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Lena Peters #1
Sacrifice
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER FOR FANS OF NICCI FRENCH, SOPHIE HANNAH AND KARIN SLAUGHTER.
He must hunt her down. Kill her. Destroy her . . .
In her very first case, criminal psychologist Lena Peters is confronted with a killer on a murderous vendetta. And though she is unaware, Lena will play a prominent role in his deadly mission, because Lena knows what makes killers tick - she also knows all about obsession, for she has been close to the edge herself.
For now she is the hunter, but soon she will become the hunted.
THE CHILLING FIRST NOVEL IN THE LENA PETERS SERIES FROM AN EXCITING VOICE IN CRIME FICTION.
He must hunt her down. Kill her. Destroy her . . .
In her very first case, criminal psychologist Lena Peters is confronted with a killer on a murderous vendetta. And though she is unaware, Lena will play a prominent role in his deadly mission, because Lena knows what makes killers tick - she also knows all about obsession, for she has been close to the edge herself.
For now she is the hunter, but soon she will become the hunted.
THE CHILLING FIRST NOVEL IN THE LENA PETERS SERIES FROM AN EXCITING VOICE IN CRIME FICTION.
288 pages, Paperback
Published November 17, 2016
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291 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 23, 2016
Criminal psychologist Lena Peters is asked to assist in the hunt for a serial killer who collects body parts. New to the city and to the team, Lena tries to find her footing but isn't welcomed by everyone and soon clashes with her boss, Volker Drescher, a seemingly shady detective.
Sacrifice is the first book in this series set in Berlin. It was originally published in German in 2012. The follow-up, Seelenriss, is so far only available in German. As you would expect from a first in a series, Lena's background is introduced, which, unsurprisingly, isn't happy. Lena has a volatile relationship with her twin sister and leads a rather isolated life.
Told from multiple perspectives, including the deranged killer's, there were plenty of red herrings and a couple of developments that didn't make an awful lot of sense to me and when the culprit was finally revealed, it kind of materialized completely out of the blue. Still, this wasn't bad. Lena teams up with a retired detective, Wulf Belling, and gets some help from her neighbor, Lukas, and I quite enjoyed all their interactions. There was no cliffhanger as such, as the case was solved, but the end of the book leads immediately into the next one.
As with most translated work, the prose didn't always flow perfectly, but I've certainly read a lot worse. It was lacking suspense and considering Lena is a criminal psychologist, I would have liked to see more of the psychological aspects. She almost turned more into a private detective during the story. However, I felt invested enough to try the next one.
Many thanks to Bonnier Publishing for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sacrifice is the first book in this series set in Berlin. It was originally published in German in 2012. The follow-up, Seelenriss, is so far only available in German. As you would expect from a first in a series, Lena's background is introduced, which, unsurprisingly, isn't happy. Lena has a volatile relationship with her twin sister and leads a rather isolated life.
Told from multiple perspectives, including the deranged killer's, there were plenty of red herrings and a couple of developments that didn't make an awful lot of sense to me and when the culprit was finally revealed, it kind of materialized completely out of the blue. Still, this wasn't bad. Lena teams up with a retired detective, Wulf Belling, and gets some help from her neighbor, Lukas, and I quite enjoyed all their interactions. There was no cliffhanger as such, as the case was solved, but the end of the book leads immediately into the next one.
As with most translated work, the prose didn't always flow perfectly, but I've certainly read a lot worse. It was lacking suspense and considering Lena is a criminal psychologist, I would have liked to see more of the psychological aspects. She almost turned more into a private detective during the story. However, I felt invested enough to try the next one.
Many thanks to Bonnier Publishing for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
June 25, 2016I had to DNF this one at 20%. It will appeal to fans of "serial killer" novels but I found the writing too simplistic (possibly some depth to characters and plot was lost in translation but thats not something I can quantify) and the story a little too cliche. Women stalked and killed (tick) Police investigators with issues (tick) which is actually fine if you connect with the characters or the story, I still love books like this, just not this one. A reader/story lack of sparkle.
November 28, 2017
Not bad but a bit formulaic.
August 3, 2016
This is the first in a series from German author Hanna Winter and translated into English.
The book opens in Berlin with Lena Peters - our protagonist- feeling as if she is being chased. We hear how she "briefly considers calling the police" but then decides to deal with the situation herself, "just as she had always done". From these scant details, it is clear Lena is a woman who thinks nothing of putting herself at risk, of facing danger and obviously feels strong and capable enough to defend herself. The phrase "just as she had always done" suggests there is possibly a dark, hidden past to Lena which is compounded by the way a few drops of blood evoke a memory of the day when her parents had been burned to death in a car crash while herself and her twin sister Tamara were crushed in the back seat.
"All the time the fire-fighters were trying to free Lena, she clung to her mother's bloodied hand....refusing to let go....not even as the flames burst up around her mother."
So Winter sets the scene with our main character; a criminal profiler, a single woman who has moved to a new flat, new area and a new job investigating a series of murders. Lena is clearly talented. She has an "impressive academic background....outstanding marks in psychology and criminology but also excellent research into criminal profiling." However, there is an implication that Peters is damaged as "there are certain people that think this series of murders might be too much for you to handle," as well as Lena's own thoughts that she has her "own strategies" for solving the situation. Therefore the reader is comfortably prepared for a story in which the mystery behind the protagonist will be as intriguing as the mystery they are trying to solve. As the story progresses, Lena frequently has a feeling that she is being lied to or not being informed by the police of everything that is relevant to the case. This encourages empathy from the reader and a desire for her to succeed.
Peters pairs up with retired Police Officer Belling. It is an unlikely partnership but one that works well and gives Winter a chance to add a little more complexity to the plot as they both have backstories and interesting personal situations.
The murders are gritty and graphic, sadistic and perverted. The "Mutilator", as he comes to be called, uses drugs to inflict temporary paralysis of the muscular system so the victims cannot scream but can still feel pain. His anonymous voice which narrates some of the chapters suggests this is a man deluded and ultimately being controlled by someone else - or trying to impress someone else. He appears to be someone "outwardly conventional" who will behave in an "inconspicuous manner" which means he may be harder to catch. Lena's profiling is astute and Winter describes her exceptional observational skills which rival Sherlock Holmes.
As Winter clearly plans more books in this series, we are only given some details about Lena's past and her relationship with her twin sister. I actually found this part of the book really interesting and would love to read more about their history - I think it would make a good novel in itself!
The chapters are exceptionally short giving the book pace. The last line is a complete cliff hanger-obviously paving the way for part two- but it really is a killer ending! The language is clear, simple, blunt and makes for a very easy read. I don't know how much of this is down to the translation from the original or whether it is a fair reflection of Winter's prose, but it is very accessible and straightforward. For me personally, I didn't feel Berlin had quite the appeal of some of the "Nordic Noir" novels but the book doesn't really focus much on the setting or location and Berlin didn't feel like a "character" in the book. In fact, I felt that when the story moves to Edinburgh, there was much more physical sense of place.
As this is an honest review I feel I need to say that although I found the ending exciting and I did like Lena as a character, I would have liked to see a bit more character development and a little bit more about her back story. However, I am certain this is to come in the subsequent novels and "Sacrifice" is a mere teaser of what is still to come. Occasionally the prose was a little stilted and cliched which again, could be due to translation, but I'm sure that this will also become more polished with the next novel. Winter evidently understands the necessary ingredients for a captivating crime thriller and can employ them effectively; I'm positive that she is a writer to watch out for.
Winter definitely has enough here to develop a series. I don't think this is the last we've seen of Lena Peters and I for one will be keeping an eye on her career as a criminal profiler.
My thanks to Bonnier Publishing for providing me with a ARC via NetGalley in return for an honest and fair review.
The book opens in Berlin with Lena Peters - our protagonist- feeling as if she is being chased. We hear how she "briefly considers calling the police" but then decides to deal with the situation herself, "just as she had always done". From these scant details, it is clear Lena is a woman who thinks nothing of putting herself at risk, of facing danger and obviously feels strong and capable enough to defend herself. The phrase "just as she had always done" suggests there is possibly a dark, hidden past to Lena which is compounded by the way a few drops of blood evoke a memory of the day when her parents had been burned to death in a car crash while herself and her twin sister Tamara were crushed in the back seat.
"All the time the fire-fighters were trying to free Lena, she clung to her mother's bloodied hand....refusing to let go....not even as the flames burst up around her mother."
So Winter sets the scene with our main character; a criminal profiler, a single woman who has moved to a new flat, new area and a new job investigating a series of murders. Lena is clearly talented. She has an "impressive academic background....outstanding marks in psychology and criminology but also excellent research into criminal profiling." However, there is an implication that Peters is damaged as "there are certain people that think this series of murders might be too much for you to handle," as well as Lena's own thoughts that she has her "own strategies" for solving the situation. Therefore the reader is comfortably prepared for a story in which the mystery behind the protagonist will be as intriguing as the mystery they are trying to solve. As the story progresses, Lena frequently has a feeling that she is being lied to or not being informed by the police of everything that is relevant to the case. This encourages empathy from the reader and a desire for her to succeed.
Peters pairs up with retired Police Officer Belling. It is an unlikely partnership but one that works well and gives Winter a chance to add a little more complexity to the plot as they both have backstories and interesting personal situations.
The murders are gritty and graphic, sadistic and perverted. The "Mutilator", as he comes to be called, uses drugs to inflict temporary paralysis of the muscular system so the victims cannot scream but can still feel pain. His anonymous voice which narrates some of the chapters suggests this is a man deluded and ultimately being controlled by someone else - or trying to impress someone else. He appears to be someone "outwardly conventional" who will behave in an "inconspicuous manner" which means he may be harder to catch. Lena's profiling is astute and Winter describes her exceptional observational skills which rival Sherlock Holmes.
As Winter clearly plans more books in this series, we are only given some details about Lena's past and her relationship with her twin sister. I actually found this part of the book really interesting and would love to read more about their history - I think it would make a good novel in itself!
The chapters are exceptionally short giving the book pace. The last line is a complete cliff hanger-obviously paving the way for part two- but it really is a killer ending! The language is clear, simple, blunt and makes for a very easy read. I don't know how much of this is down to the translation from the original or whether it is a fair reflection of Winter's prose, but it is very accessible and straightforward. For me personally, I didn't feel Berlin had quite the appeal of some of the "Nordic Noir" novels but the book doesn't really focus much on the setting or location and Berlin didn't feel like a "character" in the book. In fact, I felt that when the story moves to Edinburgh, there was much more physical sense of place.
As this is an honest review I feel I need to say that although I found the ending exciting and I did like Lena as a character, I would have liked to see a bit more character development and a little bit more about her back story. However, I am certain this is to come in the subsequent novels and "Sacrifice" is a mere teaser of what is still to come. Occasionally the prose was a little stilted and cliched which again, could be due to translation, but I'm sure that this will also become more polished with the next novel. Winter evidently understands the necessary ingredients for a captivating crime thriller and can employ them effectively; I'm positive that she is a writer to watch out for.
Winter definitely has enough here to develop a series. I don't think this is the last we've seen of Lena Peters and I for one will be keeping an eye on her career as a criminal profiler.
My thanks to Bonnier Publishing for providing me with a ARC via NetGalley in return for an honest and fair review.
April 8, 2017
If you like plenty of gore and blood this is for you I did not enjoy this book too graphic with severed body parts just horrid
July 20, 2017
This was good, it was a little slow at the beginning. The twists and turns were great I enjoyed the friendship formed in this book and I'm exited to read more of Lena Peters in the future. 😍
August 7, 2016
** I received this book through NetGalley and Bonnier Publishing in exchange for an honest review**
I officially feel bad for giving this book three stars when I'm the only one that's reviewed its English version. I don't speak German, I know very little about Germany (aside from, you know, the racism my Muslim and Arab extended family has received within it), so I can't speak for the authenticity or the translation of German word to English sentiment. I do know that my general assessment of the book (3/5 stars) lines up with its German counterpart, Opfertod.
This book suffers from, well, a lack of substance. The characters were dry, the action mechanical, and I couldn't even get myself interested in the killer... which is a problem for a thriller that explicitly shows the killer's narrative. As a reader, I was lead in so many different directions (Lena's sister, Belling, that cop guy whose name I forgot) that I really just got lost and just let myself go along with the ride without getting too invested into the characters.
There's also a weird theme of misogyny in the book- which has to be internalized on Winter's part, because it's so subtle that it made me squirm. No female character other than Lena is portrayed in a positive light- and even Lena is only good because she's more 'traditionally masculine' (whatever the hell that means). You get tired of hearing about the woman and feeling threatened by Lena because, in the end, the entire plot is stalled because of a manufactured jealousy plot that could've been subtracted without losing anything of value. I also didn't highlight it in my book, but I do faintly recall some weird racism and xenophobia in the book? Mainly with the .
It got really hammy and cheesy with lines about chess, and I still don't buy into the fact that
I officially feel bad for giving this book three stars when I'm the only one that's reviewed its English version. I don't speak German, I know very little about Germany (aside from, you know, the racism my Muslim and Arab extended family has received within it), so I can't speak for the authenticity or the translation of German word to English sentiment. I do know that my general assessment of the book (3/5 stars) lines up with its German counterpart, Opfertod.
This book suffers from, well, a lack of substance. The characters were dry, the action mechanical, and I couldn't even get myself interested in the killer... which is a problem for a thriller that explicitly shows the killer's narrative. As a reader, I was lead in so many different directions (Lena's sister, Belling, that cop guy whose name I forgot) that I really just got lost and just let myself go along with the ride without getting too invested into the characters.
There's also a weird theme of misogyny in the book- which has to be internalized on Winter's part, because it's so subtle that it made me squirm. No female character other than Lena is portrayed in a positive light- and even Lena is only good because she's more 'traditionally masculine' (whatever the hell that means). You get tired of hearing about the woman and feeling threatened by Lena because, in the end, the entire plot is stalled because of a manufactured jealousy plot that could've been subtracted without losing anything of value. I also didn't highlight it in my book, but I do faintly recall some weird racism and xenophobia in the book? Mainly with the .
It got really hammy and cheesy with lines about chess, and I still don't buy into the fact that
January 30, 2016
Ich kann bei diesem Roman weder behaupten, dass mir die Spannung gefehlt hätte, noch, dass sie wirklich da war. Insgesamt ist es einfach bei mir eher so gewesen, dass ich den Roman irgendwie interessant genug fand, weiterlesen zu wollen, aber auch nicht wirklich spannend. Genau sagen, woran das lag, dass bei mir keine wirkliche Spannung aufkommen wollte, kann ich aber auch nicht.
Der Fall war auf jeden Fall vom Grundsatz her spannend und interessant und vielleicht hat bei mir nicht so recht Spannung aufkommen wollen, da ich sowohl den Kommissar nicht wirklich verstanden habe, von allen seinen Handlungen und Gedanken her, als auch Lena irgendwie nicht so wirklich in die Ermittlungen eingebunden wurde. Ich hatte die ganze Zeit das Gefühl Lena wäre nur eine Einzelkämpferin und auch die Polizei würde sie eigentlich nicht haben wollen. Das führte daher dazu, dass die Geschichte nicht wirklich zusammenwachsen konnte. Sehr viel war einfach in Einzelteile zerstückelt, manche Bezüge waren nicht wirklich vorhanden und eigentlich wirkte es fast, wie zwei unterschiedliche Erzählungen, die nebeneinander laufen und durch großen Zufall irgendwann ein Treffen veranstaltet haben, das aber fast schon ein bisschen unglaubwürdig wirkte.
Manche Dinge waren dann zudem im Verlauf der Geschichte einfach zu leicht zu durchschauen und andere, manchmal noch relevantere, konnte ich teilweise selbst nach der Auflösung nur schwer verstehen, da sie zwar irgendwie noch logisch erklärt wurden, aber es in der ganzen Geschichte keinerlei Hinweis in eine solche Richtung gab und es dann einfach wie aus den Wolken gegriffen wirkte. Ganz besonders die Auflösung des Ganzen fiel in dieses Vorgehen, was mich an dem Roman mit am meisten gestört hat, wirkte das Ende einfach extrem weit hergeholt.
Zudem konnte mir Lena noch nicht so recht nah kommen, da ihre Persönlichkeit irgendwie ein wenig abwesen bis unvollständig wirkte und ich hoffe irgendwie, dass diese in den Folgebänden noch ausgebaut wird und Lena einen tiefer gehenden Charakter bekommt, sowie auch die Fälle mehr Sinnzusammenhang bekommen, denn ansonsten wären die weiteren geplanten Teile nichts für mich.
Insgesamt zwar ein Thriller, den man gut lesen kann, bei dem mir aber manches gefehlt hat und daher auch kein wirklich erinnerungswürdiges Buch.
Der Fall war auf jeden Fall vom Grundsatz her spannend und interessant und vielleicht hat bei mir nicht so recht Spannung aufkommen wollen, da ich sowohl den Kommissar nicht wirklich verstanden habe, von allen seinen Handlungen und Gedanken her, als auch Lena irgendwie nicht so wirklich in die Ermittlungen eingebunden wurde. Ich hatte die ganze Zeit das Gefühl Lena wäre nur eine Einzelkämpferin und auch die Polizei würde sie eigentlich nicht haben wollen. Das führte daher dazu, dass die Geschichte nicht wirklich zusammenwachsen konnte. Sehr viel war einfach in Einzelteile zerstückelt, manche Bezüge waren nicht wirklich vorhanden und eigentlich wirkte es fast, wie zwei unterschiedliche Erzählungen, die nebeneinander laufen und durch großen Zufall irgendwann ein Treffen veranstaltet haben, das aber fast schon ein bisschen unglaubwürdig wirkte.
Manche Dinge waren dann zudem im Verlauf der Geschichte einfach zu leicht zu durchschauen und andere, manchmal noch relevantere, konnte ich teilweise selbst nach der Auflösung nur schwer verstehen, da sie zwar irgendwie noch logisch erklärt wurden, aber es in der ganzen Geschichte keinerlei Hinweis in eine solche Richtung gab und es dann einfach wie aus den Wolken gegriffen wirkte. Ganz besonders die Auflösung des Ganzen fiel in dieses Vorgehen, was mich an dem Roman mit am meisten gestört hat, wirkte das Ende einfach extrem weit hergeholt.
Zudem konnte mir Lena noch nicht so recht nah kommen, da ihre Persönlichkeit irgendwie ein wenig abwesen bis unvollständig wirkte und ich hoffe irgendwie, dass diese in den Folgebänden noch ausgebaut wird und Lena einen tiefer gehenden Charakter bekommt, sowie auch die Fälle mehr Sinnzusammenhang bekommen, denn ansonsten wären die weiteren geplanten Teile nichts für mich.
Insgesamt zwar ein Thriller, den man gut lesen kann, bei dem mir aber manches gefehlt hat und daher auch kein wirklich erinnerungswürdiges Buch.
November 8, 2016
A very promising crime debut
This is the first novel about Lena Peters a young criminal psychologist who has been asked to help profile and catch a serial killer in Berlin. His modus operandi is to mutilate each victim by removing a particular part of her anatomy, lips, nose, eyes, but even worse he uses a chemical on his victims which means they cannot move but are able to feel the excruciating pain.
Lena herself is a complicated character, she is revolted by the sight and smell of blood and we subsequently discover that her parents had burnt to death in a car crash with Lena and her twin sister Tamara crushed in the back seat.
Tamara is one of the characters that reoccur throughout the book, she has completely gone off the rails taking drugs and also has an 8 year old daughter who seems to be conveniently looked after by friends when Tamara turns up on Lena’s doorstep with a baby boy. One of the other main characters is Wulf Belling, a police officer who has been pushed into early retirement, he has his own family problems but is desperate to return to his job and helps Lena with the search for the murderer. The previous psychologist working on the case, Cornelia Dobelli, has mysteriously disappeared together with her files and Lena suspects this has something to do with her current employer Volker Drescher.
The book moves at a smart pace, short chapters written from various character viewpoints including the murderer which is interesting as it gives some insight into why he is doing these crimes. However I always had the feeling that the author was holding some information back on all the characters and all the background stories and this becomes obvious at the end when although this murder is solved there is an obvious follow up to come when Lena receives a particular gift.
I will definitely be looking out for the next book in this series and hope it will provide more background surrounding the main characters. I feel the author has a lot more to tell us and I for one would like to read it.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
This is the first novel about Lena Peters a young criminal psychologist who has been asked to help profile and catch a serial killer in Berlin. His modus operandi is to mutilate each victim by removing a particular part of her anatomy, lips, nose, eyes, but even worse he uses a chemical on his victims which means they cannot move but are able to feel the excruciating pain.
Lena herself is a complicated character, she is revolted by the sight and smell of blood and we subsequently discover that her parents had burnt to death in a car crash with Lena and her twin sister Tamara crushed in the back seat.
Tamara is one of the characters that reoccur throughout the book, she has completely gone off the rails taking drugs and also has an 8 year old daughter who seems to be conveniently looked after by friends when Tamara turns up on Lena’s doorstep with a baby boy. One of the other main characters is Wulf Belling, a police officer who has been pushed into early retirement, he has his own family problems but is desperate to return to his job and helps Lena with the search for the murderer. The previous psychologist working on the case, Cornelia Dobelli, has mysteriously disappeared together with her files and Lena suspects this has something to do with her current employer Volker Drescher.
The book moves at a smart pace, short chapters written from various character viewpoints including the murderer which is interesting as it gives some insight into why he is doing these crimes. However I always had the feeling that the author was holding some information back on all the characters and all the background stories and this becomes obvious at the end when although this murder is solved there is an obvious follow up to come when Lena receives a particular gift.
I will definitely be looking out for the next book in this series and hope it will provide more background surrounding the main characters. I feel the author has a lot more to tell us and I for one would like to read it.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
February 19, 2025
Meine Meinung von 2013
Gleich bei ihrem ersten Fall bei der Berliner Mordkommission bekommt es die Profilerin Lena Peters mit einem besonderen Fall zu tun. Ein Serientäter ermordet und verstümmelt junge Frauen in einer atemberaubenden Geschwindigkeit. Je näher sie sich mit dem Fall befasst, desto deutlicher erkennt Lena: auch sie ist ein Teil davon.
Dass Lena am Abend vor ihrem ersten Arbeitstag ihren Chef niederschlägt, hätte mir eine Warnung sein sollen: wer so chaotisch ist, kann keine gute Ermittlerin sein. Lena wirkt übereifrig, was ihr sehr schnell Ärger einbringt. Dass sie dabei die Intrigen ihrer Kollegen gegen sie selbst übersieht, überzeugt mich nicht wirklich von ihren Fähigkeiten. Sie hat eine schwere Vergangenheit, aber das ist keine Entschuldigung für ihr Verhalten. Aber anscheinend braucht man das, wenn man einen Psychopathen fangen will, denn auch ihr neuer Partner hat ein ähnliches Päckchen zu tragen.
Bei den Ermittlungen geht alles sehr schnell. Für die 250+ Seiten passiert zu viel und nur selten geht die Autorin ins Detail. Das finde ich schade, bestimmt hätten ein paar Seiten mehr dem Krimi gut getan.
Meine Meinung von 2025
Die Profilerin Lena Peters wird von der Berliner Polizei im Fall eines besonders sadistischen Serienkillers angefordert. Der Täter entführt Frauen, tötet und verstümmelt sie, jede auf eine andere Art. Die abgetrennten Körperteile werden nicht gefunden. Lena muss bei ihren Ermittlungen nicht nur gegen die Zeit, sondern auch gegen ihren Vorgesetzten kämpfen- ausgerechnet den Mann, der sie angefordert hat.
Profilerin mit dunkler Vergangenheit meets Serienkiller meets Ermittlungsleiter mit Napoleonkomplex. So könnte man die Handlung in einem Satz beschreiben. Das klingt platt und ist es bis zu einem gewissen Grad auch. Nichts, was Hanna Winter erzählt, hatte ich schon vor der ersten Lektüre nicht so oder so ähnlich gelesen. Trotzdem hat mir der Krimi dieses Mal ein wenig besser gefallen. Hanna Winter gibt den bekannten Themen einen neuen Anstrich und schafft es, den allzu tiefen Griff in die Klischeekiste zu vermeiden. Die Geschichte liest sich flott und ist durchaus spannend.
Allerdings war gegen Ende plötzlich die Luft raus. So spannend der Teil davor war, so oberflächlich war das Ende. Die Auflösung passierte fast nebenher, das hat für mich nicht zusammengepasst.
Gleich bei ihrem ersten Fall bei der Berliner Mordkommission bekommt es die Profilerin Lena Peters mit einem besonderen Fall zu tun. Ein Serientäter ermordet und verstümmelt junge Frauen in einer atemberaubenden Geschwindigkeit. Je näher sie sich mit dem Fall befasst, desto deutlicher erkennt Lena: auch sie ist ein Teil davon.
Dass Lena am Abend vor ihrem ersten Arbeitstag ihren Chef niederschlägt, hätte mir eine Warnung sein sollen: wer so chaotisch ist, kann keine gute Ermittlerin sein. Lena wirkt übereifrig, was ihr sehr schnell Ärger einbringt. Dass sie dabei die Intrigen ihrer Kollegen gegen sie selbst übersieht, überzeugt mich nicht wirklich von ihren Fähigkeiten. Sie hat eine schwere Vergangenheit, aber das ist keine Entschuldigung für ihr Verhalten. Aber anscheinend braucht man das, wenn man einen Psychopathen fangen will, denn auch ihr neuer Partner hat ein ähnliches Päckchen zu tragen.
Bei den Ermittlungen geht alles sehr schnell. Für die 250+ Seiten passiert zu viel und nur selten geht die Autorin ins Detail. Das finde ich schade, bestimmt hätten ein paar Seiten mehr dem Krimi gut getan.
Meine Meinung von 2025
Die Profilerin Lena Peters wird von der Berliner Polizei im Fall eines besonders sadistischen Serienkillers angefordert. Der Täter entführt Frauen, tötet und verstümmelt sie, jede auf eine andere Art. Die abgetrennten Körperteile werden nicht gefunden. Lena muss bei ihren Ermittlungen nicht nur gegen die Zeit, sondern auch gegen ihren Vorgesetzten kämpfen- ausgerechnet den Mann, der sie angefordert hat.
Profilerin mit dunkler Vergangenheit meets Serienkiller meets Ermittlungsleiter mit Napoleonkomplex. So könnte man die Handlung in einem Satz beschreiben. Das klingt platt und ist es bis zu einem gewissen Grad auch. Nichts, was Hanna Winter erzählt, hatte ich schon vor der ersten Lektüre nicht so oder so ähnlich gelesen. Trotzdem hat mir der Krimi dieses Mal ein wenig besser gefallen. Hanna Winter gibt den bekannten Themen einen neuen Anstrich und schafft es, den allzu tiefen Griff in die Klischeekiste zu vermeiden. Die Geschichte liest sich flott und ist durchaus spannend.
Allerdings war gegen Ende plötzlich die Luft raus. So spannend der Teil davor war, so oberflächlich war das Ende. Die Auflösung passierte fast nebenher, das hat für mich nicht zusammengepasst.
May 20, 2019
Es scheint der Auftakt einer Serie um eine Berliner Kriminalpsychologin, neudeutsch Profilerin, zu sein, die schwer mit eigenen Traumata aus ihrer frühen Jugend zu kämpfen hat. Lena Peters, so ihr Name, ist Einzelgängerin und vermeidet menschliche Beziehungen. So fällt es ihr auch schwer, mit ihren neuen Kollegen der Berliner Mordkommission warm zu werden. Ihr erster Fall befasst sich mit einem Serienmörder, der bereits ein Dutzend junger Frauen entführt, grausam verstümmelt und getötet hat. Durch Zufall kommt sie dahinter, dass vor ihr bereits eine Psychologin an dem Fall gearbeitet hat. Sie ist empört, dass ihr eine vermeintlich so wichtige Information vorenthalten wurde und versucht, sich die Fallakte ihrer Vorgängerin zu besorgen. Diese ist jedoch auf mysteriöse Weise verschwunden. Durch einen Tipp einer Kollegin erfährt sie, dass ihr neuer Chef, Volker Drescher, die Akte in seiner Schreibtischschublade unter Verschluss hält. Um weitere Informationen zu erhalten, verschafft sie sich Zugang zu Dreschers Schreibtisch, wird allerdings dabei ertappt, bevor sie einen eingehenderen Blick auf die Akte werfen kann und prompt entlassen.
Fall beendet, sollte man meinen. Wie es der Zufall aber will, ist das nächste Opfer Lenas beste Freundin aus Schultagen und so ermittelt sie auf eigene Faust weiter, denn nun nimmt sie den Fall persönlich.
Beim Lesen dieses "Thrillers" hatte ich die ganze Zeit schlechte deutsche Serien vor Augen, mit schlechten deutschen Schauspielern und schlechten deutschen Dialogen. Keine Hintergründe, kein verständliches Motiv, unglaubwürdige Zufälle, flache Charaktere. Zum Glück habe ich das eBook zum Kauf des Readers geschenkt bekommen, denn hätte ich das Buch bezahlen müssen, wäre ich echt sauer gewesen.
Fall beendet, sollte man meinen. Wie es der Zufall aber will, ist das nächste Opfer Lenas beste Freundin aus Schultagen und so ermittelt sie auf eigene Faust weiter, denn nun nimmt sie den Fall persönlich.
Beim Lesen dieses "Thrillers" hatte ich die ganze Zeit schlechte deutsche Serien vor Augen, mit schlechten deutschen Schauspielern und schlechten deutschen Dialogen. Keine Hintergründe, kein verständliches Motiv, unglaubwürdige Zufälle, flache Charaktere. Zum Glück habe ich das eBook zum Kauf des Readers geschenkt bekommen, denn hätte ich das Buch bezahlen müssen, wäre ich echt sauer gewesen.
October 4, 2017
I liked the book for the most part. It seemed fairly simplistic, but it never really got deep into the killer's motivations. I understand that he was trying to preserve his sister by taking parts, but we don't really learn that until the very last few pages. I feel like the book scratched the surface of the case and didn't really delve into it like it could have. I gave it a four star rating, because it kept me reading. I breezed through it pretty quickly, wondering what would happen. Normally though, I don't care for mystery type books where you really have little chance of guessing who the killer is. I mean, we were supposed to guess it was the kid from her swimming lessons so many moons ago? Not likely, but entertaining nonetheless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2022
Amateurish
This book can be perfectly summed up as baby’s first thriller. The language was so unbearably mundane lacking any metaphors, allusions, even similes or when there were it was like reading your year 7 creative writing task, for example: ‘The atmosphere in the room was so tense it could snap’ - like c’mon. But to the books defence the simplicity of the language could be the fault of the translator and not the author as it was originally written in German.
The killer also felt bland which isn’t what you want in a thriller, his motifs were pathetic which could be summed up as him being the “odd” kid when growing up, which with the nature of the writing it’s not really a surprise.
This book can be perfectly summed up as baby’s first thriller. The language was so unbearably mundane lacking any metaphors, allusions, even similes or when there were it was like reading your year 7 creative writing task, for example: ‘The atmosphere in the room was so tense it could snap’ - like c’mon. But to the books defence the simplicity of the language could be the fault of the translator and not the author as it was originally written in German.
The killer also felt bland which isn’t what you want in a thriller, his motifs were pathetic which could be summed up as him being the “odd” kid when growing up, which with the nature of the writing it’s not really a surprise.
April 19, 2019
Die Kriminalpsychologin Lena Peters erhält gleich zu Beginn ihren Stellenantritts einen brisanten Fall. Ein Serienmörder hinterlässt viele Frauenleiche rund um Berlin. Die Gemeinsamkeit: allen Opfern wurde etwas amputiert. Lena selbst muss zusätzlich mit ihrer eigenen Vergangenheit kämpfen. Wird sie diese doppelte Belastung aushalten? Kommt sie dem grausamen Serienmörder auf die Spur?
Der erste Fall rund um Lena Peters ist spannend, teilweise aber etwas vorhersehbar. Trotzdem war es ein guter Thriller, der Spass machte, gelesen zu werden. Am Ende wartet auf der Leser noch ein Cliffhanger, der Lust auf das zweite Buch macht.
Der erste Fall rund um Lena Peters ist spannend, teilweise aber etwas vorhersehbar. Trotzdem war es ein guter Thriller, der Spass machte, gelesen zu werden. Am Ende wartet auf der Leser noch ein Cliffhanger, der Lust auf das zweite Buch macht.
March 13, 2021
Yes, this is a really good debut thriller.
IMO all thrillers should be like this, Short, Sharp and Enthralling. There is none of this overly descriptive crap or any excess charcterisation, you get all you need to know and a story that you cannot fail to get immersed in. The only frustrating thing is that it ends on a cliff hanger leaving you totally hanging for the next episode in the series.
So, Now I'm waiting on Hanna to provide us with the second instalment.
Please don't take too long Hanna LOL
IMO all thrillers should be like this, Short, Sharp and Enthralling. There is none of this overly descriptive crap or any excess charcterisation, you get all you need to know and a story that you cannot fail to get immersed in. The only frustrating thing is that it ends on a cliff hanger leaving you totally hanging for the next episode in the series.
So, Now I'm waiting on Hanna to provide us with the second instalment.
Please don't take too long Hanna LOL
February 27, 2018
*3.75/5
This book was interesting and I read it very quickly, however I found that there was a big build up to the climax for it to end very quickly. I would have liked for the author to go into a little bit more into depth about the reasons behind the killings, especially as the main character specialises in the criminal mind.
Overall, a great read and I’m looking forward to picking up the second one!
This book was interesting and I read it very quickly, however I found that there was a big build up to the climax for it to end very quickly. I would have liked for the author to go into a little bit more into depth about the reasons behind the killings, especially as the main character specialises in the criminal mind.
Overall, a great read and I’m looking forward to picking up the second one!
did-not-finish
January 19, 2022DNF @ pg. 52
Sooooooooooo many inconsistences within such a short amount of pages that just annoyed me to no end. So even though I'm interested in the story I'm not going to continue cause I won't be able to forget all the things that make no sense and how annoyed I was even if the ending is really good.
Off to read a better book :)
Sooooooooooo many inconsistences within such a short amount of pages that just annoyed me to no end. So even though I'm interested in the story I'm not going to continue cause I won't be able to forget all the things that make no sense and how annoyed I was even if the ending is really good.
Off to read a better book :)
December 31, 2019
Lena ends up as a target herself, but was she really the intended victim ? Various secondary characters and twists in the story are left undeveloped, presumably to be picked up again in future books. It's a chilling tale and I think the rest of the series shows great promise. Definitely one that I'd be interested in following up.
Full review on my blog : https://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspo...
Full review on my blog : https://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspo...
August 18, 2018
Couldn’t put it down! One of my favourites
December 20, 2018
A true thriller!
Once I got into the story I couldn't put it down! The characters seemed to jump off the page and the story line kept me guessing.
Once I got into the story I couldn't put it down! The characters seemed to jump off the page and the story line kept me guessing.
September 21, 2019
I normally prefer true crime, but I really enjoyed this book!
November 30, 2022
Good listen. Lena Peters an interesting character. Tragic childhood event, troubled twin, criminal profiler post incarceration, chess player.
March 20, 2024
Awful. Cliche-ridden, formulaic and lacking any literary merit.
August 9, 2016
'He must hunt her down. Kill her. Destroy her . . .'
Sacrifice is the latest novel from German author Hanna Winter. Hanna writes under a pseudonym, her real name being Eva Rehberger. A successful catwalk and fashion model in her native Germany, she now has many successful novels to her name.
Published by Manilla, a new imprint of Bonnier Zaffre ,I received my copy in return for my honest review.
'In her very first case, criminal psychologist Lena Peters is confronted with a killer on a murderous vendetta.
And though she is unaware, Lena will play a prominent role in his deadly mission, because Lena knows what makes killers tick – she also knows all about obsession, for she has been close to the edge herself.
For now she is the hunter, but soon she will become the hunted.’
Sacrifice is the first novel in a new crime series from Hanna Winter.
The main protagonist in the novel is Lena Peters, a criminal psychologist on her first case. New to the Berlin police unit, Lena is faced with the most brutal of cases.
A person, who has been tagged ‘The Mutilator’ is on the hunt. Women are disappearing and been rediscovered later abandoned and left for dead. The gap between these incidents is narrowing and there is frustration within the police force.No stone is being left unturned but yet the perpetrator of these horrendous crimes outwits them every step.
Lena, recently graduated, has an uncanny ability to get inside the minds of these psychotic individuals.
‘The abysses of the human soul hold a kind of fascination for me’
But….The Mutilator’s actions go beyond anything Lena has witnessed before.
Lena has a very secretive past that she keeps very close to her chest. Lena has been through some very traumatic experiences, the memories of which come over her in waves. She has been through tough situations which have contributed to her development as a criminal expert.
During the course of this very intense investigation, Lena partners up with Wulf Belling. Wulf is a cop who had been pushed into early retirement and is not happy to stay lying down. Lena and Wulf become unofficial partners as the search for ‘The Mutilator’ continues.
I’m not going to lie to you, this is a very gruesome and rather sadistic tale. The perpetrator of these crimes is a very unstable character, with a past that has left them a very twisted, psychotic and rather vile character.
Hanna Winter has written a novel with a very obvious view to sequel. The chapters I feel could have been that bit longer. Lena’s past is not fully developed and I’m left wondering was that part of the plan? Was Hanna holding back more for the next book?
Sacrifice is a book that I’m sure will appeal to many fans of the ‘serial killer’ genre. As it is translated from German, I feel some of the personalities of the characters may have been lost in translation.
It will be interesting to read how these characters develop and how the partnership between Lena and Wulf is cemented in the next book in the Lena Peter’s Series.
Thank you to Bonnier Zaffre and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
New Joint Book Imprint Manilla
A publishing home for books translated into English from throughout the Bonnier Books world.
In a new cross-border joint venture, Bonnier Books is bringing some of the top authors of its non-English publishers to an English-speaking public with Manilla, a new imprint that is a join venture of Bonnier Zaffre in the U.K. and Ullstein in Germany.
The new imprint kicked off with six books from some of Ullstein’s top authors during the spring, followed by another six later in the year for a total of 12 during 2016.
Sacrifice is the latest novel from German author Hanna Winter. Hanna writes under a pseudonym, her real name being Eva Rehberger. A successful catwalk and fashion model in her native Germany, she now has many successful novels to her name.
Published by Manilla, a new imprint of Bonnier Zaffre ,I received my copy in return for my honest review.
'In her very first case, criminal psychologist Lena Peters is confronted with a killer on a murderous vendetta.
And though she is unaware, Lena will play a prominent role in his deadly mission, because Lena knows what makes killers tick – she also knows all about obsession, for she has been close to the edge herself.
For now she is the hunter, but soon she will become the hunted.’
Sacrifice is the first novel in a new crime series from Hanna Winter.
The main protagonist in the novel is Lena Peters, a criminal psychologist on her first case. New to the Berlin police unit, Lena is faced with the most brutal of cases.
A person, who has been tagged ‘The Mutilator’ is on the hunt. Women are disappearing and been rediscovered later abandoned and left for dead. The gap between these incidents is narrowing and there is frustration within the police force.No stone is being left unturned but yet the perpetrator of these horrendous crimes outwits them every step.
Lena, recently graduated, has an uncanny ability to get inside the minds of these psychotic individuals.
‘The abysses of the human soul hold a kind of fascination for me’
But….The Mutilator’s actions go beyond anything Lena has witnessed before.
Lena has a very secretive past that she keeps very close to her chest. Lena has been through some very traumatic experiences, the memories of which come over her in waves. She has been through tough situations which have contributed to her development as a criminal expert.
During the course of this very intense investigation, Lena partners up with Wulf Belling. Wulf is a cop who had been pushed into early retirement and is not happy to stay lying down. Lena and Wulf become unofficial partners as the search for ‘The Mutilator’ continues.
I’m not going to lie to you, this is a very gruesome and rather sadistic tale. The perpetrator of these crimes is a very unstable character, with a past that has left them a very twisted, psychotic and rather vile character.
Hanna Winter has written a novel with a very obvious view to sequel. The chapters I feel could have been that bit longer. Lena’s past is not fully developed and I’m left wondering was that part of the plan? Was Hanna holding back more for the next book?
Sacrifice is a book that I’m sure will appeal to many fans of the ‘serial killer’ genre. As it is translated from German, I feel some of the personalities of the characters may have been lost in translation.
It will be interesting to read how these characters develop and how the partnership between Lena and Wulf is cemented in the next book in the Lena Peter’s Series.
Thank you to Bonnier Zaffre and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
New Joint Book Imprint Manilla
A publishing home for books translated into English from throughout the Bonnier Books world.
In a new cross-border joint venture, Bonnier Books is bringing some of the top authors of its non-English publishers to an English-speaking public with Manilla, a new imprint that is a join venture of Bonnier Zaffre in the U.K. and Ullstein in Germany.
The new imprint kicked off with six books from some of Ullstein’s top authors during the spring, followed by another six later in the year for a total of 12 during 2016.
February 18, 2017
A fast paced debut into crime writing I read this book in one sitting.
Lena Peters is a criminal psychologist and has joined a new team in the Berlin police.She meets her boss in unfortunate circumstances when she thinks he is an intruder at her home, the rest of the team seem to be welcoming but she feels she really isn't being given all the information about the spate of gruesome murders that they are trying to solve.As the murders escalate Lena tries to do her job but will she be given the chance to prove that is the case.when she finds herself outside the loop of pertinent information she is desperate to follow the case but will that be her downfall. I did connect with the characters and found myself routing for Lena, there were a couple of things that didn't quite ring true but I looked past them and found that I really enjoyed the book and I will definately look out for the next one.
Lena Peters is a criminal psychologist and has joined a new team in the Berlin police.She meets her boss in unfortunate circumstances when she thinks he is an intruder at her home, the rest of the team seem to be welcoming but she feels she really isn't being given all the information about the spate of gruesome murders that they are trying to solve.As the murders escalate Lena tries to do her job but will she be given the chance to prove that is the case.when she finds herself outside the loop of pertinent information she is desperate to follow the case but will that be her downfall. I did connect with the characters and found myself routing for Lena, there were a couple of things that didn't quite ring true but I looked past them and found that I really enjoyed the book and I will definately look out for the next one.
October 26, 2016
Criminal psychologist Lena Peters is new to the team and is trying to find her footing on a new case. Where the serial killer collects body parts of his victims.
Originally published in German Sacrifice is part one of the series.
Lena has led a very colourful life. She doesn't get along with her twin sister or other people for that matter perfecting solitude to being surrounded by lots of people.
In this book the killer is after Lena ready and waiting to track her down and kill her. Can Lena up all her training into practice to make sure this doesn't happen.
This book is told from many people POV including the killers. Which is a little bit of a change from the norm which I always find refreshing.
There are plenty of twist and turns in this book to keep the reader guessing. I did find the whole reveal of the killer done a bit fast and it felt like it had all come out of the blue and at a time when you didn't expect it. There are lots of characters for the reader to get to know and the writing style is easy to read which is good. The case is all wrapped up in this one and the ending of the book sets everything up for the next In the series.
I am looking forward to reading the next book because in this book I felt there was a lot of background information and a lot of setting the scene which is not a bad thing as you have to want to invest time in your chapters as that's what makes you want to read more about them. But next time I'd like to see a bit more drama and suspense to keep me hooked.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hana Winter and Bonnier publishing for the opportunity to read this boom in exchange for a honest review. Overall a good debut novel.
Happy reading everyone.
Originally published in German Sacrifice is part one of the series.
Lena has led a very colourful life. She doesn't get along with her twin sister or other people for that matter perfecting solitude to being surrounded by lots of people.
In this book the killer is after Lena ready and waiting to track her down and kill her. Can Lena up all her training into practice to make sure this doesn't happen.
This book is told from many people POV including the killers. Which is a little bit of a change from the norm which I always find refreshing.
There are plenty of twist and turns in this book to keep the reader guessing. I did find the whole reveal of the killer done a bit fast and it felt like it had all come out of the blue and at a time when you didn't expect it. There are lots of characters for the reader to get to know and the writing style is easy to read which is good. The case is all wrapped up in this one and the ending of the book sets everything up for the next In the series.
I am looking forward to reading the next book because in this book I felt there was a lot of background information and a lot of setting the scene which is not a bad thing as you have to want to invest time in your chapters as that's what makes you want to read more about them. But next time I'd like to see a bit more drama and suspense to keep me hooked.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hana Winter and Bonnier publishing for the opportunity to read this boom in exchange for a honest review. Overall a good debut novel.
Happy reading everyone.
February 5, 2017
Sacrifice, by German author, Hanna Winter, is a crime/thriller novel that is a promising start to a series featuring criminal profiler, Lena Peters. It has been translated into English.
Lena Peters has recently moved to Berlin with few personal possession beyond her cat and a desire to succeed in her new job, profiling a prolific serial killer who removes body parts from his victims. Lena has to navigate the murky waters of her new job, colleagues who are less than impressed with her and her prickly boss while trying to solve a crime.
Sacrifice definitely feels like the first book in a series. Winter is clearly trying to develop the characters and background that will play into future books, as a lot of information is given to readers throughout the story. Occasionally some of it felt like it came out of the blue, which slowed my reading pace a bit, but overall it helped form a picture of Lena Peters - a woman who’s seen and dealt with a lot in life, who’s trying to build a career while coping with the family she has left without many support systems for herself. She’s a bit of a one-woman show who slowly begins to build herself a network of people who can help her out.
Parts of Sacrifice are told from the perspective of the serial killer, Artefix; his methods to stalking and kidnapping his victims is creepy, and disturbing. I wish there’d been a bit more from his perspective to up the ante, however it’s a good effort and an interesting insight into the antagonist.
Overall, I enjoyed Sacrifice and look forward to seeing how Hanna Winter develops her characters and stories in the future. A creepy and suspenseful read for all those who love their thrillers.
3 out of 5 stars.
Lena Peters has recently moved to Berlin with few personal possession beyond her cat and a desire to succeed in her new job, profiling a prolific serial killer who removes body parts from his victims. Lena has to navigate the murky waters of her new job, colleagues who are less than impressed with her and her prickly boss while trying to solve a crime.
Sacrifice definitely feels like the first book in a series. Winter is clearly trying to develop the characters and background that will play into future books, as a lot of information is given to readers throughout the story. Occasionally some of it felt like it came out of the blue, which slowed my reading pace a bit, but overall it helped form a picture of Lena Peters - a woman who’s seen and dealt with a lot in life, who’s trying to build a career while coping with the family she has left without many support systems for herself. She’s a bit of a one-woman show who slowly begins to build herself a network of people who can help her out.
Parts of Sacrifice are told from the perspective of the serial killer, Artefix; his methods to stalking and kidnapping his victims is creepy, and disturbing. I wish there’d been a bit more from his perspective to up the ante, however it’s a good effort and an interesting insight into the antagonist.
Overall, I enjoyed Sacrifice and look forward to seeing how Hanna Winter develops her characters and stories in the future. A creepy and suspenseful read for all those who love their thrillers.
3 out of 5 stars.
July 30, 2016
I was given an electronic copy of Sacrifice by the publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
As criminal psychologist Lena Peters was finishing her run, she spotted a man standing inside her apartment. Attacking first and asking questions later, Lena is astounded to learn that the man is Volker Drescher, a policeman and her new boss. As the new profiler, Lena's skills are needed to catch a serial killer with a proclivity toward the macabre. Will her abilities be enough to lead the police to the killer before more innocent victims are slaughtered or will Lena become his next target?
The multiple points of view did not help to focus the story and I found myself wishing that the author had stayed with Lena all the way through. As her voice was the strongest and her character the most complete, the single narrator format would have helped to provide more interest and intrigue. Seeing into the mind of the killer in random intervals did not provide much by way of interest and it also served to diminish the suspense in most of the book. The cliffhanger ending begs for a sequel and I am intrigued enough by Lena Peters to read more. I would recommend Sacrifice to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with a little suspense.
As criminal psychologist Lena Peters was finishing her run, she spotted a man standing inside her apartment. Attacking first and asking questions later, Lena is astounded to learn that the man is Volker Drescher, a policeman and her new boss. As the new profiler, Lena's skills are needed to catch a serial killer with a proclivity toward the macabre. Will her abilities be enough to lead the police to the killer before more innocent victims are slaughtered or will Lena become his next target?
The multiple points of view did not help to focus the story and I found myself wishing that the author had stayed with Lena all the way through. As her voice was the strongest and her character the most complete, the single narrator format would have helped to provide more interest and intrigue. Seeing into the mind of the killer in random intervals did not provide much by way of interest and it also served to diminish the suspense in most of the book. The cliffhanger ending begs for a sequel and I am intrigued enough by Lena Peters to read more. I would recommend Sacrifice to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with a little suspense.
August 6, 2016
Lena Peters is a criminal psychologist who has been drafted into an ongoing investigation into finding a serial killer who seems to be targeting young women and killing them in the most macabre way. In order to justify her presence within the investigative team, Lena must first try to find her own place within it, which, at first, seems a little awkward.
This is the first book in a proposed series, so there is bound to be a certain amount of scene setting, and as with any new psychological crime story it takes a little while to get to know and understand the characters. However, once I started to become more involved in the plot, I found that the story became interesting, and the short chapters certainly help to maintain the overall energy of the novel.
Overall, I think that the author has started off the series nicely with a story which is both suspenseful and intriguing. It's always interesting to have another look at how a criminal psychologist works and I am sure that Lena Peters will grow in strength as she starts to become involved in other stories. The ending of Sacrifice lends itself to a continuation.
This is the first book in a proposed series, so there is bound to be a certain amount of scene setting, and as with any new psychological crime story it takes a little while to get to know and understand the characters. However, once I started to become more involved in the plot, I found that the story became interesting, and the short chapters certainly help to maintain the overall energy of the novel.
Overall, I think that the author has started off the series nicely with a story which is both suspenseful and intriguing. It's always interesting to have another look at how a criminal psychologist works and I am sure that Lena Peters will grow in strength as she starts to become involved in other stories. The ending of Sacrifice lends itself to a continuation.
January 27, 2016
Creeeeeepy. I read this when I was home alone. It was all dark and now I'm freaking scared! It was very well written, otherwise I woulnd't be that scared, but I usually don't read that Kind of books, and there's a reason for it..
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