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Jamie Sinclair #1
The Kill List
In this taut debut thriller, Nichole Christoff introduces a savvy private investigator with nerves of steel—and a shattered heart.
As a top private eye turned security specialist, Jamie Sinclair has worked hard to put her broken marriage behind her. But when her lying, cheating ex-husband, army colonel Tim Thorp, calls with the news that his three-year-old daughter has been kidnapped, he begs Jamie to come find her. For the sake of the child, Jamie knows she can’t refuse. Now, despite the past, she’ll do everything in her power to bring little Brooke Thorp home alive.
Soon Jamie is back at Fort Leeds—the army base in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens where she grew up, the only child of a two-star general—chasing down leads and forging an uneasy alliance with the stern military police commander and the exacting FBI agent working Brooke’s case. But because Jamie’s father is now a U.S. senator, her recent run-in with a disturbed stalker is all over the news, and when she starts receiving gruesome threats echoing the stalker’s last words, she can’t shake the feeling that her investigation may be about more than a missing girl—and that someone very powerful is hiding something very significant . . . and very sinister.
As a top private eye turned security specialist, Jamie Sinclair has worked hard to put her broken marriage behind her. But when her lying, cheating ex-husband, army colonel Tim Thorp, calls with the news that his three-year-old daughter has been kidnapped, he begs Jamie to come find her. For the sake of the child, Jamie knows she can’t refuse. Now, despite the past, she’ll do everything in her power to bring little Brooke Thorp home alive.
Soon Jamie is back at Fort Leeds—the army base in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens where she grew up, the only child of a two-star general—chasing down leads and forging an uneasy alliance with the stern military police commander and the exacting FBI agent working Brooke’s case. But because Jamie’s father is now a U.S. senator, her recent run-in with a disturbed stalker is all over the news, and when she starts receiving gruesome threats echoing the stalker’s last words, she can’t shake the feeling that her investigation may be about more than a missing girl—and that someone very powerful is hiding something very significant . . . and very sinister.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2014
64 people are currently reading
892 people want to read
About the author
Nichole Christoff
6 books72 followersNichole Christoff is a writer, broadcaster, and military spouse who owes Jane Austen, James Thurber, and Raymond Chandler for her taste in fiction.
She's also the award-winning author of the 6-book Jamie Sinclair series, including The Kill Shot, a Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist, and The Kill Box, a Library Journal "Best Books 2015" pick.
When Nichole isn't at her desk working on her latest novel or teaching genre writing at a midwestern university, she's out in the woods with her ornery English Pointer.
Nic loves to connect with students, writers' groups, and readers' groups just like yours. You can invite her to your meeting, classroom, or conference to chat about writing, books, Jamie, and more.
Find Nichole online at www.nicholechristoff.com where you can sign-up for her free seasonal newsletter, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NicholeChristoff, on Twitter at @NicChristoff, on Instagram @nicchristoff, or drop her a note at nic@nicholechristoff.com.
She's also the award-winning author of the 6-book Jamie Sinclair series, including The Kill Shot, a Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist, and The Kill Box, a Library Journal "Best Books 2015" pick.
When Nichole isn't at her desk working on her latest novel or teaching genre writing at a midwestern university, she's out in the woods with her ornery English Pointer.
Nic loves to connect with students, writers' groups, and readers' groups just like yours. You can invite her to your meeting, classroom, or conference to chat about writing, books, Jamie, and more.
Find Nichole online at www.nicholechristoff.com where you can sign-up for her free seasonal newsletter, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NicholeChristoff, on Twitter at @NicChristoff, on Instagram @nicchristoff, or drop her a note at nic@nicholechristoff.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
April 23, 2015
When I started this book, I figured it was going to be a solid three star read for me. The way it started out was good, but didn't seem that it was going to be spectacular. As I got through the first third, I was really enjoying the book, but felt it was going to be one of those formulaic mysteries we see so much of. In fact, at that point I already knew who the "perp" was and how it was going to end. BOY WAS I WRONG ON BOTH COUNTS
The Kill List is the first book in Nichole Christoff's Jamie Sinclair series and, if this book is any indication, it is a series very worth reading. The above not withstanding, the book did not start out slow, but more "easy". The type of book that you enjoy, but know what to expect. The more I read, though, the more complex the story line became and the more interesting the characters involved. By the time I was at the half-way mark, I couldn't put it down, and ended up finishing the book in one night. This story had more layers than an onion, enough to keep me guessing until the very end. Even better, eventually all of the threads tied together well to make a completely engrossing story. In the end, there was just enough questions answered, and unanswered to leave me satisfied, yet wanting more. An important thing for the first book in a series.
I actually have to say that this book is more than a 4 star read for me, yet not quite a 5 star. In a perfect world I would place it somewhere between 4.25 and 4.5 stars. I love finding new authors that make me sit up and take notice and Nichole Christoff is one. I actually have the second book of the series to read for a review on my blog and I am so glad that I do as I am not ready to let Jamie and her co-horts go yet. If it is anywhere near as good as this one I will be impressed.
The Kill List is the first book in Nichole Christoff's Jamie Sinclair series and, if this book is any indication, it is a series very worth reading. The above not withstanding, the book did not start out slow, but more "easy". The type of book that you enjoy, but know what to expect. The more I read, though, the more complex the story line became and the more interesting the characters involved. By the time I was at the half-way mark, I couldn't put it down, and ended up finishing the book in one night. This story had more layers than an onion, enough to keep me guessing until the very end. Even better, eventually all of the threads tied together well to make a completely engrossing story. In the end, there was just enough questions answered, and unanswered to leave me satisfied, yet wanting more. An important thing for the first book in a series.
I actually have to say that this book is more than a 4 star read for me, yet not quite a 5 star. In a perfect world I would place it somewhere between 4.25 and 4.5 stars. I love finding new authors that make me sit up and take notice and Nichole Christoff is one. I actually have the second book of the series to read for a review on my blog and I am so glad that I do as I am not ready to let Jamie and her co-horts go yet. If it is anywhere near as good as this one I will be impressed.
January 6, 2015
Jamie is the daughter of an ex-army officer who is now a senator. She's also a highly successful security consultant and private investigator. Her cheating ex-husband calls for her help when his daughter is kidnapped from his home on a military base. With military police and FBI also involved, as well as a stalker threatening her, nothing is straightforward or simple for Jamie!
This story is full of mystery and intrigue, keeping you on the edge of your seat at the twists and turns. It is excellently written with suspense, misdirection, threats and even romance! The characters are double-dealers, heroes and victims - all beautifully portrayed, warts and all. This is a story that totally engages the reader. The dynamics and relationships between the different characters, their reactions to events make this a 'must read this to the end' book, one you don't want to put down till all is resolved. I highly recommend this book - and will be looking out for other works by this author in future.
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story is full of mystery and intrigue, keeping you on the edge of your seat at the twists and turns. It is excellently written with suspense, misdirection, threats and even romance! The characters are double-dealers, heroes and victims - all beautifully portrayed, warts and all. This is a story that totally engages the reader. The dynamics and relationships between the different characters, their reactions to events make this a 'must read this to the end' book, one you don't want to put down till all is resolved. I highly recommend this book - and will be looking out for other works by this author in future.
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2014
Bell, Book & Candle | The Kill List Review
This is one thrilling ride that had me tearing through the pages. The premise of the 'kidnapping and the race to rescue the victim' reminds me of Along Came a Spider the Alex Cross novel by James Patterson. However, mystery and thrills aren't the only thing that you'll find in The Kill List. You'll see romantic elements as well as the protagonist reaching a sort of self-discovery by reminiscing about past and present relationships; be it her ex-husband or father etc. Not to mention the heart palpitating action!
The setting taking place at Fort Leeds on the East coast seemed an apt one. The military has always seemed otherworldly and aloof to me; perhaps it's because I didn't grow up near an active Military base. But I digress. What better way to have a kidnapping plot than with the military somehow involved. It's so The General’s Daughter.
As for the characters, I applaud Jamie (the heroine and POV character) for striving to find the missing child — especially since it was her cheating. scumbag of an ex-husband’s child. I loved her no-holds-barred approach to taking out her suspects. Don’t even get me started on her bravery and audaciousness to stand toe-to-toe with the men. Even at her weakest moments, I could sympathize with her - I too have been taught failure is not an option. As for Barrett, her love interest. I admire a man (yes a man, not a boy) who, even though he wants to stop her from being in harm’s way, he also understands it is her job and she can take care of herself. These two, Barrett and Jamie, had spectacular chemistry that had me grinning like the Chesire Cat! Lol
The ex husband got what he deserved! He was so sure that he had a new family after leaving Jamie - he thought wrong. All I can say is that if you start a relationship bad- as Tim did with Brandy- it will end bad. Karma is a witch! Speaking of Brandy, she's lucky she didn't have charges brought up against her-you'll know what I mean when you read the book.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I am the heavyweight champion of guessing. So it should come as no surprise that I guessed who was behind the kidnapping. I won't spoil it though, so don't get too excited! All in all, it’s an engaging novel with a fantastic blend of romance, action, thrills and mystery! That blend was mighty delicious to me!
This is one thrilling ride that had me tearing through the pages. The premise of the 'kidnapping and the race to rescue the victim' reminds me of Along Came a Spider the Alex Cross novel by James Patterson. However, mystery and thrills aren't the only thing that you'll find in The Kill List. You'll see romantic elements as well as the protagonist reaching a sort of self-discovery by reminiscing about past and present relationships; be it her ex-husband or father etc. Not to mention the heart palpitating action!
The setting taking place at Fort Leeds on the East coast seemed an apt one. The military has always seemed otherworldly and aloof to me; perhaps it's because I didn't grow up near an active Military base. But I digress. What better way to have a kidnapping plot than with the military somehow involved. It's so The General’s Daughter.
As for the characters, I applaud Jamie (the heroine and POV character) for striving to find the missing child — especially since it was her cheating. scumbag of an ex-husband’s child. I loved her no-holds-barred approach to taking out her suspects. Don’t even get me started on her bravery and audaciousness to stand toe-to-toe with the men. Even at her weakest moments, I could sympathize with her - I too have been taught failure is not an option. As for Barrett, her love interest. I admire a man (yes a man, not a boy) who, even though he wants to stop her from being in harm’s way, he also understands it is her job and she can take care of herself. These two, Barrett and Jamie, had spectacular chemistry that had me grinning like the Chesire Cat! Lol
The ex husband got what he deserved! He was so sure that he had a new family after leaving Jamie - he thought wrong. All I can say is that if you start a relationship bad- as Tim did with Brandy- it will end bad. Karma is a witch! Speaking of Brandy, she's lucky she didn't have charges brought up against her-you'll know what I mean when you read the book.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I am the heavyweight champion of guessing. So it should come as no surprise that I guessed who was behind the kidnapping. I won't spoil it though, so don't get too excited! All in all, it’s an engaging novel with a fantastic blend of romance, action, thrills and mystery! That blend was mighty delicious to me!
March 1, 2016
A good suspense thriller which kept me reading long into the night. I figured out fairly easily who the kidnapper was but it didn't spoil the story for me. My only quarrel with this book is that the protagonist in a way I found silly and juvenile. I will read the rest of the series but that is why I give this a 3 .5 and not a 4.
June 21, 2015
Not just mystery/thriller.
Many twists and turns, well written words keep me reading. Suspenseful with a touch of romance. But also for me was about our soldiers. So many never came home and many physically or mentally damaged around us trying to live.
Many twists and turns, well written words keep me reading. Suspenseful with a touch of romance. But also for me was about our soldiers. So many never came home and many physically or mentally damaged around us trying to live.
September 29, 2016
Security specialist Jamie Sinclair is called to Fort Leeds, an army base, by her ex-husband to find his kidnapped daughter. Jamie doesn't want to see her ex again but is concerned for the three year old child so agrees to help.
I really enjoyed this book despite some annoying elements. Such as Jamie constantly ignoring advice and rushing headlong into danger and needing to be rescued by her love interest that she doesn't want to get involved with in case one of them gets hurt (rational - not).
What I did like was that there was more than one plot in play and there was a steady supply of suspects to look into. There was also a good dose of drama and a ratcheting up of tension to keep you turning the pages.
I really enjoyed this book despite some annoying elements. Such as Jamie constantly ignoring advice and rushing headlong into danger and needing to be rescued by her love interest that she doesn't want to get involved with in case one of them gets hurt (rational - not).
What I did like was that there was more than one plot in play and there was a steady supply of suspects to look into. There was also a good dose of drama and a ratcheting up of tension to keep you turning the pages.
March 3, 2016
Wasn't sure I would like this book but I do like to read books by authors that I have never read before. So I gave it a try and was not disappointed one bit. The story of course is about Jamie who is an investigator /security specialist who ends up at an Army base her ex-husband commands because he called her in to find his daughter who was kidnapped. Simple ? Right? Wrong....the case gets involved with lies, shootings, and a mystery. There is also a bit of love and compassion thrown in. There are some twists and turns also and a big surprise at the end. I usually read at night....but carried my Kindle around for this book and read every chance I got.
March 28, 2016
Security Specialist Jamie Sinclair gets a phone call from her ex husband that he wants to hire her to find his kidnapped daughter. She may not like him, but she wants to save Brooke, so she heads up to NJ to the base he works on and goes to work. Sometimes coordination with MPs and FBI, sometimes at odds with them. Time is ticking and Her ex is repeatedly lying and withholding information. This is a very fast-paced and enjoyable thriller.
October 18, 2018
What more do you need? - the tension of a time constraint, a vulnerable child, an on/off romance and plenty of action. Enjoyable and fast paced.
December 28, 2014
The Kill List was a solid debut to this new mystery series and was quite the page turner for me. I easily found myself engrossed within its' pages and this didn't let up until the very end. I'm left eager to continue on with this series and read more by this author!
In this book Jamie Sinclair is asked to investigate when her ex-husband's daughter is kidnapped. Despite all of the hard feelings between the two of them, Jamie drops everything to rush to the army base where he and his new family live in search of his three year old daughter. Almost instantly Jamie begins to realize that her ex-husband is hiding something and the questions don't stop there. Soon Jamie finds herself in deathly danger and is unsure who she can trust. Will she be able to find the missing girl before time runs out?
I really enjoyed this book from the very beginning. The author starts this book out with a really intense scene from a case that Jamie is finishing up and it really just takes off from there. This book was filled with suspense along with twists and turns. It was easy to see that there was something off when it came to the little girl's kidnapping but as the reader you don't know what exactly. I was left questioning everything and everyone trying to figure out for myself what could have happened to that little girl. I didn't care for Jamie's ex-husband Tim Thorp at all thanks to all of the secrets that he seems to be hiding. He comes across as quite the jerk but it was the fact that Jamie could never get him to tell the truth despite the missing girl that sealed my dislike for him. These secrets and evasions did add to the atmosphere of the story though and filled the pages with suspense.
One of my favorite parts of this book besides the mystery itself was the relationship that began to develop between Jamie and the military commander Barrett. These two worked really well together and I found it refreshing how trust came slowly between them. I am looking forward to reading future books and hopefully seeing their relationship develop even more! Another thing that really worked well for me in this book was the way the author incorporated the military into the storyline. I learned a bunch of different things in regards to everyday military life that I had never known while reading this book. The author's obvious love and respect for the armed forces was very evident within the pages of this novel. I really enjoyed all of these different aspects and felt that it added to the storyline. The mystery was also very well done with multiple angles all coming together at the end. I had guessed only one portion of it but even then the ending was able to give me a few more surprises!
Overall, I am sure that you can tell how much I enjoyed this book. The mystery was both fast-paced and intense which is definitely the mark of a good book. I'm hoping to see the romance developed more in future books and am eager to read more in this series. All very good things! I can easily recommend this book to other mystery fans! Recommended!
Bottom Line: An intense read that had me flying through the pages!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher as part of a TLC book tour. Thoughts are my own!
In this book Jamie Sinclair is asked to investigate when her ex-husband's daughter is kidnapped. Despite all of the hard feelings between the two of them, Jamie drops everything to rush to the army base where he and his new family live in search of his three year old daughter. Almost instantly Jamie begins to realize that her ex-husband is hiding something and the questions don't stop there. Soon Jamie finds herself in deathly danger and is unsure who she can trust. Will she be able to find the missing girl before time runs out?
I really enjoyed this book from the very beginning. The author starts this book out with a really intense scene from a case that Jamie is finishing up and it really just takes off from there. This book was filled with suspense along with twists and turns. It was easy to see that there was something off when it came to the little girl's kidnapping but as the reader you don't know what exactly. I was left questioning everything and everyone trying to figure out for myself what could have happened to that little girl. I didn't care for Jamie's ex-husband Tim Thorp at all thanks to all of the secrets that he seems to be hiding. He comes across as quite the jerk but it was the fact that Jamie could never get him to tell the truth despite the missing girl that sealed my dislike for him. These secrets and evasions did add to the atmosphere of the story though and filled the pages with suspense.
One of my favorite parts of this book besides the mystery itself was the relationship that began to develop between Jamie and the military commander Barrett. These two worked really well together and I found it refreshing how trust came slowly between them. I am looking forward to reading future books and hopefully seeing their relationship develop even more! Another thing that really worked well for me in this book was the way the author incorporated the military into the storyline. I learned a bunch of different things in regards to everyday military life that I had never known while reading this book. The author's obvious love and respect for the armed forces was very evident within the pages of this novel. I really enjoyed all of these different aspects and felt that it added to the storyline. The mystery was also very well done with multiple angles all coming together at the end. I had guessed only one portion of it but even then the ending was able to give me a few more surprises!
Overall, I am sure that you can tell how much I enjoyed this book. The mystery was both fast-paced and intense which is definitely the mark of a good book. I'm hoping to see the romance developed more in future books and am eager to read more in this series. All very good things! I can easily recommend this book to other mystery fans! Recommended!
Bottom Line: An intense read that had me flying through the pages!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher as part of a TLC book tour. Thoughts are my own!
December 4, 2014
Jamie Sinclair has made a nice living as a securities specialist and private investigator. While on a case tracking a seriously twisted stalker, Jamie receives a call from her ex. Jim's three-year-old daughter has gone missing and he wants Jamie on the case. Still hurt over their split, Jamie is reluctant to offer Jim any help at all, but the fear of what could happen to an innocent child prompts her to accept the case. But when she arrives at Fort Leeds, Jamie immediately begins to suspect that Jim isn't being up front about everything. As more time passes, the danger to the missing girl increases and with the father clearly hiding something, Jamie isn't certain she can solve this one in time.
The Kill List was a nice kick off to a series. Jamie is ballsy and smart, but she's not overly so (which is also nice). The plot is pretty straightforward and the twists are a bit easy to see coming, but all in all it's an exciting read and one that can be finished in one sitting (if you're prone to do so, as I am). There's a romantic aspect that does go a bit overboard in the beginning (EVERYONE loves Jamie, apparently) but once the real romance begins to develop it does so believably and in a way that doesn't overshadow the overall plot.
For a post Thanksgiving and staying-indoors-to-avoid-Black-Friday-madness weekend, I do have to say The Kill List hit the spot. It's a bit light for a mystery/thriller, I wouldn't have complained about more depth of character or plot development, but it did work and I really liked the military aspects. I'll look forward to seeing more of Jamie - and soon! The Kill Shot is due out from Alibi in March.
The Kill List was a nice kick off to a series. Jamie is ballsy and smart, but she's not overly so (which is also nice). The plot is pretty straightforward and the twists are a bit easy to see coming, but all in all it's an exciting read and one that can be finished in one sitting (if you're prone to do so, as I am). There's a romantic aspect that does go a bit overboard in the beginning (EVERYONE loves Jamie, apparently) but once the real romance begins to develop it does so believably and in a way that doesn't overshadow the overall plot.
For a post Thanksgiving and staying-indoors-to-avoid-Black-Friday-madness weekend, I do have to say The Kill List hit the spot. It's a bit light for a mystery/thriller, I wouldn't have complained about more depth of character or plot development, but it did work and I really liked the military aspects. I'll look forward to seeing more of Jamie - and soon! The Kill Shot is due out from Alibi in March.
November 28, 2014
The Kill List is a fast read with plenty of action. There's a lot going on creating suspense, mystery in the packed narrative. You've got the FBI, MP's, a hired private investigator hunting down a kidnapper and the child abducted along with a stalker seeking his prey in Jamie Sinclair. Needless to say there is much to entertain the reader.
I have mixed feelings towards Jamie. I'm thrilled she is a competent PI, a woman in a sea of men but I found her weak regarding her emotional and mental capacity towards men. She clashed with her described persona. Her distraction for romance both past and present, grated on my nerves after a while. The past and the present dominated the romance angle which lead the peruser and the narrative away from the meat of the plot. The plot is exciting and there are loads of twists and turns, admittedly it felt contrived and I did lose interest after some time. At first I was lost as to who the bad guys were until pieces started falling together and I managed to solve the crime, image that, a mere civilian breaking the case.
If you're a fan of police procedural dramas with non stop action, a little romance in a big way, you will thoroughly enjoy The Kill List with the capable Jamie Sinclair entertaining and interesting you. Super fast read.
I have mixed feelings towards Jamie. I'm thrilled she is a competent PI, a woman in a sea of men but I found her weak regarding her emotional and mental capacity towards men. She clashed with her described persona. Her distraction for romance both past and present, grated on my nerves after a while. The past and the present dominated the romance angle which lead the peruser and the narrative away from the meat of the plot. The plot is exciting and there are loads of twists and turns, admittedly it felt contrived and I did lose interest after some time. At first I was lost as to who the bad guys were until pieces started falling together and I managed to solve the crime, image that, a mere civilian breaking the case.
If you're a fan of police procedural dramas with non stop action, a little romance in a big way, you will thoroughly enjoy The Kill List with the capable Jamie Sinclair entertaining and interesting you. Super fast read.
January 27, 2015
The Kill List was a great romantic suspense novel. The tension was spot on in the book and I finished the book in less than a day because I was so caught up in the kidnapping plot.
Jamie was a great lead character. I thought she’d grate on me at first because the author made it seem like every male character fell madly in love with her at first sight. But once the romance became more focused, I got more into the relationship part of the book.
I did like that Jamie was a strong and smart female lead. She has her issues and I thought her perceived flaws gave her a much-needed softness. Her relationships with her dad and ex-husband also made her a sympathetic lead.
Reading about Jamie’s race to save a little girl’s life made the book a very intense read. I thought the twists thrown in during the final chapters of the book elevated the thriller for me. I always love when an author can keep me guessing. This is the first book I’ve read by the author, but it definitely won’t be the last.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
Jamie was a great lead character. I thought she’d grate on me at first because the author made it seem like every male character fell madly in love with her at first sight. But once the romance became more focused, I got more into the relationship part of the book.
I did like that Jamie was a strong and smart female lead. She has her issues and I thought her perceived flaws gave her a much-needed softness. Her relationships with her dad and ex-husband also made her a sympathetic lead.
Reading about Jamie’s race to save a little girl’s life made the book a very intense read. I thought the twists thrown in during the final chapters of the book elevated the thriller for me. I always love when an author can keep me guessing. This is the first book I’ve read by the author, but it definitely won’t be the last.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
December 8, 2014
It's a solid 3.5 read.
*will post thoughts later*
*will post thoughts later*
April 1, 2016
I new author or me. Had a good story line and characters I liked, parts of it I had figured out but others I didn't. Was a quick read and looking forward to the next book.
April 3, 2015
Originally published at Reading Reality
I picked this book because I’m signed up for a tour for the second book in the series (The Kill Shot) next week. At least with series that aren’t too far down the path, I like to start from the beginning.
And what a beginning this one is! Wow! What a ride.
Jamie Sinclair is a fascinating point-of-view character. She is a security consultant as well as a private investigator. She also has a not-so-secret penchant for taking cases that involve child kidnapping. Which is how her ex manages to get her involved with his life again – but not in any way that helps him.
Not that he thinks its going to turn out quite the way that it does. Jamie’s interest is in saving the child, what happens with the adults is only her problem if it contributed to the kidnapping or if it gets in her way.
She has just finished up a case that splashed itself in the headlines. A pedophile was stalking a news anchorwoman in Philadelphia and tried to kidnap her two kids. Jamie got the guy, but in the process, he nearly slit her throat and managed to switch his sick fixation from the newswoman to Jamie.
Let’s just say ick.
When her ex calls and practically orders her to come to New Jersey’s Leeds Army Base to help him, she plans to refuse, until he tells her that his 4-year-old daughter has been kidnapped. It doesn’t matter that this child, and his girlfriend’s pregnancy with same, was the cause of their divorce. All that matters to Jamie is the little girl.
Things get messy fast. Jamie and her ex have serious issues that have nothing to do with the kidnapping. He thinks he can order her around because he was psychologically abusive when they were married. It doesn’t work half so well this time around.
The FBI agent assigned to the case is on that she has crossed paths with before on a similar case. The last time she and Kev Jaeger “worked together” the children died because Kev was just a bit too “by the book”. Unfortunately for Jamie, she and Kev had a one-night stand during the emotional depths of the case. Their professional relationship is tempestuous.
The head of the Military Police on base is someone that Jamie would like to get to know a hell of a lot better. But her reaction to Adam Barrett, and vice versa, is not exactly professional. Jamie is very gun shy of overstepping those boundaries after the fiasco with Kev.
And last, but certainly not least in this case, the job that Jamie’s ex Tim Thorp now holds as base commander at Leeds is the job that Jamie’s father, a retired general who is now a U.S. Senator, used to hold. Jamie grew up in the house that her ex now lives in.
This story has a lot of sticky bits. Everyone is connected to everyone else, in multiple ways, and not necessarily in ways that are going to further anyone’s investigation. This is a very closed little world, and familiarity has bred contempt between a whole lot of the participants.
Jamie is looking for the little girl, Brooke, who has juvenile diabetes and is way too young to manage it herself. If her kidnappers don’t know, or don’t care, Brooke will be dead in three days.
The case lasts for a week. Hope fades. But complications arise is flocks.
Because this isn’t about little Brooke. The case is about Jamie’s ex Tim Thorpe and whatever the hell he did to wind up with stacks of cash in his safe. He’s lying to everyone, and it looks like his child has been caught in the crossfire.
Meanwhile, Jamie’s stalker is still out there. A homeless psychotic in Philly couldn’t possibly have a connection to a child abduction case in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens. Or could he?
Just like Tim Thorp’s web of lies, this case has a lot more threads than anyone could have imagined.
Escape Rating B+: I liked this story, and I liked Jamie. The thriller aspect kept me pulling out the book in unlikely places just so I could finally find out who done it, and whether I had guessed anything right. (The answer is both yes and no).
I did figure out what Thorp was hiding, and where the money came from. In the end, he’s revealed to be slime, but it is pretty obvious that he is a lying scumbag from the very beginning – it just takes a while to zero in on what he’s lying about that is getting everyone in his orbit shot at and his daughter kidnapped.
Jamie is a terrific character. She has been through a lot, and has emerged strong. Sometimes a little too tough and strong for her own good. But he stands on her own two feet, except when her father enters the picture.
There’s a strong thread in this story about psychological abuse and the effects it has on adult children who have survived. Jamie is not the only person in this story who was abused as a child, and the way that they have each been affected is a key part of figuring out who, and more importantly why, all the perpetrators are in this mess.
It’s also pretty clear that Jamie’s messed up relationship with her father led directly to marriage to another man just like him, so that the cycle continued. Jamie’s better, but I don’t see her as completely out. Her dad’s constant negative opinion of her, even when he is not present, still rules a lot of her behavior.
I even liked the way that Jamie’s potential relationship with MP Adam Barrett is explored slowly and carefully. They both have a lot of baggage that makes relationships difficult. The middle of this case was not a good place to start.
The thing that bothered me about Jamie is that every man she meets seems to fall in love with her. The cop that she regularly works with in Philly is definitely carrying a torch for her, and is both obvious and sad about it. Jamie isn’t encouraging him, but she also still has to work with him and needs his friendship.
The FBI agent Kev Jaeger is also falling all over her, and falls all over himself when Adam Barrett starts showing an interest. Kev’s jealousy gets in the way of the investigation at some points.
Then there’s Adam Barrett. Jamie and Adam meet and fall instantly into something which they both resist as long as they can. While I liked their relationship, it was one too many. If romantic part of this romantic suspense plot was Adam and Jamie, then someone else shouldn’t have been in this picture. Probably the poor, sad Philly cop. He could have been fatherly concerned instead of romantically concerned and still served the same place in the story.
The way that all the cases finally wrapped up held a LOT of surprises. Even though the long arm of coincidence meant that they had to come together in the end, the way they came together caught me by surprise.
I picked this book because I’m signed up for a tour for the second book in the series (The Kill Shot) next week. At least with series that aren’t too far down the path, I like to start from the beginning.
And what a beginning this one is! Wow! What a ride.
Jamie Sinclair is a fascinating point-of-view character. She is a security consultant as well as a private investigator. She also has a not-so-secret penchant for taking cases that involve child kidnapping. Which is how her ex manages to get her involved with his life again – but not in any way that helps him.
Not that he thinks its going to turn out quite the way that it does. Jamie’s interest is in saving the child, what happens with the adults is only her problem if it contributed to the kidnapping or if it gets in her way.
She has just finished up a case that splashed itself in the headlines. A pedophile was stalking a news anchorwoman in Philadelphia and tried to kidnap her two kids. Jamie got the guy, but in the process, he nearly slit her throat and managed to switch his sick fixation from the newswoman to Jamie.
Let’s just say ick.
When her ex calls and practically orders her to come to New Jersey’s Leeds Army Base to help him, she plans to refuse, until he tells her that his 4-year-old daughter has been kidnapped. It doesn’t matter that this child, and his girlfriend’s pregnancy with same, was the cause of their divorce. All that matters to Jamie is the little girl.
Things get messy fast. Jamie and her ex have serious issues that have nothing to do with the kidnapping. He thinks he can order her around because he was psychologically abusive when they were married. It doesn’t work half so well this time around.
The FBI agent assigned to the case is on that she has crossed paths with before on a similar case. The last time she and Kev Jaeger “worked together” the children died because Kev was just a bit too “by the book”. Unfortunately for Jamie, she and Kev had a one-night stand during the emotional depths of the case. Their professional relationship is tempestuous.
The head of the Military Police on base is someone that Jamie would like to get to know a hell of a lot better. But her reaction to Adam Barrett, and vice versa, is not exactly professional. Jamie is very gun shy of overstepping those boundaries after the fiasco with Kev.
And last, but certainly not least in this case, the job that Jamie’s ex Tim Thorp now holds as base commander at Leeds is the job that Jamie’s father, a retired general who is now a U.S. Senator, used to hold. Jamie grew up in the house that her ex now lives in.
This story has a lot of sticky bits. Everyone is connected to everyone else, in multiple ways, and not necessarily in ways that are going to further anyone’s investigation. This is a very closed little world, and familiarity has bred contempt between a whole lot of the participants.
Jamie is looking for the little girl, Brooke, who has juvenile diabetes and is way too young to manage it herself. If her kidnappers don’t know, or don’t care, Brooke will be dead in three days.
The case lasts for a week. Hope fades. But complications arise is flocks.
Because this isn’t about little Brooke. The case is about Jamie’s ex Tim Thorpe and whatever the hell he did to wind up with stacks of cash in his safe. He’s lying to everyone, and it looks like his child has been caught in the crossfire.
Meanwhile, Jamie’s stalker is still out there. A homeless psychotic in Philly couldn’t possibly have a connection to a child abduction case in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens. Or could he?
Just like Tim Thorp’s web of lies, this case has a lot more threads than anyone could have imagined.
Escape Rating B+: I liked this story, and I liked Jamie. The thriller aspect kept me pulling out the book in unlikely places just so I could finally find out who done it, and whether I had guessed anything right. (The answer is both yes and no).
I did figure out what Thorp was hiding, and where the money came from. In the end, he’s revealed to be slime, but it is pretty obvious that he is a lying scumbag from the very beginning – it just takes a while to zero in on what he’s lying about that is getting everyone in his orbit shot at and his daughter kidnapped.
Jamie is a terrific character. She has been through a lot, and has emerged strong. Sometimes a little too tough and strong for her own good. But he stands on her own two feet, except when her father enters the picture.
There’s a strong thread in this story about psychological abuse and the effects it has on adult children who have survived. Jamie is not the only person in this story who was abused as a child, and the way that they have each been affected is a key part of figuring out who, and more importantly why, all the perpetrators are in this mess.
It’s also pretty clear that Jamie’s messed up relationship with her father led directly to marriage to another man just like him, so that the cycle continued. Jamie’s better, but I don’t see her as completely out. Her dad’s constant negative opinion of her, even when he is not present, still rules a lot of her behavior.
I even liked the way that Jamie’s potential relationship with MP Adam Barrett is explored slowly and carefully. They both have a lot of baggage that makes relationships difficult. The middle of this case was not a good place to start.
The thing that bothered me about Jamie is that every man she meets seems to fall in love with her. The cop that she regularly works with in Philly is definitely carrying a torch for her, and is both obvious and sad about it. Jamie isn’t encouraging him, but she also still has to work with him and needs his friendship.
The FBI agent Kev Jaeger is also falling all over her, and falls all over himself when Adam Barrett starts showing an interest. Kev’s jealousy gets in the way of the investigation at some points.
Then there’s Adam Barrett. Jamie and Adam meet and fall instantly into something which they both resist as long as they can. While I liked their relationship, it was one too many. If romantic part of this romantic suspense plot was Adam and Jamie, then someone else shouldn’t have been in this picture. Probably the poor, sad Philly cop. He could have been fatherly concerned instead of romantically concerned and still served the same place in the story.
The way that all the cases finally wrapped up held a LOT of surprises. Even though the long arm of coincidence meant that they had to come together in the end, the way they came together caught me by surprise.
May 14, 2018
I'm in a reading slump. But I was traveling and needed to something to read on the plane when I wasn't napping. So I opened up this title. It's a little too early, I think, to tell but this title may have been the push I needed to get out of my slump and back into my best habit.
I read it in one sitting, forget napping on the plane when Christoff writes such strong plots and characters to go with it. I was engrossed.
Jamie Sinclair is a private eye turned security specialist. I read the third book in the series a couple of years back when I didn't realize there was a book 1&2. (There's now, btw, 6 books in the series.) so I knew I would need to backtrack at some point, read books 1&2 so I would be caught up on certain timelines. I think its possible to read them as stand alone's with the exception of a relationship storyline that continues in each title.
In this debut title Jamie is called to Fort Leeds on a kidnapping case. The little girl that has been kidnapped is the daughter of her ex-husband. But Jamie can't say no to children so she accepts the case. As details and clues present themselves it becomes clear that the kidnapping is only part of what's actually going on in the life of her ex-husband. Sometimes what you can see on the surface is just a mask for what is really going on. The only thing Jamie cares about, however, is finding this little girl before she dies from neglect - she has a life threatening disease, does the kidnapper know or care? Will the kidnapper be able to do what is necessary to keep the little girl alive? And does the disappearance of this little girl relate to the high number of deaths and deployments Fort Leeds has been experiencing? Jamie believes if she uncovers one secret the rest will follow.
I read it in one sitting, forget napping on the plane when Christoff writes such strong plots and characters to go with it. I was engrossed.
Jamie Sinclair is a private eye turned security specialist. I read the third book in the series a couple of years back when I didn't realize there was a book 1&2. (There's now, btw, 6 books in the series.) so I knew I would need to backtrack at some point, read books 1&2 so I would be caught up on certain timelines. I think its possible to read them as stand alone's with the exception of a relationship storyline that continues in each title.
In this debut title Jamie is called to Fort Leeds on a kidnapping case. The little girl that has been kidnapped is the daughter of her ex-husband. But Jamie can't say no to children so she accepts the case. As details and clues present themselves it becomes clear that the kidnapping is only part of what's actually going on in the life of her ex-husband. Sometimes what you can see on the surface is just a mask for what is really going on. The only thing Jamie cares about, however, is finding this little girl before she dies from neglect - she has a life threatening disease, does the kidnapper know or care? Will the kidnapper be able to do what is necessary to keep the little girl alive? And does the disappearance of this little girl relate to the high number of deaths and deployments Fort Leeds has been experiencing? Jamie believes if she uncovers one secret the rest will follow.
June 19, 2021
Best thriller I've read in quite some time!
I ended up eating lunch with the author at a writing conference nearly 2 years ago now, and found her such a nice Southern lady (at least to my Canadian ears her accent sounded Southern). I only found out afterwards that she was also an invited speaker, and hosting one of the workshops - it was also great. My library didn't have this first book in the series so I was slow at getting to it, but now I've finally gotten to it and regretted I didn't sooner. It's everything I wanted in a thriller/romantic suspense.
First off, there's the really great page-turning writing where things just keep getting worse for our heroine. Like it starts with a terrible issue (that would already be interesting to read about), but then also this issue, and then holy crap THAT issue. And you think how could all of these things possibly tie together, but in the end everything wraps so nicely. . . or so you think, and you're 25 pages away from the end of the book and you think "Wait a minute, what about that subplot?" and boom, boom, boom, more twists and wraps.
And second, the way it melds in big issues - like military corruption, PTSD, domestic violence, fatherhood - is very smart and makes it feel like a fast-paced popcorn read with a deep soul. I'd recommend it!
I ended up eating lunch with the author at a writing conference nearly 2 years ago now, and found her such a nice Southern lady (at least to my Canadian ears her accent sounded Southern). I only found out afterwards that she was also an invited speaker, and hosting one of the workshops - it was also great. My library didn't have this first book in the series so I was slow at getting to it, but now I've finally gotten to it and regretted I didn't sooner. It's everything I wanted in a thriller/romantic suspense.
First off, there's the really great page-turning writing where things just keep getting worse for our heroine. Like it starts with a terrible issue (that would already be interesting to read about), but then also this issue, and then holy crap THAT issue. And you think how could all of these things possibly tie together, but in the end everything wraps so nicely. . . or so you think, and you're 25 pages away from the end of the book and you think "Wait a minute, what about that subplot?" and boom, boom, boom, more twists and wraps.
And second, the way it melds in big issues - like military corruption, PTSD, domestic violence, fatherhood - is very smart and makes it feel like a fast-paced popcorn read with a deep soul. I'd recommend it!
October 8, 2017
This one started out slow for me. I even contemplated dnfing it for a bit, but something kept me reading. Jamie was an interesting character, she played her cards close to the chest. It seems like she had good reason for that as she had been screwed over by those close to her in the past.
While both crimes were bad, I felt like the missing little girl was more fraught with tension. Jamie's ex was a bastard, I was a bit stunned to see that he asked her for help and then how he treated her. I loved that Jamie pushed him with each new fact she found out, that she found out his darkest secrets and helped call him to task. It annoyed me that while he lost quite a bit it looks like he's still coming out ok.
The creepy stalked case was crazy. There were so many twists and turns that I wasn't sure what to think. I was glad to see how it ended.
I'm looking forward to the next book. I want to see how Jamie answers the question put to her right at the end.
While both crimes were bad, I felt like the missing little girl was more fraught with tension. Jamie's ex was a bastard, I was a bit stunned to see that he asked her for help and then how he treated her. I loved that Jamie pushed him with each new fact she found out, that she found out his darkest secrets and helped call him to task. It annoyed me that while he lost quite a bit it looks like he's still coming out ok.
The creepy stalked case was crazy. There were so many twists and turns that I wasn't sure what to think. I was glad to see how it ended.
I'm looking forward to the next book. I want to see how Jamie answers the question put to her right at the end.
August 7, 2022
This book was shockingly slow given both the genre and the actual storyline. It should have clipped right along, and yet it bogged itself down in tangential internal monologue and repetitive exposition. And then to add insult to injury, most of the plot twists were way to convenient and at the same time come out of left field with no regard for foreshadowing, leaving the intelligent reader feeling cheated out of what could have been a good mystery. It is possible that the author gets better with subsequent outings, but I’m not sure I’m willing to risk it. My time is more valuable than that.
June 28, 2017
Finished reading The Kill List by Nichole Christoff. She's an author I "met" through Twitter and added to my list of summer reads featuring authors found on social media. I absolutely loved this book! I found myself not only smiling throughout this read, but grinning at the subtle humor. I will definitely download The Kill Shot.
BTW, Jamie's Guy Friday, Matty, should get his own spin-off one day!
BTW, Jamie's Guy Friday, Matty, should get his own spin-off one day!
February 28, 2018
Good, engrossing thriller with a touch of romance. An enjoyable read with plenty of suspense and unexpected turns. I have read another in the series, but will have to buy more as the Library doesn’t stock them, sadly.
August 29, 2018
The Kill List
This is the first book I’ve read from Nichole, but it won’t be the last. I enjoy the way her story moved from one theory to another. I plan on starting the next Jamie Sinclair novel now.
This is the first book I’ve read from Nichole, but it won’t be the last. I enjoy the way her story moved from one theory to another. I plan on starting the next Jamie Sinclair novel now.
September 13, 2022
This one is a good mystery with many twists—it held my interest all through. Apparently it is the first of a series andI plan to look for the others. Loved the main character Jamiesnd the setting on army base.
March 27, 2023
A different type of police procedural for me, I liked it. Didn't take me long to adapt to the author's style. It's worth the read. On to the second book in the series "The Kill Shot".
4 solid stars
4 solid stars
June 2, 2017
The Kill List review
The Kill List is the first book in the Jamie Sinclair series written by author Nichole Christoff. Great characters and storyline.
The Kill List is the first book in the Jamie Sinclair series written by author Nichole Christoff. Great characters and storyline.
November 19, 2017
Page turner
I enjoyed the strong but vulnerable female protagonist . And it was well written — excitement, tenderness, wit.. thrilling ride.
I enjoyed the strong but vulnerable female protagonist . And it was well written — excitement, tenderness, wit.. thrilling ride.
November 6, 2019
Hard to put down!
Kept my attention. Was hard to put down. Highly recommend it. Will add her to my favorite authors list. Enjoy!
Kept my attention. Was hard to put down. Highly recommend it. Will add her to my favorite authors list. Enjoy!
December 17, 2014
The Kill List, Nichole Christoff’s debut thriller, is a gritty and entertaining mystery and I had a great time reading it. I loved its lead character Jamie Sinclair and her main co-stars Lieutenant Colonel Adam Barrett and FBI Agent Kevin Jaeger. The chemistry between Jamie and Barrett in particular was wonderful. Yet there was also one big thing that bugged me about the narrative and while it didn't affect my enjoyment of the story, I did find myself pondering it while thinking about it after I finished the book. Discussing it here might be considered a spoiler for an aspect of the book – I don’t think it impacts on the mystery, so much as on character development – but in any case, be aware the next paragraph might be slightly spoilery!
The thing that bothered me so much was Jamie's infertility. Not the fact that Jamie is unable to bear children. Nor that this is incredibly painful for her, because she does want children, and that it broke up her marriage, but the fact that it is used as her motivation in the cases she will or won’t accept and the decisions she makes regarding her love life. And of course, the fact that her infertility has been used to make her feel a failure by some very important people in her life. She blames herself for the break-up of her marriage, because she feels it was caused by her infertility, not by the fact that her ex is a borderline abusive boor. Shouldn't Jamie, or any woman be more than her reproductive status? Perhaps this is exactly the point Christoff was trying to make, but I found myself very conflicted by the way the issue was focussed on, even if Christoff depicts Jamie’s feelings and sadness very compellingly and I really felt deeply for Jamie and empathised with her.
That issue aside, I really enjoyed The Kill List. Jamie is a fun protagonist, who is very capable at her job, and is genuinely kick-ass. At the same time, she has some major issues, ones that I found interesting, even if problematic (see above) and I liked that she was forced to deal with some of them head on in this novel. Not only does she have to face the ex-husband who left her broken up, she also has to deal with the cold-hearted father, who chose his side over hers. Yet there is also some more pleasant things on the horizon for Jamie, like Lt. Col. Adam Barrett. Jamie and Barrett have amazing chemistry between her and Barrett and I really liked the way their relationship evolved. Christoff depicts them as mature, adult people, who both have a past and the accompanying baggage, yet they both recognise a good thing when they see it. I loved Barrett, I thought he was an interesting character beyond his love interest status. His past experiences, especially those while serving overseas and the events of what happened when he returned, have shaped him and not always for the better, yet he is a good man. One character I really hope we’ll learn more of in future books is Jamie’s assistant Matty. An army veteran, he was a fun character and I really wanted to know more about how he and Jamie got to know each other and what his story was.
Christoff's focus on PTSD and the effects tours of duty have on the military and their families was fascinating and quite heartbreaking. We often learn about the times when it goes wrong explosively, but we rarely learn about the cases where people really struggle with PTSD, are hurt by it, but find a way through together, perhaps not always to a happily ever after, but at least to a semi-normal life. Another aspect she highlights is that of those who are left behind briefing when a soldier loses their life on the battle field, their anger and grief, and their need to know why and whether their loved one’s death had meaning. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to lose someone that way, but I think Christoff conveyed the emotions well.
The Kill List’s plot was interesting. There were in fact not one case but three and they all connect in unexpected ways. There were some tightly knotted twists in the story and while one character didn’t surprise me with his duplicity, the way he was connected to the case was very, very surprising. I also liked how Jamie’s prejudices and memories of both her ex and the base where she grew up, colour her judgement and serve both as a help and a hindrance in the investigation.
I really had a good time with The Kill List and I am very much looking forward to the second Jamie Sinclair book. I can't wait to discover how things develop between Jamie and Barrett. If you like your mystery sautéed with a good helping of romance, The Kill List is definitely one to check out.
This book was provided for review by the publisher as part of a blog tour.
The thing that bothered me so much was Jamie's infertility. Not the fact that Jamie is unable to bear children. Nor that this is incredibly painful for her, because she does want children, and that it broke up her marriage, but the fact that it is used as her motivation in the cases she will or won’t accept and the decisions she makes regarding her love life. And of course, the fact that her infertility has been used to make her feel a failure by some very important people in her life. She blames herself for the break-up of her marriage, because she feels it was caused by her infertility, not by the fact that her ex is a borderline abusive boor. Shouldn't Jamie, or any woman be more than her reproductive status? Perhaps this is exactly the point Christoff was trying to make, but I found myself very conflicted by the way the issue was focussed on, even if Christoff depicts Jamie’s feelings and sadness very compellingly and I really felt deeply for Jamie and empathised with her.
That issue aside, I really enjoyed The Kill List. Jamie is a fun protagonist, who is very capable at her job, and is genuinely kick-ass. At the same time, she has some major issues, ones that I found interesting, even if problematic (see above) and I liked that she was forced to deal with some of them head on in this novel. Not only does she have to face the ex-husband who left her broken up, she also has to deal with the cold-hearted father, who chose his side over hers. Yet there is also some more pleasant things on the horizon for Jamie, like Lt. Col. Adam Barrett. Jamie and Barrett have amazing chemistry between her and Barrett and I really liked the way their relationship evolved. Christoff depicts them as mature, adult people, who both have a past and the accompanying baggage, yet they both recognise a good thing when they see it. I loved Barrett, I thought he was an interesting character beyond his love interest status. His past experiences, especially those while serving overseas and the events of what happened when he returned, have shaped him and not always for the better, yet he is a good man. One character I really hope we’ll learn more of in future books is Jamie’s assistant Matty. An army veteran, he was a fun character and I really wanted to know more about how he and Jamie got to know each other and what his story was.
Christoff's focus on PTSD and the effects tours of duty have on the military and their families was fascinating and quite heartbreaking. We often learn about the times when it goes wrong explosively, but we rarely learn about the cases where people really struggle with PTSD, are hurt by it, but find a way through together, perhaps not always to a happily ever after, but at least to a semi-normal life. Another aspect she highlights is that of those who are left behind briefing when a soldier loses their life on the battle field, their anger and grief, and their need to know why and whether their loved one’s death had meaning. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to lose someone that way, but I think Christoff conveyed the emotions well.
The Kill List’s plot was interesting. There were in fact not one case but three and they all connect in unexpected ways. There were some tightly knotted twists in the story and while one character didn’t surprise me with his duplicity, the way he was connected to the case was very, very surprising. I also liked how Jamie’s prejudices and memories of both her ex and the base where she grew up, colour her judgement and serve both as a help and a hindrance in the investigation.
I really had a good time with The Kill List and I am very much looking forward to the second Jamie Sinclair book. I can't wait to discover how things develop between Jamie and Barrett. If you like your mystery sautéed with a good helping of romance, The Kill List is definitely one to check out.
This book was provided for review by the publisher as part of a blog tour.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2016
Jamie Sinclair is an unusual woman. The daughter of a former General turned U. S. Senator, ex-wife of Army officer Tim Thorpe, she's worked hard to build her own security/private investigator business. Never able to please her father, no matter how hard she tried, she'd had it ingrained into her that failure was not an option. This was one reason she took risks she probably shouldn't take and how she ended up with a madman after her. When a popular news anchor is stalked and the man gets close, too close, to the woman's children, Jamie dons a blonde wig and poses as the woman in order to draw the man out so authorities can deal with him. Unfortunately, he takes her by surprise by hiding in the news anchor's car and Jamie barely makes it out alive. Once the guy is in custody and no longer a threat, she's free to take her next case.
She's in for a big surprise when her ex-husband calls, begging for her help. His three year old daughter has been kidnapped. The little girl has juvenile diabetes and needs her medicine so time is of the essence. While seeing Tim again is the last thing she wants to do -they didn't part on good terms - she agrees for the sake of the child. No one knows how difficult a job this is for Jamie. Not only did Tim cheat on her with the woman who is now his wife, but he even went so far as to have a child with her. This was one reason Jamie's marriage failed. Jamie discovered she couldn't have children then Tim cheated and got another woman pregnant. Needless to say, things are extremely awkward when she arrives at the army base where Tim is stationed. She can tell right away he is keeping something from her even though he swears he's not. This amps up her resentment towards him even more. In addition, she butts heads with Adam Barrett, a career soldier that insists on working the case with her. He ends up being a love interest in the end whom, I am glad to see, will be in the next book in the series.
As Jamie works to find Tim's daughter and the list of suspects piles up, she takes a break just long enough to go see the madman she helped capture arraigned in court. What she isn't prepared for, however, is for the guy to jump his attorney, grab a gun off a guard, and take Jamie hostage. She ends up freeing herself but the man somehow gets away. And judging by the notes Jamie receives, he's coming for her. So in addition to trying to find a little girl with certain people out to stop her, she's also constantly looking over her shoulder, wondering just when the crazy man will strike again.
This was fast paced with plenty of action and suspense. I really like Jamie. There's just so many layers to her character and it was fun getting to know exactly what made her tick. Her relationship with her father was definitely complicated and it's obvious given the dialogue between Jamie and her ex that their relationship had been volatile, to say the least. Now she finds herself attracted to Barrett, another soldier, which causes her to question her sanity. Even though Adam is not like her father or Tim at all, he's made it clear this is his life, take it or leave it. It was quite interesting watching Jamie and Adam dance around each other, feeling one another out, trying to decide whether or not to get involved. And often times butting heads while working together. Jamie was all about bending the rules once in awhile, Adam lived and died by the rules.
I also liked the secondary characters in this one. Matty worked for Jamie and looked out for her in much the way a big brother might watch out for his sister. Then there was Pearce, the army chaplain, who had helped Jamie through some difficult times when she lived on base. They were once close and Jamie is happy to see him again. Kevin Jaeger was an FBI agent assigned to the case. He and Jamie had a one night stand on a previous case they worked together. When the case went sour and three little boys drowned, Jamie blamed Kev and she's never been able to get over it. And then there is Tim. While I felt for him, seeing as how much he loved his daughter, he was still an obnoxious jerk, making me wonder how Jamie ended up with him in the first place.
This was a sure fire winner for me. Once I started I didn't want to put it down. The army base setting was interesting and something you don't get every day.
She's in for a big surprise when her ex-husband calls, begging for her help. His three year old daughter has been kidnapped. The little girl has juvenile diabetes and needs her medicine so time is of the essence. While seeing Tim again is the last thing she wants to do -they didn't part on good terms - she agrees for the sake of the child. No one knows how difficult a job this is for Jamie. Not only did Tim cheat on her with the woman who is now his wife, but he even went so far as to have a child with her. This was one reason Jamie's marriage failed. Jamie discovered she couldn't have children then Tim cheated and got another woman pregnant. Needless to say, things are extremely awkward when she arrives at the army base where Tim is stationed. She can tell right away he is keeping something from her even though he swears he's not. This amps up her resentment towards him even more. In addition, she butts heads with Adam Barrett, a career soldier that insists on working the case with her. He ends up being a love interest in the end whom, I am glad to see, will be in the next book in the series.
As Jamie works to find Tim's daughter and the list of suspects piles up, she takes a break just long enough to go see the madman she helped capture arraigned in court. What she isn't prepared for, however, is for the guy to jump his attorney, grab a gun off a guard, and take Jamie hostage. She ends up freeing herself but the man somehow gets away. And judging by the notes Jamie receives, he's coming for her. So in addition to trying to find a little girl with certain people out to stop her, she's also constantly looking over her shoulder, wondering just when the crazy man will strike again.
This was fast paced with plenty of action and suspense. I really like Jamie. There's just so many layers to her character and it was fun getting to know exactly what made her tick. Her relationship with her father was definitely complicated and it's obvious given the dialogue between Jamie and her ex that their relationship had been volatile, to say the least. Now she finds herself attracted to Barrett, another soldier, which causes her to question her sanity. Even though Adam is not like her father or Tim at all, he's made it clear this is his life, take it or leave it. It was quite interesting watching Jamie and Adam dance around each other, feeling one another out, trying to decide whether or not to get involved. And often times butting heads while working together. Jamie was all about bending the rules once in awhile, Adam lived and died by the rules.
I also liked the secondary characters in this one. Matty worked for Jamie and looked out for her in much the way a big brother might watch out for his sister. Then there was Pearce, the army chaplain, who had helped Jamie through some difficult times when she lived on base. They were once close and Jamie is happy to see him again. Kevin Jaeger was an FBI agent assigned to the case. He and Jamie had a one night stand on a previous case they worked together. When the case went sour and three little boys drowned, Jamie blamed Kev and she's never been able to get over it. And then there is Tim. While I felt for him, seeing as how much he loved his daughter, he was still an obnoxious jerk, making me wonder how Jamie ended up with him in the first place.
This was a sure fire winner for me. Once I started I didn't want to put it down. The army base setting was interesting and something you don't get every day.
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