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Sin City Investigation #1
19 Souls
If you’re on her list, you’d better run…
A tough private detective faces off against a serial killer in this noir mystery by J.D. Allen, the bestselling author of the Sin City Investigations series.
SHE’S OUT FOR BLOOD…
Sophie Evers always gets what she wants, and Dan Hodge is at the top of her hit list. Standing over her latest victim, she dials the number for Sin City Investigations with a bloody hand.
Detective Jim Bean will serve her well.
HE NEEDS A CLIENT…
Jim Bean is dead broke. So when a high-paying client hires him to find her brother Dan, he jumps on the case without questioning her true motives, unaware that this might be the last mistake he ever makes…
BUT WHEN SHE TRACKS DOWN HER PREY…
Jim locates Dan, unwittingly leading a serial killer straight to her prey. As Jim discovers the truth about Sophie, he’ll risk everything to protect the latest targets on her list—and himself.
ALL BETS ARE OFF.
When Sophie captures someone close to Jim as a hostage, he must stop her from carrying out her twisted plan—before she adds another name to her list of 19 victims.
A tough private detective faces off against a serial killer in this noir mystery by J.D. Allen, the bestselling author of the Sin City Investigations series.
SHE’S OUT FOR BLOOD…
Sophie Evers always gets what she wants, and Dan Hodge is at the top of her hit list. Standing over her latest victim, she dials the number for Sin City Investigations with a bloody hand.
Detective Jim Bean will serve her well.
HE NEEDS A CLIENT…
Jim Bean is dead broke. So when a high-paying client hires him to find her brother Dan, he jumps on the case without questioning her true motives, unaware that this might be the last mistake he ever makes…
BUT WHEN SHE TRACKS DOWN HER PREY…
Jim locates Dan, unwittingly leading a serial killer straight to her prey. As Jim discovers the truth about Sophie, he’ll risk everything to protect the latest targets on her list—and himself.
ALL BETS ARE OFF.
When Sophie captures someone close to Jim as a hostage, he must stop her from carrying out her twisted plan—before she adds another name to her list of 19 victims.
360 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2018
182 people are currently reading
651 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Allen
12 books55 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.>
JD writes hardboiled PI Thrillers set in Vegas. Skin Game, the 2nd book in the Sin City Series, was nominated for a Shamus in 2020. She has short stories that have appeared in the Anthony Award-winning anthology, Murder under the Oaks, Carolina Crimes, Florida Happens, and Author Cruising Covid.
She is a member and VP of the Florida chapter of MWA, a member and former chapter president of Sisters in Crime. She moved to a lovely, downsized home in St Augustine, Fl, just in time to quarantine with her mom, six cats, and a grumpy Brit.
Pass her a drink.
JD writes hardboiled PI Thrillers set in Vegas. Skin Game, the 2nd book in the Sin City Series, was nominated for a Shamus in 2020. She has short stories that have appeared in the Anthony Award-winning anthology, Murder under the Oaks, Carolina Crimes, Florida Happens, and Author Cruising Covid.
She is a member and VP of the Florida chapter of MWA, a member and former chapter president of Sisters in Crime. She moved to a lovely, downsized home in St Augustine, Fl, just in time to quarantine with her mom, six cats, and a grumpy Brit.
Pass her a drink.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
March 24, 2018
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, J.D. Allen, and Midnight Ink for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Tapping into that interesting sub-genre of private investigator thrillers, J.D. Allen offers up this interesting tale. Jim Bean enjoys his PI work in Las Vegas, though is not all that impressed with the hours or seedy aspects of the job. When Cynthia Hodge contacts Bean to assist with locating her brother, the PI is not certain if this case has legs. Learning that Daniel Hodge has absconded with his mother’s life savings and has a penchant for drugs, Bean is sure there will be nothing left, even if the man can be located. However, with his retainer paid in full, Bean agrees to help Cynthia, though makes no promises. Little does Bean know, but the woman sitting before him is actually Sophie Evers, who has recently disposed of Cynthia, as well as many others who have kept her from the boy she fell in love with all those years ago. As Bean begins his search, he bounces around from Texas and out to Utah, only to discover that Daniel is living off the beaten path. When Bean describes his distraught client, Daniel clues in that it is not Cynthia, but the foster child who lived next door during his youth, Sophie. Now, Bean sees that he’s been played and must try to keep Daniel safe while locating Sophie before she gets her hands on the prize she has been seeking for years. With the help of the LVPD and FBI, Bean works to coax Sophie out of hiding, but is unable to do so with ease. Using his tracking skills, Bean leads the investigation down the rabbit hole to piece together who Sophie Evers might be and how she’s come to fix her crosshairs on Daniel Hodge. Leaving a pile of bodies in her wake, Sophie Evers will stop at nothing to ensure Daniel is hers forever. That said, Jim Bean is not ready to walk away just yet. Not all cases close with a satisfied client. Allen offers up an interesting cat-and-mouse game with this novel. There will be some who enjoy this piece, while others will surely find it lacked the grit and punch that could have made the story far better. I find myself firmly rooted in the latter category!
Having never read J.D. Allen, I was curious to see what she had to offer, especially as he places his protagonist in the middle of Sin City. Jim Bean is an likeable character, though his no-nonsense attitude leaves him a little rough around the edges. The story suits him, as he seeks to get to the bottom of his cases without all the flair and panache that some PIs might enjoy. Paired against the likes of Sophie Evers, who is a complex character in her own right, the story offers an interesting flavour. Evers’ struggles with locating the love of her life and the voices (demons?) in her head, keep the story twisting as the narrative picks up steam. The handful of secondary characters inject some humour at times, as well as the needed depth of law enforcement to make the story the thriller it seeks to be. The characters help push the story along, though the narrative has some issues of its own as it barrels down the tracks. While the premise is there and the delivery seems to present an interesting plot and collection of ideas, I felt things limping from the get-go. It might have been that the ‘false impression’ of Sophie Evers appears so early to Jim Bean or that the chase was slow to develop and became less about the thrill and more about how to gather mundane information, but this story seemed too diluted to really capture me. Use of short chapters and degrees of humour did help, but I felt as though I could have been waving my hand to propel things forward at a quicker pace on many occasions. If one seeks a book with potential mired in treacle, they need look no further than this piece. First in the series, it could be jitters or simply a lack of connection with the intended audience, though I cannot commit to returning to see what else Bean and Sin City Investigations has to offer.
Kudos, Madam Allen, for your attempts with this book. All the pieces are there and the intentions are good, but there’s a need for some pizzazz injections throughout to keep the reader hooked!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Tapping into that interesting sub-genre of private investigator thrillers, J.D. Allen offers up this interesting tale. Jim Bean enjoys his PI work in Las Vegas, though is not all that impressed with the hours or seedy aspects of the job. When Cynthia Hodge contacts Bean to assist with locating her brother, the PI is not certain if this case has legs. Learning that Daniel Hodge has absconded with his mother’s life savings and has a penchant for drugs, Bean is sure there will be nothing left, even if the man can be located. However, with his retainer paid in full, Bean agrees to help Cynthia, though makes no promises. Little does Bean know, but the woman sitting before him is actually Sophie Evers, who has recently disposed of Cynthia, as well as many others who have kept her from the boy she fell in love with all those years ago. As Bean begins his search, he bounces around from Texas and out to Utah, only to discover that Daniel is living off the beaten path. When Bean describes his distraught client, Daniel clues in that it is not Cynthia, but the foster child who lived next door during his youth, Sophie. Now, Bean sees that he’s been played and must try to keep Daniel safe while locating Sophie before she gets her hands on the prize she has been seeking for years. With the help of the LVPD and FBI, Bean works to coax Sophie out of hiding, but is unable to do so with ease. Using his tracking skills, Bean leads the investigation down the rabbit hole to piece together who Sophie Evers might be and how she’s come to fix her crosshairs on Daniel Hodge. Leaving a pile of bodies in her wake, Sophie Evers will stop at nothing to ensure Daniel is hers forever. That said, Jim Bean is not ready to walk away just yet. Not all cases close with a satisfied client. Allen offers up an interesting cat-and-mouse game with this novel. There will be some who enjoy this piece, while others will surely find it lacked the grit and punch that could have made the story far better. I find myself firmly rooted in the latter category!
Having never read J.D. Allen, I was curious to see what she had to offer, especially as he places his protagonist in the middle of Sin City. Jim Bean is an likeable character, though his no-nonsense attitude leaves him a little rough around the edges. The story suits him, as he seeks to get to the bottom of his cases without all the flair and panache that some PIs might enjoy. Paired against the likes of Sophie Evers, who is a complex character in her own right, the story offers an interesting flavour. Evers’ struggles with locating the love of her life and the voices (demons?) in her head, keep the story twisting as the narrative picks up steam. The handful of secondary characters inject some humour at times, as well as the needed depth of law enforcement to make the story the thriller it seeks to be. The characters help push the story along, though the narrative has some issues of its own as it barrels down the tracks. While the premise is there and the delivery seems to present an interesting plot and collection of ideas, I felt things limping from the get-go. It might have been that the ‘false impression’ of Sophie Evers appears so early to Jim Bean or that the chase was slow to develop and became less about the thrill and more about how to gather mundane information, but this story seemed too diluted to really capture me. Use of short chapters and degrees of humour did help, but I felt as though I could have been waving my hand to propel things forward at a quicker pace on many occasions. If one seeks a book with potential mired in treacle, they need look no further than this piece. First in the series, it could be jitters or simply a lack of connection with the intended audience, though I cannot commit to returning to see what else Bean and Sin City Investigations has to offer.
Kudos, Madam Allen, for your attempts with this book. All the pieces are there and the intentions are good, but there’s a need for some pizzazz injections throughout to keep the reader hooked!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
October 23, 2017
4.5/5 stars
J.D Allen's 19 Souls is gripping, addictive, and INSANE (in the best way possible). In the same vein as the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith/JK Rowling, Allen's shocking debut (seriously, I would never think this was a debut novel) sets the stage for us in Las Vegas, NV where protagonist Jim Bean holds a private investigation company. Jim is attractive in the subtle don't-give-a-damn kind of way, and meets with new client Sophie Ryan Evers about her missing brother. Sophie meets Jim to discuss the whereabouts of her missing brother as he has been disconnected from the family for a very long time due to drugs. Jim takes on the case and begins investigating, believing this will be a simple case to win and good money in his pocket. As time progresses, things quickly don't add up for him. Who really is Sophie, why does she desperately want to find someone who has purposely fell off the radar? *This is in the synopsis so I am not spoiling the story* Sophie is not Daniel's brother, but a woman so desperate to be with Daniel that her delusions have gotten the best of her. In her mind, they are meant to be together and she will stop at nothing to get her picture perfect fantasy. Ultimately the story ends up being crashed on it's head and completely steered in a twisty and riveting direction. The less you know, the better it will be - I promise.
I really loved the way J.D. Allen wrote the characters in 19 Souls . C'mon, there's a million other crime fiction books, why should this one be any different? Well... let me just tell you. The characters in 19 Souls are flawed, personable, current, and relatable. Each character in this book has a backstory that is not quickly overlooked nor drawn out. I really started to fall in love with these characters - even Sophie! The way the book covers the perspective of a psychopath is done in such an interesting and respectful way that it kept getting me to turn to the next page, not even realizing that I just skipped dinner. I really see this series taking off, and I for one will be excited for the ride.
Thank you Net Galley for my advanced copy.
I'm much more fun on Instagram | @scared_str8
J.D Allen's 19 Souls is gripping, addictive, and INSANE (in the best way possible). In the same vein as the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith/JK Rowling, Allen's shocking debut (seriously, I would never think this was a debut novel) sets the stage for us in Las Vegas, NV where protagonist Jim Bean holds a private investigation company. Jim is attractive in the subtle don't-give-a-damn kind of way, and meets with new client Sophie Ryan Evers about her missing brother. Sophie meets Jim to discuss the whereabouts of her missing brother as he has been disconnected from the family for a very long time due to drugs. Jim takes on the case and begins investigating, believing this will be a simple case to win and good money in his pocket. As time progresses, things quickly don't add up for him. Who really is Sophie, why does she desperately want to find someone who has purposely fell off the radar? *This is in the synopsis so I am not spoiling the story* Sophie is not Daniel's brother, but a woman so desperate to be with Daniel that her delusions have gotten the best of her. In her mind, they are meant to be together and she will stop at nothing to get her picture perfect fantasy. Ultimately the story ends up being crashed on it's head and completely steered in a twisty and riveting direction. The less you know, the better it will be - I promise.
I really loved the way J.D. Allen wrote the characters in 19 Souls . C'mon, there's a million other crime fiction books, why should this one be any different? Well... let me just tell you. The characters in 19 Souls are flawed, personable, current, and relatable. Each character in this book has a backstory that is not quickly overlooked nor drawn out. I really started to fall in love with these characters - even Sophie! The way the book covers the perspective of a psychopath is done in such an interesting and respectful way that it kept getting me to turn to the next page, not even realizing that I just skipped dinner. I really see this series taking off, and I for one will be excited for the ride.
Thank you Net Galley for my advanced copy.
I'm much more fun on Instagram | @scared_str8
Read
January 13, 2018DNF @ 18%.
I normally do not mark a book as 'read' if I don't finish it. I will simply remove it from my list entirely. I tried with this one, and it was painful, so I feel like I deserve to add this to my list of reads even though I didn't finish it, or even really make it that far.
I can't do it. So far, it seems so far-fetched and unrealistic that I'm scratching my head and thinking... "What the hell?!" I don't like it. I suppose a small part of that is because the kindle version is not finalized yet, so the formatting is awful and confusing, and secondly, I don't typically prefer this genre. This book sounded really interesting but I have tried for MONTHS to return to this and get into it, and it's simply not working.
In that event, and to be fair, I will not give this a star rating.
Thank you to NetGalley, Midnight Ink, and J.D. Allen for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I normally do not mark a book as 'read' if I don't finish it. I will simply remove it from my list entirely. I tried with this one, and it was painful, so I feel like I deserve to add this to my list of reads even though I didn't finish it, or even really make it that far.
I can't do it. So far, it seems so far-fetched and unrealistic that I'm scratching my head and thinking... "What the hell?!" I don't like it. I suppose a small part of that is because the kindle version is not finalized yet, so the formatting is awful and confusing, and secondly, I don't typically prefer this genre. This book sounded really interesting but I have tried for MONTHS to return to this and get into it, and it's simply not working.
In that event, and to be fair, I will not give this a star rating.
Thank you to NetGalley, Midnight Ink, and J.D. Allen for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2017
Jim Bean is a Private Investigator in Las Vegas. He is hired to find an attractive young ladies brother... only he discovers too late that he is not her brother and that the lady is a serial killer! I really enjoyed this book.. it was definately a page turner and I needed to know what happens next. Thanks to Netgalley and Midnight Ink for an advance copy of this book to read and review
September 24, 2017
This book follows the story of a woman named Sophie Ryan Evers who is supposedly looking for her brother who she hasn't seen in years. However, the man she is looking for isn't her brother. It's a man she has been obsessed with since she was a child. We're talking totally and completely obsessed to the point that she really believes that they are in a relationship in her mind. And she will go to great lengths to have him for her own. She hires Jim Bean, a P.I. In Las Vegas, to find her so-called brother. By the time Jim realizes that the man Sophie is looking for isn't her brother, he has already taken her too far leading to a large manhunt and multiple dead bodies in Sophie's wake.
I liked most of the characters in the story. The author interwove the background of each character into the story. Of course, I didn't like Sophie but the author did almost make me feel sorry for her at times despite the fact that she is a deranged psychopath who enjoys killing. I think Jim Bean was very likable. I was definitely rooting for him as he tried to right the mistake of falling for Sophie's story. The supporting characters were good too.
This is a great debut novel. In fact, it's hard to believe it is a debut novel. The characters and their storylines are well developed. The story was fast paced and kept me on edge wondering what Sophie's next move would be. I look forward to reading about Jim Bean's future adventures. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!
I liked most of the characters in the story. The author interwove the background of each character into the story. Of course, I didn't like Sophie but the author did almost make me feel sorry for her at times despite the fact that she is a deranged psychopath who enjoys killing. I think Jim Bean was very likable. I was definitely rooting for him as he tried to right the mistake of falling for Sophie's story. The supporting characters were good too.
This is a great debut novel. In fact, it's hard to believe it is a debut novel. The characters and their storylines are well developed. The story was fast paced and kept me on edge wondering what Sophie's next move would be. I look forward to reading about Jim Bean's future adventures. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!
August 2, 2017
Jim Bean is a Private Investigator. A woman hires him to find her brother, Daniel ... only he isn't really her brother. Sophie Evers is a stalker and Daniel is the man she's been stalking for many years. He keeps changing his name and location in order to avoid her.
But Sophie is nothing if not persistent. Sophie is also a killer .. and she will stop at nothing to get the man she loves. She has killed many people and stolen from others to put together the perfect life for her and Daniel... even if it means keeping him in chains.
A local detective is brought in, as well as a lady FBI Agent who puts Daniel and his mother in a safe house. But just how safe is a safe house? There's also a bounty hunter involved and a friend of Bean's who is an expert on the computer.
Bean is mortified that he fell for Sophie's lies and put a decent man in mortal danger. He implants himself in the middle of the search for Sophie trying to set things right.
This is a great story premise. The characters are engaging and I love the humorous interactions between them. The suspense is riveting and the ending explosive!
Many thanks to the author / Midnight Ink / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
But Sophie is nothing if not persistent. Sophie is also a killer .. and she will stop at nothing to get the man she loves. She has killed many people and stolen from others to put together the perfect life for her and Daniel... even if it means keeping him in chains.
A local detective is brought in, as well as a lady FBI Agent who puts Daniel and his mother in a safe house. But just how safe is a safe house? There's also a bounty hunter involved and a friend of Bean's who is an expert on the computer.
Bean is mortified that he fell for Sophie's lies and put a decent man in mortal danger. He implants himself in the middle of the search for Sophie trying to set things right.
This is a great story premise. The characters are engaging and I love the humorous interactions between them. The suspense is riveting and the ending explosive!
Many thanks to the author / Midnight Ink / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 24, 2023
Entertaining cat and mouse game but nothing special or over the top.
August 29, 2017
Requested on Netgalley. Big thanks to NG and author for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
19 Souls follows a woman who seems to be looking for her lost brother. She makes a deal with a private investigator to find her brother as soon as possible and to keep her informed of his whereabouts. Nothing wrong with that you might think.... Until it turns out that Sophie isn't looking for her brother but for the man she has been obsessed with for years, craving him since her childhood. The PI, Jim, is not aware of her actual plan and helps her out, finding Dan for her and what follows is a manhunt, a psychological game and many innocent victims.
Even though this book took me a long time to read (that has nothing to do with the quality of the story, but more about a readingslump), I found it fascinating to read every time I picked it up.
Sophie is not your typical serial killer, even though she definitely doesn't feel any remorse while taking lifes. She's struggling with a voice in her head, struggling with her love for Dan and the need to make sure that, whatever the risk, Dan will be in her life and will love her back. This is her drive to take the choices she makes and I found her character very interesting.
I liked Jim Bean from the very first page. A mysterious character with a cool and calm, but sensitive side as well. Practical and not afraid to do what is necessary.
The story itself is good. I liked the idea of a PI that fucks up almost immediately. As a PI you would think he'd realize something was off... but I like that about this story. That one misjudgment of one woman caused all this crazy stuff that's happening in this book. I found it easy to read, satisfying actionscenes and I especially love the fact that Jim and Sophie have their own chapters. I like experiencing the situation from the bad persons point of view.
Overall, a very well written psychological thriller and I am curious to read about Jim's next adventure.
19 Souls follows a woman who seems to be looking for her lost brother. She makes a deal with a private investigator to find her brother as soon as possible and to keep her informed of his whereabouts. Nothing wrong with that you might think.... Until it turns out that Sophie isn't looking for her brother but for the man she has been obsessed with for years, craving him since her childhood. The PI, Jim, is not aware of her actual plan and helps her out, finding Dan for her and what follows is a manhunt, a psychological game and many innocent victims.
Even though this book took me a long time to read (that has nothing to do with the quality of the story, but more about a readingslump), I found it fascinating to read every time I picked it up.
Sophie is not your typical serial killer, even though she definitely doesn't feel any remorse while taking lifes. She's struggling with a voice in her head, struggling with her love for Dan and the need to make sure that, whatever the risk, Dan will be in her life and will love her back. This is her drive to take the choices she makes and I found her character very interesting.
I liked Jim Bean from the very first page. A mysterious character with a cool and calm, but sensitive side as well. Practical and not afraid to do what is necessary.
The story itself is good. I liked the idea of a PI that fucks up almost immediately. As a PI you would think he'd realize something was off... but I like that about this story. That one misjudgment of one woman caused all this crazy stuff that's happening in this book. I found it easy to read, satisfying actionscenes and I especially love the fact that Jim and Sophie have their own chapters. I like experiencing the situation from the bad persons point of view.
Overall, a very well written psychological thriller and I am curious to read about Jim's next adventure.
January 26, 2018
The first book in the Sin City series takes off with Private Investigator Jim Bean. He doesn't realize by taking on his latest client that circumstances would go from bad to worse. There's a lot at stake that Jim may not be ready for, but ready he'll have to be. This killer is a psychopath of epic proportions.
A great main character who is flawed, but underneath, still a good guy. Hooked me in with a solid plotline and kept me turning the pages. This is one thriller that's sure to make suspense readers sit up and take notice. I will certainly be reading the next one because I'm curious to see where this goes and what new case Jim will take on.
A great main character who is flawed, but underneath, still a good guy. Hooked me in with a solid plotline and kept me turning the pages. This is one thriller that's sure to make suspense readers sit up and take notice. I will certainly be reading the next one because I'm curious to see where this goes and what new case Jim will take on.
February 1, 2018
4,5 stars
This book was like a breath of fresh air. it was interesting to read something that changes a bit from the strereotyped serial killer stories, even though it is a serial killer story. I think what matters is that i enjoyed it a lot and it did not feel like a hard task to go through.
Jim Bean, a private investigator in Las vegas, just got a new and simple job. Find his client's brother. It should have been easy enough. Except that nothing his client said about her brother adds up and he found out pretty soon that he was not really her brother, but more like her obsession for years. And everything changes from that moment.
It certainly isn't a new concept or a story never told before, but it was well written. I didn't come across a lot of books with a female seriel killer and although it is not very flattering, it is a change.
The different characters, each with his own back story that we only have a glimpse of, are interesting.
I found good also that the author did not dwell too long on any of them, especially the main characters. I think he gave enough to make me want to read the next book of the series, although i really hope i will not find this expression "follow his gut" as much as i did in this first book. I can't help it but it rather annoyed me.
I got this book via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
This book was like a breath of fresh air. it was interesting to read something that changes a bit from the strereotyped serial killer stories, even though it is a serial killer story. I think what matters is that i enjoyed it a lot and it did not feel like a hard task to go through.
Jim Bean, a private investigator in Las vegas, just got a new and simple job. Find his client's brother. It should have been easy enough. Except that nothing his client said about her brother adds up and he found out pretty soon that he was not really her brother, but more like her obsession for years. And everything changes from that moment.
It certainly isn't a new concept or a story never told before, but it was well written. I didn't come across a lot of books with a female seriel killer and although it is not very flattering, it is a change.
The different characters, each with his own back story that we only have a glimpse of, are interesting.
I found good also that the author did not dwell too long on any of them, especially the main characters. I think he gave enough to make me want to read the next book of the series, although i really hope i will not find this expression "follow his gut" as much as i did in this first book. I can't help it but it rather annoyed me.
I got this book via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
November 10, 2020
Never a dull moment in America’s Sin City, which means Jim Bean—the Las Vega private investigator in this action-packed, thrills-a-minute series—is always busy. But like many lone wolf P.I.s, Bean’s financial wellbeing is not as robust as he would like it to be. The prospect of a missing person search for someone who’s been off the radar for several years would go a long way toward remedying that. And the woman who enlists Bean’s help in finding her missing brother knows she’s found the perfect man for the job.
Armed with the tools of his trade and the help of his bounty hunter and technology wizard bros, Bean makes good progress on the case. But as he makes headway, he gets the first hint that something sinister is at play here, and this straightforward case is anything but typical. Now he has two mysteries to solve, and neither one of them give him a very warm or cozy feeling. As the case begins to unravel, he realizes everything in his life is now at risk.
I won’t spoil the fun with specifics, but I can guarantee you this book will take you on one hell of a wild ride. It’s a terrific start to the series, and I look forward to reading more adventures of Jim Bean, P.I.!
Armed with the tools of his trade and the help of his bounty hunter and technology wizard bros, Bean makes good progress on the case. But as he makes headway, he gets the first hint that something sinister is at play here, and this straightforward case is anything but typical. Now he has two mysteries to solve, and neither one of them give him a very warm or cozy feeling. As the case begins to unravel, he realizes everything in his life is now at risk.
I won’t spoil the fun with specifics, but I can guarantee you this book will take you on one hell of a wild ride. It’s a terrific start to the series, and I look forward to reading more adventures of Jim Bean, P.I.!
September 14, 2017
Thrilled to think that these colorful characters (the good guys) might be in future Sin City Investigation reads! This serial killer story was twisted and psychologically based about Sophie Evers! How much more bad karma can be instilled in a villain besides being in an abusive foster home, parents that did not want her, and an inner voice that is always condemning! Her only joy was the friendship of a neighbor Daniel; although a few years older than her he treated her with kindness. Regrettably Daniel is stalked by Sophie as he attempts to lead an adult life as a cowboy. Diabolical Evers seeks the help of Private Investigator Jim Bean when she is unable to locate Daniel. Coming to the realization that Sophie is only using him; Jim fights to protect Daniel from her kidnapping goal. Wonderful support community aid Jim. Agent Ava Webb, Oscar Olsen, Ely, Sandy just to name a few and of course Annie is purring her part. "A copy of this book was provided by Midnight Ink via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read and comments here are my honest opinion."
February 23, 2018
Okay this would be quick because I don't want to talk much about this one due to personal reasons which shouldn't have affect how I rate this book, by the way.
Sophie Evers is crazy. And yeah it pained me to call her that but I must warn the future readers about her, right? She believes that this guy Daniel and she should be together. She's crazy for him. To the point that she even went to Private investigator, Jim Bean, with a story of wanting to find Daniel, posing as Daniel's sister and not a stalker.
This book is really intriguing, and if it's intriguing, it IS interesting. And it really is. I must say that ever since I started requesting for ARCs, this is one of those few thrillers that I actually found thrilling despite the lack of actions. Ahm what? Is that even possible? Yep, thanks to the villain, Sophie.
Sophie, as a character of antagonism, was well-defined. Like I said, she's crazy, a psychopath or maybe sociopath? I find her creepy like I couldn't stop thinking what if I met someone like her in real life? The things she did just to have Daniel. My God. It was crazy. She's delusional.
As for the MC, Jim Bean, though I didn't find him more interesting and unique than other investigators I've met in thrillerlandia and Crimelandia in fiction, I still like how driven he is when he found out that Sophie fooled him. I still want to read more of him.
I admit though, that sometimes I find things unrealistic and as I said, there was a little lack of actions. Or maybe my standard is just so high when it comes to Crime thrillers. Blame it to my early exposure to this genre. But anyway, I never thought even once to DNF it. Though I had to read it little by little because of Sophie. From the very beginning, when the story opens with Sophie and her bloody fingers, I already had this picture of who Sophie is and that she's creepy. Stalking is creepy and put killing along with it, that's horrifying. I guess, this is just ME, guys. Obsession and stalking always make me uncomfortable so don't take my analysis of Sophie that much.
Overall, I recommend this novel to everyone. Give this one a chance, it's worth it. :)
*reading my whole review, I realized I didn't make it quick after all. hehe.
*Huge thanks to the author and Publishers for granting me a copy thru Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. :) :)
Happy Reading Guys.
Sophie Evers is crazy. And yeah it pained me to call her that but I must warn the future readers about her, right? She believes that this guy Daniel and she should be together. She's crazy for him. To the point that she even went to Private investigator, Jim Bean, with a story of wanting to find Daniel, posing as Daniel's sister and not a stalker.
This book is really intriguing, and if it's intriguing, it IS interesting. And it really is. I must say that ever since I started requesting for ARCs, this is one of those few thrillers that I actually found thrilling despite the lack of actions. Ahm what? Is that even possible? Yep, thanks to the villain, Sophie.
Sophie, as a character of antagonism, was well-defined. Like I said, she's crazy, a psychopath or maybe sociopath? I find her creepy like I couldn't stop thinking what if I met someone like her in real life? The things she did just to have Daniel. My God. It was crazy. She's delusional.
As for the MC, Jim Bean, though I didn't find him more interesting and unique than other investigators I've met in thrillerlandia and Crimelandia in fiction, I still like how driven he is when he found out that Sophie fooled him. I still want to read more of him.
I admit though, that sometimes I find things unrealistic and as I said, there was a little lack of actions. Or maybe my standard is just so high when it comes to Crime thrillers. Blame it to my early exposure to this genre. But anyway, I never thought even once to DNF it. Though I had to read it little by little because of Sophie. From the very beginning, when the story opens with Sophie and her bloody fingers, I already had this picture of who Sophie is and that she's creepy. Stalking is creepy and put killing along with it, that's horrifying. I guess, this is just ME, guys. Obsession and stalking always make me uncomfortable so don't take my analysis of Sophie that much.
Overall, I recommend this novel to everyone. Give this one a chance, it's worth it. :)
*reading my whole review, I realized I didn't make it quick after all. hehe.
*Huge thanks to the author and Publishers for granting me a copy thru Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. :) :)
Happy Reading Guys.
July 20, 2017
I received an ARC from the author. 19 Souls is a sophisticated psychological thriller with excellent pacing and a strong, engaging author voice. The main character, a PI named Jim Bean, is written with just the right amount of jaded realism to compliment his reluctant heroism. This book is unusual for the amount of deep point of view we get from the serial killer. Sophie isn't a cookie cutter villain by any means. The interactions between Jim and Sophie are complicated and twisted and surprising. The entire novel is well crafted, and the pacing will keep you turning pages long into the night. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys detective novels and thrillers. I'm looking forward to more Sin City Investigations.
August 24, 2017
Thanks to NetGalley for this book.
A nicely set up psychological thriller that could have been a very good book with a little bit more TLC.
Since 33 people before me told you what the story is all about, I won’t do that here. I would like to explain what I mean with the TLC. It is a nice book, no doubt about that. But I think it is not fast paced enough in places, and too much in other places - especially at the end. The character of Jim Bean is likable but he is not very original, being a lonesome PI with a cat. He and his friends are a bit off-the-shelf characters. It is like the author went shopping for ingredients and choose Jim, O, Eva Webb (for the touch of romance) and even Sophie, the killer as ingredients for the story.
The story lacks the intelligence and the flow that make a book a five star book for me. It makes a nice reading on a rainy afternoon, though.
A nicely set up psychological thriller that could have been a very good book with a little bit more TLC.
Since 33 people before me told you what the story is all about, I won’t do that here. I would like to explain what I mean with the TLC. It is a nice book, no doubt about that. But I think it is not fast paced enough in places, and too much in other places - especially at the end. The character of Jim Bean is likable but he is not very original, being a lonesome PI with a cat. He and his friends are a bit off-the-shelf characters. It is like the author went shopping for ingredients and choose Jim, O, Eva Webb (for the touch of romance) and even Sophie, the killer as ingredients for the story.
The story lacks the intelligence and the flow that make a book a five star book for me. It makes a nice reading on a rainy afternoon, though.
November 21, 2020
A serial killer with a questionable inner voice tracks down an sold flame to kidnap him. She hires the wrong private investigator to assist her in her task.
It is a fast paced story with a villain is as clever as she is disturbed. I enjoyed the story & some of the characters, but I would have liked to see more strength in the female characters.
It is a fast paced story with a villain is as clever as she is disturbed. I enjoyed the story & some of the characters, but I would have liked to see more strength in the female characters.
February 16, 2018
Poor Sophie picked the wrong investigator to help her with her plan of getting Daniel back into her life. Once Jim Bean realizes she has duped him, he now feels it's his duty to help the poor sap he led her straight to.
As a reviewer, advanced copies received are apt to have misspellings, grammar issues or little things wrong and I am always aware of this and usually it doesn't bother me. I realize these are unfinished copies and will go through more editing before published. Unfortunately this one was peppered consistently throughout with misspellings that took away from my enjoyment of the read. That being said, I did like the story line for the most part. Crazy girl who just wants to be loved. Clearly has some mental issues after a rough childhood and is progressively losing her shit. Then we have Jim... my favorite character for sure. He definitely has some issues but he's lovable in that wants-to-do-the-right-thing kind of way, while still flawed with his own crap.
Psychopathic serial killer, flawed private investigator with a heart of gold... bring in a guy who has been stalked all his life, an female FBI agent along for the ride.. and well, we have pretty much all the elements of this kind of read. Unfortunately it just didn't resonate for me as much as I would have liked it to. I found it getting a bit repetitive and once the characters were established, there wasn't much more development. My attention began to wane towards the middle and didn't quite catch hold again.
I'll probably be an unpopular opinion on this one. I think the majority of people who like crime fiction/thrillers will probably enjoy this read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Midnight Ink for this copy in return for my honest opinion.
As a reviewer, advanced copies received are apt to have misspellings, grammar issues or little things wrong and I am always aware of this and usually it doesn't bother me. I realize these are unfinished copies and will go through more editing before published. Unfortunately this one was peppered consistently throughout with misspellings that took away from my enjoyment of the read. That being said, I did like the story line for the most part. Crazy girl who just wants to be loved. Clearly has some mental issues after a rough childhood and is progressively losing her shit. Then we have Jim... my favorite character for sure. He definitely has some issues but he's lovable in that wants-to-do-the-right-thing kind of way, while still flawed with his own crap.
Psychopathic serial killer, flawed private investigator with a heart of gold... bring in a guy who has been stalked all his life, an female FBI agent along for the ride.. and well, we have pretty much all the elements of this kind of read. Unfortunately it just didn't resonate for me as much as I would have liked it to. I found it getting a bit repetitive and once the characters were established, there wasn't much more development. My attention began to wane towards the middle and didn't quite catch hold again.
I'll probably be an unpopular opinion on this one. I think the majority of people who like crime fiction/thrillers will probably enjoy this read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Midnight Ink for this copy in return for my honest opinion.
September 6, 2017
I received this from Netgalley in return for a review.
There's a element of the stereotypical here - at least initially, but that's the genre I suppose. Once the characters develop, this isn't so much of a problem and the story takes over.
Not really my cup of tea. An entertaining read but nothing that will engage the little grey cells to any extent.
There's a element of the stereotypical here - at least initially, but that's the genre I suppose. Once the characters develop, this isn't so much of a problem and the story takes over.
Not really my cup of tea. An entertaining read but nothing that will engage the little grey cells to any extent.
November 13, 2023
If you’re on her list, you’d better run…
A tough private detective faces off against a serial killer in this noir crime mystery.
Great story. Well well-written with interesting quirky characters. It kept me guessing. First-time reading J.D. Allen and I will be eager to read what goes on with private investigator Jim Bean in Sin City Invesitgation #2. Superb narration was the icing on the cake that made this an overall enjoyable read.
A tough private detective faces off against a serial killer in this noir crime mystery.
Great story. Well well-written with interesting quirky characters. It kept me guessing. First-time reading J.D. Allen and I will be eager to read what goes on with private investigator Jim Bean in Sin City Invesitgation #2. Superb narration was the icing on the cake that made this an overall enjoyable read.
February 1, 2018
I do love a good crime book and when they are done well, they are some of the best books I have read. J.D Allen writes some great characters and constructs a really gripping storyline in 19 Souls, leaving me eager to read the next instalment in the series.
Jim Bean (there are numerous jokes about this name and the drink which never gets old) is a PI and is hired for a seemingly clear cut case by an interesting client, to find her addict brother both her and her mother have been searching for. Little did he know that Cynthia is no ordinary client and this does not turn out to be an ordinary case. We follow Bean as he gets down to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Cynthia as the fallout she creates with her obsession over her childhood crush.
What I loved most about this book were the characters and in a crime book, this is especially important. When their lives are on the line as they work to solve the case, you have to be invested in them succeeding in catching the killer and coming out (mostly) unscathed. Jim Bean is likeable and immediately draws you in with his rough yet charming persona. His voice throughout the book is very strong and he really brings all of the different elements of the story together. The ‘minor’ characters also compliment Bean. We have the from war veteran and extraordinaire Ely, the stunning and professional ‘Lady Fed’ Ava and the insightful local cop Miller. Cynthia (or Sophie) as a villain actually made me feel uncomfortable which rarely happens when I read crime books. Her lack of empathy for other people, especially referring to them as it and the body once she has killed them as well as her general cold and distant manner throughout her narration gave her such a chilling personality.
The storyline was well constructed and flowed chapter to chapter, we see Bean work through his systematic investigation to find Daniel, his planning once he realises who Cynthia actually is and the steps he takes to try to solve the crime and save lives. The only negative I have is that it ended a bit too quickly with the major confrontation between Bean and the antagonist a little anticlimactic. Fortunately, the door is still open for another book and the action can start right where this book ended.
19 Souls is a thrilling crime book that draws you into the story with a charming narrator and unsettling villain. The writing is fluid and it hits all the marks that a crime book should.
Jim Bean (there are numerous jokes about this name and the drink which never gets old) is a PI and is hired for a seemingly clear cut case by an interesting client, to find her addict brother both her and her mother have been searching for. Little did he know that Cynthia is no ordinary client and this does not turn out to be an ordinary case. We follow Bean as he gets down to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Cynthia as the fallout she creates with her obsession over her childhood crush.
What I loved most about this book were the characters and in a crime book, this is especially important. When their lives are on the line as they work to solve the case, you have to be invested in them succeeding in catching the killer and coming out (mostly) unscathed. Jim Bean is likeable and immediately draws you in with his rough yet charming persona. His voice throughout the book is very strong and he really brings all of the different elements of the story together. The ‘minor’ characters also compliment Bean. We have the from war veteran and extraordinaire Ely, the stunning and professional ‘Lady Fed’ Ava and the insightful local cop Miller. Cynthia (or Sophie) as a villain actually made me feel uncomfortable which rarely happens when I read crime books. Her lack of empathy for other people, especially referring to them as it and the body once she has killed them as well as her general cold and distant manner throughout her narration gave her such a chilling personality.
The storyline was well constructed and flowed chapter to chapter, we see Bean work through his systematic investigation to find Daniel, his planning once he realises who Cynthia actually is and the steps he takes to try to solve the crime and save lives. The only negative I have is that it ended a bit too quickly with the major confrontation between Bean and the antagonist a little anticlimactic. Fortunately, the door is still open for another book and the action can start right where this book ended.
19 Souls is a thrilling crime book that draws you into the story with a charming narrator and unsettling villain. The writing is fluid and it hits all the marks that a crime book should.
February 6, 2018
“Private investigator Jim Bean is a straightforward, to-the-point man. He likes his cases to follow suit. But when his latest client, Sophie Evers, asks him to find her brother Daniel, Jim has no idea how complicated his life is about to become.
As he falls deep into a manipulative game of cat and mouse, Jim uncovers the horrible truth about Sophie. Now he must set things right before her plan leads to the loss of innocent souls . . . even more than it already has.”
This is a really good read and had me gripped throughout.
Sophie is a really nasty character and will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
Sometimes you feel a bit of empathy for the killer but in this case I really wanted her to get what was coming to her.
Jim Bean is a private investigator and is a great character. I look forward to reading more of this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
As he falls deep into a manipulative game of cat and mouse, Jim uncovers the horrible truth about Sophie. Now he must set things right before her plan leads to the loss of innocent souls . . . even more than it already has.”
This is a really good read and had me gripped throughout.
Sophie is a really nasty character and will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
Sometimes you feel a bit of empathy for the killer but in this case I really wanted her to get what was coming to her.
Jim Bean is a private investigator and is a great character. I look forward to reading more of this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
May 12, 2018
What attracted me first was the cover, then the fact it was set in Vegas. I love PI novels, and I'm a lover of noir. My favorite author is Howard Browne, then Raymond Chandler, which means my reading standards are set rather high. Jim Bean is a classic, stereotypical PI. He screws up with the antagonist Sophie, literally, having been mislead by her as a client. I love the opening. I love the fact he fell for Sophie's ways. The case was fun and the leads solid. The plot wove out nicely with a wide diversity of characters that worked very well from the Hodge mother to the cowboys. Using Sandy in the beginning and the end worked nicely. Great touch having Sophie step into Bean's personal world like that. Great bones for a series, and I see this series continuing. On the other side, I am not a fan of Bean being uncomfortable with guns, a very un-stereotypical trait. That did not feel natural. The relationship with the FBI agent was lukewarm and almost didn't flesh out well enough to be part of the story. I would like Bean to be tougher. A PI in Vegas has seen a lot, and if he had been in the FBI academy, he would have had to be tougher than he seems. Just didn't like him being so easily whipped or second guessing himself so much. Almost sounded like this was a woman trying to write like a man...almost. All in all a good story, and I'll read the series again. Good luck, JD Allen. (Note to publisher: six typos jerked me out of the story)
April 8, 2018
“19 Souls” is the first in J. D. Allen’s “Sin City Investigation” series, set in, where else, Las Vegas. Jim Bean is likeable, up-front, private investigator in Las Vegas. There certainly is a lot to investigate in “Sin City,” and there are many colorful characters along the way. The supporting cast is pleasant, contemporary, humorous, relevant, and somewhat flawed. All have interesting backgrounds, and even the “minor” players are well defined. It is easy to like them, and they help advance the story line. Of course this is a P.I. in Vegas, so there are hidden identities, damsels in distress, lost loves, and a not your typical serial killer serial killer.
The story is an interesting psychological game with several twists. Multiple points of view provide the reader with the perspective from both sides of the drama and help bring out all the unsavory details of the story and its participants. Although the pace is somewhat slow at times, the characters move the plot along, sometimes with a touch of humor.
I received a copy of “19 Souls” from J. D. Allen, Midnight Ink, and NetGalley. It is easy to read with satisfying action. Since this is the first in a series set in Las Vegas, I am sure that Jim will have many more interesting if not crazy and bizarre adventures to come. (It is Vegas after all!) I cannot wait.
The story is an interesting psychological game with several twists. Multiple points of view provide the reader with the perspective from both sides of the drama and help bring out all the unsavory details of the story and its participants. Although the pace is somewhat slow at times, the characters move the plot along, sometimes with a touch of humor.
I received a copy of “19 Souls” from J. D. Allen, Midnight Ink, and NetGalley. It is easy to read with satisfying action. Since this is the first in a series set in Las Vegas, I am sure that Jim will have many more interesting if not crazy and bizarre adventures to come. (It is Vegas after all!) I cannot wait.
August 15, 2017
I have read J D Allen before and I love it when I discover a new writer that commands attention. 19 Souls is a frenzied journey and, a bizarre, twisted love story. The narrative explores obsession and the damage done to a child through neglect & abuse that travels with them through to adulthood. I thought this was a brave thriller taking on themes that were at times uncomfortable and messy but always true to its heart. Sometimes Allen's writing reminded me of James Lee Burke with the surety of the books characterisations and the depth of colour. I would definitely recommend 19 Souls as a powerful examination of people who come to believe their own justifications, however toxic.
January 28, 2018
3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and to the editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I would come back later with a more consistent review, but for now, I just have to put down some thoughts.
All in all, I liked this book, it was gripping, fast-paced and in some parts it was addicting. I wasn't so hooked up from the start, but there are some parts that are good and that made you turn page after page. I had some problems with the main character, but I don't know why, I mean, yes, I had some problems because I couldn't click with him, but he was ok. He's a decent guy, with a past, that tries hard to do the right thing.
And then we have the villain... I didn't like her, but she's insane. Batshit crazy, tbh! And really she can't take no for an answer. She was scary!
The plot is not bad, it was entertaining and it's good, even if I was expecting the "big revelation" (that she was a liar!) to be not so soon, so I was quite confused, but then I enjoyed the reading all the same, even if I was expecting something different.
It's fast-paced, with a crazy bad girl and a softhearted PI and a good plot. Not the best thriller ever, yes, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Thanks to NetGalley and to the editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I would come back later with a more consistent review, but for now, I just have to put down some thoughts.
All in all, I liked this book, it was gripping, fast-paced and in some parts it was addicting. I wasn't so hooked up from the start, but there are some parts that are good and that made you turn page after page. I had some problems with the main character, but I don't know why, I mean, yes, I had some problems because I couldn't click with him, but he was ok. He's a decent guy, with a past, that tries hard to do the right thing.
And then we have the villain... I didn't like her, but she's insane. Batshit crazy, tbh! And really she can't take no for an answer. She was scary!
The plot is not bad, it was entertaining and it's good, even if I was expecting the "big revelation" (that she was a liar!) to be not so soon, so I was quite confused, but then I enjoyed the reading all the same, even if I was expecting something different.
It's fast-paced, with a crazy bad girl and a softhearted PI and a good plot. Not the best thriller ever, yes, but enjoyable nonetheless.
August 29, 2017
This thriller features a Kit Tolliver like serial killer with serious stalking issues and a hapless detective caught in her claws. But there was little that worked here, that felt believable, or fascinated me.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy of this book by a fairly new author. Unfortunately, this book was not to my taste and I cannot recommend it. There are a number of interesting ingredients including a stalking serial killer, a bumbling detective, and a dude ranch, but I did not find the writing to be compelling and did not like any of the character development.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy of this book by a fairly new author. Unfortunately, this book was not to my taste and I cannot recommend it. There are a number of interesting ingredients including a stalking serial killer, a bumbling detective, and a dude ranch, but I did not find the writing to be compelling and did not like any of the character development.
September 19, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, I think the storyline was gripping and I didn't feel myself switching off or getting bored throughout the whole book👏🏼
So.. Jim bean is a PI and is hired by Cynthia to find her drug addicted brother, Dan..
The action starts straight away in this book and within the first chapter or two you find out that the real Cynthia has been killed and a girl called Sophie is pretending to be her..
Sophie is and always has been obsessed with Dan and it seems she finally had their happy ending all planned out.. she just needs to find him first!
I think the book includes really good insight on the minds of 'psychopaths' as half of it is from Sophie's POV. It really lets you get a feel of what it's like to be in her head!
I also like how there is definite humour in the book, some really good one liners 😂
All in all, really good book and I would definitely recommend it! 👌🏼💜
So.. Jim bean is a PI and is hired by Cynthia to find her drug addicted brother, Dan..
The action starts straight away in this book and within the first chapter or two you find out that the real Cynthia has been killed and a girl called Sophie is pretending to be her..
Sophie is and always has been obsessed with Dan and it seems she finally had their happy ending all planned out.. she just needs to find him first!
I think the book includes really good insight on the minds of 'psychopaths' as half of it is from Sophie's POV. It really lets you get a feel of what it's like to be in her head!
I also like how there is definite humour in the book, some really good one liners 😂
All in all, really good book and I would definitely recommend it! 👌🏼💜
January 3, 2021
Small time Vegas Private Investigator Jim Bean is hired by an attractive woman to trace her drug addicted brother. There follows the unravelling of a web of deceit, murder, kidnap and an ever growing number of bodies before an explosive finish. Fast paced throughout, likeable central characters and plenty of unexpected twists this is great escapism.
May 13, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up
This really bordered close to a 3 star read but as the first in a series with potential I rounded up. I would read the next in the series.
The main character Jim Bean had an interesting back story of how his life went off track but in some ways was falling into too much of the bitter, drink in hand cliche PI. Hopefully his character grows. Other characters felt a little wooden but again had potential.
There was a little too much reliance on the ever present hacker friend who finds all the leads. I'm getting tired of the reliance on hacking.
The plot and Sophie were good...nothing like having a stalker sociopath in your life. I was disappointed in how easy it was for Sophie to kidnap Dan while he was in a guarded safe house. It was too reliant on the cops being dumb and dumber.
This really bordered close to a 3 star read but as the first in a series with potential I rounded up. I would read the next in the series.
The main character Jim Bean had an interesting back story of how his life went off track but in some ways was falling into too much of the bitter, drink in hand cliche PI. Hopefully his character grows. Other characters felt a little wooden but again had potential.
There was a little too much reliance on the ever present hacker friend who finds all the leads. I'm getting tired of the reliance on hacking.
The plot and Sophie were good...nothing like having a stalker sociopath in your life. I was disappointed in how easy it was for Sophie to kidnap Dan while he was in a guarded safe house. It was too reliant on the cops being dumb and dumber.
July 18, 2022
3.25～3.4 stars?? I did like this one, but I hate how they tried to pair the MC with nearly every woman he encountered, that and the fact I didn't care for the narrator, prevented me from rounding it up to 4 stars
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