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21 Weeks #15-21
21 Weeks: Weeks 15-21
21 weeks.
20 victims.
2 cops at odds.
1 serial killer.
Week 15
Detective Beck Nash is forced to make some difficult decisions in regards to her career and personal life when her pursuit of the serial killer puts everyone she cares about at risk, as Vegas faces a rash of UFO sightings that must be connected to their killer’s murder spree.
Week 16
Expecting their serial killer’s next murder to be as public as his last few, the team rushes to a hospital on lockdown when a man is admitted to the emergency room with a potentially infectious disease, as Detective Beck Nash navigates working with her old partner again.
Week 17
Hijacking the performance of a well-known Vegas illusionist, the serial killer puts his latest victim on public display, making it a challenge for the team to find the victim’s actual physical location, while, to complicate matters, Detective Beck Nash gets a call from mob boss Giancarlo LaVigne.
Week 18
When the serial killer takes someone close to her, Detective Beck Nash must keep it together in order to stay on the investigation, but the outcome of events may finally push this detective to her breaking point.
Week 19
A sniper is terrorizing the city. No way it can be a coincidence, the sudden surge in deaths goes against everything their serial killer has done before. Unless, of course, the killer's victim is not one of those shot.
Week 20
A fire at a family home carries echoes of Sergeant Bishop’s past. The only survivor a young boy, he is also marked as their serial killer’s next victim. As the team rallies to keep the kid out of the hands of a madman, they are so focused on their victim they may miss something that causes one of their own to pay the ultimate price.
Week 21
For forty years, this serial killer has gone without capture.
For twenty weeks, the team at Las Vegas Metro Homicide has been unable to stop him from terrorizing their city again.
With days left to catch him, and facing a threat unlike any the team has faced before, Detective Beck Nash has one chance to prove she may be the only person who has ever been truly equipped to go toe to toe with this killer. Or die trying.
21 Weeks is a fast-paced police procedural thriller series that ramps up in intensity with each victim that falls until its explosive final week.
Warning: This series is about a serial killer. There will be violence. There will be language. There will be other adult things. It is intended for a mature audience.
20 victims.
2 cops at odds.
1 serial killer.
Week 15
Detective Beck Nash is forced to make some difficult decisions in regards to her career and personal life when her pursuit of the serial killer puts everyone she cares about at risk, as Vegas faces a rash of UFO sightings that must be connected to their killer’s murder spree.
Week 16
Expecting their serial killer’s next murder to be as public as his last few, the team rushes to a hospital on lockdown when a man is admitted to the emergency room with a potentially infectious disease, as Detective Beck Nash navigates working with her old partner again.
Week 17
Hijacking the performance of a well-known Vegas illusionist, the serial killer puts his latest victim on public display, making it a challenge for the team to find the victim’s actual physical location, while, to complicate matters, Detective Beck Nash gets a call from mob boss Giancarlo LaVigne.
Week 18
When the serial killer takes someone close to her, Detective Beck Nash must keep it together in order to stay on the investigation, but the outcome of events may finally push this detective to her breaking point.
Week 19
A sniper is terrorizing the city. No way it can be a coincidence, the sudden surge in deaths goes against everything their serial killer has done before. Unless, of course, the killer's victim is not one of those shot.
Week 20
A fire at a family home carries echoes of Sergeant Bishop’s past. The only survivor a young boy, he is also marked as their serial killer’s next victim. As the team rallies to keep the kid out of the hands of a madman, they are so focused on their victim they may miss something that causes one of their own to pay the ultimate price.
Week 21
For forty years, this serial killer has gone without capture.
For twenty weeks, the team at Las Vegas Metro Homicide has been unable to stop him from terrorizing their city again.
With days left to catch him, and facing a threat unlike any the team has faced before, Detective Beck Nash has one chance to prove she may be the only person who has ever been truly equipped to go toe to toe with this killer. Or die trying.
21 Weeks is a fast-paced police procedural thriller series that ramps up in intensity with each victim that falls until its explosive final week.
Warning: This series is about a serial killer. There will be violence. There will be language. There will be other adult things. It is intended for a mature audience.
- GenresCrime
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2016
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 7, 2019
I read a lot of books and many have left their mark on me, but very rarely am I left speechless like I am with this series. Yes, the books of these 1OOO+ pages have the heartbreaking magnitude that many other books/movies of a similar genre failed to achieve. It’s not a book designed for enjoyment, but to raise awareness of unexpected/horrifying tragedies that occur around us while we ourselves are fortunate to never experience them.
As I have said before, these books are not easy to read. I felt sick and my heart was beating at the speed of fast and furious too many times, during most of the scenes that were beyond reality and there were times I wished I could stop reading. The reason why I couldn't was because of how REAL this story felt.
I have to give a standing ovation to LaShea for researching her dark stuff well because those contents couldn't be made up or if they were indeed from her twisted, Einstein brain – everything was absolutely cringe-worthy, scandalous, yet ruthlessly delicious to read.
This was a realistic fiction at its finest, so strong and compelling and impossible to separate fiction from reality. And honestly, anyone with a heart and even an ounce of compassion wouldn’t be able to.
Even though there were way too much happening most of the time as the book hit on every evil aspect – merciless murders, sexual abuse (backstories), kidnapping, attempted rape, abusive parents, torture.... to name a few, everything was truly developed, perfectly written and I was 1OO% invested in the story and its characters.
Despite the truckload of triggers these books have, its still a series I highly recommend to hardcore thriller fans. All the characters' voices especially the victims' need to be heard.
Ms.LaShea, I can't thank you enough for making one of your victims in this third book the strength to fight and defeat her nightmare. My battery died in the middle of her scene, I waited for two hours and picked it up immediately after, at 4 am. It still gutted me but I'm still grateful.
As I have said before, these books are not easy to read. I felt sick and my heart was beating at the speed of fast and furious too many times, during most of the scenes that were beyond reality and there were times I wished I could stop reading. The reason why I couldn't was because of how REAL this story felt.
I have to give a standing ovation to LaShea for researching her dark stuff well because those contents couldn't be made up or if they were indeed from her twisted, Einstein brain – everything was absolutely cringe-worthy, scandalous, yet ruthlessly delicious to read.
This was a realistic fiction at its finest, so strong and compelling and impossible to separate fiction from reality. And honestly, anyone with a heart and even an ounce of compassion wouldn’t be able to.
Even though there were way too much happening most of the time as the book hit on every evil aspect – merciless murders, sexual abuse (backstories), kidnapping, attempted rape, abusive parents, torture.... to name a few, everything was truly developed, perfectly written and I was 1OO% invested in the story and its characters.
Despite the truckload of triggers these books have, its still a series I highly recommend to hardcore thriller fans. All the characters' voices especially the victims' need to be heard.
Ms.LaShea, I can't thank you enough for making one of your victims in this third book the strength to fight and defeat her nightmare. My battery died in the middle of her scene, I waited for two hours and picked it up immediately after, at 4 am. It still gutted me but I'm still grateful.
February 8, 2020
“I think you like being a monster.”
“I think you chose it. I think you keep choosing it.”
The plot. After months of searching and racing against the clock, things come to a head and Beck is about to face the man responsible for some of the most horrendous murders spanning several decades. But what will it cost her to finally put an end to his killing spree?
The characters. Oh Beck, I don't always agree with your choices but I still love you girl! The mini army of secondary characters continued to grow on me as well in this final part of the series. It's hard to talk about them without anything becoming a spoiler but there was one person in particular that I didn't care for. There was also one person that broke my heart into a million pieces. Oh how I wish this character got a different ending.
The writing. There were moments yesterday when my living room felt like it housed Beck's entire team. Except it was only me, cursing and swearing in half a dozen languages because of what LaShea was doing to these characters. I went from "this killer is so interesting" to "can someone kill this hijo de puta already", in the blink of an eye.
The special. One thing that I love about reading is when even though I know a certain something will happen, the author still manages to surprise me. LaShea did that several times in this book. She not only managed to shock and horrify me by the cruelty of the killer, she also devastated me because she made me hope for something that would never happen.
The aftermath. I feel like after reading certain books I should be able to walk around in a t-shirt that says I survived the 21 weeks series or I survived In Reflection because they are that brutal and disturbing. Meanwhile all the Micky Knight fans just went "excuse me bitch what about us?". Don't worry, Micky's next.
The verdict. I was planning on taking a short break between reading this and 21 weeks later which takes place 5 months after the events of this book but I changed my mind. I'm not ready to distance myself from these characters!
Full 5* rating for this amazing series that will no doubt leave you wanting more.
“I think you chose it. I think you keep choosing it.”
The plot. After months of searching and racing against the clock, things come to a head and Beck is about to face the man responsible for some of the most horrendous murders spanning several decades. But what will it cost her to finally put an end to his killing spree?
The characters. Oh Beck, I don't always agree with your choices but I still love you girl! The mini army of secondary characters continued to grow on me as well in this final part of the series. It's hard to talk about them without anything becoming a spoiler but there was one person in particular that I didn't care for. There was also one person that broke my heart into a million pieces. Oh how I wish this character got a different ending.
The writing. There were moments yesterday when my living room felt like it housed Beck's entire team. Except it was only me, cursing and swearing in half a dozen languages because of what LaShea was doing to these characters. I went from "this killer is so interesting" to "can someone kill this hijo de puta already", in the blink of an eye.
The special. One thing that I love about reading is when even though I know a certain something will happen, the author still manages to surprise me. LaShea did that several times in this book. She not only managed to shock and horrify me by the cruelty of the killer, she also devastated me because she made me hope for something that would never happen.
The aftermath. I feel like after reading certain books I should be able to walk around in a t-shirt that says I survived the 21 weeks series or I survived In Reflection because they are that brutal and disturbing. Meanwhile all the Micky Knight fans just went "excuse me bitch what about us?". Don't worry, Micky's next.
The verdict. I was planning on taking a short break between reading this and 21 weeks later which takes place 5 months after the events of this book but I changed my mind. I'm not ready to distance myself from these characters!
Full 5* rating for this amazing series that will no doubt leave you wanting more.
December 21, 2021
Can I just say Holy Hell! Somehow the author was able to amplify the tension and emotional intensity in this book – so much so that even now recalling some of the scenes/events have my eyes tearing up, and during the book I cried more than once. Despite the blubbering I found myself only pausing long enough to compose myself before reading on. Hats off to the author, this is so going in my re-read pile.
In this book the race to catch a serial killer who has been torturing and killing for 40 years, speeds up, as things take a very, very personal turn for Beck, and we gain further knowledge on why Bishop is so heavily invested in catching the murdering fiend that has continuously escaped his grasp.
I found myself wanting to reach into the book and give Bishop a hug (and I so disliked him at the start of book 1), and then there is little Caleb and Beck – man they needed more than one hug. The way in which the killer torments his victims (e.g. Daniel) before they die, and torments the cops trying to catch him was depicted well – the author weaved a spell that had me immersed in the tale being unfolded even as I dreaded what would come next.
Carmen’s stepdad was vile, and gets his just desserts – although part of me wishes he had suffered so much more.
I don’t know how the author did it, but the execution of this third book was wonderfully done, and for me stronger than the books that came before it. I seriously think this would make an awesome Netflix or Amazon original series.
Farah THANK YOU for recommending this series to me and introducing me to such a fab author.
Potential Triggers:
In this book the race to catch a serial killer who has been torturing and killing for 40 years, speeds up, as things take a very, very personal turn for Beck, and we gain further knowledge on why Bishop is so heavily invested in catching the murdering fiend that has continuously escaped his grasp.
I found myself wanting to reach into the book and give Bishop a hug (and I so disliked him at the start of book 1), and then there is little Caleb and Beck – man they needed more than one hug. The way in which the killer torments his victims (e.g. Daniel) before they die, and torments the cops trying to catch him was depicted well – the author weaved a spell that had me immersed in the tale being unfolded even as I dreaded what would come next.
Carmen’s stepdad was vile, and gets his just desserts – although part of me wishes he had suffered so much more.
I don’t know how the author did it, but the execution of this third book was wonderfully done, and for me stronger than the books that came before it. I seriously think this would make an awesome Netflix or Amazon original series.
Farah THANK YOU for recommending this series to me and introducing me to such a fab author.
Potential Triggers:
October 14, 2020
Magnificent. Horrifying. A masterpiece of enormous proportion. 21 Weeks is not for the faint of heart. When you think you can't be surprised by the devious and deviant behaviour of this serial killer, LaShae shocks you once again.
Your heart bleeds for Beck. These final chapters are soul destroying for Beck and for you the reader. You are in this for the long haul. You've endured the most vile of murder scenes and the utter brilliance of a madman. You are allowed to grieve along with Beck.
I'm speechless. Both glad and sad it's over. Not ready to read the epilogue book. Not sure if there can ever be an HEA in the world Beck is left with.
Your heart bleeds for Beck. These final chapters are soul destroying for Beck and for you the reader. You are in this for the long haul. You've endured the most vile of murder scenes and the utter brilliance of a madman. You are allowed to grieve along with Beck.
I'm speechless. Both glad and sad it's over. Not ready to read the epilogue book. Not sure if there can ever be an HEA in the world Beck is left with.
August 14, 2019
I don't review much, I try my best. This book by R.A. LaShea was far but simple. Perfectly written. Perfect crimes and mind f@@k investigations. 21 Weeks should be a Netflix Original.
I read my share of thrillers but this one topped them all. Over 1000 pages and not a dull moment.
I read my share of thrillers but this one topped them all. Over 1000 pages and not a dull moment.
August 16, 2019
*This commentary applies to all 3 installments of "21 Weeks"
(Weeks 1-7, 8-14 & 15-21)*
How do you catch a perfect killer?
R.A. LaShea's tour de force of a serial crime saga, "21 Weeks" that spanned out in 3 7-week installments, is prolly the best constructed and executed crime procedural series I've ever read in any fic yet! Thanks to an enthusiastic recommendation from one of my GR mates (Cheers, Farah!), I grabbed a copy and never looked back! My goodness! It was like watching the entire case on-screen! So meticulous. So methodical. So absorbing and addictive. In fact, LaShea's design of the entire case is so ready to be adapted from book-to-screen. imho! "21 Weeks" is truly one of the most original serial crimes created, what with the types of killings constructed and the methodology of solving it.
First off, I was immediately drawn to the aesthetic structure of LaShea's presentation of her story - dividing it into weeks. Reminded me of the TV series, "24," but instead of every episode representing one hour, this one was by week. And in each week, starting from "Week 1," the story began with the day, the location and the time, reminiscent of the TV series, "Law & Order." With this technique, I discovered that my brain was processing my reading of each Week as if it were a week instead of my usual reading time of x minutes to finish a chapter (Week). In essence, the constant display of the day and time on the pages tricked my brain into slowing down the reading time lapse to match LaShea's. I can't explain it any other way, so if you think I'm bonkers, maybe I am! Ignore this! Anyway, it literally brought Beck and Co.'s entire investigation of each homicide to life, for me, making my experience much more acute! In addition to this effective structure of presentation, one of the best bits was that I felt like LaShea gave me, the reader, the opportunity to work through and determine the killer's modus operandi myself rather than spoon-feeding me, you know? Simply brilliant!
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
November 12, 2019
I read the first 17 Weeks or what amounted to 2 1/2 books in just a couple of days which is fast for me. Right away, the feel of these final stories took a much darker and depressing path. Then Week 18 crushed me and I debated whether to continue at all. Reading other reviews makes me wonder if specific weeks resonated in different ways with people because of individual life experiences.
I’m going to do a spoiler here because I want to veer a little.
Being Mexican-American, I keep an eye out for Latina characters in fiction, which we know is not very often, so when one is present and then gets killed off, it’s tough for me. Every time. Carmen’s backstory of tragedy and triumph made it all the worse. I don’t feel that the author was exploitative in any way and I don’t fault the path she took but I checked out at that point. I finished but I don’t think my heart was in it at the end.
The series is an incredible read and I would still recommend every bit of it but just know what you’re heading into.
*Farah💕.
I’m going to do a spoiler here because I want to veer a little.
Being Mexican-American, I keep an eye out for Latina characters in fiction, which we know is not very often, so when one is present and then gets killed off, it’s tough for me. Every time. Carmen’s backstory of tragedy and triumph made it all the worse. I don’t feel that the author was exploitative in any way and I don’t fault the path she took but I checked out at that point. I finished but I don’t think my heart was in it at the end.
The series is an incredible read and I would still recommend every bit of it but just know what you’re heading into.
*Farah💕.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2018
R. A. LaShea!!! What the hell are you doing to me? For over 1100 pages (divided over 21 volumes) you held Book Club Buddie D. and me in intense and extreme suspense. Our nerves are frayed and we have no nails left to gnaw on. What an absolute masterpiece you have created here. And word is you are currently writing a second one… A SECOND ONE?!!!!? Oh fuck, how will we ever survive that?!
I can safely say that this is hands down one of the best police procedural thrillers I’ve ever read. It is so masterfully written it jumped right off the page. Poor Beck Nash is beginning to feel the strain as the weeks move on and the serial killer is not slowing down. No, in fact he is ramping it up. And now he’s encroaching on the few people Beck holds very dear.
I have to think long and hard to find another psychopath that could match this one and I don’t think I can. The unique brand of cruelty ‘Psycho Jesus’ inflicts on his victims is without equal. The author has really managed to keep the suspense alive all through the book and that is not easy to pull off in such a long stint. Writing it as she did, doling it out over 21 parts is something resembling Kiefer Sutherland’s 24 series.
LaShea is utterly brilliant. She writes a suspense-laden, gut-wrenching plot that just compels us to hold on tight and trust that the abilities of Beck, Bishop, Martinez, Cunningham, Baxton and the rest of the Las Vegas Metro Homicide team will ultimately prove superior to those of their genius adversary Benjy. OMG, just read it! Just drop everything else and start reading it now.
f/f, m/f fade to black
Themes: intense shit to the max, scenes might be triggering, Oh Beck my heart bleeds for you and all the evil shit you get doled out, Baxton!!! such great characters, fantastic dialogue, addictive read.
5 stars!!
I can safely say that this is hands down one of the best police procedural thrillers I’ve ever read. It is so masterfully written it jumped right off the page. Poor Beck Nash is beginning to feel the strain as the weeks move on and the serial killer is not slowing down. No, in fact he is ramping it up. And now he’s encroaching on the few people Beck holds very dear.
I have to think long and hard to find another psychopath that could match this one and I don’t think I can. The unique brand of cruelty ‘Psycho Jesus’ inflicts on his victims is without equal. The author has really managed to keep the suspense alive all through the book and that is not easy to pull off in such a long stint. Writing it as she did, doling it out over 21 parts is something resembling Kiefer Sutherland’s 24 series.
LaShea is utterly brilliant. She writes a suspense-laden, gut-wrenching plot that just compels us to hold on tight and trust that the abilities of Beck, Bishop, Martinez, Cunningham, Baxton and the rest of the Las Vegas Metro Homicide team will ultimately prove superior to those of their genius adversary Benjy. OMG, just read it! Just drop everything else and start reading it now.
f/f, m/f fade to black
Themes: intense shit to the max, scenes might be triggering, Oh Beck my heart bleeds for you and all the evil shit you get doled out, Baxton!!! such great characters, fantastic dialogue, addictive read.
5 stars!!
January 27, 2018
Read all 21 weeks! You will not be disappointed!
March 3, 2018
All 3 books were fantastic! Would love to see a Beck Nash detective series.
February 24, 2018
Loved it, great concept with the weeks!
January 2, 2020
I’ve read a number of crime books and “21 Weeks” is among the best I’ve read. Obviously you have to read the earlier books before you read this one. The level of gruesome escalates as the week progresses that this last book put me on the edge of my seat. It’s like watching a crime drama that started out a little like Rizolli & Isles but with more umph then progressed to CSI-quality cases and investigations before turning into Criminal Minds level of mind-fuck crazy.
Lashea doesn’t hold back on the gruesome. Do not expect compassion for the reader - this is the real deal. Not sure if I should feel impressed or worried that Lashea can think of more than 21 different ways of torture and killing someone.
Lashea doesn’t hold back on the gruesome. Do not expect compassion for the reader - this is the real deal. Not sure if I should feel impressed or worried that Lashea can think of more than 21 different ways of torture and killing someone.
December 23, 2023
Wow!
This is such an awesome, heart-pounding story! Beck is right up there with Patricia Cornwell’s ‘Kay Scarpetta’ and JD Robb’s “Eve Dallas” as my favorite ‘detectives’. Could not put this story down until the end of week 21. Loved all the main and secondary characters. Just when you think the murders could not get any more gruesome, they did. Can’t remember crying this many times during any other detective story either. Loved this series! Well done RA LaShea!
This is such an awesome, heart-pounding story! Beck is right up there with Patricia Cornwell’s ‘Kay Scarpetta’ and JD Robb’s “Eve Dallas” as my favorite ‘detectives’. Could not put this story down until the end of week 21. Loved all the main and secondary characters. Just when you think the murders could not get any more gruesome, they did. Can’t remember crying this many times during any other detective story either. Loved this series! Well done RA LaShea!
February 14, 2020
WOW!
You will not be able to put 21 Weeks down. The hits keep coming. Action and tension on every page.
You will not be able to put 21 Weeks down. The hits keep coming. Action and tension on every page.
August 30, 2024
El broche de oro a la historia. Excelente.
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