to that first murder two decades ago and the recent wave of murders.
The story goes back and forth between the past and present without any prompt and can sometimes be confusing but it gets easier to follow after awhile.
The story also touches on ex-gay ministries and conversion therapy and the things that people went through in them.
The first book of the Luce Hansen Thriller, I highly recommend it.
A suspected serial killer with a wave of brutal murders in a small town where Agent Luce Hansen grew up. It was also the place where her first girlfriend was brutally murdered 20 years ago.
That murder had affected Luce so deeply she built walls and has PTSD and her relationship with her current girlfriend is on the brink of falling apart as she's so consumed with the case and trying to find a connection to that first murder two decades ago and the recent wave of murders.
The story goes back and forth between the past and present without any prompt and can sometimes be confusing but it gets easier to follow after awhile.
The story also touches on ex-gay ministries and conversion therapy and the things that people went through in them.
The first book of the Luce Hansen Thriller, I highly recommend it.
July 8, 2019
What an intriguing as well as unsettling read. I was creeped out with the crime description yet pulled in by the artistry and beauty of the surrounding area. Mystery and suspense, to the max. Agent Luce Hansen, weighted down by a horrendous event that prevents her from moving on with her life fully with a seemingly wonderful woman named Rowan. The read is not so much about their relationship as it is about Luce and her past. I have the next two books in the series and plan to read them but I need to take break and read something a little lighter first.
August 18, 2015
Netgalley
You'd think being home with a broken arm would translate to a lot of reading, but my brain doesn't seem to comply.
So it wasn't the book's fault that the beginning felt kind of slow, reading 2-3 pages at a time doesn't do any book any favors.
Once I caught a break though and read for an hour, I really got into it. It's nothing particularly new, serial killer books are everywhere, but in the world of lesfic this one is refreshingly different and well-written, even though I'm not really a fan of the 1st person POV. But it worked here, it narrowed the scope to feel even more like being in the situation.
The characters are well-developed, there are enough of them to keep the brain on its toes and switch allegiances more than once.
So yeah, very satisfying. And either a warning or recommendation: pure thriller, no romance in sight.
You'd think being home with a broken arm would translate to a lot of reading, but my brain doesn't seem to comply.
So it wasn't the book's fault that the beginning felt kind of slow, reading 2-3 pages at a time doesn't do any book any favors.
Once I caught a break though and read for an hour, I really got into it. It's nothing particularly new, serial killer books are everywhere, but in the world of lesfic this one is refreshingly different and well-written, even though I'm not really a fan of the 1st person POV. But it worked here, it narrowed the scope to feel even more like being in the situation.
The characters are well-developed, there are enough of them to keep the brain on its toes and switch allegiances more than once.
So yeah, very satisfying. And either a warning or recommendation: pure thriller, no romance in sight.
September 25, 2018
Wow! Meet B.C.I Luce Hansen in this debut book, Crossed. She returns to her hometown of Willow’s Ridge, reluctantly. The place brings some very bad memories for her but she is there to solve a serial killing of several young girls. The cases may also be linked with an unsolved cold case to which Luce was herself involved, the murder of her first girlfriend. Can this cold case be linked with the current serial killings?
This is a very well written police procedural mystery. You can’t rush through the reading of the unfolding drama, mystery and emotions, even if you tried. I’m looking forward to reading the second instalment of Detective Hansen series, Forsaken Trust.
This is a very well written police procedural mystery. You can’t rush through the reading of the unfolding drama, mystery and emotions, even if you tried. I’m looking forward to reading the second instalment of Detective Hansen series, Forsaken Trust.
October 18, 2018
Set in rural suburban Ohio, Meredith Doench’s first Luce Hansen mystery “Crossed” offers a fast-paced police procedural with rich subplots and character development. It’s a complex story combining the unraveling of a serial killer mystery, the struggle for intimacy between Hansen and her partner Rowan, and the story of Marci’s death in the mid-nineties. Add in a homophobic partner and the ghost of Hansen’s cop father and it might feel all too much, but Doench is a talented writer who braids the subplots tightly and held my interest to the end. It’s a suspenseful mystery mixing the rural darkness of Karin Slaughter’s Grant County series with the page-turning whodunit of Katherine V. Forrest’s Kate Delafield books. Fans of both will be entertained.
April 5, 2016
We are all familiar with the nursery rhyme about the little girl with the curl right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very, very good, and when she was bad she was horrid. This book made me think of that rhyme.
The good bits are very, very good. The bad bits, well.......
Agent Luce Hansen returns home to Willow’s Ridge to catch a serial killer who has been murdering young women. It’s the case she’s been waiting for, the case that compels her to return to the small town she turned her back on nineteen years ago, the case she plans to ride from the Ohio BCI all the way to the FBI.
Agent Luce Hansen returns home to Willow’s Ridge to catch a serial killer who has been murdering young women. It’s the case she’s been waiting for, the case that compels her to return to the small town she turned her back on nineteen years ago, the case she plans to ride from the Ohio BCI all the way to the FBI.
The case worth risking her shaky relationship with her lover, Rowan. But the horrors of the case recall the unsolved murder of Luce’s first girlfriend, and Luce is forced to confront the local ex-gay ministry that haunted her youth. When the past crosses the present, will Luce lose everything she’s worked so hard to build?
The book started well, it was suspenseful and had me wanting more. But then it got bogged down and repetitive, so that I found myself skimming/skipping large tracts of it. By the 50% point I had it figured out who had 'dunnit' (I can live with that) but not why. By the time I finished I felt like I had been bludgeoned with the repetitive and extensive ramblings about "The One True Path", an organisation dedicated to 'correcting' those who desire same sex relationships.
I was originally going to rate this 2 stars, but have awarded an extra 1/2 star as this is a debut novel. So 2 1/2 stars for Crossed from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The good bits are very, very good. The bad bits, well.......
Agent Luce Hansen returns home to Willow’s Ridge to catch a serial killer who has been murdering young women. It’s the case she’s been waiting for, the case that compels her to return to the small town she turned her back on nineteen years ago, the case she plans to ride from the Ohio BCI all the way to the FBI.
Agent Luce Hansen returns home to Willow’s Ridge to catch a serial killer who has been murdering young women. It’s the case she’s been waiting for, the case that compels her to return to the small town she turned her back on nineteen years ago, the case she plans to ride from the Ohio BCI all the way to the FBI.
The case worth risking her shaky relationship with her lover, Rowan. But the horrors of the case recall the unsolved murder of Luce’s first girlfriend, and Luce is forced to confront the local ex-gay ministry that haunted her youth. When the past crosses the present, will Luce lose everything she’s worked so hard to build?
The book started well, it was suspenseful and had me wanting more. But then it got bogged down and repetitive, so that I found myself skimming/skipping large tracts of it. By the 50% point I had it figured out who had 'dunnit' (I can live with that) but not why. By the time I finished I felt like I had been bludgeoned with the repetitive and extensive ramblings about "The One True Path", an organisation dedicated to 'correcting' those who desire same sex relationships.
I was originally going to rate this 2 stars, but have awarded an extra 1/2 star as this is a debut novel. So 2 1/2 stars for Crossed from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
August 18, 2015
I had to put this book down several times while I was reading it. Not because it was bad or to do something more interesting but because I needed to warm up! You get so swept up in the story that you start to feel the cold that is so emotionally and accurately described, it gets into your bones. As does the main character Luce Hanson. Luce wants to achieve in her professional life and accepts a tough assignment back in her hometown, as she knows it is the stepping-stone to greater things as an Agent. But going back isn’t easy. Luce’s first girlfriend was murdered and the killer was never found so going back to help solve the current case means facing up to things Luce has been avoiding.
The story pacing changes I felt as Luce deals with different aspects of her life and the slower bits allow you some breathing space to reflect on what life would be like in her shoes? The casual homophobia by some police colleagues, the ex-gay ministry that “cures” homosexuality and Luce’s relationship with her girlfriend Rowan. This is beautifully captured, as it is clear Luce loves her beautiful, patient Rowan but somehow she keeps backing off. Maybe the trip home will help Luce heal?
There are a few areas where you could guess what was about to happen and some of the “bad guys” are obvious but overall this is a satisfying read and a well-written story. I would certainly read more by Ms Doench. Recommended for reading on the beach or somewhere warm…
I was given a free copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
The story pacing changes I felt as Luce deals with different aspects of her life and the slower bits allow you some breathing space to reflect on what life would be like in her shoes? The casual homophobia by some police colleagues, the ex-gay ministry that “cures” homosexuality and Luce’s relationship with her girlfriend Rowan. This is beautifully captured, as it is clear Luce loves her beautiful, patient Rowan but somehow she keeps backing off. Maybe the trip home will help Luce heal?
There are a few areas where you could guess what was about to happen and some of the “bad guys” are obvious but overall this is a satisfying read and a well-written story. I would certainly read more by Ms Doench. Recommended for reading on the beach or somewhere warm…
I was given a free copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
September 25, 2022
Mystery novel with thrills and twists
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: not a romance, out of your comfort zone, established couple, character with a disability; UNICORN: safer sex (possibly other categories)
An agent with the Ohio BCI (Bureau Criminal Investigations) returned to her hometown for an investigation into unusual murders committed by a suspected serial killer. She got partnered with a retired detective that worked with her father who believed that the deaths were tied to a case from her teen years that happened to be the murder of her first love. Her current girlfriend had many reservations about the primary MC's returning home, and she threatened to break up with the agent. It was messy, as far as that was concerned.
The investigation led the team in several directions for the "Picaso Killer," due to the clues and number of suspects involved. There were also pressures between the agent and detective as a result of personal conflicts that directly impacted the exploration of the case. It was a major whodunit that kept my interest throughout the entire read.
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: not a romance, out of your comfort zone, established couple, character with a disability; UNICORN: safer sex (possibly other categories)
An agent with the Ohio BCI (Bureau Criminal Investigations) returned to her hometown for an investigation into unusual murders committed by a suspected serial killer. She got partnered with a retired detective that worked with her father who believed that the deaths were tied to a case from her teen years that happened to be the murder of her first love. Her current girlfriend had many reservations about the primary MC's returning home, and she threatened to break up with the agent. It was messy, as far as that was concerned.
The investigation led the team in several directions for the "Picaso Killer," due to the clues and number of suspects involved. There were also pressures between the agent and detective as a result of personal conflicts that directly impacted the exploration of the case. It was a major whodunit that kept my interest throughout the entire read.
December 8, 2025
The plot and writing is done extremely well. But wow, this book was very graphic. Not for the faint of heart. Please check the trigger warnings before you read this. Some of them are sexual assault, necrophilia, religious conversion camps. It was very tough to swallow, and made me completely uneasy, but the book keeps you guessing so I pushed through. It had an interesting twist in the end. It's a good choice if you have a spine of steel and want to enter the world of a really creepy, sadistic psychopath.
October 1, 2019
A detective must make peace with a difficult past as she faces the biggest case of her career. This is a thriller with bite, one that handles brutally harsh crimes with balanced and careful attention. The result is a gritty, character driven thriller that avoids a sensationalist exploitation of violence against women. The Luce Hansen Thrillers are a perfect match for readers who enjoyed Rizzoli and Isles books and wished they were a couple.
Read
June 18, 2020I’ve traditionally been pretty hard on first novels published in the last couple of years, and I was prepared to trash this one, too—in a nice way, of course. A couple of early bobbles (which I have privately communicated to the publisher) didn’t help, but as the book went on, I found myself enjoying it more and more. Doench is one of the few Ph.Ds that can do as well as teach. Bravo for that.
Quick plot summary: Luce Hansen is an investigator for the Ohio State Police who is assigned a job in the home town she left years ago. It seems that young women are being killed and their bodies posed in odd formations after death. Luce is familiar with the pattern—her first love was killed and posed in the same manner when both were sixteen. To make things even more stressful, it seems that the One True Path—an anti-gay interventionist church that Luce was once forced to attend—may be involved.
On the surface, then, it is a book about another serial killer who targets lesbians (see Penny Mickkelbury’s Keeping Secrets, et al. Like in so many other serial-killer novels, there is a religious fanatic angle. Luce is assigned a homophobic partner for her investigation and of course has girlfriend that hates Luce’s dangerous job and . . . But whoa, why don’t we imagine that this is the first novel dealing with any of these things. Because if you do that (or even if you don’t), it stands out as one of the best of its kind.
There are three simultaneous plots. One deals with Luce and her partner Rowan and their up and down relationship. Unlike most similar relationships in lesbian mystery fiction, this one is way above the surface. Luce and Rowan are realistically paired and both have interesting backstories. Both actually try to trust each other to the fullest. The second plotline is the investigation itself, which is an exciting one peopled with strange characters—a wannabe vampire, a funeral director, a gothy photography student, and a pastor who doth protest too much about the sins of homosexuality. The third and probably the best of the three plotlines is the flashed-back story of Luce and her first love Marci Tucker—the first girl that was killed. In fact, it is impossible not to compare this storyline to the one in Jessica Lauren’s fine novel, She Died Twice, in which many of the same things happen to young girls just beginning to explore their sexuality.
I especially like the literary devices Doench uses in the novel. For instance, there is a continuing metaphor where Luce feels like she is underwater, but not the clichéd symbol or drowning or suffocating, but rather as a safety area where Luce can flee when things get too much for her. But if it gives her safety, it also prevents her from growing out of her fears. Another device is what Luce calls her Berlin Wall—the barrier she keeps between herself and her girlfriend. Although this kind of a wall is present in a great number of lesbian mysteries, Doench makes the device her own. Together, Luce and Rowan attempt to tear it down. And then there is the circle symbolism which is part of both Rowan’s and Marci’s philosophy. For Rowan, it is “a universal truth we must face: our past never dies. Like a giant wheel, everything circles back around.” Marci’s favorite hideout (and her and Luce’s trysting place) was called Stonehenge. 'I’m a fan of circles,’ Marci told me, ‘The never-ending symbol.’” This is stuff you don’t see in many lesbian mysteries, alas.
Still, I have a few quibbles. Or maybe more than a few. When Luce talks about her experience in the One True Path, she sometimes sounds like the narrator in an 8th grade filmstrip. Luce also has the unhappy habit of speaking to her father’s ghost. Although this is done rather carefully, it seems that Luce believes he is sometimes really present. Ditto the presence of Marci and of some higher power, which renders the ending too sappy for my own belief system. The story is told in the first person present point of view—one of the hardest to work with successfully. Doench does it well, but I can’t be convinced that it wouldn’t have been maybe 10 percent better if the past tense was used. It is also true that using the present tense sometimes drives away many of today’s readers. As for the ending, well, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to go there.
All in all Crossed is an eyeblinkingly good first novel with unique and original takes on old subjects. Give it somewhere around 4 stars—less if you’re obsessive about details, more if you’re not squeamish about the religious angle.
Note: I read the Advanced Review Copy of this novel which was kindly provided by the publisher through Netgalley in e-book form.
Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
Quick plot summary: Luce Hansen is an investigator for the Ohio State Police who is assigned a job in the home town she left years ago. It seems that young women are being killed and their bodies posed in odd formations after death. Luce is familiar with the pattern—her first love was killed and posed in the same manner when both were sixteen. To make things even more stressful, it seems that the One True Path—an anti-gay interventionist church that Luce was once forced to attend—may be involved.
On the surface, then, it is a book about another serial killer who targets lesbians (see Penny Mickkelbury’s Keeping Secrets, et al. Like in so many other serial-killer novels, there is a religious fanatic angle. Luce is assigned a homophobic partner for her investigation and of course has girlfriend that hates Luce’s dangerous job and . . . But whoa, why don’t we imagine that this is the first novel dealing with any of these things. Because if you do that (or even if you don’t), it stands out as one of the best of its kind.
There are three simultaneous plots. One deals with Luce and her partner Rowan and their up and down relationship. Unlike most similar relationships in lesbian mystery fiction, this one is way above the surface. Luce and Rowan are realistically paired and both have interesting backstories. Both actually try to trust each other to the fullest. The second plotline is the investigation itself, which is an exciting one peopled with strange characters—a wannabe vampire, a funeral director, a gothy photography student, and a pastor who doth protest too much about the sins of homosexuality. The third and probably the best of the three plotlines is the flashed-back story of Luce and her first love Marci Tucker—the first girl that was killed. In fact, it is impossible not to compare this storyline to the one in Jessica Lauren’s fine novel, She Died Twice, in which many of the same things happen to young girls just beginning to explore their sexuality.
I especially like the literary devices Doench uses in the novel. For instance, there is a continuing metaphor where Luce feels like she is underwater, but not the clichéd symbol or drowning or suffocating, but rather as a safety area where Luce can flee when things get too much for her. But if it gives her safety, it also prevents her from growing out of her fears. Another device is what Luce calls her Berlin Wall—the barrier she keeps between herself and her girlfriend. Although this kind of a wall is present in a great number of lesbian mysteries, Doench makes the device her own. Together, Luce and Rowan attempt to tear it down. And then there is the circle symbolism which is part of both Rowan’s and Marci’s philosophy. For Rowan, it is “a universal truth we must face: our past never dies. Like a giant wheel, everything circles back around.” Marci’s favorite hideout (and her and Luce’s trysting place) was called Stonehenge. 'I’m a fan of circles,’ Marci told me, ‘The never-ending symbol.’” This is stuff you don’t see in many lesbian mysteries, alas.
Still, I have a few quibbles. Or maybe more than a few. When Luce talks about her experience in the One True Path, she sometimes sounds like the narrator in an 8th grade filmstrip. Luce also has the unhappy habit of speaking to her father’s ghost. Although this is done rather carefully, it seems that Luce believes he is sometimes really present. Ditto the presence of Marci and of some higher power, which renders the ending too sappy for my own belief system. The story is told in the first person present point of view—one of the hardest to work with successfully. Doench does it well, but I can’t be convinced that it wouldn’t have been maybe 10 percent better if the past tense was used. It is also true that using the present tense sometimes drives away many of today’s readers. As for the ending, well, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to go there.
All in all Crossed is an eyeblinkingly good first novel with unique and original takes on old subjects. Give it somewhere around 4 stars—less if you’re obsessive about details, more if you’re not squeamish about the religious angle.
Note: I read the Advanced Review Copy of this novel which was kindly provided by the publisher through Netgalley in e-book form.
Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
September 10, 2019
Good but with one disappointment
3.5 stars. The story is excellent, the mystery gripping and the crimes dark. It's very well written and detailed and sometimes you can almost picture yourself there in the quarry. I would've rated it higher except for one thing and that's the character of Ainsley Cole. He was awful and I don't understand why the author kept trying to force us to like him. Horrible man.
3.5 stars. The story is excellent, the mystery gripping and the crimes dark. It's very well written and detailed and sometimes you can almost picture yourself there in the quarry. I would've rated it higher except for one thing and that's the character of Ainsley Cole. He was awful and I don't understand why the author kept trying to force us to like him. Horrible man.
July 2, 2021
A wonderful start to the Luce Hansen series! Doench does such a great job exploring Luce's character and who she's become based on some horrifying things in her past. I love the weaving of that past with the present day as she hunts a serial killer she possibly knows, works to repair her relationship with her girlfriend, and deals with the trauma of bigotry, both in the past and that's ongoing. The twists and turns kept me guessing. I can't wait to read the next book!
August 14, 2017
This is a new author to me and one I will not soon forget. I never saw the unsub coming, until literally the last few pages and then I had to go backwards to see where they entered the story. This had so many story lines going at the same time, all for the most part revolving around Luce, past, present and future. Well done, I hope to see many more from this author!
May 9, 2017
Wow this was different.
At first I wasn't sure what I got myself I to when it came to this storyline. But the more I read I couldn't put the book down. I don't normally read first person point a view, but I don't think this could have been written any other way. The character Luce was well written. Dealing with a lot of stuff on her plate of life but still came out winner at the end. The mystery was well written I had no clue till the end who did it. I would definitely recommend this book.
At first I wasn't sure what I got myself I to when it came to this storyline. But the more I read I couldn't put the book down. I don't normally read first person point a view, but I don't think this could have been written any other way. The character Luce was well written. Dealing with a lot of stuff on her plate of life but still came out winner at the end. The mystery was well written I had no clue till the end who did it. I would definitely recommend this book.
March 4, 2025
I finished reading Crossed by @meredithdoench this evening. Hot damn was this excellent! Such great writing and characters. Had me guessing to the very end. So glad to be introduced to such a fantastic author! I’ve always been a fan of mysteries and thrillers, having grown up reading every Patricia Cornwell novel and Jeffrey Deaver later on. Finding a truly brilliant author who writes thrillers with sapphic characters is absolutely fantastic. I can’t wait to read the next in this series!
June 9, 2019
This book had me from the first chapter. I loved the way this writer wove in a past mystery with a current one. This novel is written in first person and I did have some problems with it in present tense (it flips from past to present based on the time period). I was also really interested in the way this writer wrote about exgay ministries. I am looking forward to reading her other books!
June 9, 2020
I read these books out of order, but it didn’t matter because each one can be read as a stand-alone. It was interesting to go back and see the origins of Luce Hansen and I loved how the author went back and forth in time with this book (Luce at two different ages). Very deep and dark—loved it! I hope the series has many more to come!
December 9, 2017
Meredith Doench is a wonderful writer, and I thoroughly enjoyed Crossed. I highly recommend it!
October 6, 2019
Weird and wonderful. A blast of imagery. A powerful mystery.
June 9, 2021
Maggie O'Dell but make her a lesbian. I loved this book and had a very hard time putting it down. Can't wait to read the sequel
September 14, 2015
Reviewed by Jay Chase for QUEERcentric Books
Crossed by Meredith Doench is a chilling tale of a twisted mind. Agent Luce Hansen returns to her hometown to solve a case of a serial killer who is apparently targeting lesbians and posing their bodies as works of art.
Luce has been hoping to get a case of this kind to advance her career. The problem is that it takes her back to the scene of the crime, where her first true love, Marci, was murdered. The similarities between that case and the recent homicides hit her very close to home.
Throughout the novel, Meredith Doench has expertly intertwined three complex storylines. First, there is the ongoing case with its odd mix of characters. This case is chilling, disturbing, and outright heinous...
Read Jay's full review at QUEERcentric Books
Crossed by Meredith Doench is a chilling tale of a twisted mind. Agent Luce Hansen returns to her hometown to solve a case of a serial killer who is apparently targeting lesbians and posing their bodies as works of art.
Luce has been hoping to get a case of this kind to advance her career. The problem is that it takes her back to the scene of the crime, where her first true love, Marci, was murdered. The similarities between that case and the recent homicides hit her very close to home.
Throughout the novel, Meredith Doench has expertly intertwined three complex storylines. First, there is the ongoing case with its odd mix of characters. This case is chilling, disturbing, and outright heinous...
Read Jay's full review at QUEERcentric Books
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews