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Olivia Miller #1

The Killings

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This story takes place during the fall of Olivia Miller's senior year of college. Arriving at a Halloween party with her friend Melissa, the young women discover a gruesome crime scene in the hosts' living room. As Olivia and her friends try to uncover clues that will lead to the serial killer, their investigation into the murders may be putting their own lives in danger. This is a prequel to the Olivia Miller Mystery series. Each book is a standalone mystery.

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 2015

409 people are currently reading
386 people want to read

About the author

J.A. Whiting

168 books319 followers
USA TODAY Bestselling Author and Amazon All Star, J A Whiting is the author of over 100 cozy mysteries. She lives with her family in Massachusetts. Whiting loves spending time with family, reading, traveling, cycling, following New England sports teams, exercising, and being outdoors.

For exclusive content and new book announcements please visit www.jawhiting.com and sign up for my mailing list.

Also please "like" my Facebook page www.facebook.com/jawhitingauthor

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Community Reviews

5 stars
277 (35%)
4 stars
234 (30%)
3 stars
186 (24%)
2 stars
57 (7%)
1 star
16 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for jan bennett.
2 reviews1 follower
March 4, 2015
Good. Read

Page Turner "who don it", good characters that keeps you guessing. Plot is intriguing and well written. Want to read the next book.
960 reviews4 followers
March 21, 2025
Definitely Not A Cozy Mystery

"The Killings" is Book 1 of the Olivia Miller Mystery series by J. A. Whiting. This author writes the best Cozy Mysteries; however, this series is definitely NOT a cozy mystery, but an intense psychological thriller, where the number of dead bodies just keeps rising. It is up to Olivia Miller to figure out who the murderer is before she and her friends become the next target. I gave this book 4 stars.
Profile Image for gary c lehn.
1,724 reviews7 followers
March 19, 2018
Great story...

I enjoyed this story of adventure and suspense, the author has been very good at keeping the reader very entertained. J. A. Whiting was great at putting a mystery together a wonderful at keeping the reader guessing.
332 reviews1 follower
July 10, 2018
An excellent mystery!

The characters in this mystery are very likeable . The plot is full of twists and turns! I was surprised by the end of the book and who the villisn was. Looking forward to the next book!
1 review
March 24, 2019
But to wish washey not much. Getup and go in the story but like children's nursery time

Bit like a child's nursery ryme not much umph in story won't be reading any more of this carator story line
90 reviews
April 12, 2020
Just ok

It was an easy read. Storyline was easy to follow. I liked that the action started from the get go. I figured out pretty early on who the killer was, even with the stalkerish behaviour of the formal guy thrown in there to confuse us. I enjoyed it
Profile Image for Karen.
Author 19 books132 followers
February 1, 2018
Great introductory story to the olivia miller mysteries and a far cry from her cozies. Ms Whiting can do it all.
Profile Image for Shannie.
643 reviews
July 12, 2018
This book was to slow for me & I knew who the killer was. Not sure if I’ll read the next book.
Profile Image for Jean Hess.
32 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2018
Complex writing.

The plot moved swiftly but maintained a compelling storyline. The suspense was heightened and the characters believable. A great read.
Profile Image for Linda Rainey.
2,348 reviews21 followers
April 13, 2020
Good Whodunit

This is a good whodunit filled with plenty of suspense ,twists and turns.
This book is recommended for those who love suspense.
8 reviews
May 27, 2021
Ok but only just.

Seemed like there was a self imposed limit on the number of descriptive words-maybe 10 to a chapter? Plot was ok but very linear and just not very engaging.
Profile Image for Dharia Scarab.
3,255 reviews8 followers
March 2, 2017
Not my favorite series by this author.


Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
Profile Image for nora m malotte.
294 reviews6 followers
July 28, 2016
T he Killings...Book 1

This book opened many questions for me , about myself. Would I have done this or that. Still do not know. But I believe they erred when they failed to tell police what they knew and allowed them to do the investigation. They girls have lost 3 friends to a serial killer but are determined to find and see that the killer is caught. The only thing slowing them down is their fear. This cozy MYSTERY is also a THRILLER and will have you guessing to the end. Enjoyable read....I RECOMMEND
Profile Image for Charlene Davis.
1,143 reviews5 followers
August 7, 2016
Why not a 5

I enjoyed the book a lot and Olivia makes a great kick butt heroin. The thing that bothered me is that everyone is dying but not even one scene where a detective is really hardcore questioning the suspects. Its like they just let this college girl solve it all alone. That story line could have been easily added without taking any gusto from Olivia.
Profile Image for Dee Cash.
567 reviews2 followers
August 17, 2016
Story line good.

In The Killings, I thought the story line was good although it was obvious to me who did it. I may be crazy. I haven't googled it and JA Whiting might have written a hundred books. But the writing seemed that of an amateur to me. If that is actually the case then it was a great first book.
Profile Image for Sandra Knapp.
530 reviews14 followers
August 28, 2016
Pretty good!

Considering all the main characters in this mystery are college students, I am assuming it was written for a much younger reader than I am, but it was still rather delightful. It held my interest, and piqued my curiosity enough that I finished it rather quickly. And best of all, a satisfactory ending. I'd call that a tale well told. :)
486 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2016
Halloween Party

Two young men are killed, the night of a Halloween party. No one seems to know who or why they are killed. And after another young man is killed it seems the killer is only after males. Olivia and her friends, Melissa, Ynes and Kayla try to figure out whose doing it. A good story with plenty of suspense and suspects.
Profile Image for Kari Gibbs.
512 reviews10 followers
October 18, 2016
This was a nice little haunting read to kick off fall and Halloween festivities. I really like the characters in the book, however they push the limits of being plum crazy and trying to solve a crime themselves. I had a pretty good idea who the killer was, but the book kept me reading until the end.
1,444 reviews11 followers
July 27, 2015
Dramatic in parts

Easy to read Olivia was lacking substance it didn't make sense in some parts. The murders were a little gruesome but the killer identity was cleverly disguised
40 reviews
September 6, 2015
Kept me up

Kept me up until I could finish reading this suspenseful story. I read one of J A Whiting's stories and had to buy the rest.
408 reviews5 followers
November 12, 2015
Good story

Sweet characters, good editing. I figured out the killer right away. Enjoyable and light read. I will check out the next book in this series.
57 reviews1 follower
February 2, 2016
Good read

I am hooked on this lady's books now. Read 6 of them and am off to get more . She hasn't let me down yet.
627 reviews3 followers
April 19, 2016
Chilling

The book actually deserves 4 stars but I don't like feeling terrorized. Well written, interesting characters will definitely be a good series.
6 reviews
April 22, 2017
Good Mystery

It was a pretty good story, but it was a bit more violent and colorful language than the other series of books. I just think the author has such a knack for writing wholesome stories. I don't have a problem with violence or colorful language, I just like the more wholesome stories.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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