Wicked

Shaye Archer #4

by Jana Deleon

The fourth book in the Shaye Archer series by New York Times bestselling author Jana DeLeon.College student Tara Chatry is certain something bad has happened to her best friend Ethan Campbell. The smart, geeky student has disappeared, and when Tara tries to get the police involved, they dismiss her concerns, convinced Ethan is just another college student off on a bender. Shaye Archer hasn’t even been back in New Orleans for a full day when Tara knocks on her door, asking for help. Shaye isn’t prepared to jump back into her old job, but knows if she doesn’t help Tara, no one else will. As she works to find Ethan, she discovers that he’s not the only victim. A serial killer is at work, playing a deadly game, and Shaye rushes against the clock to save Ethan before it’s too late.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense

346 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2017

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jana DeLeon was raised in southwest Louisiana among the bayous and gators. Her hometown is Carlyss, but you probably won't find it on a map. Her family owned a camp located on a bayou just off the Gulf of Mexico that you could only get there by boat. The most important feature was the rope hammock hanging in the shade on a huge deck that stretched out over the water where Jana spent many hours reading books.

Jana and her brother spent thousands of hours combing the bayous in a flat-bottom aluminum boat, studying the natural habitat of many birds, nutria and alligators. She would like you to know that no animals were injured during these "studies," but they kept makers of peroxide in business.

Jana has never stumbled across a mystery or a ghost like her heroines, but she's still hopeful.

She now resides in Dallas, Texas, with the most spoiled Sheltie in the world.

Reviews

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? Jana De Leon continues to amaze me with her creativity and excellent writing style. She has me hooked on two of her series, Shaye Archer and the Miss Fortune series. I am quite confident that once I get a chance to read any of her other series I will be equally addicted as well.

In "Wicked" Shaye and her mother have returned to Atlanta amidst the uproar of her grandfather's suicide. They are doing all they can to avoid the media but that isn't easy when they are camped out on your doorstep. While Shaye manages to sneak out of the undetected she is shocked to find a young woman knocking at her apartment door. It seems that her friend has gone missing g and the police refuse to help her so she comes to.Shayne for assistance. When Shaye hears Tara's story of her missing friend Ethan, she decides to help her. Little does she realize but this this simple act of kindness is about to catapult her into another sensational crime.

Now that Shay is back in town, she is anxious and afraid to see Detective Jackson Lemotte. She cares for him but she is not sure if she can handle anything between them..Besides, she is not certain what if anything he may feel for her. While Jackson is glad to see Shaye he knows he must not allow her to get involved in any of his cases or risk losing his job. However soon it becomes very clear that what Shaye is working on and what Jackson is working on might just be the same case.

I loved this installment because we finally discover what lies between Jackson and Shaye. Additionally, there is one heck of a cliffhanger ending to this story. I am so glad Ms. De Leon knows how to push out the books because I would roll over and have a conniption if I had to wait a year for the next installment. I highly recommend this series to anyone out there who will listen. So, get going people and get acquainted with the wonderful world of Jana De Leon.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again I couldn't put it down
Again wishing for more than 5 stars

Shaye Archer has to be one of my all time favourite book heroines and she has become my number 1 book heroine from Jana Deleon and that is saying a lot because I absolutely love all of Jana's female characters but Shaye has something extra special she is tough, with a soft sweet centre, Shaye is so good at her job her intuition never fails her and I really love her never give up attitude.

Can I also jump up and down in excitement like Eleonore did in the hospital, if you've read the book you know why so get excited with me, if you haven't read the book yet better get on it to see what excited me so much because I am not giving spoilers away :-).

I love that Shaye arrives home and goes to see Jackson first thing, I love that she is barely home half a day and is already taking a new case and I love that throughout the book she opens up to Jackson more and more in little subtle but reassuring ways.

I'm also excited to see what Corinne does next once she dissolves all of her Dads businesses just imagine what she can do with the money, all the people she can help without putting herself in danger, I am thinking a non-profit or 2 would be a good start.

Wicked really was a riveting tale from beginning to end that kept me glued to my ipad for the duration oh and the ending is worth it ;-)

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

4th installment in the Shaye Archer series picks up where book 3 leaves off. Shaye and her mother have just returned from an extended trip following Shaye’s cracking the case of her own kidnapping and physical abuse and the gradual return of her memories of her time in captivity. Just after her return, she takes on the case of a missing university student which is tied to a series of other disappearances and deaths. From there it's a pretty standard whodunit. The interesting revelation of the book involved Shaye’s recollection of something that happened to her while she was held captive. That recollection will apparently be the jumping off point for the next book. I wish the Jana Deleon would have skipped the whodunit and let Shaye investigate her recollection. I also hope the next book will find Jackson and Shaye sharing more than a chaste kiss.

[Heather Mashnouk brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this series as an easy read/beach read series. The writing is easy to follow, the premise, location, and characters are interesting enough to maintain attention. I typically dislike reading unfinished series because one never knows if the author will live to finish it out and not knowing would bother me (still traumatized by Stephen King's huge accident before the end of the Dark Tower Series). However I read with interest the first three books that chronicled Shaye Archer and alluded to her horrific past.

This books is certainly ok. The plot moves quickly and the author does a decent job of maintaining the suspense and tension, even despite it being easy enough to figure out 'who done it' according to the traditional pick the least likely suspect plot line. Where I am growing weary is the constant written reminders of how much the main character has suffered from the POV of the other characters. The 'you have been through so much I don't know how you are standing.' conversations or thought processes. I am not saying that they wouldn't occur but we the reader don't need them ad nauseum.

We are aware that Shaye has enough money that she can live and investigate for free, that she is a saint who wants to help the helpless, that she is pretty, smart, funny yada yada. We get it. Give her more. She is complex enough to explore deeper.

The reader can see where the author has set up potential future books based on Shaye's interactions, and this book's ending certainly set up the premise for the next book, so the series has life left in it if the author can move past the repetition.

[Lisa Coots · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery!

I wasn't sure how the series would go forward with Shaye solving the mystery of her past in the last installment, but apparently there is more. Great storyline and suspense!

[Laci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicked is the fourth book in the Shaye Archer series, and I swear this series just keeps getting better! I’ve loved watching Shaye’s character grow. She’s tough, determined, and still learning to trust after everything she’s been through. Her dynamic with Jackson is one of my favorite parts; the trust and quiet connection between them adds so much heart to the story.

This book had that perfect mix of suspense, emotion, and small town New Orleans vibes. The mystery kept me guessing right up until the end, and the writing makes it so easy to get lost in the atmosphere.

If you’ve been following Shaye’s journey, Wicked is a must read. And if you haven’t started the series yet, definitely do! It’s packed with twists, heart, and a FMC you can’t help but root for.

[BunTheDestroyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5??!!

[Tonya VanWinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cliffhangers

These cliffhangers are gonna be the death of me!!! I haven't been this sucked into a series in Forever! Urgh!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked the storyline of this one and the twists. Read it very fast. Lots of recapping throughout the whole book which was different but I just skipped over those parts.

[JadeShea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shaye and her mother are back in town after two months of being gone. They both know they can't avoid the media circus forever, but they are going to try to get their lives back.

But before Shaye has even been in town a day she is being offered a new case. A college kid is missing, and as time goes on she realizes that this case may be connected to other murders and disappearances. She has to work with the detectives again before it is too late.

Along the way, her romance starts to progress, and she starts to remember something she thought was forgotten for good, and it could lead to a lot more trouble.

This book was awesome! I loved getting to read about Shaye being back in action. I do hope that she and her mother still have a good standing in the city though, even though it was starting to sound like that wouldn't be the case.

And I loved Shaye and Jackson's relationship progress as well. They are awesome together, and I can't wait for the next book that was a great ending!

[Dawn Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good continuation of series

This series gets better and better with each book. The victims are sad but the mystery is very suspenseful. I'm really curious about what Corrine is thinking about doing now. I'm excited with the little bit of progress with the romance between Shaye and Jackson. Jackson understands that after the years of brutal torture, he has to take it slow with Shaye. I can't wait to see if Shaye's memory is accurate or not.

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

And life goes on. Shaye is back from the overwhelming discovery of her past and ready to get back to helping those who can’t get help anywhere else. University students are disappearing and some are dying. A serial killer is making it a very deadly game. The mystery is a good one and Jana’s characters continue to grow. Action, romance and humour fill out the story around the mystery. Highly recommended.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Another great entry in the Shaye Archer series. This book was able to evoke a myriad of emotions in me as I read it. I found myself truly caring about the characters. It's a rare story that is able to cause me to be so invested. And the mystery was up to Ms. Deleon's usual top notch standards. Several blind alley's and multiple suspects kept me guessing throughout. I'm thrilled the next book will be out later this year. Great reading. Great mystery. Highly recommended!

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shaye Archer seems credible as a PI and this book was a good one...great plot..good ending....my one criticism is how many times does it have to be mentioned Shaye had bad things happen to her, the news media will find her and finally does...that was really overblown...otherwise a good read..

[Judith Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meh

I have loved all of these until this one. I really hate it when the characters are simply TSTL, even if they are young. Tara’s character was TSTL throughout the book and what a whiner.

[Geri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I

[Shamina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the last three. I guessed the identity of the killer almost immediately. He was her weakest villain by far. Paper thin character. Once you rundown who could be a suspect it’s obviously Thomas. He was mentioned just enough to be remembered, but never considered by Shaye or the cops as a suspect. His connections made sense but weren’t given until after the fact. Also, the last minute save by a gun shot is getting really old. Hopefully the author will switch things up a little in the next one.

I liked Ethan, but he was barely in the story. Initially he had a strong introduction and I liked his tenacity. Then he was gone for most of the story. That just left Tara who was alright but her scenes became repetitive.

I don’t care about the romance one way or the other, but Shaye and Jackson don’t have any chemistry on the page. There’s no tension or build up to their big kiss. Also, I don’t think half the characters that comment on how good the two would be together actually would say anything. There’s no way a 16 year old boy is talking to a 20 something woman about her relationship with her cop friend.

It was entertaining and that’s more than I can say for a lot of books.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the latest Shaye Archer novel, Shaye and her mother have returned to New Orleans (they left at the end of the previous book, in the wake of a family scandal following a crime spree). Shaye doesn't plan to take on any new clients, but when college student Tara Chatry shows up at her office asking for help in finding a missing classmate, Shaye doesn't hesitate.

This book has one of the creepiest scenarios yet: the killer is choosing his next victim based on whether or not they can solve the clue in a text sent with a photo of the current one. Shaye has to figure out not only where the missing classmate is, but once his photo shows up in another student's texts, she has to try to figure out the clue herself.

On top of all that, another of Shaye's buried memories returns ... one that may affect her budding relationship with detective Jackson Lamotte.

The "whodunnit" surprised me (I have to give DeLeon credit for her ability to do so consistently), and I enjoyed reading the tale.

[Paula Galvan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This forth book in the series was another fast-paced story about missing college students. Shay Archer is hired to find one after returning to NOLA after her grandfather's suicide. Most of the students wind up dead, but a few manage to escape their fate with Shay's help. However, the plot didn't really grab me this time. The killer turns out to be a disgruntled rich kid out for revenge because his father committed suicide after being fired from his job. I guess someone raised in a normal family that had to endure this kind of trauma could turn into a cold-blooded psycho killer, but it just didn't seem plausible to me. Also the fact that Shay spends a lot of time hiding and disguising herself from the media seemed unrealistic as well. Why not just schedule a press conference and get it over with. Shay Archer is no stranger to having her name in the newspaper, and the plot didn't need this distraction. I am intrigued with Shay's memory of giving birth while she was being held captive. Can't wait to find out what that's about.

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still like Shaye a lot, but a rated this book 3 stars because I'm starting to see a pattern, at least on the story structure. That doesn't mean the story is bad or predictable but, what's with bad guys and swamps?

As always all characters are amazing, credible and easy to relate with (I liked Tara a lot she is a badass) and the story is solid, I didn't saw the twist at the end of this one either. I love Corinne and Eleanor and I'm happy to see thing finally moving forward between Shaye and Jackson.

At the end of the last book, I was wondering what would the author would do next after giving Shaye her past back and what we got ?, another past related mystery to unsolve in up coming books. And what a mystery!!! Still I think the author did a great job slipping this new information in the story even explaining why no one mention something that big before.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shaye Archer and her mother sneak back into N.O. during the night hiding from the media storm they know will be inevitable. While Shaye is picking up some things from her apartment, she gets a visitor from the college who is worried about her friend who has gone missing.

As Shaye is investigating the disappearance, she discovers they are hunting another serial killer in the area. Shaye's memory has started returning, and she is remembering even more things from when she was captive.

She has come to trust Detective Lamotte and realizes she may want a closer relationship with him after all.

This is another fun and exciting story from Jana Deleon. It leaves you with just enough of a teaser from her memory recovery that you really want to get to the next Story.

[Donna Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read

Wicked, book four in the Shaye Archer series, is another action filled murder mystery, this time involving students from the local college. After just having returned back home following a well deserved "vacation" after regaining her memory of her past, Shaye is asked to look for a young college student who had gone missing. Connecting the missing student with at least one other murder, Shaye talks to her detective friend Jackson. The murderer is eventually identified and the mystery resolved, but not before some additional drama. I enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to the next book in the series.

[S.T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though I keep giving this series only 2stars, I keep reading them. Why? Mostly because they are a fast, easy read while waiting for other books. The writing is okay, not really polished or sophisticated but I feel, in a way, that it’s done intentionally by the author for the type of simplistic read these books are. This isn’t a complicated Elizabeth George or Louise Penny.
The books are just a fun, simplistic read while being mostly entertaining. (However, the bomb dropped at the end of this book just makes me frustrated and if the author develops it in the next book, I’ll be finished with the series.) I also have to add that I ABSOLUTELY HATE SPLIT INFINITIVES!!!

[Lucii Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Wow. Wow!! Another incredible addition to the series! Hooked from the very first page, I struggled to put it down. The characters were amazing and well described. The story itself keeps you on the edge of your seat just like previous books in the series.

I feel the author took this one to a whole new level of amazingness and really knows how to write an incredible psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seats.

It's well planned, well thought out and incredibly written. I can't wait til the next one to what Shaye Archer does next!

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth book in this series is just as great as the first three! The reader experiences Shaye's healing process right along with her, and it is indeed a ride. Shaye love life is blooming too, and it's incredible! After Shaye regained her memory of her horrible past, she and her mother leave the country for an extended period of time. She's isn't back one day, and her next client is knocking on her door, asking for help the police won't give her. Super hard to put down, and I can't wait for the next book!

[Patrícia Ferreira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another interesting book, but not as good as the previous ones (maybe it was because I was reading several books at the same time...).
Anyway, Shaye is back to business and she's got another case. Ethan Campbell, a college geek, is missing and his worried friend, Tara Chatry, asks her help. Meanwhile, two college students are found dead.
The book ends with another cliffhanger, which is always great, however, because that information was mentioned during the story it didn't have the impact it should have had.
Now, let's get into the 5th volume :)

[Mary Lou Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

More pieces to the puzzle of What plus a serial killer

Excellent story, well-written and well-plotted. I've enjoyed watching these characters grow over the course of the books and am anxiously awaiting to read the next one. Ms. DeLeon certainly knows how to pace the story and how to keep the reader invested. I was on the edge of my seat, literally, for much of the story.

If you enjoy a good mystery/thriller, give this series a chance. The first book is Malevolent, and while Wicked can be read as a stand-alone, it is much more enjoyable when read in order.

[Kim Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

great read…

I love these books, but this is the first one I felt really had some bone head decisions by the lead characters. Knowing a girl has died, regardless of how and that there are connecting texts, anyone in their right m8 d would immediately include the police and not get more information first. Also, the lack of warning the public but hanging on to information that would keep people safe is absolutely not procedure. Still a good read with lots of twists…but I like smart lead characters.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t care for this one as much as the previous ones in the series. Everyone coddled Tara too much. There was way too much talk about Shayes past from people that didn’t even know her. No way would this be part of normal conversation with strangers. Plus, I got sick of everyone being, so strong, so brave, so wonderful. Gag!! There was too much back slapping for my liking. This series is not as good as the MiSs Fortune series. It’s like they are written by different authors. Also, I figured out the killer fairly early. Not this author’s best book. -2.5 rating

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

I have been reading this series straight for two days and want more, but now have wait.
Shaye Archer has had a hard life but she keeps fighting. She is a new P.I. Who has a trust fund. She can help those that can't afford to pay. She gets a college student who is concerned about a missing friend. Shaye finds that there is more than one student missing.
This a darker series, but good.