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Four Point Trilogy #1
Four Point
Thirty-two bodies, twenty years, and a cold case that lives inside her alone. Detective Sali James teeters on the edge of sanity as she's forced to unearth her darkest days in order to stop Washington's most elusive serial killer. "Isn't watching beautiful?"
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2015
94 people are currently reading
1213 people want to read
About the author
Max Ellendale
33 books317 followersMax grew up just outside of New York City, spending most of her formative years outdoors creating wild ghost hunts with neighborhood kids, setting booby-traps to capture unwitting family members, and building clubhouses on top of ten-foot walls. Max wrote her first story at the age of twelve and titled it Circles of Friendship. Through the years, Max has written several short-stories and poems, all of which met the wrath of the “Not Good Enough” monster and ended in fiery demise.
Max regained her confidence when she began writing scholarly articles and research theses on her first trip through graduate school. It took several years for her to break the habit of the formal writing that marred her creativity. An additional Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing was Max’s biggest support in this. Max writes primarily sci-fi/fantasy, paranormal romance, and Young Adult stories.
Max regained her confidence when she began writing scholarly articles and research theses on her first trip through graduate school. It took several years for her to break the habit of the formal writing that marred her creativity. An additional Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing was Max’s biggest support in this. Max writes primarily sci-fi/fantasy, paranormal romance, and Young Adult stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
June 8, 2018
Great series! The best introduction to a series with such good storytelling and writing -- a dark,thrilling seeking & plot twisted,with well developed & defined characters,mature dialogue and never a dull moment just constant page-turning action to the very end. Recommended series!
May 5, 2019
Four Point (Four Point Trilogy #1) was one hell of an introduction to the series. It’s angst filled, graphic and very dark and you wonder how main character Sali James can possibly come back after all she suffers at the hands of a particular savage sociopath.
Max Ellendale is good at the heavy stuff, much like Cari Hunter. It’s a specialty for sure. I am not going to write a long summary because it’s done already and much better than I can come up with on this lazy Sunday. I was riveted from the get go, loved the characters in all their broken splendor and the tentative romance that sprouts out of the ashes of it all.
I am eager to read part two (after I take a small breather with some much needed fluffy material).
There are a great number of triggers in this book. Rape, abuse, substance abuse to name a few, so be warned. This is not a light read but if you have a pair of big girl panties laying around, I higly recommend.
m/f, f/f explicit
Themes: trauma to the max, lots of angst, serial killer, the friends that stick by you are the friends that matter, numbers.
4.6 stars
Max Ellendale is good at the heavy stuff, much like Cari Hunter. It’s a specialty for sure. I am not going to write a long summary because it’s done already and much better than I can come up with on this lazy Sunday. I was riveted from the get go, loved the characters in all their broken splendor and the tentative romance that sprouts out of the ashes of it all.
I am eager to read part two (after I take a small breather with some much needed fluffy material).
There are a great number of triggers in this book. Rape, abuse, substance abuse to name a few, so be warned. This is not a light read but if you have a pair of big girl panties laying around, I higly recommend.
m/f, f/f explicit
Themes: trauma to the max, lots of angst, serial killer, the friends that stick by you are the friends that matter, numbers.
4.6 stars
November 2, 2018
My first read by Ms.Ellendale. I wanted dark and gritty, I got a fraction of it. The story was there, interesting and engaging, good characterizations but the thriller aspect was quite lacking. The killer was a psychopath, no doubt whatsoever.
The prologue started well enough with Detective Salinger James and partner, Detective Ben Stiles receiving a cold case involving the murder of 32 women. They were young and cocky until the darkness swallowed them whole and refused to let go.
Three years after her abduction, Sali James was hanging on with the company of past and present demons. She cut all ties with everyone, attended therapy, used heroin to forget the darkness.
Then one fine day, Detective Maggie Miller stormed into Sali's home and from there on, Sali's status slowly changed from a haunted survivor to a struggling then stable investigator.
Because of the case, Sali reconnected with Ben, they were joined by Maggie and her partner Moreno. They worked on the case together at Sali's home.
I found that slightly weird, due to the seriousness of the case, shouldn't they be working at the precinct with a task force and maybe the National Guard on standby. 32 murders + 2 barely survived victims and the word forensic appeared only twice. Maybe because the serial killer was kinda anal, he did the same sick things to all his victims so no surprise there whatsoever.
Without doubt, Maggie was a godsend to Sali. Please do not put the word lovey dovey anywhere near their scenes, they will take you down to the basement and Krav Maga your ass.
Trust brought them together and helped them to progress slowly into the next levels.. No ILYs, thank you Ms.Ellendale, two more books to go and I'm happy to wait.
Please do not hesitate to ask what actually happened between Sali and Ben, if you're interested to read this book but worried about such matter.
The prologue started well enough with Detective Salinger James and partner, Detective Ben Stiles receiving a cold case involving the murder of 32 women. They were young and cocky until the darkness swallowed them whole and refused to let go.
Three years after her abduction, Sali James was hanging on with the company of past and present demons. She cut all ties with everyone, attended therapy, used heroin to forget the darkness.
Then one fine day, Detective Maggie Miller stormed into Sali's home and from there on, Sali's status slowly changed from a haunted survivor to a struggling then stable investigator.
Because of the case, Sali reconnected with Ben, they were joined by Maggie and her partner Moreno. They worked on the case together at Sali's home.
I found that slightly weird, due to the seriousness of the case, shouldn't they be working at the precinct with a task force and maybe the National Guard on standby. 32 murders + 2 barely survived victims and the word forensic appeared only twice. Maybe because the serial killer was kinda anal, he did the same sick things to all his victims so no surprise there whatsoever.
Without doubt, Maggie was a godsend to Sali. Please do not put the word lovey dovey anywhere near their scenes, they will take you down to the basement and Krav Maga your ass.
Trust brought them together and helped them to progress slowly into the next levels.. No ILYs, thank you Ms.Ellendale, two more books to go and I'm happy to wait.
Please do not hesitate to ask what actually happened between Sali and Ben, if you're interested to read this book but worried about such matter.
May 8, 2023
➥ 4 Stars *:･ﾟ✧
I feel as though fans of The Mindfuck Series will really enjoy Four Point. It has the simplistic yet pleasant writing, the crime aspect, the strong fmcs and the dark themes - so many TWs: [drug use (cocaine, alcohol), withdrawal, rape/sexual assault, death, mutilation, torture, stalking and probably more that I can't think to remember]. I don't usually list these in my reviews but I couldn't find a list of them anywhere else so I thought I might as well. Thank you GH for this recommendation! 😊💘
Overall, I had a really great time with this one. It wasn't the most developed in terms of characters and storyline, but it was a fun read regardless. Sali (h), a woman who used to be a detective, was one of the victims of a serial rapist/killer, is living alone and is generally a mess after what happened to her, until Maggie (h) comes along. Maggie is another woman in uniform (god bless 🙏) who is determined to get to the bottom of this supposedly cold case. Sali is a strong, attractive woman who is good at what she does, as is Maggie, though Maggie takes on a particularly warm and tender approach to helping Sali escape her misery.
This instantly reminded me of Caitlyn, and made me realise that Maggie and Caitlyn have a lot of similarities actually. Kind-hearted, cops, good girls. I don't really like the name Maggie though, but other than that, she was a delight.
I liked reading about Sali and Maggie, women who met their match in terms of physicality. Seeing them be there for the other, through thick or thin, was beautiful. I particularly enjoyed the scenes where they fought each other, physically.
I gobbled those scenes up 😌, really loved them as a couple. Their romance isn't really slow burn, as the sparks fly quite early on, but I didn't mind. They have great chemistry, and they're just so cute.
However, I was quite disturbed when ? This was when she'd already begun a relationship with Maggie and it just felt so out of character for her. And just in general, her relationship/friendship whatever with Ben rubbed me the wrong way. She was so affectionate with him, sitting on his lap etc. She says things like "you're a good man, Ben", because yeah, he saved her from some seriously deep shit, but he also unabashedly jumps at the chance to see her boobs? Or even when he knew she was lesbian to the max, he ? If I were Maggie, I would not be okay with that, sorry. I can't imagine having a male friend who wants to fuck you all the time but doesn't just because you haven't said yes yet.
The mystery/thriller aspect was compelling enough for me 🤷♀️ though I do think crime/mystery buffs may be a wee bit unimpressed. I can't lie, that confused me. Just like that? Someone else Feels a little bit cheap. Not the best conclusion.
Also, for those concerned, (even though there's a sequel) this doesn't end on a cliffy! Maggie and Sali are such a power couple, I'll definitely be reading more of this author's works, as I've found that Ellendale really nails certain aspects I like to see in romance. (Affection, angst, lighthearted/funny moments, steam etc.)
Sali usually sleeps with her gun beneath her pillow, for comfort, but now that she's next to her girl she feels safe enough not to 🥺. And the fact that they're both specialised in their field, both with their guns on their bedside tables is adorable - their compatibility is undeniable. Thank you again for this rec GH! Definitely an underrated author! 💕
Maggie leaned back, dodging the blow with ease. She grabbed my wrist, spun me around, and jerked my arm up my back. "Having fun assaulting a cop, are you?"
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
I feel as though fans of The Mindfuck Series will really enjoy Four Point. It has the simplistic yet pleasant writing, the crime aspect, the strong fmcs and the dark themes - so many TWs: [drug use (cocaine, alcohol), withdrawal, rape/sexual assault, death, mutilation, torture, stalking and probably more that I can't think to remember]. I don't usually list these in my reviews but I couldn't find a list of them anywhere else so I thought I might as well. Thank you GH for this recommendation! 😊💘
Overall, I had a really great time with this one. It wasn't the most developed in terms of characters and storyline, but it was a fun read regardless. Sali (h), a woman who used to be a detective, was one of the victims of a serial rapist/killer, is living alone and is generally a mess after what happened to her, until Maggie (h) comes along. Maggie is another woman in uniform (god bless 🙏) who is determined to get to the bottom of this supposedly cold case. Sali is a strong, attractive woman who is good at what she does, as is Maggie, though Maggie takes on a particularly warm and tender approach to helping Sali escape her misery.
Screams quieted when I ran out of breath.
"Easy," she said, her voice soft. "Easy."
This instantly reminded me of Caitlyn, and made me realise that Maggie and Caitlyn have a lot of similarities actually. Kind-hearted, cops, good girls. I don't really like the name Maggie though, but other than that, she was a delight.
She glanced between us. "You shake whenever I touch your hands."
"My wrists mainly," I said through a sniffle. Maggie turned my hands over in hers and ran her thumbs over the faint scars left on the insides of my wrists. No one had ever done that before and my breath caught in my throat.
"You're not bound anymore, Sali." She continued the gentle stroking.
I liked reading about Sali and Maggie, women who met their match in terms of physicality. Seeing them be there for the other, through thick or thin, was beautiful. I particularly enjoyed the scenes where they fought each other, physically.
"Engage," she said and crouched with her hands held palms out in front of her. The moment she moved into position, I recognized her stance.
"Krav Maga? You gonna kill me?" I asked as I moved in front of her. My hands trembled and I shook them out.
"Not today." Maggie took a swipe at me and I jumped back.
"You read my file."
"Of course. Engage."
"Why are we doing this?"
"You need somewhere to put all that rage you keep swallowing. Now shut up and move.
I gobbled those scenes up 😌, really loved them as a couple. Their romance isn't really slow burn, as the sparks fly quite early on, but I didn't mind. They have great chemistry, and they're just so cute.
“Yeah." I ran my thumb over her bottom lip. "It makes sense."
"It does." She opened her mouth and grabbed my thumb with her teeth.
"Biting is not allowed, you kinky bitch." I wagged my brows at her and she laughed.
"Me? Did you forget who fucked me against a wall this afternoon?"
"And I'd do it again, too." I nodded and to my surprise, desire returned to my middle.
However, I was quite disturbed when ? This was when she'd already begun a relationship with Maggie and it just felt so out of character for her. And just in general, her relationship/friendship whatever with Ben rubbed me the wrong way. She was so affectionate with him, sitting on his lap etc. She says things like "you're a good man, Ben", because yeah, he saved her from some seriously deep shit, but he also unabashedly jumps at the chance to see her boobs? Or even when he knew she was lesbian to the max, he ? If I were Maggie, I would not be okay with that, sorry. I can't imagine having a male friend who wants to fuck you all the time but doesn't just because you haven't said yes yet.
The mystery/thriller aspect was compelling enough for me 🤷♀️ though I do think crime/mystery buffs may be a wee bit unimpressed. I can't lie, that confused me. Just like that? Someone else Feels a little bit cheap. Not the best conclusion.
Also, for those concerned, (even though there's a sequel) this doesn't end on a cliffy! Maggie and Sali are such a power couple, I'll definitely be reading more of this author's works, as I've found that Ellendale really nails certain aspects I like to see in romance. (Affection, angst, lighthearted/funny moments, steam etc.)
Maggie, with her hair a mess on the pillow and delicately strewn tattoos on her skin, slept contently beside me in bed while I watched her. Our guns sat on opposing nightstands like royal guards to the palace.
Sali usually sleeps with her gun beneath her pillow, for comfort, but now that she's next to her girl she feels safe enough not to 🥺. And the fact that they're both specialised in their field, both with their guns on their bedside tables is adorable - their compatibility is undeniable. Thank you again for this rec GH! Definitely an underrated author! 💕
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
January 9, 2018
That was quite possibly the most intense crime drama I've ever read. Sali is introduced as a completely broken human being. With good reason mind you. Then it's a roller coaster of a ride to solve past/present/future crimes from a serial killer.
Wow. Brilliant.
I can't even begin to process all of the possible triggers for this book. Rape (not entirely explicit mind you), violence against women, substance addiction, (some squicky M/F interactions, just flip past, they don't last long), etc. But IMO it's totally worth it.
I tend to shy away from violent content, but this was done in a way that is similar to a freaking car crash, you just *can't* not watch. Couple with Max's superior writing had me loose pretty significant chunks of time because of it. And that's always a positive indicator for me for a really good book. All the dark stuff as an aside.
Really really freaking intense. Jeesh.
Wow. Brilliant.
I can't even begin to process all of the possible triggers for this book. Rape (not entirely explicit mind you), violence against women, substance addiction, (some squicky M/F interactions, just flip past, they don't last long), etc. But IMO it's totally worth it.
I tend to shy away from violent content, but this was done in a way that is similar to a freaking car crash, you just *can't* not watch. Couple with Max's superior writing had me loose pretty significant chunks of time because of it. And that's always a positive indicator for me for a really good book. All the dark stuff as an aside.
Really really freaking intense. Jeesh.
May 11, 2023
This story is gritty, but most of the grit happened in the past so we get told instead of experiencing it.
Some CW should be in place for this one, as mentioned most of it is told as past experience, but still: drug use (heroin), rape, iffy dealer interactions, talk of suicide, one actual suicide, torture and probably some that I missed.
Our main characters are a tad hard to like, mostly because I don’t understand them. Well, I can sort of understand Sali. Not all of what she does, certainly not the sexual interactions, but it kinda makes sense. Maggie however, I don’t know why she is so invested so quickly. It makes no sense. I think I liked the crime part of the story, the grittiness, the romance, not so much. I think this might have been better without it. Not all sapphic books need a romance, you know 🤷🏻♀️
I take the most issues with the pacing of the book. Apparently months pass while the events taking place might have well been during a one week period. It’s confusing. Nothing happens but a lot of time passes, until it stills and it all moves slowly? Confusing.
Now I just need to decide if I will continue with the trilogy or not. Any insights are welcome 😉
Some CW should be in place for this one, as mentioned most of it is told as past experience, but still: drug use (heroin), rape, iffy dealer interactions, talk of suicide, one actual suicide, torture and probably some that I missed.
Our main characters are a tad hard to like, mostly because I don’t understand them. Well, I can sort of understand Sali. Not all of what she does, certainly not the sexual interactions, but it kinda makes sense. Maggie however, I don’t know why she is so invested so quickly. It makes no sense. I think I liked the crime part of the story, the grittiness, the romance, not so much. I think this might have been better without it. Not all sapphic books need a romance, you know 🤷🏻♀️
I take the most issues with the pacing of the book. Apparently months pass while the events taking place might have well been during a one week period. It’s confusing. Nothing happens but a lot of time passes, until it stills and it all moves slowly? Confusing.
Now I just need to decide if I will continue with the trilogy or not. Any insights are welcome 😉
July 27, 2022
Kindle Unlimited.
A dark, gritty tale with a lot of confronting plot points. But very well done. It's thrilling, and heart-aching, yet still somehow beautiful despite the horror the main character has been through.
If you're into raw, thrilling tales similar to Cari Hunter and Charlotte Mills works, then I think you could like this.
A dark, gritty tale with a lot of confronting plot points. But very well done. It's thrilling, and heart-aching, yet still somehow beautiful despite the horror the main character has been through.
If you're into raw, thrilling tales similar to Cari Hunter and Charlotte Mills works, then I think you could like this.
November 6, 2018
Angst filled with enough romantic intrigue to balance out the grim realities of Sali’s story. Maggie and Ben and the relationship between these three detectives make the story so much better than the standard police procedural.
Well done. Looking forward to the next book in the trilogy. Not sure Ellendale can top this one.
May 11, 2020
Wow! Bloody hell this was good.
Sali's such a complex character and Maggie, goodness, she's freaking amazing. The story's dark but there are a lot of light hearted moments and it just felt so real when I was reading, like these people were real and not created from Ellendale's imagination.
Sali's such a complex character and Maggie, goodness, she's freaking amazing. The story's dark but there are a lot of light hearted moments and it just felt so real when I was reading, like these people were real and not created from Ellendale's imagination.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2022
4,5 stars
Finally something good. I was afraid my brain got broken, because I either hated the books I've read lately or was indifferent to them.
This was good. Dark, gritty and possibly traumatising, but very well written.
I also kinda appreciate that it's shown how much can trauma damage a person no matter how much they try to resist it. It's not pretty to read about, but it's realistic.
Finally something good. I was afraid my brain got broken, because I either hated the books I've read lately or was indifferent to them.
This was good. Dark, gritty and possibly traumatising, but very well written.
I also kinda appreciate that it's shown how much can trauma damage a person no matter how much they try to resist it. It's not pretty to read about, but it's realistic.
April 21, 2024
I don’t even know what to say. This is excellent work. Dark and heavy but also with sweet and kind moments. 100% enjoyed the story and how Sali never gave up even when it was very hard.
July 31, 2021
This was a very touching tale. There was a lot more to this than I originally thought there would be.
Filled with such pain and love.
I really liked the dynamics between all the characters. Things progressed rather quickly but, at the same time, it felt natural. I especially loved the relationship between Ben and Sali. Such an amazing friendship.
The case wasn't complicated or anything but it was interesting step by step. The ending was kind of anticlimactic but also fitting.
I will definitely be checking out the next of the series!
"Sometimes strength feels like weakness. It's supposed to be that way. Strength without doubt is brazen stupidity."
Warning: Non-consensual sex mentioned and on page.
Filled with such pain and love.
I really liked the dynamics between all the characters. Things progressed rather quickly but, at the same time, it felt natural. I especially loved the relationship between Ben and Sali. Such an amazing friendship.
The case wasn't complicated or anything but it was interesting step by step. The ending was kind of anticlimactic but also fitting.
I will definitely be checking out the next of the series!
"Sometimes strength feels like weakness. It's supposed to be that way. Strength without doubt is brazen stupidity."
Warning: Non-consensual sex mentioned and on page.
May 18, 2019
When I learned that Wildrose was in the same universe as this series, I decided to start with the first book in this series. I’ve been binge reading ever since and finally made it through the entire series. The first couple of chapters of this book were so compelling, it was hard not to read all the rest...I can’t say enough of how good this whole series is. The author does a wonderful job of touching on difficult issues, especially related to mental health and approaches them with the kind of sensitivity I wish many others would. The characters are so wonderful and breaking things up with more light hearted parts was very effective, but did not take away from the thriller portions. Highly recommended.
February 27, 2025
Spectacular
Oh my God, oh my God... my emotions. At first I thought I wouldn't manage to read a book like this one, with so much pain. But I did and it was worth it. This felt so real, the whole process. I am glad though that some scenes were not so detailed. Because I don't think I would have managed to go thru it.
It was a very good book. It can give you a slight picture of what happens and goes thru someone's mind after such a huge trauma.
Oh my God, oh my God... my emotions. At first I thought I wouldn't manage to read a book like this one, with so much pain. But I did and it was worth it. This felt so real, the whole process. I am glad though that some scenes were not so detailed. Because I don't think I would have managed to go thru it.
It was a very good book. It can give you a slight picture of what happens and goes thru someone's mind after such a huge trauma.
January 13, 2020
When I'm reading a book, no matter the circumstances in which a character may find herself, lesbians voluntarily shagging blokes is a hard no for me. There was no indication in the blurb that this would be a thing so it caught me by surprise and, quite frankly, pissed me off.
June 28, 2018
After reading Max Ellendale’s “Rabbit,” which was my 1st Ellendale book, I could not wait to dive into the rest of her books. I decided to sink me teeth into the highly-acclaimed Four Point Trilogy next since it’s one of me favourite genres – crime/thriller (more points if it is lesfic!). I was floored by its gut-wrenching intensity, not just the gruesome serial killing case but also the psychological and physical ramifications that overtook Sali and collaterally, those around her. After “Rabbit,” I knew I’d experience another profoundly compelling writing in this book, particularly in regard to the psychological and behavioural traits of her main characters.
Needless to say, Ellendale delivered, and then some! I think by now, I recognise that Ellendale’s signature topic is trauma. This time, it’s a different kind of trauma than “Rabbit.” This time the trauma is a deep-seated, pain, self-hatred, self-destruction, sense of worthlessness, hopelessness – happening to the story’s lead character, Sali.
I got to discover Sali’s heartbreaking story layer by layer through a series of flashback memories at every stage she was going through. In the beginning, Sali’s repetitive acts of self-destruction was deeply disturbing. I could feel a dull sense of doom in my gut as I read Ellendale’s brilliant depiction of Sali going through deeply dark moments of her life, trying to numb the relentless pain torturing her since her trauma 3 years ago. That’s a long time to be living in such an endlessly hopeless, terribly destructive, reclusive life, cut off from everyone and everything that signified life.
Ellendale dove into that gut-wrenching psychological torment of a damaged soul with such specificity I felt like I was planted inside Sali’s psyche – that horrendous feeling of nothingness, the numbness. I felt sick. Hollow. I felt incredible despair and deep sorrow. For Sali. Once again, Ellendale proves that her astute ability to penetrate the reader’s psyche with her no-holds-barred language to epitomise the human condition in its darkest, most impervious form, truly makes her stories deeply affective, virtually leaving a psychological mark ( so to speak!) in her readers’ minds…well, at least in mine! So, well done, Ellendale!
Sali had clearly hit rock-bottom when Maggie showed up in her life one day, seeking her help to investigate a cold case. At that point, Sali was practically killing herself in every self-destructive way possible already, as she didn’t see any way out for her. Not until Maggie. Speaking of Maggie, I LOVE HER!!!! And I absolutely LOVED her chemistry with Sali, even when they initially met with less than desirable outcome. There was this unspoken energy between them that only strengthened each time they were together. Every time Sali went through bouts of fear, anger, insecurity, Maggie was there to reassure her. Every time Sali unwittingly fell back into the dark corners of her mind, giving in to the trembles, Maggie was there to bring her back into the light. Maggie was there for Sali. Not as a victim’s protector. But as a protective friend, a kindred spirit. Somehow, Sali was comforted by the notion that Maggie, for some reason, understood Sali’s predicament in ways that truly enabled Sali to trust her. Implicitly.
The deepening level of intimacy that both Sali and Maggie craved for each other as their relationship grew at every stage, was written with such intensity that it felt so real as I read on. I loved the fact that Ellendale portrayed their romance in stages. Every stage revealed the extent of Sali and Maggie’s connection, getting deeper and more in-sync as they progressed to the next stage of their relationship until their bond was solidified – mind, body and soul.
Back to the case at hand, I was totally captivated by how Ellendale weaved it. From a cold case to something else more sinister, disturbing and gruesome, as Sali, Maggie, Ben and the others inched closer to catching the killer. It’s a crime that’s been told countless times with every different methodology possible. But Ellendale’s approach to the nature of the crime touched on a unique albeit terrifying angle of its techniques utilised which truly affected an entirely different side of its psychological effects on its victims. Disturbingly fascinating, to say the least!
The secondary characters were very interesting to delve into and their presence very relevant to Sali and Maggie. Then there was Jenny. Oh wow. I LOVED Jenny! She and Sali had this understated bond and trust that was so endearingly written. I savoured every one of their scenes together.
As the case came to a close, Sali also reached an epiphany as she finally managed to claw out of the dark place she was buried in for so long. Through gaining true love, friendship and pure affinity in her life with Maggie (her soul mate, her family), Sali could finally put all the ugliness and horrors of her trauma behind. Finally she could see the light at the end of the tunnel. She could finally believe there was a future for her to look forward to. FINALLY (at least for now!).
All in all, this is a MUST-READ psychological crime thriller. How the case was investigated, followed through and solved, was meticulously structured with not just the usual investigatory procedural but also psychological, i.e. cognitive interviews, memory retrieval methods, which made this thriller even more acute and real than it already was. Needless to say, I was bloody knackered by the end of it because of the sheer intensity of how the brutal and sadistic nature of the case and its grueling psychological tow on the characters were unveiled. In other words, I had a major cerebral whiplash but oh-so utterly satiated!! 👍😊
In Bug's Own Words
Needless to say, Ellendale delivered, and then some! I think by now, I recognise that Ellendale’s signature topic is trauma. This time, it’s a different kind of trauma than “Rabbit.” This time the trauma is a deep-seated, pain, self-hatred, self-destruction, sense of worthlessness, hopelessness – happening to the story’s lead character, Sali.
I got to discover Sali’s heartbreaking story layer by layer through a series of flashback memories at every stage she was going through. In the beginning, Sali’s repetitive acts of self-destruction was deeply disturbing. I could feel a dull sense of doom in my gut as I read Ellendale’s brilliant depiction of Sali going through deeply dark moments of her life, trying to numb the relentless pain torturing her since her trauma 3 years ago. That’s a long time to be living in such an endlessly hopeless, terribly destructive, reclusive life, cut off from everyone and everything that signified life.
Ellendale dove into that gut-wrenching psychological torment of a damaged soul with such specificity I felt like I was planted inside Sali’s psyche – that horrendous feeling of nothingness, the numbness. I felt sick. Hollow. I felt incredible despair and deep sorrow. For Sali. Once again, Ellendale proves that her astute ability to penetrate the reader’s psyche with her no-holds-barred language to epitomise the human condition in its darkest, most impervious form, truly makes her stories deeply affective, virtually leaving a psychological mark ( so to speak!) in her readers’ minds…well, at least in mine! So, well done, Ellendale!
Sali had clearly hit rock-bottom when Maggie showed up in her life one day, seeking her help to investigate a cold case. At that point, Sali was practically killing herself in every self-destructive way possible already, as she didn’t see any way out for her. Not until Maggie. Speaking of Maggie, I LOVE HER!!!! And I absolutely LOVED her chemistry with Sali, even when they initially met with less than desirable outcome. There was this unspoken energy between them that only strengthened each time they were together. Every time Sali went through bouts of fear, anger, insecurity, Maggie was there to reassure her. Every time Sali unwittingly fell back into the dark corners of her mind, giving in to the trembles, Maggie was there to bring her back into the light. Maggie was there for Sali. Not as a victim’s protector. But as a protective friend, a kindred spirit. Somehow, Sali was comforted by the notion that Maggie, for some reason, understood Sali’s predicament in ways that truly enabled Sali to trust her. Implicitly.
The deepening level of intimacy that both Sali and Maggie craved for each other as their relationship grew at every stage, was written with such intensity that it felt so real as I read on. I loved the fact that Ellendale portrayed their romance in stages. Every stage revealed the extent of Sali and Maggie’s connection, getting deeper and more in-sync as they progressed to the next stage of their relationship until their bond was solidified – mind, body and soul.
Back to the case at hand, I was totally captivated by how Ellendale weaved it. From a cold case to something else more sinister, disturbing and gruesome, as Sali, Maggie, Ben and the others inched closer to catching the killer. It’s a crime that’s been told countless times with every different methodology possible. But Ellendale’s approach to the nature of the crime touched on a unique albeit terrifying angle of its techniques utilised which truly affected an entirely different side of its psychological effects on its victims. Disturbingly fascinating, to say the least!
The secondary characters were very interesting to delve into and their presence very relevant to Sali and Maggie. Then there was Jenny. Oh wow. I LOVED Jenny! She and Sali had this understated bond and trust that was so endearingly written. I savoured every one of their scenes together.
As the case came to a close, Sali also reached an epiphany as she finally managed to claw out of the dark place she was buried in for so long. Through gaining true love, friendship and pure affinity in her life with Maggie (her soul mate, her family), Sali could finally put all the ugliness and horrors of her trauma behind. Finally she could see the light at the end of the tunnel. She could finally believe there was a future for her to look forward to. FINALLY (at least for now!).
All in all, this is a MUST-READ psychological crime thriller. How the case was investigated, followed through and solved, was meticulously structured with not just the usual investigatory procedural but also psychological, i.e. cognitive interviews, memory retrieval methods, which made this thriller even more acute and real than it already was. Needless to say, I was bloody knackered by the end of it because of the sheer intensity of how the brutal and sadistic nature of the case and its grueling psychological tow on the characters were unveiled. In other words, I had a major cerebral whiplash but oh-so utterly satiated!! 👍😊
In Bug's Own Words
February 3, 2022
This just weirds me out. The story was good I liked the plot and the main characters had so much potential but I feel very uncomfortable with the style of the book
I've to admit, there is always this uncomfortable vibe I get from the interactions between male and female, characters in max Ellendale books lol this one just sent me over the edge
I'm sure it works well for a lot of readers and there is nothing wrong with that. It's just not for me
I've to admit, there is always this uncomfortable vibe I get from the interactions between male and female, characters in max Ellendale books lol this one just sent me over the edge
I'm sure it works well for a lot of readers and there is nothing wrong with that. It's just not for me
August 24, 2018
Detective Sali James was the hunter who then became the hunted. She was captured by a serial killer she had been investigating, but escaped after some serious torture. But that was all in the past. Now a new detective, Maggie, is on the case and she is forcing Sali to pull herself back into the realm of the living in order to recall what happened and finally hunt down the killer.
At first I really enjoyed the detailed personal interactions between the characters and the flirtations and jokes. The serial killer was looking pretty imposing - a super villain - that would take a lot of trouble to bring down. I also enjoyed learning aspects of what Sali had gone through as memories. Also, while the story continued I enjoyed the evolution of the relationship between Sali and Maggie. It was hot and fun.
Unfortunately, by the end, I was becoming weary of all these things. Maybe they were repeated too often? The jokes were retreads, the flirtations were just another round of the same, and the memories of Sali's time with the killer felt like it resulted in a story being "told" to the reader and not "shown" to the reader. And what about the super villain? Turns out that this is a book about a developing relationship more than one of fighting crime perhaps...
I liked the book, but I'm not feeling too compelled to run out and read the next in the series. I mean, I probably will sometime. Just not today.
At first I really enjoyed the detailed personal interactions between the characters and the flirtations and jokes. The serial killer was looking pretty imposing - a super villain - that would take a lot of trouble to bring down. I also enjoyed learning aspects of what Sali had gone through as memories. Also, while the story continued I enjoyed the evolution of the relationship between Sali and Maggie. It was hot and fun.
Unfortunately, by the end, I was becoming weary of all these things. Maybe they were repeated too often? The jokes were retreads, the flirtations were just another round of the same, and the memories of Sali's time with the killer felt like it resulted in a story being "told" to the reader and not "shown" to the reader. And what about the super villain? Turns out that this is a book about a developing relationship more than one of fighting crime perhaps...
I liked the book, but I'm not feeling too compelled to run out and read the next in the series. I mean, I probably will sometime. Just not today.
August 7, 2022
Probably the darkest and grittiest sapphic thriller I've ever read
4 1/2 stars
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: not a romance, out of your comfort zone, character with a disability, full-time writer; UNICORN: therapy (possibly other categories)
A medically retired detective got pulled back into the cold case that ruined her life and career: the Four Point Killer, a serial rapist/killer. This was a really notable, suspenseful thriller with a very complex and flawed MC. It was a bit unusual to get the background of the story through Sali's therapy appointments and recall of the events of the cases through explaining her detective notes. Her loyal and devoted best friend, her former partner Ben, was her greatest support, and volunteered to participate in the second look at the unsolved investigation. The new detectives assigned (that completed the latest foursome of investigators), were intelligent and intuitive, becoming valued members of the new team.
Sali's recall, and her connection with "Jennifer Doe" - the only other known living victim - helped unravel everything and capture the elusive killer. It was a fantastic psychological thriller.
4 1/2 stars
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: not a romance, out of your comfort zone, character with a disability, full-time writer; UNICORN: therapy (possibly other categories)
A medically retired detective got pulled back into the cold case that ruined her life and career: the Four Point Killer, a serial rapist/killer. This was a really notable, suspenseful thriller with a very complex and flawed MC. It was a bit unusual to get the background of the story through Sali's therapy appointments and recall of the events of the cases through explaining her detective notes. Her loyal and devoted best friend, her former partner Ben, was her greatest support, and volunteered to participate in the second look at the unsolved investigation. The new detectives assigned (that completed the latest foursome of investigators), were intelligent and intuitive, becoming valued members of the new team.
Sali's recall, and her connection with "Jennifer Doe" - the only other known living victim - helped unravel everything and capture the elusive killer. It was a fantastic psychological thriller.
November 30, 2019
Just the thing. A very dark and gritty thriller, with a very damaged main character and lots of plot and character to go with it. If you have a trigger, this probably includes it. No restrictions. I have only read one of Ellendales other books, and it was more romance with the guise of thriller, and although a decent book, it never hit the sweet spot.
This one not only hits the spot, it whacks it with hammer blows.
Great story. The romance is very much an evolution of the character and supports the plot rather than overwhelms it. Sex too. I generally prefer none, but in this instance, the sex is not only relevant it helps the character evolve. It is so cleverly written together. I am impressed and so happy to have read it.
This one not only hits the spot, it whacks it with hammer blows.
Great story. The romance is very much an evolution of the character and supports the plot rather than overwhelms it. Sex too. I generally prefer none, but in this instance, the sex is not only relevant it helps the character evolve. It is so cleverly written together. I am impressed and so happy to have read it.
January 9, 2018
Every time I read this book I fall more in love with it the writing is good everything is described so vibrantly that you feel like you're some place else! I was hooked from the Prologue and Chapter 1! Its full of mystery, non-stop action, and some romantic parts! It will get your adrenaline going as you flip the pages faster to see what happens next as the hunt is on for the killer! I love the dynamic of the characters who they are and what they went through they really grew in front of your eyes and made a beautiful transformation that was fascinating to watch!
This is the best book ever and I look forward to seeing what comes next!
Read this book you will LOVE it!!!!
This is the best book ever and I look forward to seeing what comes next!
Read this book you will LOVE it!!!!
November 28, 2016
2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Four Point by Max Ellendale
1) Four Point starts with banging suspense, and it ratchets up from there. This is a gritty read about a subject matter I generally avoid, survival of rape and sexual torture. It's not for the queasy, but Salinger is a heroine easy to like despite her many faults. A slow-burning romance rises eventually to a sexy sizzle, making this a satisfying read.
2) Dark, gritty, damaged three-dimensional characters, and a well written suspenseful mystery kept me engaged start to finish.
1) Four Point starts with banging suspense, and it ratchets up from there. This is a gritty read about a subject matter I generally avoid, survival of rape and sexual torture. It's not for the queasy, but Salinger is a heroine easy to like despite her many faults. A slow-burning romance rises eventually to a sexy sizzle, making this a satisfying read.
2) Dark, gritty, damaged three-dimensional characters, and a well written suspenseful mystery kept me engaged start to finish.
May 11, 2024
Great start
Having read one book before from this author and having it bring me here to experience the rest I find I am not at all disappointed by the first of this trilogy. Its dark and intense and I love Sali and Maggie. Sali and Ben have a unique friendship that is solid and beautiful and I want to read more about them. I felt for Sali during her breaks and the bonding that has occurred with Jenny is sweet. I was very much annoyed by the breaks I had to take for work. I look forward to the rest of her books.
Having read one book before from this author and having it bring me here to experience the rest I find I am not at all disappointed by the first of this trilogy. Its dark and intense and I love Sali and Maggie. Sali and Ben have a unique friendship that is solid and beautiful and I want to read more about them. I felt for Sali during her breaks and the bonding that has occurred with Jenny is sweet. I was very much annoyed by the breaks I had to take for work. I look forward to the rest of her books.
April 20, 2018
I couldn't put this one down!
I will say there are some parts that I did skim over in this story, but it's a serial killer storyline, I kind of expected that. The story about Sali's ordeal & her efforts to catch a killer were well written. Her friend and old partner Ben, FBI agent Moreno, and her love interest Maggie are well defined and interesting! Jen's story is a mirror of Sali's and an integral part of the story! Okay, enough from me! I'm off to read book 2!
I will say there are some parts that I did skim over in this story, but it's a serial killer storyline, I kind of expected that. The story about Sali's ordeal & her efforts to catch a killer were well written. Her friend and old partner Ben, FBI agent Moreno, and her love interest Maggie are well defined and interesting! Jen's story is a mirror of Sali's and an integral part of the story! Okay, enough from me! I'm off to read book 2!
February 17, 2020
Fantastic start
Literature like this doesn’t come around often. Real life drama, foundational relationships and trauma. This was not a story I expected, the harsh reality of life not going according to plan and adapting to a life you accept culminating in the decision to live or keep dying slowly. Max, well done.
Literature like this doesn’t come around often. Real life drama, foundational relationships and trauma. This was not a story I expected, the harsh reality of life not going according to plan and adapting to a life you accept culminating in the decision to live or keep dying slowly. Max, well done.
October 5, 2018
A must read!
I couldn't ask for anything more in a book. It has all my favorites: crime, suspense, strong female characters, romance, and some very steamy scenes. Excited to read the next book!
I couldn't ask for anything more in a book. It has all my favorites: crime, suspense, strong female characters, romance, and some very steamy scenes. Excited to read the next book!
March 14, 2021
Wow. I couldn't put this down until i finished. It was so good and kept me on the edge of my seat.
January 10, 2020
Full of psychological angst involving a catching a serial killer.
May 3, 2022
Detective Sali James' darkest days were hunting a serial killer and then becoming a victim herself. Years later, the case enters the hands of another detective, Maggie, and she's determined to solve it, even when it means dealing with traumatized Sali. The two of them work together better than they dreamed, but will it be enough to catch the killer?
This is an intense and dark crime thriller. It is a real and hard look at coping with trauma through Sali's narrative. Every day, every minute is a struggle. While Sali and Maggie could be see as very similar types, the differences complement each other perfectly. The case itself was layered, and the serial killer smart and methodical. These were no sloppy, rage-in-the-moment killings. He stalks his prey. I liked how the plot twisted and peeled back for each new reveal. I especially liked the parts with Jenny. The romantic tension between Sali and Maggie was well played out, and there were some steamy moments.
This is an intense and dark crime thriller. It is a real and hard look at coping with trauma through Sali's narrative. Every day, every minute is a struggle. While Sali and Maggie could be see as very similar types, the differences complement each other perfectly. The case itself was layered, and the serial killer smart and methodical. These were no sloppy, rage-in-the-moment killings. He stalks his prey. I liked how the plot twisted and peeled back for each new reveal. I especially liked the parts with Jenny. The romantic tension between Sali and Maggie was well played out, and there were some steamy moments.
May 22, 2018
That was quiet a ride!
This was a quiet intense read not just because of the crime itself but also the way the story is told. How the past is revealed piece by piece an woven into the present speaks for the exceptional writing here. The interactions and relationships are really well developed, not just the two MC´s I mean all that are on the case.
All the up and downs, the heavy topics like rape (not explicit), drugs, violence against women, murder etc. were all very well handled.
The evolving relationship between the two MC´s is really well done even before they get on another level. The only thing that was kinda strange for me personally was the interaction between the two best friends. It was a little bit weird sometime and a particular scene put me off, if you get there you will know what I mean. I know where its coming from kinda but it didn´t sit well with me.
I´m already halway through the second book in the series and looking forward how it will all develope through the end of book 3.
The author has potential to go on my favourite list because it´s really good story telling with the romance/relationship woven into and not too heavy on the forefront.
4.25
This was a quiet intense read not just because of the crime itself but also the way the story is told. How the past is revealed piece by piece an woven into the present speaks for the exceptional writing here. The interactions and relationships are really well developed, not just the two MC´s I mean all that are on the case.
All the up and downs, the heavy topics like rape (not explicit), drugs, violence against women, murder etc. were all very well handled.
The evolving relationship between the two MC´s is really well done even before they get on another level. The only thing that was kinda strange for me personally was the interaction between the two best friends. It was a little bit weird sometime and a particular scene put me off, if you get there you will know what I mean. I know where its coming from kinda but it didn´t sit well with me.
I´m already halway through the second book in the series and looking forward how it will all develope through the end of book 3.
The author has potential to go on my favourite list because it´s really good story telling with the romance/relationship woven into and not too heavy on the forefront.
4.25
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