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Audrey Harte #1
It Takes One
They say there are no secrets in a small town...
Criminal psychologist Audrey Harte is returning home after seven years. She'll have to face the whispers and the rumors that have haunted her family since she left. Because when Audrey was thirteen, she and her best friend Maggie killed Maggie's abusive father.
Her first night back in town ends in a fight with a drunken Maggie, with her old crush Jake to witness it all. Audrey can't believe it can get worse. Then Maggie turns up dead.
Now, Audrey has to find out who the murderer is - before everyone decides that she is to blame. And before the murderer can set their sights on her.
Criminal psychologist Audrey Harte is returning home after seven years. She'll have to face the whispers and the rumors that have haunted her family since she left. Because when Audrey was thirteen, she and her best friend Maggie killed Maggie's abusive father.
Her first night back in town ends in a fight with a drunken Maggie, with her old crush Jake to witness it all. Audrey can't believe it can get worse. Then Maggie turns up dead.
Now, Audrey has to find out who the murderer is - before everyone decides that she is to blame. And before the murderer can set their sights on her.
395 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2016
218 people are currently reading
4709 people want to read
About the author
Kate Kessler
8 books370 followersAs a child Kate Kessler seemed to have a knack for finding trouble, and for it finding her. A former delinquent, Kate now prefers to write about trouble rather than cause it, and spends her day writing about why people do the things they do. She lives in New England with her husband. - See more at: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titl...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
December 31, 2017
3 Stars
It Takes One was not bad in fact I plan to continue the series but even though I enjoyed the read and am eager to read the next one in the series there is no mistaken that this debut has some massive holes.
This novel was a little flippant with the handling of topics like sexual abuse, child molestation, incest, and murder. It takes away from the darkness when such tragedies are discussed in the same manner as one would converse about the weather or what you are doing for the holidays. The superficial way the characters discussed murder took me out of the novel, I wanted the darkness, the atmosphere the edge and this novel managed to make light of sexual molestation (my God what a feat). Plus the way it was discussed was extremely surface as if the author didn't really research the topics at hand.
It's like what is going on in this town, everybody seems to either have an addiction, a severe mental disorder or has perpetrated or been the victim of sexual abuse and/or murder. How are people still living in this town? May I suggest a mass move clearly a curse has been place on this village. I don't think Kate Kessler has found a criminal act she wasn't going to squeeze into one novel its like calm down lady maybe spread the horrendous acts out in the series. It got almost comical near the end as I started to try and guess what mentally distraught trauma each new character that was introduced was going to have.
The thing that kept me in this novel despite the blaring problems was the character Audrey Harte and the heart throb Jake Tripp. I loved their characters and their dynamic they were both so strong and fun to read about. Audrey was exactly what I wanted in my protagonist someone that can get down and dirty like the men. If you hit her she will hit you back. These are the two characters that are keeping me invested in the series, I'm hoping that the first novel was just beginner jitters for the author and the second book may handle the crimes committed with a little more delicacy and stop with the patronizing dialogue. I don't need every situation spelled out to me in a DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW? type deal.
Overall tons and tons of problematic areas in this book but I am invested enough in the protagonist and her relationship to see what happens next, and hopefully my issues with the first novel will vanish as Kate Kessler finds her footing in Two Can Play.
It Takes One was not bad in fact I plan to continue the series but even though I enjoyed the read and am eager to read the next one in the series there is no mistaken that this debut has some massive holes.
This novel was a little flippant with the handling of topics like sexual abuse, child molestation, incest, and murder. It takes away from the darkness when such tragedies are discussed in the same manner as one would converse about the weather or what you are doing for the holidays. The superficial way the characters discussed murder took me out of the novel, I wanted the darkness, the atmosphere the edge and this novel managed to make light of sexual molestation (my God what a feat). Plus the way it was discussed was extremely surface as if the author didn't really research the topics at hand.
It's like what is going on in this town, everybody seems to either have an addiction, a severe mental disorder or has perpetrated or been the victim of sexual abuse and/or murder. How are people still living in this town? May I suggest a mass move clearly a curse has been place on this village. I don't think Kate Kessler has found a criminal act she wasn't going to squeeze into one novel its like calm down lady maybe spread the horrendous acts out in the series. It got almost comical near the end as I started to try and guess what mentally distraught trauma each new character that was introduced was going to have.
The thing that kept me in this novel despite the blaring problems was the character Audrey Harte and the heart throb Jake Tripp. I loved their characters and their dynamic they were both so strong and fun to read about. Audrey was exactly what I wanted in my protagonist someone that can get down and dirty like the men. If you hit her she will hit you back. These are the two characters that are keeping me invested in the series, I'm hoping that the first novel was just beginner jitters for the author and the second book may handle the crimes committed with a little more delicacy and stop with the patronizing dialogue. I don't need every situation spelled out to me in a DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW? type deal.
Overall tons and tons of problematic areas in this book but I am invested enough in the protagonist and her relationship to see what happens next, and hopefully my issues with the first novel will vanish as Kate Kessler finds her footing in Two Can Play.
May 7, 2016
It Takes One (Audrey Hart #1) by Kate Kessler is the start to a new series that was fast paced and had a multitude of plot twists. The main character, Audrey, was a juvenile murderer who now works with and studies juvenile murderers, a love interest, Jake, who is both sweet and ruthless, a murdered childhood friend, Maggie and small town with some very dysfunctional people.
A lot of serious issues are covered throughout the story and are handled very well by this author. Audrey is a strong female character who loves with all her heart, but also has a violent side that she had to learn to handle and control. She comes home after living in L.A. for seven years for her mother’s birthday and becomes the main suspect in the murder of her childhood friend. As she and Jake try to find out who is really responsible, we are introduced to a small town of suspects, gossips, alcoholics, sexual deviants and delinquents. This is not Mayberry.
Strong, realistic characters, crisp writing and a plot that keeps you guessing has me anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
Thank you to Redhook Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this e-galley in exchange for an honest review. It was definitely my pleasure!
A lot of serious issues are covered throughout the story and are handled very well by this author. Audrey is a strong female character who loves with all her heart, but also has a violent side that she had to learn to handle and control. She comes home after living in L.A. for seven years for her mother’s birthday and becomes the main suspect in the murder of her childhood friend. As she and Jake try to find out who is really responsible, we are introduced to a small town of suspects, gossips, alcoholics, sexual deviants and delinquents. This is not Mayberry.
Strong, realistic characters, crisp writing and a plot that keeps you guessing has me anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
Thank you to Redhook Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this e-galley in exchange for an honest review. It was definitely my pleasure!
August 23, 2022
Book Blog | Bookstagram
“Doing a bad thing doesn’t make you a bad person. People do bad things for the right reasons all the time.”
Audrey Hart left Edgeport years ago after being released from the local juvie, Stillwater, for killing her best friend, Maggie's, father when they were teenagers. She doesn't regret it for a second - Maggie's father was a daughter-raping piece of shit and killing him - and the consequences that followed - have made Audrey who she is today: a successful child psychologist and contributor to a true crime tv show, Kids Who Kill.
When Audrey gets a call to return home to Edgeport, she's dreading it. When she walks into the local watering hole to pick up her drunk-ass father, Maggie is there. They speak for the first time in years and it's not friendly. Audrey gets mean, Maggie gets nasty and pushed onto her ass, then Audrey storms off. The next morning Maggie is found dead on the beach and Audrey is immediately a suspect.
So begins all the twisted, romantic and dramatic events that will lead to the disturbing and twisted discovery of just what exactly happened to Maggie. And when I say twisted, I mean twisted. There's so much history to unravel, that while there aren't necessarily many thrilling moments, you are engaged the whole time.
There are just so many elements of this novel that I loved - the small coastal town setting, the town history and complicated relationships; the tough, yet delicate honesty of the damaged heroine, the realness of the romance and the darkness of the crimes. I loved the crisp writing style, the pace, the realism and the personal drama that jumped off the page. The dialogue was genuine, the characters seemed like people you could meet and the setting was a place you could be.
Just one downside to affect my rating: Maggie's personal mental health went off the rails. Most of her pathology was totally understandable, but when you start getting into dissociative personality disorder I kind of do this:
It's just the trope-y-est of the tropes.
This is not a classic mystery novel and can take a little bit to get into, but if you're the kind of reader who finds themselves engaged in a novel's personal drama and secrets, I definitely recommend this.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 4.5 stars rounded up
book source: the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
“Doing a bad thing doesn’t make you a bad person. People do bad things for the right reasons all the time.”
Audrey Hart left Edgeport years ago after being released from the local juvie, Stillwater, for killing her best friend, Maggie's, father when they were teenagers. She doesn't regret it for a second - Maggie's father was a daughter-raping piece of shit and killing him - and the consequences that followed - have made Audrey who she is today: a successful child psychologist and contributor to a true crime tv show, Kids Who Kill.
When Audrey gets a call to return home to Edgeport, she's dreading it. When she walks into the local watering hole to pick up her drunk-ass father, Maggie is there. They speak for the first time in years and it's not friendly. Audrey gets mean, Maggie gets nasty and pushed onto her ass, then Audrey storms off. The next morning Maggie is found dead on the beach and Audrey is immediately a suspect.
So begins all the twisted, romantic and dramatic events that will lead to the disturbing and twisted discovery of just what exactly happened to Maggie. And when I say twisted, I mean twisted. There's so much history to unravel, that while there aren't necessarily many thrilling moments, you are engaged the whole time.
There are just so many elements of this novel that I loved - the small coastal town setting, the town history and complicated relationships; the tough, yet delicate honesty of the damaged heroine, the realness of the romance and the darkness of the crimes. I loved the crisp writing style, the pace, the realism and the personal drama that jumped off the page. The dialogue was genuine, the characters seemed like people you could meet and the setting was a place you could be.
Just one downside to affect my rating: Maggie's personal mental health went off the rails. Most of her pathology was totally understandable, but when you start getting into dissociative personality disorder I kind of do this:
It's just the trope-y-est of the tropes.
This is not a classic mystery novel and can take a little bit to get into, but if you're the kind of reader who finds themselves engaged in a novel's personal drama and secrets, I definitely recommend this.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 4.5 stars rounded up
book source: the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
April 27, 2016
Audrey Harte hasn't been home to visit in years. After finishing college to become a criminal psychologist she moved out to L.A. and has been involved in a T.V. show profiling young criminals. Audrey herself did time in a youth facility when she was younger after she and her friend Maggie had killed Maggie's abusive father. The time in lock up gave Audrey the motivation and drive to want to be able to help other young people in her life but it also caused the friendship between the two to drift apart.
When Audrey visits her hometown though the first thing that happens is she runs into her old friend Maggie who is drunk and the two have an altercation. The next morning when a body is discovered on the beach it is found that it was Maggie and Audrey ends up being the main suspect. Determined to clear her name Audrey begins her own investigating along with her old friend Jake.
It Takes One was one of those fast paced, intense thrills rides from beginning to end. It didn't take long at all to become completely hooked on this well written story. There were a lot of other things taking place in this small town along with trying to solve the murder so never a dull moment while reading.
Audrey was a great character, she's strong and independent and made something for herself even after a horrific event. She had only done what she had due to Maggie's father being abusive and the girls had done what they should and told other adults only to have no one believe them. I also absolutely loved Jake, a style and attitude all his own he was easy to like right off. There were so many colorful and interesting secondary characters also in the book that added to the story.
Overall, great read to make you think...just how far would you go for someone you loved? Definitely a book I'd recommend and will be looking to pick up the next as this will be a new series featuring Audrey.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
When Audrey visits her hometown though the first thing that happens is she runs into her old friend Maggie who is drunk and the two have an altercation. The next morning when a body is discovered on the beach it is found that it was Maggie and Audrey ends up being the main suspect. Determined to clear her name Audrey begins her own investigating along with her old friend Jake.
It Takes One was one of those fast paced, intense thrills rides from beginning to end. It didn't take long at all to become completely hooked on this well written story. There were a lot of other things taking place in this small town along with trying to solve the murder so never a dull moment while reading.
Audrey was a great character, she's strong and independent and made something for herself even after a horrific event. She had only done what she had due to Maggie's father being abusive and the girls had done what they should and told other adults only to have no one believe them. I also absolutely loved Jake, a style and attitude all his own he was easy to like right off. There were so many colorful and interesting secondary characters also in the book that added to the story.
Overall, great read to make you think...just how far would you go for someone you loved? Definitely a book I'd recommend and will be looking to pick up the next as this will be a new series featuring Audrey.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
April 11, 2016
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
MILD SPOILERS
Audrey Harte is a criminal psychologist that is on a show about kid killers. She has a wonderful life going and THEN she goes back home after seven years for her moms birthday. Audrey did see her mom when she invited her out of town for a visit along with Audrey's brother David. Audrey is not on good terms with her sister Jessica and she's tentative with her father.
You see, when Audrey was a teen she and her best friend Maggie killed Maggie's father.............. the end. Just kidding. No, Maggie's father was an abuser and a jerk and with no one listening to the girls, they killed him. He was a sick rapist that deserved it. Just no, I'm not going there with what he did to his daughter and maybe his son. And for some reason Audrey's sister Jessica was mad that she did this and put them all in the lime light so to speak. Really?
To make it all worse, the town people don't like Audrey and they certainly don't care too much for Maggie. I mean come on people! This man was in the process of molesting his child again???? Anyone? Stupid town people.
First thing in town Audrey has to deal with her dad passed out drunk at the bar, getting in a small altercation with Maggie and dealing with the town folk. I can see why she never came home. Seeing how her best friend back then owns most of the town and the bar (Jake) he was there to calm some things down. Audrey isn't friends with Maggie due to something Maggie did years ago to break Audrey's heart, hence the altercation.
But, the next day finds Maggie murdered on the beach that Jake owns and the cabins he rents out. Everyone in the town thinks Audrey did it. Of course right? I was actually surprised at who the killer was, I was totally thinking it might go a different way, but it was all good. Ya'll want to know who did it? Too bad, read the book!
This is a pretty big book and I was really surprised that I didn't get bored. I don't usually like really long mystery books but this one was good. There are all kinds of things going on in this small town that keep you guessing and the people in it.
Jake and Audrey become close and I think they ended on a good note. Audrey gets things settled in her family. I really loved Audrey because she has an attitude about not being pushed around. She even gets into a fight with some jerk dude and holds her own.
Maggie and Audrey did get sent away to separate types of places for a couple of years when they were young, but Audrey came out on top with getting a good education where she was put and with a town benefactor that sent her to college. This started a whole other mess of junk back in the day with jealousies.
Anyway, like I said, I loved Audrey's character because of her spunk and the way she tried to help kids and people, even the ones in town. She's a really sweet character with some good come backs in the book and she has no problem with punching some jerk in the throat, nose, balls, and then some. She's pretty awesome! I can't wait to read the next book, there should be one more about Audrey and it sounds really good!
I did read the author's note and it's sad to know that what happened to Maggie, happened to one of her friends as a child. But we all know this happens all of the time. Of course no one killed the dad in real life, he just went to jail. But I like the idea of the victim taking out the pedophile. I just do, they are disgusting pieces of work.
*I would like to thank Netgalley and Redhook books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MILD SPOILERS
Audrey Harte is a criminal psychologist that is on a show about kid killers. She has a wonderful life going and THEN she goes back home after seven years for her moms birthday. Audrey did see her mom when she invited her out of town for a visit along with Audrey's brother David. Audrey is not on good terms with her sister Jessica and she's tentative with her father.
You see, when Audrey was a teen she and her best friend Maggie killed Maggie's father.............. the end. Just kidding. No, Maggie's father was an abuser and a jerk and with no one listening to the girls, they killed him. He was a sick rapist that deserved it. Just no, I'm not going there with what he did to his daughter and maybe his son. And for some reason Audrey's sister Jessica was mad that she did this and put them all in the lime light so to speak. Really?
To make it all worse, the town people don't like Audrey and they certainly don't care too much for Maggie. I mean come on people! This man was in the process of molesting his child again???? Anyone? Stupid town people.
First thing in town Audrey has to deal with her dad passed out drunk at the bar, getting in a small altercation with Maggie and dealing with the town folk. I can see why she never came home. Seeing how her best friend back then owns most of the town and the bar (Jake) he was there to calm some things down. Audrey isn't friends with Maggie due to something Maggie did years ago to break Audrey's heart, hence the altercation.
But, the next day finds Maggie murdered on the beach that Jake owns and the cabins he rents out. Everyone in the town thinks Audrey did it. Of course right? I was actually surprised at who the killer was, I was totally thinking it might go a different way, but it was all good. Ya'll want to know who did it? Too bad, read the book!
This is a pretty big book and I was really surprised that I didn't get bored. I don't usually like really long mystery books but this one was good. There are all kinds of things going on in this small town that keep you guessing and the people in it.
Jake and Audrey become close and I think they ended on a good note. Audrey gets things settled in her family. I really loved Audrey because she has an attitude about not being pushed around. She even gets into a fight with some jerk dude and holds her own.
Maggie and Audrey did get sent away to separate types of places for a couple of years when they were young, but Audrey came out on top with getting a good education where she was put and with a town benefactor that sent her to college. This started a whole other mess of junk back in the day with jealousies.
Anyway, like I said, I loved Audrey's character because of her spunk and the way she tried to help kids and people, even the ones in town. She's a really sweet character with some good come backs in the book and she has no problem with punching some jerk in the throat, nose, balls, and then some. She's pretty awesome! I can't wait to read the next book, there should be one more about Audrey and it sounds really good!
I did read the author's note and it's sad to know that what happened to Maggie, happened to one of her friends as a child. But we all know this happens all of the time. Of course no one killed the dad in real life, he just went to jail. But I like the idea of the victim taking out the pedophile. I just do, they are disgusting pieces of work.
*I would like to thank Netgalley and Redhook books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
March 1, 2017
This was a mixed bag for me. The first few chapters had me convinced I was in for one heck of a read - dark, twisted and maybe even a little different, but somewhere around the halfway mark my feelings shifted. It started to feel like overkill. Too many ideas and too many messed up people, all thrown into one story.
Audrey’s cynical personality and the discovery that she bludgeoned her best friend Maggie’s abusive father provided the initial punch of shock I needed to invest myself in the story. When Audrey returns home and ends up face-to-face with Maggie, after seven years and all their history, things take a violent turn. So it seems only natural, she would end up the prime suspect when Maggie's dead body is discovered.
“Doing a bad thing doesn’t make you a bad person. People do bad things for the right reasons all the time.”
I'm not exaggerating when I say that every single character had some sort of mental health issue, addiction, was a victim of abuse or was an abuser themselves. There wasn’t anyone that came across as stable or who wasn’t harboring some deep seeded issue that twisted their way of thinking. I love a crazy cast of characters, but at some point it became too much. Especially with Maggie. Abuse, divorce, a struggle with her sexuality, obsession and a multiple personality disorder? Total overkill.
The biggest source of contention between the girls was always Jake. Sure he was odd, but there was something mysterious and almost devious that kept me interested. Audrey and Jake’s connection was magnetic. Deep, intense and enduring, it was surprising it took so long for them to succumb to those feelings.
“I know you down to the bone, Audrey Harte. You’re a bruise on my soul.”
There were so many times that I wished for the story to pick up and move along, but the author kept circling back and reminding us of the reasons for Jake and Maggie’s betrayal, Audrey’s assertion that she would kill Clint all over again and Maggie's reason for lashing out at people. At a point it just started to take on a repetitive feel.
I honestly don't know if I'm interested in picking up the next book. There is a teeny tiny part of me that wants to see what happens with Jake and Audrey though, so who knows.
*Thank you to Redhook and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
Audrey’s cynical personality and the discovery that she bludgeoned her best friend Maggie’s abusive father provided the initial punch of shock I needed to invest myself in the story. When Audrey returns home and ends up face-to-face with Maggie, after seven years and all their history, things take a violent turn. So it seems only natural, she would end up the prime suspect when Maggie's dead body is discovered.
“Doing a bad thing doesn’t make you a bad person. People do bad things for the right reasons all the time.”
I'm not exaggerating when I say that every single character had some sort of mental health issue, addiction, was a victim of abuse or was an abuser themselves. There wasn’t anyone that came across as stable or who wasn’t harboring some deep seeded issue that twisted their way of thinking. I love a crazy cast of characters, but at some point it became too much. Especially with Maggie. Abuse, divorce, a struggle with her sexuality, obsession and a multiple personality disorder? Total overkill.
The biggest source of contention between the girls was always Jake. Sure he was odd, but there was something mysterious and almost devious that kept me interested. Audrey and Jake’s connection was magnetic. Deep, intense and enduring, it was surprising it took so long for them to succumb to those feelings.
“I know you down to the bone, Audrey Harte. You’re a bruise on my soul.”
There were so many times that I wished for the story to pick up and move along, but the author kept circling back and reminding us of the reasons for Jake and Maggie’s betrayal, Audrey’s assertion that she would kill Clint all over again and Maggie's reason for lashing out at people. At a point it just started to take on a repetitive feel.
I honestly don't know if I'm interested in picking up the next book. There is a teeny tiny part of me that wants to see what happens with Jake and Audrey though, so who knows.
*Thank you to Redhook and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
April 5, 2016
I received a copy of this book through netgalley.
Would you kill to protect someone you love?
Audrey Hart is a criminal psychologist. She has a Ph.D , she is a regular guest at a popular TV show. She achieved her dream of getting out of Edgeport, and made something of herself, moved to L.A where no one knew what she did, no one whispered behind her back. Now, after seven years, as a birthday present to her mother, she is back for the first time after she left for college. What greets her is everything she ever hated about her hometown, a drunk father, a resentful sister,and a whole town that knows what she did. Because when Audrey was thirteen, she and then her best friend Maggie killed Maggie's abusive father. Then the first night she spends home, Maggie is brutally murdered. Naturally, she becomes the prime suspect.
I liked this book, the main characters were all really damaged, sometimes even dangerous. I didn't guess who the killer was so that was a surprise. I liked Audrey, but she is in dire need of an anger management course.
All in all a nice little novel, I wasn't disappointed.
Would you kill to protect someone you love?
Audrey Hart is a criminal psychologist. She has a Ph.D , she is a regular guest at a popular TV show. She achieved her dream of getting out of Edgeport, and made something of herself, moved to L.A where no one knew what she did, no one whispered behind her back. Now, after seven years, as a birthday present to her mother, she is back for the first time after she left for college. What greets her is everything she ever hated about her hometown, a drunk father, a resentful sister,and a whole town that knows what she did. Because when Audrey was thirteen, she and then her best friend Maggie killed Maggie's abusive father. Then the first night she spends home, Maggie is brutally murdered. Naturally, she becomes the prime suspect.
I liked this book, the main characters were all really damaged, sometimes even dangerous. I didn't guess who the killer was so that was a surprise. I liked Audrey, but she is in dire need of an anger management course.
All in all a nice little novel, I wasn't disappointed.
February 12, 2017
It's hard to put a finger on precisely what is wrong with this story. One obvious thing is that the writing has a juvenile slant to it. That is not to say the prose is childish, but rather the "voice" seems to be that of a very young person, even though the narrator is an educated woman, a psychiatrist. The exchanges between characters are mean-spirited and high-schoolish in tone. The emotions are superficial and underdeveloped. The character's understanding of psychology is very rudimentary. Nothing rings true. Human nature is approached in a very immature manner. Disappointing.
April 30, 2016
an enjoyable mystery
January 23, 2016
I have very mixed feelings about some things presented in this book, but it was really enjoyable and I loved the small-town Maine setting. It took a while for me to get into it as a crime novel, but I loved it from the beginning as a fucked-up dramatic novel. I also hate myself for buying into the alpha-maleness of this novel. *DEEP SIGH*
Longer review when I get back from my trip next week!
Longer review when I get back from my trip next week!
May 15, 2018
Heavy!! Well done and lots of surprises...sad characters who, hopefully in future books, may find a way to a better life. Audrey is an incredibly complex character.
April 29, 2016
I REALLY enjoyed this book, and am now a huge fan of Audrey Harte (and Kate Kessler).
The mystery was good and the killer was believable. I did guess the killer about halfway through, but it was only a guess and I never did figure out the motive until it was revealed. There was no big confession from "the bad guy" at the end, it was all solved in a totally believable manner. I guess I don't really buy the suggested sentencing, but that's a minor point.
What made this one stand out for me was the characters. Audrey Harte as the Bad Girl gone Good is really believable as she goes back to the town of her roots and struggles to not revert to old ways. I would guess that some readers won't believe all the many facets of Audrey, but I grew up in much the same manner and know you can have a great education and successful career while still maintaining some of your youthful scrapper inside. The rest of the characters in town are all quirky, diverse and, best of all, interesting, with in depth back stories that tied everyone in the little town together. It's a well thought-out setting with a lot to explore, and this makes a series stand out and be one to look forward to.
Audrey Harte is both tough and fragile and makes me want to know more. This is a series I will definitely keep a look out for, not just for great mysteries, but because I want to know more about the people, and that raises the book to a much higher level.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for a review.
The mystery was good and the killer was believable. I did guess the killer about halfway through, but it was only a guess and I never did figure out the motive until it was revealed. There was no big confession from "the bad guy" at the end, it was all solved in a totally believable manner. I guess I don't really buy the suggested sentencing, but that's a minor point.
What made this one stand out for me was the characters. Audrey Harte as the Bad Girl gone Good is really believable as she goes back to the town of her roots and struggles to not revert to old ways. I would guess that some readers won't believe all the many facets of Audrey, but I grew up in much the same manner and know you can have a great education and successful career while still maintaining some of your youthful scrapper inside. The rest of the characters in town are all quirky, diverse and, best of all, interesting, with in depth back stories that tied everyone in the little town together. It's a well thought-out setting with a lot to explore, and this makes a series stand out and be one to look forward to.
Audrey Harte is both tough and fragile and makes me want to know more. This is a series I will definitely keep a look out for, not just for great mysteries, but because I want to know more about the people, and that raises the book to a much higher level.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for a review.
April 1, 2016
I thought this was an excellent book. There were so many plot twists and it dealt with so many issues. The suspects were numerous, although because of past experience they only dealt with one for the most part.
I just can't say enough about how good this book was. Childhood memories, small town secrets, bad reputations that never go away, childhood frustrations that come roaring back and showing their ugly face, nosy neighbor that can't let things alone and just history that should be forgotten that small minds can't forget.
I sped through this book, each time I had it figured out, up until the VERY END, it would change and it was someone else. It was crazy and I LOVED every minute of it. I have never read this author before, but I can tell you that will not be the case in the future!
Huge thanks to Redhook Books and Net Galley for approving me and providing me with an e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I will be talking about this book for a long time! When's the movie?
I just can't say enough about how good this book was. Childhood memories, small town secrets, bad reputations that never go away, childhood frustrations that come roaring back and showing their ugly face, nosy neighbor that can't let things alone and just history that should be forgotten that small minds can't forget.
I sped through this book, each time I had it figured out, up until the VERY END, it would change and it was someone else. It was crazy and I LOVED every minute of it. I have never read this author before, but I can tell you that will not be the case in the future!
Huge thanks to Redhook Books and Net Galley for approving me and providing me with an e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I will be talking about this book for a long time! When's the movie?
June 16, 2017
I finished this book in a little over 24 hours with only a couple of hours of sleep. It was that good. Audrey Harte helped to kill her bestfriend Maggie's father. He'd been sexually abusing Maggie for years and Audrey wasn't the kind of girl to let it continue. Over a decade later Audrey is coming home for her mothers birthday celebration and Maggie is killed. Audrey is the first suspect.
The friendship between Audrey and Jake was special. All he was willing to give up to see her succeed. The mc's were great and the supporting characters were just as good. I felt like a friend along fir the dinners, parties and drinking. I loved it and sincerely hope thatvKate Kessler writes another Audrey Harte book. There are other murders she can help solve or more teenage murrderers for her to help.
I have to thank NetGalley for my copy to honestly review.
The friendship between Audrey and Jake was special. All he was willing to give up to see her succeed. The mc's were great and the supporting characters were just as good. I felt like a friend along fir the dinners, parties and drinking. I loved it and sincerely hope thatvKate Kessler writes another Audrey Harte book. There are other murders she can help solve or more teenage murrderers for her to help.
I have to thank NetGalley for my copy to honestly review.
January 21, 2016
Whoa! This one had lots of twists and turns and kept me guessing through out! Would you murder for someone you love? Audree and Maggie were the best of friends and when Audree finds that Maggie is being abused they take matters into their own hands. What happens after that? Were they able to move past it all and find their HEA? Not really but you will have to read it to find out how that night affected them and those around them. I think it moved at a really good pace and it was hard to guess exactly what the outcome of the story would be. The characters were very intriguing and easy to relate to and I was bummed when it was done.
March 17, 2016
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. As soon as I saw the description for this book, I knew I had to read it.
I loved this book. It was creepy, with lots of twists. Audrey was awesome. By far one of my favorite main characters. She was real.
All the characters in this book were well done. The story line was realistic, the setting was realistic, the people were realistic. Some parts of this book were hard to deal with, anyone with a history of sexual abuse or rape may have a hard time with some parts in this book. Some parts of this book were heartbreaking and they will make you think. How far are you willing to go for the person you love?
You may figure out the "who done it" before the end of the book, but the "why" is shocking. It was definitely a page turner. This book kept me hooked from the first page.
I'm excited that this seems to be a series. I will definitely be getting the next book when it comes out.
I loved this book. It was creepy, with lots of twists. Audrey was awesome. By far one of my favorite main characters. She was real.
All the characters in this book were well done. The story line was realistic, the setting was realistic, the people were realistic. Some parts of this book were hard to deal with, anyone with a history of sexual abuse or rape may have a hard time with some parts in this book. Some parts of this book were heartbreaking and they will make you think. How far are you willing to go for the person you love?
You may figure out the "who done it" before the end of the book, but the "why" is shocking. It was definitely a page turner. This book kept me hooked from the first page.
I'm excited that this seems to be a series. I will definitely be getting the next book when it comes out.
March 18, 2016
Audrey Harte is a Criminal Psychologist, working in Los Angeles, specializing in kids who kill.
It's a topic she is all too familiar with and would rather forget, but when she returns home to Maine for a short visit, the past not only comes back to haunt her, it could be repeating itself
As a child, Audrey and her best friend, Maggie, killed Maggie's abusive father..
After that their lives took very different turns and when another death happens soon after Audrey's return home all eyes are on her..
The book had a nice flow to it. The pace was steady and even I had no idea who the killer was until the end!
I was very glad to see that this will be a series of books featuring Audrey as she helps the police and the children who have been both victim and killer.
I have definitely found a great new Thriller author!
I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review. The book is set for release April 26, 2016
It's a topic she is all too familiar with and would rather forget, but when she returns home to Maine for a short visit, the past not only comes back to haunt her, it could be repeating itself
As a child, Audrey and her best friend, Maggie, killed Maggie's abusive father..
After that their lives took very different turns and when another death happens soon after Audrey's return home all eyes are on her..
The book had a nice flow to it. The pace was steady and even I had no idea who the killer was until the end!
I was very glad to see that this will be a series of books featuring Audrey as she helps the police and the children who have been both victim and killer.
I have definitely found a great new Thriller author!
I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review. The book is set for release April 26, 2016
February 2, 2020
Would you kill for someone you love?
You’d think if you read a book before you would get through it again quickly 😂. While I still love this book for the same reasons I had the first time around, reading it again made me see things I’ve missed that I wouldn’t normally enjoyed. There were flaws, some things weren’t very believable and every character just had to have issues. It made the story unnecessarily bulky. But ahhhh I still liked this, especially Jake and Audrey 😩❤️. I’ll pick up the second book some day, I’m sure.
You’d think if you read a book before you would get through it again quickly 😂. While I still love this book for the same reasons I had the first time around, reading it again made me see things I’ve missed that I wouldn’t normally enjoyed. There were flaws, some things weren’t very believable and every character just had to have issues. It made the story unnecessarily bulky. But ahhhh I still liked this, especially Jake and Audrey 😩❤️. I’ll pick up the second book some day, I’m sure.
July 20, 2025
The second mystery I read this year and already, I'm disappointed. I'm also angry, which is not necessarily an unusual reaction for me to have when I hate a book, but in this case, I'm angry not because I wasted my time, but because of what happens in this book. Maybe I should go to whatever anger management therapy Audrey doesn't go to. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
I guess the first sign that I wasn't going to totally love this book was the writing. It's rough, to say the least. You can tell Kessler is trying to write a hardboiled crime novel, which is cool with me, but she doesn't have enough talent for it. Or at least, not yet. The writing actually reminds me a lot of the way I used to write back in 8th grade. The characters tell us how we are supposed to feel other characters, making it seem obvious who we are supposed to hate and who we are supposed to love. Personally, that kind of writing grates on me (probably because it's something that I used to do), but it typically goes away with practice. It's repetitive, too, with the phrase "God knew..." as in "God knew she was used to that" used a lot, as well as bastard as in "useless bastard" or "bastard of a father". But still, I persevered on, hoping that maybe the characters and plot might save it.
I also realized, by the time I was 100 pages in, that I hated Audrey. Hated her. She is a bitch, but not an enjoyable one. It's clear that Kessler was way too taken with her. I mean, I get loving one of your characters, but it shouldn't be as obvious as this was goddamnit. She's a textbook Mary Sue, (look at me, using fancy terms like textbook, someone give me a psychology doctorate) with some anger issues and a tragic past thrown in so that the author can deny that she is one. Every single character that hates her is portrayed as being a small-minded bigot whereas every character that loves her is clearly better than the characters that hate her. Even the characters that hate her are just jealous because she's a pretty and successful forensic psychologist. And in case you didn't know that she was a forensic psychologist, she reminds you of that, oh, about 1000 times. It seems like she got her doctorate just to throw it in people's faces, not because of any real love for psychology. I also felt like she would be a horrible psychologist, because she can't separate her emotions from anything. She acts more like a goddamn teenager than any YA protagonist I've ever read.
Nothing in this book felt real to me. The characters and the setting were just hollow and negative stereotypes of a small town. You know, close minded, bigoted, etc. With the exception of Gideon, Kessler must have serious daddy issues, because all the fathers suck. And I swear to God, most of the mystery in this book was finding the mystery. Tons of backstory that I didn't care about, tons of Audrey and Jake action that I didn't care about, stuff like that that just bogged down the book and made it seem more like a contemporary book than an "unputdownable" thriller. Clearly, Kessler was inspired by Tana French and her slow-burning police procedurals, but she seemed to forget that French, while she does dip into the backstories of her detectives, never loses sight of the plot. The central mystery is still the central mystery. Also, her characters feel real people, unlike Kessler's characters. For a book that was billed as a crime novel, there is very little actual police investigation or forensic work or even criminal psychology, to the point where I couldn't believe Audrey is an actual criminal psychologist. That was disappointing enough, but then I got to the reveal of the killer. And I got angry.
Oh come on, I'm being too harsh, aren't I? Focus on the positives! Well, I like the cover, since it reminds me of the album cover art for Glitterbug by The Wombats (one of my favorite bands). Glitterbug is cooler, but I don't hate the way it looks. There is also potential in the writing, but the author still needs a lot of work when it comes to setting and character development, though. The journals were a nice touch, too. I also like how all the titles and covers in the series match, that's fun right? And that's about it for the positives.
Up until the ending, I thought about continuing on with the series, since hopefully the writing may be better (though since the first two books came out in rapid succession of each other I doubt it) and the plot seemed a bit more of a crime novel plot than this one, I thought it might be better. And then I read the ending. Now, I really have to think hard about whether or not I want to continue on to Two Can Play. I might just stick with the Dublin Murder Squad for right now. You know what, maybe I just read this at the wrong time- too soon after Tana French's In the Woods (which was absolutely fantastic and well worthy of its Edgar Award, by the way) and tried to hold this book to that same standard. Who knows, maybe when the third book comes out in June I might forget that I hated this book and marathon both the second and third together. And maybe the moon will catch on fire. Who knows?
I guess the first sign that I wasn't going to totally love this book was the writing. It's rough, to say the least. You can tell Kessler is trying to write a hardboiled crime novel, which is cool with me, but she doesn't have enough talent for it. Or at least, not yet. The writing actually reminds me a lot of the way I used to write back in 8th grade. The characters tell us how we are supposed to feel other characters, making it seem obvious who we are supposed to hate and who we are supposed to love. Personally, that kind of writing grates on me (probably because it's something that I used to do), but it typically goes away with practice. It's repetitive, too, with the phrase "God knew..." as in "God knew she was used to that" used a lot, as well as bastard as in "useless bastard" or "bastard of a father". But still, I persevered on, hoping that maybe the characters and plot might save it.
I also realized, by the time I was 100 pages in, that I hated Audrey. Hated her. She is a bitch, but not an enjoyable one. It's clear that Kessler was way too taken with her. I mean, I get loving one of your characters, but it shouldn't be as obvious as this was goddamnit. She's a textbook Mary Sue, (look at me, using fancy terms like textbook, someone give me a psychology doctorate) with some anger issues and a tragic past thrown in so that the author can deny that she is one. Every single character that hates her is portrayed as being a small-minded bigot whereas every character that loves her is clearly better than the characters that hate her. Even the characters that hate her are just jealous because she's a pretty and successful forensic psychologist. And in case you didn't know that she was a forensic psychologist, she reminds you of that, oh, about 1000 times. It seems like she got her doctorate just to throw it in people's faces, not because of any real love for psychology. I also felt like she would be a horrible psychologist, because she can't separate her emotions from anything. She acts more like a goddamn teenager than any YA protagonist I've ever read.
Nothing in this book felt real to me. The characters and the setting were just hollow and negative stereotypes of a small town. You know, close minded, bigoted, etc. With the exception of Gideon, Kessler must have serious daddy issues, because all the fathers suck. And I swear to God, most of the mystery in this book was finding the mystery. Tons of backstory that I didn't care about, tons of Audrey and Jake action that I didn't care about, stuff like that that just bogged down the book and made it seem more like a contemporary book than an "unputdownable" thriller. Clearly, Kessler was inspired by Tana French and her slow-burning police procedurals, but she seemed to forget that French, while she does dip into the backstories of her detectives, never loses sight of the plot. The central mystery is still the central mystery. Also, her characters feel real people, unlike Kessler's characters. For a book that was billed as a crime novel, there is very little actual police investigation or forensic work or even criminal psychology, to the point where I couldn't believe Audrey is an actual criminal psychologist. That was disappointing enough, but then I got to the reveal of the killer. And I got angry.
Oh come on, I'm being too harsh, aren't I? Focus on the positives! Well, I like the cover, since it reminds me of the album cover art for Glitterbug by The Wombats (one of my favorite bands). Glitterbug is cooler, but I don't hate the way it looks. There is also potential in the writing, but the author still needs a lot of work when it comes to setting and character development, though. The journals were a nice touch, too. I also like how all the titles and covers in the series match, that's fun right? And that's about it for the positives.
Up until the ending, I thought about continuing on with the series, since hopefully the writing may be better (though since the first two books came out in rapid succession of each other I doubt it) and the plot seemed a bit more of a crime novel plot than this one, I thought it might be better. And then I read the ending. Now, I really have to think hard about whether or not I want to continue on to Two Can Play. I might just stick with the Dublin Murder Squad for right now. You know what, maybe I just read this at the wrong time- too soon after Tana French's In the Woods (which was absolutely fantastic and well worthy of its Edgar Award, by the way) and tried to hold this book to that same standard. Who knows, maybe when the third book comes out in June I might forget that I hated this book and marathon both the second and third together. And maybe the moon will catch on fire. Who knows?
April 5, 2016
Audrey Harte is a murderer. When she was just thirteen, she and her best friend, Maggie, killed Maggie's abusive father. But while Audrey used her punishment as a way to make herself better, Maggie never did. Now a respected criminal psychologist who uses her unique experience to get into the minds of troubled kids, Audrey returns home to her small Maine hometown after seven years absence... and finds that nothing has changed. Except for the fact, her first night back, Maggie is killed and Audrey becomes suspect number one. Now she must use all her training, not to mention her inside knowledge of how the town of Edgeport, Maine works, to solve Maggie's murder and clear her name, before it's too late.
This is the most raw, realistic, and intimate depiction of fake people I've ever read. Each character was so real, so three-dimensional; nobody was perfect, there were no black-and-white, good-and-evil characters. Each person was damaged in some way, affecting how they did their job, interacted with others, or their personality, making them more like actual human beings than fictional characters. And that includes the setting for the novel: Edgeport, Maine could be an actual small northern (or, for that matter, with just a few changes, southern) small town, complete with busybody neighbors, small-town intrigue, and a faster-than-light gossip mill. The author mentions in the Q&A at the back of the book that she grew up in a town like Edgeport, meaning she was able to perfectly capture all the charms and all the quirks that come along with living in a place so small and insular.
Even more than the character development, the psychological underpinnings to the novel add an extra dimension of truth and realism; Kessler has obviously done her research regarding the issues driving the heart of the novel. Which means none of the actions coming out of these issues feels false or like a cop-out, like it was simply created in order to create tension or drama. Instead, the story flows naturally, understandably, with logical, if sometimes heartbreaking consequences. I suppose I should state that the book comes with a trigger warning for anyone who's suffered childhood trauma or abuse: The story is dark, violent, and gritty, even frightening at times. But so utterly engrossing and enthralling you can't help but be drawn in and keep turning the pages.
Basically, this is the best first novel and best suspense series lead-in I've read in years, and I truly can't wait for the second book to come out!
This is the most raw, realistic, and intimate depiction of fake people I've ever read. Each character was so real, so three-dimensional; nobody was perfect, there were no black-and-white, good-and-evil characters. Each person was damaged in some way, affecting how they did their job, interacted with others, or their personality, making them more like actual human beings than fictional characters. And that includes the setting for the novel: Edgeport, Maine could be an actual small northern (or, for that matter, with just a few changes, southern) small town, complete with busybody neighbors, small-town intrigue, and a faster-than-light gossip mill. The author mentions in the Q&A at the back of the book that she grew up in a town like Edgeport, meaning she was able to perfectly capture all the charms and all the quirks that come along with living in a place so small and insular.
Even more than the character development, the psychological underpinnings to the novel add an extra dimension of truth and realism; Kessler has obviously done her research regarding the issues driving the heart of the novel. Which means none of the actions coming out of these issues feels false or like a cop-out, like it was simply created in order to create tension or drama. Instead, the story flows naturally, understandably, with logical, if sometimes heartbreaking consequences. I suppose I should state that the book comes with a trigger warning for anyone who's suffered childhood trauma or abuse: The story is dark, violent, and gritty, even frightening at times. But so utterly engrossing and enthralling you can't help but be drawn in and keep turning the pages.
Basically, this is the best first novel and best suspense series lead-in I've read in years, and I truly can't wait for the second book to come out!
April 3, 2017
Audrey Harte is my new favorite mystery heroine and Edgeport is the type of little white-trash town that I adore and grew up in. I’m so glad I read this book and can’t wait to continue on with the series, because there were quite a few things this story did really well.
The plot of the book was fast-paced and intriguing. From the moment we’re introduced to Audrey on the set of a documentary-style talk show about murderous minors, we’re thrust into a world filled with violence and corruption. Audrey’s past was chaotic enough, but when she returns to her hometown for the first time in nearly a decade, only to have her former best friend brutally murdered after they have an altercation at a bar, she finds herself on a race against time to uncover Maggie’s killer before her dark past can rear its ugly head up to doom her once again.
From then onward, we get a beautifully insightful view into this town and the people who occupy it. Each of them wonderfully realized and overflowing with fascinating backstories and unique personalities, every one of them with a secret, and every one of them with a motive to kill Maggie. Beyond just the existence of such fleshed-out characters and their complex array of relationships, we get true growth as well – Audrey and Jake, especially, overcome many of their demons and finally choose to face the facts they’ve been dancing around for twenty years.
In the end, my only complaint was the writing. While for the most part it was engaging and descriptive, there were quite a few times when a little too much information was given and it began to feel juvenile. One example of this is when Audrey escorts three teenagers to a cabin to collect old folding chairs for a fireworks show on the beach: Instead of just stating that Audrey let them grab the chairs, the author decided to add what essentially equated to “because they had the party there last night so they knew where the chairs were and Audrey didn’t.” Why was that necessary? Why do we care? There were many sentences and snippets like that that jerked me abruptly from the story – enough to drop the rating by one star, though not enough to otherwise detract from my enjoyment of the story.
What I found most fascinating about this story, though, were the character dynamics, the way old childhood woes and community relationships shape otherwise confident individuals insecurities, and how history has a way of repeating itself.
The plot of the book was fast-paced and intriguing. From the moment we’re introduced to Audrey on the set of a documentary-style talk show about murderous minors, we’re thrust into a world filled with violence and corruption. Audrey’s past was chaotic enough, but when she returns to her hometown for the first time in nearly a decade, only to have her former best friend brutally murdered after they have an altercation at a bar, she finds herself on a race against time to uncover Maggie’s killer before her dark past can rear its ugly head up to doom her once again.
From then onward, we get a beautifully insightful view into this town and the people who occupy it. Each of them wonderfully realized and overflowing with fascinating backstories and unique personalities, every one of them with a secret, and every one of them with a motive to kill Maggie. Beyond just the existence of such fleshed-out characters and their complex array of relationships, we get true growth as well – Audrey and Jake, especially, overcome many of their demons and finally choose to face the facts they’ve been dancing around for twenty years.
In the end, my only complaint was the writing. While for the most part it was engaging and descriptive, there were quite a few times when a little too much information was given and it began to feel juvenile. One example of this is when Audrey escorts three teenagers to a cabin to collect old folding chairs for a fireworks show on the beach: Instead of just stating that Audrey let them grab the chairs, the author decided to add what essentially equated to “because they had the party there last night so they knew where the chairs were and Audrey didn’t.” Why was that necessary? Why do we care? There were many sentences and snippets like that that jerked me abruptly from the story – enough to drop the rating by one star, though not enough to otherwise detract from my enjoyment of the story.
What I found most fascinating about this story, though, were the character dynamics, the way old childhood woes and community relationships shape otherwise confident individuals insecurities, and how history has a way of repeating itself.
April 14, 2016
*3.5 stars
This started off great with the promise of a good thriller. I really enjoyed the first half. It had a wonderful set-up with Audrey and her friend Maggie having killed Maggie's father when they were children. How both of them grew up with that and forged their own way, was both quite different from each other. There was also a little secret between them and what exactly happened that particular night. It was great and I liked the suspense of finding out. The only problem I really had with the book, is the fact that it seemed that everybody from Edgeport had something wrong with them. Whether it was abuse, alcoholism, hot-tempered, etc......EVERYBODY had something wrong. I don't mind characters having flaws, that's what makes them more human, but seriously? Some of it was too much. With that being said, this book has a lot of violence! Audrey in particular needs some anger management classes. I did, however, liked the mystery aspect of the book and will probably check out the next book in the series.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This started off great with the promise of a good thriller. I really enjoyed the first half. It had a wonderful set-up with Audrey and her friend Maggie having killed Maggie's father when they were children. How both of them grew up with that and forged their own way, was both quite different from each other. There was also a little secret between them and what exactly happened that particular night. It was great and I liked the suspense of finding out. The only problem I really had with the book, is the fact that it seemed that everybody from Edgeport had something wrong with them. Whether it was abuse, alcoholism, hot-tempered, etc......EVERYBODY had something wrong. I don't mind characters having flaws, that's what makes them more human, but seriously? Some of it was too much. With that being said, this book has a lot of violence! Audrey in particular needs some anger management classes. I did, however, liked the mystery aspect of the book and will probably check out the next book in the series.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2017
I don’t think this was a bad read, but it would’ve helped if I liked any of the characters. I’m all for characters having flaws but this brought out the snob in me. It would be like… let’s see.. when you hear about how the guy you went to high school with is making meth in his bathtub and married to a toothless hooker and suddenly you feel pretty darn good about yourself.
This novel takes place in a trashy town, full of trashy people, that do trashy things. Drugs, screwing, incest, rape, minding numbing alcoholism, and being proud of all the above. Examples….a dad that is so drunk he pees in his pants before he passes out. Totally redeemable, he’s a good guy after all. Etc etc etc etc. But after reading it and then showering away the residue that remained, I still give it a solid 3. Did I regret it? No. Will I read more of the series? NO.
This novel takes place in a trashy town, full of trashy people, that do trashy things. Drugs, screwing, incest, rape, minding numbing alcoholism, and being proud of all the above. Examples….a dad that is so drunk he pees in his pants before he passes out. Totally redeemable, he’s a good guy after all. Etc etc etc etc. But after reading it and then showering away the residue that remained, I still give it a solid 3. Did I regret it? No. Will I read more of the series? NO.
March 26, 2016
This series gets off to a pretty good start and the basic premise is intriguing: a former delinquent turned forensic psychologist now studies delinquent teens. The story was good, albeit a bit slow in parts. I think this is the kind of book that could really be paced faster. I wasn't at all surprised by the reveal of the killer, and it seems like an obvious set up from the beginning (not necessarily the motive, but person). In the end though, a good book to read on a lazy weekend.
August 28, 2017
This book isn't for everyone because the characters are really tough and gritty and the language reflects this. It is, however a great who done it that keeps you reading long after the lights should be out. A lost love just might redeem itself and old family wounds will be bandaged. I certainly didn't get enough of Audry . I was on a cruise ship on the deck reading this book.... what a way to fill and August afternoon!
August 15, 2017
I would love to recommend this book to everyone, but there are a lot of content warnings to share. The warnings are kind of spoilers, so I'm putting them behind a click:
March 29, 2017
Despite the inconsistencies,the character development saved the rating. Thrillers are my favorite genre,thus I do not round ratings,however I did like the character if Audrey. I felt she had a conflicted past,it seemed like she was innocent until proven guilty. Returning to her hometown brought back many memories and familiar strangers.
It was hard to rate this novel cause it had great potential. Yet I skimmed quite a bit thus it was not four star worthy. If I am mistaken this is the first book of a series,but I doubt I will continue to read anymore.
It was hard to rate this novel cause it had great potential. Yet I skimmed quite a bit thus it was not four star worthy. If I am mistaken this is the first book of a series,but I doubt I will continue to read anymore.
April 3, 2016
"It Takes One" by Kate Kessler comes out April 26, 2016 and I wholeheartedly recommend it to all fans of psychological thrillers. When I put in to review this book I had high hopes, the synopsis made it sound like a delicious read. I'm so darn glad I was right! I haven't read something so psychological for at least a year so this was a real treat.
Audrey Harte is now a successful criminal psychologist working in L.A., one would never guess that she was once just like the youths she now studies. When Audrey was thirteen she and Maggie murdered Maggie's father. The question that has haunted Audrey ever since is "what would you do for someone you loved?". When her best friend confesses that her father is molesting her all Audrey wants to do is rescue her best friend, to stop the abuse, and when no one in town believes that Maggie's father could rape his own daughter it becomes Audrey's job to come to the rescue. That one decision changes the lives of many people around both girls.
Seven years after Audrey left the little town of Edgeport, Maine she flying back for her mother's birthday. Audrey's dreading all the home town gossip that has followed her since that fateful night so many years ago. She is unsurprised to find that nothing seems to have changed in the intervening years. Audrey is in a fight with a drunken Maggie within hours of arriving home. Her father is still an alcoholic, her mother is still enabling and her sister still blames Audrey for everything. Her only solace is seeing Jake, the one that got away. Audrey is full of regrets and can't see how this trip could ever get worse until Maggie turns up murdered on the beach. Someone has bashed her head in just like Audrey and Maggie did to Maggies father so many years ago. So starts a winding mystery that is more psychological drama, intrigue and angst than whodunnit.
I loved how this book was so character centered. In a little over four hundred pages I came to care about the people Ms. Kessler introduced me to. The writing is so strong and so emotionally engaging that it only takes one book to fall in love with her complex cast of characters. Only a few times in my reading life have I come across such a strong literary writer. My last love affair with a writer was Robert A. Heinlein. He's well known as the father of Sci-fi but what I found most compelling was that the science fiction he wrote about always played second fiddle to his character development. He too, with one book, could make you memorize characters. He made the reader feel like these people existed in real life somewhere. They had to be because you cared so much and knew so much about their lives, their thoughts and their heart.
This rare gift is what makes me love this author, Kate Kessler. I will endeavor to read every book she's written and I hope this book, "It Takes One", is the first in a series because I don't want to let Audrey Harte go. I want to know how her life continues. I know you'll love her too, she's complex, straightforward and real. She'll grow and change, leaving the reader wanting more each time they step into one of the mysteries that features her. What an exciting find that author is, you have to try this book!
Audrey Harte is now a successful criminal psychologist working in L.A., one would never guess that she was once just like the youths she now studies. When Audrey was thirteen she and Maggie murdered Maggie's father. The question that has haunted Audrey ever since is "what would you do for someone you loved?". When her best friend confesses that her father is molesting her all Audrey wants to do is rescue her best friend, to stop the abuse, and when no one in town believes that Maggie's father could rape his own daughter it becomes Audrey's job to come to the rescue. That one decision changes the lives of many people around both girls.
Seven years after Audrey left the little town of Edgeport, Maine she flying back for her mother's birthday. Audrey's dreading all the home town gossip that has followed her since that fateful night so many years ago. She is unsurprised to find that nothing seems to have changed in the intervening years. Audrey is in a fight with a drunken Maggie within hours of arriving home. Her father is still an alcoholic, her mother is still enabling and her sister still blames Audrey for everything. Her only solace is seeing Jake, the one that got away. Audrey is full of regrets and can't see how this trip could ever get worse until Maggie turns up murdered on the beach. Someone has bashed her head in just like Audrey and Maggie did to Maggies father so many years ago. So starts a winding mystery that is more psychological drama, intrigue and angst than whodunnit.
I loved how this book was so character centered. In a little over four hundred pages I came to care about the people Ms. Kessler introduced me to. The writing is so strong and so emotionally engaging that it only takes one book to fall in love with her complex cast of characters. Only a few times in my reading life have I come across such a strong literary writer. My last love affair with a writer was Robert A. Heinlein. He's well known as the father of Sci-fi but what I found most compelling was that the science fiction he wrote about always played second fiddle to his character development. He too, with one book, could make you memorize characters. He made the reader feel like these people existed in real life somewhere. They had to be because you cared so much and knew so much about their lives, their thoughts and their heart.
This rare gift is what makes me love this author, Kate Kessler. I will endeavor to read every book she's written and I hope this book, "It Takes One", is the first in a series because I don't want to let Audrey Harte go. I want to know how her life continues. I know you'll love her too, she's complex, straightforward and real. She'll grow and change, leaving the reader wanting more each time they step into one of the mysteries that features her. What an exciting find that author is, you have to try this book!
July 26, 2016
IT TAKES ONE is the title, but which one? There is psychosis, murder, love, and hate. Add addiction, violence, rivalry, and revenge. All elements wrapped up, to make an amazing read. Audrey moved far from her hometown of Edgeport to escape a troubled past. Edgeport is along the lovely beachfront, made for holidays and bonfires. A perfect spot to hide a journal of intimate secrets, and magical place for murder!! Audrey returns for her mother’s birthday party, but is having reservations. Upon arrival she stops at the local pub Gracie’s, running into old rivals. A fight escalates with Maggie, her old friend. Maggie, a skinny attractive blonde everyone loved and hated. Imagine the shock when locals found her brutally murdered. Revenge would be the obvious motive, based on brutal wounds. The conspicuous suspect would be Audrey. Audrey beat up Maggie long ago, after finding out she slept with Jake. Not so! Audrey never met a bully or a challenge she didn’t stand up for. This woman has unbelievable physical and mental strength. There is no need murder for Audrey to get even. Yet, this would be convenient and the story would end. The author enables us to play detective, deciphering which local patron wanted Maggie dead the most. She involves an array of characters, suspicious stories and probable motives. The kind of book my heart enthusiastically anticipates reading. Perfect! Did Maggie’s husband want her dead for cheating? Or perhaps her brother Matt, he blamed Maggie for ending up in foster care. Isaac was another possibility; he didn’t like the bruises Maggie gave his girlfriend. So many suspects, where should the investigation begin? Throughout all the drama Jake and Audrey get cozy again, striking up old sparks. The author keeps the storyline intriguing, and moving at a good pace. A detective and others from Audrey’s troubled past become involved. Her current job as a criminal psychologist involved a patient at her old stomping ground. Everything twists and turns and the ending is shocking! Nice one! No spoilers here! Who was the killer? Right under your nose and not who’d expect. The harmful patterns were repeated and generations of revolting secrets revealed. I was wrong predicting the suspect. I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. I am customarily reserved at giving this rating; the book must incorporate many aspects. I especially like anticipating more books from the author. I had adored this book immensely, and think you will also. Happy reading! I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Kris
January 22, 2016
You can find all my reviews here
*Disclaimer: I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Audrey Harte is a criminal psychologist who often provides her professional opinions on the tv show, When Kids Kill. And no one is more qualified to defend the kids that have killed as Aubrey herself. When they were kids Aubrey and her best friend Maggie killed someone. As is life in a small town no one ever forgot. When Aubrey returns home for the first time in seven years Maggie turns up dead and most are quick to assume it was Aubrey's doing. Can Aubrey catch the real killer before she goes down for the crime?
This book wasn't one I could have possibly passed up, not when it features criminal psychology and small town life. Kate Kessler hit the nail on the head with both. The psychological observations seemed dead on. She really managed to get into every character'3s head with what motivates them, their biggest flaws, etc. The depiction of small town life was perfect, so simply complex. I've never been able to describe it, the hanging out late at night drinking with friends and nobody caring while on the other hand all the drama and nosiness that goes with it. As someone who grew up in a small town and has always wanted to study criminal psychology I jumped at the chance to read this.
I had one complaint that i don't even think is really a complaint. I figured out who did it way too soon, though I got the why wrong. Some people would complain on that note but I don't see it that way. It was a great story being told and Kessler was aware enough to leave hints here and there. I much prefer this nicely done and clearly valid type of mystery over the fast paced but the answer at the end is someone random you'd never expect. Actually I was watching Alfred Hitchcock Presents the other night and they told this story where at the end the person who did it was someone you had never seen or heard of before. Like okay yes, it was entertaining but also stupid the big "twist/reveal" should never be something so unpredictable it makes no sense.
All in all I really enjoyed the book. I loved the characters and the romance. I enjoyed the setting and the plausibility of the book as a whole. I will most definitely pick up the second book in the series when I can. Thank you Redhook and Kate Kessler for allowing me to read this book early and tell everyone how great I found it.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Audrey Harte is a criminal psychologist who often provides her professional opinions on the tv show, When Kids Kill. And no one is more qualified to defend the kids that have killed as Aubrey herself. When they were kids Aubrey and her best friend Maggie killed someone. As is life in a small town no one ever forgot. When Aubrey returns home for the first time in seven years Maggie turns up dead and most are quick to assume it was Aubrey's doing. Can Aubrey catch the real killer before she goes down for the crime?
This book wasn't one I could have possibly passed up, not when it features criminal psychology and small town life. Kate Kessler hit the nail on the head with both. The psychological observations seemed dead on. She really managed to get into every character'3s head with what motivates them, their biggest flaws, etc. The depiction of small town life was perfect, so simply complex. I've never been able to describe it, the hanging out late at night drinking with friends and nobody caring while on the other hand all the drama and nosiness that goes with it. As someone who grew up in a small town and has always wanted to study criminal psychology I jumped at the chance to read this.
I had one complaint that i don't even think is really a complaint. I figured out who did it way too soon, though I got the why wrong. Some people would complain on that note but I don't see it that way. It was a great story being told and Kessler was aware enough to leave hints here and there. I much prefer this nicely done and clearly valid type of mystery over the fast paced but the answer at the end is someone random you'd never expect. Actually I was watching Alfred Hitchcock Presents the other night and they told this story where at the end the person who did it was someone you had never seen or heard of before. Like okay yes, it was entertaining but also stupid the big "twist/reveal" should never be something so unpredictable it makes no sense.
All in all I really enjoyed the book. I loved the characters and the romance. I enjoyed the setting and the plausibility of the book as a whole. I will most definitely pick up the second book in the series when I can. Thank you Redhook and Kate Kessler for allowing me to read this book early and tell everyone how great I found it.
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