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The Keepers #1
Pretty Little Killers
The predators become prey in a breathless novel of revenge from a USA Today bestselling author.
Still haunted by his wife’s murder—and stained by the blood of avenging it—FBI special agent Hatcher McGee can’t believe he’s being teamed up with rookie agent Korine Davenport. She is his most guilty secret—the one-night stand who almost cost him everything.
Korine has her own demons. As a child, she witnessed her father’s murder, and she’s spent her life waiting for the killer’s return. She and Hatcher are both looking for closure, but the disturbing case that draws them together could be their last.
When the mutilated body of a corrupt Savannah judge surfaces, Hatcher and Korine find themselves on the trail of a vigilante who is showing no mercy. Not for the predators who’ve gone free. And not for anyone who gets in the way.
As the body count rises, and as Hatcher’s and Korine’s own pasts unfold, they must risk their lives tracking a killer they’ve come to understand all too well. After all, the ends justify the means.
Still haunted by his wife’s murder—and stained by the blood of avenging it—FBI special agent Hatcher McGee can’t believe he’s being teamed up with rookie agent Korine Davenport. She is his most guilty secret—the one-night stand who almost cost him everything.
Korine has her own demons. As a child, she witnessed her father’s murder, and she’s spent her life waiting for the killer’s return. She and Hatcher are both looking for closure, but the disturbing case that draws them together could be their last.
When the mutilated body of a corrupt Savannah judge surfaces, Hatcher and Korine find themselves on the trail of a vigilante who is showing no mercy. Not for the predators who’ve gone free. And not for anyone who gets in the way.
As the body count rises, and as Hatcher’s and Korine’s own pasts unfold, they must risk their lives tracking a killer they’ve come to understand all too well. After all, the ends justify the means.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2018
2115 people are currently reading
2737 people want to read
About the author
Rita Herron
324 books946 followersUSA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job.
With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.
For more on. Rita and her titles, visit her at www.ritaherron.com. You can also find her on www.Facebook/ritaherron.com and Twitter.com/ritaherron.
With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.
For more on. Rita and her titles, visit her at www.ritaherron.com. You can also find her on www.Facebook/ritaherron.com and Twitter.com/ritaherron.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
March 22, 2023
Pretty Little Killers by Rita Herron is a 2018 Montlake publication.
The book follows Hatcher McGee, and FBI agent Korine Davenport, as they work together to solve a string of murders. The couple has a complicated history together, making their partnership an awkward one.
This book does fall into the romantic suspense category, but... It was more like a serial killer thriller with a few steamy sexual interludes on the side. My main complaint is the lack of romantic/emotional chemistry between Hatcher and Korine. Their personal relationship is mostly based on physical attraction and lust with little or no emotional development between them. To be honest, the sexual entanglement didn't add much to the story, overall, and the book would have been fine without it.
On the flip side, the book delivers on the suspense front, with a well-crafted plot that kept me engaged and guessing until the end. The author created a dark and tense atmosphere and explores the effects of guilt, trauma, and redemption.
Overall, If you are looking for a fast-paced, twisty, serial killer novel, this one might appeal- you'll just have to skip over the explicit sex scenes. Romantic suspense fans who enjoy a bit more emotion between the characters might be a little disappointed, but the criminal element makes up for it... Mostly.
The audio version of the book is well-narrated and enhances the listening experience.
3.5 stars
*Content warning: Besides very steamy sex scenes and fantasies and occasional course/vulgar language, the story also describes child molestation.
The book follows Hatcher McGee, and FBI agent Korine Davenport, as they work together to solve a string of murders. The couple has a complicated history together, making their partnership an awkward one.
This book does fall into the romantic suspense category, but... It was more like a serial killer thriller with a few steamy sexual interludes on the side. My main complaint is the lack of romantic/emotional chemistry between Hatcher and Korine. Their personal relationship is mostly based on physical attraction and lust with little or no emotional development between them. To be honest, the sexual entanglement didn't add much to the story, overall, and the book would have been fine without it.
On the flip side, the book delivers on the suspense front, with a well-crafted plot that kept me engaged and guessing until the end. The author created a dark and tense atmosphere and explores the effects of guilt, trauma, and redemption.
Overall, If you are looking for a fast-paced, twisty, serial killer novel, this one might appeal- you'll just have to skip over the explicit sex scenes. Romantic suspense fans who enjoy a bit more emotion between the characters might be a little disappointed, but the criminal element makes up for it... Mostly.
The audio version of the book is well-narrated and enhances the listening experience.
3.5 stars
*Content warning: Besides very steamy sex scenes and fantasies and occasional course/vulgar language, the story also describes child molestation.
November 6, 2018
1.5 stars
This was super... underwhelming.
The book lacks depth. The characters are underdeveloped. The storyline is depressing. The plot is all over the place. The ending is unsatisfying. The writing feels off and forced. The romantic aspect is laughable.
Moving on.
This was super... underwhelming.
The book lacks depth. The characters are underdeveloped. The storyline is depressing. The plot is all over the place. The ending is unsatisfying. The writing feels off and forced. The romantic aspect is laughable.
Moving on.
March 26, 2018
FBI Agents Korine Davenport and Hatcher McGee are paired on a case while his partner recuperates from injuries sustained during their last case. Unbeknownst to all is Korine and Hatcher had one lusty evening, unfortunately the same night when his estranged wife was murdered. Things are awkward but both are professional and focus on what begins to look like a serial killer at work.
I enjoyed this story because there was a lot going on and seemingly connected. Both Korine and Hatcher have some serious baggage but it never appeared to interfere with the investigation. I figured out one angle of the mystery but was completely blindsided by another. It was a great twist and I’m glad this has turned out to be a series.
I’m a huge fan of the narrator, Andi Arndt, who drew me to this book. She was excellent, distinguishing characters skillfully and delivering a fine performance. Though I own a few books by the author, this is the first I’ve read. I listened to this in one day while on a road trip and it made the miles just melt away. I will definitely be up for the second book as I’m curious how The Keepers will factor in that story, as well as two of the secondary characters I was hoping to see again.
(I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)
I enjoyed this story because there was a lot going on and seemingly connected. Both Korine and Hatcher have some serious baggage but it never appeared to interfere with the investigation. I figured out one angle of the mystery but was completely blindsided by another. It was a great twist and I’m glad this has turned out to be a series.
I’m a huge fan of the narrator, Andi Arndt, who drew me to this book. She was excellent, distinguishing characters skillfully and delivering a fine performance. Though I own a few books by the author, this is the first I’ve read. I listened to this in one day while on a road trip and it made the miles just melt away. I will definitely be up for the second book as I’m curious how The Keepers will factor in that story, as well as two of the secondary characters I was hoping to see again.
(I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)
February 15, 2018
Pretty Little Killers by Rita Herron is the first book in the new romantic suspense The Keepers series. Before getting too much into my review on this one I’d warn it may be a tough read for some as a good portion deals with child molestation.
The story starts with introducing Korine Davenport who is a rookie that went into law enforcement due to witnessing her own father’s murder when she was a child. Korine finds herself paired with FBI special agent Hatcher McGee with whom she’d once had a one night stand.
Korine and Hatcher need to learn to work together quickly despite their brief encounter in the past as the pair are tasked with solving the murder of a corrupt judge. It appears that they just may have a vigilante killer on the loose that they need to track down before the body count rises.
I have to say that maybe it would be best to think of this as more of a police procedural with a bit of naughtiness thrown into the mix as when I think of romantic suspense I’d hope to have a bit of actual “romance” to the relationship. My only complaint in this one leading me to lower my rating to 3.5 stars was it seemed more a want to hop into bed than any believability to a relationship with Korine and Hatcher.
The suspense side of the story however is what really shined in the book and even with the tough subject matter it was really engaging, although I will admit to wondering if I actually wanted the killer caught. In the end the twists and turns made up for the lack of any real romance to me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The story starts with introducing Korine Davenport who is a rookie that went into law enforcement due to witnessing her own father’s murder when she was a child. Korine finds herself paired with FBI special agent Hatcher McGee with whom she’d once had a one night stand.
Korine and Hatcher need to learn to work together quickly despite their brief encounter in the past as the pair are tasked with solving the murder of a corrupt judge. It appears that they just may have a vigilante killer on the loose that they need to track down before the body count rises.
I have to say that maybe it would be best to think of this as more of a police procedural with a bit of naughtiness thrown into the mix as when I think of romantic suspense I’d hope to have a bit of actual “romance” to the relationship. My only complaint in this one leading me to lower my rating to 3.5 stars was it seemed more a want to hop into bed than any believability to a relationship with Korine and Hatcher.
The suspense side of the story however is what really shined in the book and even with the tough subject matter it was really engaging, although I will admit to wondering if I actually wanted the killer caught. In the end the twists and turns made up for the lack of any real romance to me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 28, 2018
★ 4 stars!! ★
Narrado em terceira pessoa, com povs alternados entre Korine, Hatcher e alguns outros adicionais, o que a propósito eu adorei, pois aguçou ainda mais a minha curiosidade. Esse livro traz uma história viciante com personagens interessantes, falhos e complexos. Um enredo com uma boa dose de suspense, mistério e uma pitada de romance.
Eu fiquei presa do início ao fim, pensando e tentando desvendar quem estava por trás dos crimes cometidos. A trama em si foi bem construída e mesmo com tantos palpites e teorias, quando tudo começou a ser revelado, fui supreendida, pois nunca imaginaria que seria tal pessoa, aliás, nem passou pela minha cabeça e nessa parte a autora me pegou de jeitinho, rs.
Em alguns trechos achei a narrativa um pouco repetitiva, mas nada tão destacado a ponto de afetar o ritmo da leitura ou a história. E também tive a impressão de que o final foi levemente corrido.
Mas, independente desses pontos que citei, Pretty Little Killers foi uma boa e refrescante surpresa e valeu muito a leitura!
Narrado em terceira pessoa, com povs alternados entre Korine, Hatcher e alguns outros adicionais, o que a propósito eu adorei, pois aguçou ainda mais a minha curiosidade. Esse livro traz uma história viciante com personagens interessantes, falhos e complexos. Um enredo com uma boa dose de suspense, mistério e uma pitada de romance.
Eu fiquei presa do início ao fim, pensando e tentando desvendar quem estava por trás dos crimes cometidos. A trama em si foi bem construída e mesmo com tantos palpites e teorias, quando tudo começou a ser revelado, fui supreendida, pois nunca imaginaria que seria tal pessoa, aliás, nem passou pela minha cabeça e nessa parte a autora me pegou de jeitinho, rs.
Em alguns trechos achei a narrativa um pouco repetitiva, mas nada tão destacado a ponto de afetar o ritmo da leitura ou a história. E também tive a impressão de que o final foi levemente corrido.
Mas, independente desses pontos que citei, Pretty Little Killers foi uma boa e refrescante surpresa e valeu muito a leitura!
February 11, 2018
What an intense read, filled with serial killers, sex offenders, corrupt officials and more! This story had me on the edge of my seat and turning pages through out the night! I can't wait to see what Ms. Heron has in store for us next!
February 21, 2018
I’m not going to rehash the plot, because you can read the blurb. What I will do is tell you that Rita Herron provided an enjoyable suspense read with Pretty Little Killers. From the start you’re given back story on Korine, which is a mystery in itself. and then we dive right into the story, which is the second mystery. Throughout we are given the POV of Korine, Hatcher, and some others as well. This makes it so you’re not quite sure if you’re getting the killers POV, or just more layers to the story. I think that Herron constructs this story very well, and the way she does it keeps you guessing until the very end. I want to know who killed Korine’s dad, who the vigilante is, and WHY are they really killing these people. Toward the end I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen. Honestly... the killer was not who I expected. If you’re looking for a book where you can solve the mystery from the clues... this probably isn’t it. If you’re looking to be told a good suspenseful story, with a satisfying ending, then one click the book as soon as it is live. As for the love story aspect, it’s more of a lust story. While I think it definitely helps to break up some of the sad and emotional bits in this book, if you’re looked for full fledged romantic suspense this isn’t it. More of a suspense with some naughty bits sprinkled in.
All in all a great read. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys suspense or tv crime procedural type shows. It definitely reads that way in my opinion!
Also... I hope there’s more to come with The Keepers series. Maybe from a certain agoraphobia sufferer, and healing detective?
*ARC provided by NetGalley*
All in all a great read. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys suspense or tv crime procedural type shows. It definitely reads that way in my opinion!
Also... I hope there’s more to come with The Keepers series. Maybe from a certain agoraphobia sufferer, and healing detective?
*ARC provided by NetGalley*
March 9, 2018
This is a police procedural type mystery told in multiple POV. I thought the added POVs of some of the minor characters were unnecessary and I could have done without the excerpts of the blog and its comments.
I was willing to overlook these things though and just enjoy this novel until the end. There was just enough action and mystery to keep my turning the pages. I couldn’t figure out for sure who the Keeper was and was excited for reveal. And then the author chose to have something happen that was so outside the realm of reality yet so pivotal to the plot that it ruined everything for me.
Unfortunately because of this the book as a whole bombed for me.
I was willing to overlook these things though and just enjoy this novel until the end. There was just enough action and mystery to keep my turning the pages. I couldn’t figure out for sure who the Keeper was and was excited for reveal. And then the author chose to have something happen that was so outside the realm of reality yet so pivotal to the plot that it ruined everything for me.
Unfortunately because of this the book as a whole bombed for me.
March 30, 2018
Once again I'm going against my "if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all" theory but...well...this is bad. I mean really, really bad. It feels as though it's written at a third grade level, perhaps by a third grader who's watched a few too many episodes of CSI. But that would be weird because of all the sex. Or actually, the lack of sex given not-so-veiled references to characters' previous romances. The mystery isn't mysterious. The thrill isn't thrilling. And the fundamental lack of coherence and continuity is mind-boggling. Not one but two - TWO - characters suddenly and conveniently have siblings we knew nothing about (and it was kinda important), like if after 20 years of marriage I told my wife I had a brother, or a long-lost kid, or a tail. Something pretty fundamental to my character that couldn't have been missing from my narrative for so long.
There's a sequel. I'm not touching it with a ten foot pole. Or my tail. (I don't have a tail, just for clarity.)
There's a sequel. I'm not touching it with a ten foot pole. Or my tail. (I don't have a tail, just for clarity.)
dnf
December 27, 2018DNF
Interesting suspense, but a sexual tension between MCs while investigating murders + his wife's death...
The night his wife was murdered, he was screwing the female protagonist.
In order to justify him, they said he was separated and almost divorced.
The night his wife tried to reach to him because she was scared, he was with OW/h.
The night his wife was murdered by a hand of a maniac, he was with OW/h.
He even tried to poetically blame the h for seducing him...
What a man. Wow! A gem.
I guess they won't kill him, but would give him a HEA...
Too jealous of a woman, who would get such a great a honourable man, that's why a dnf...
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Interesting suspense, but a sexual tension between MCs while investigating murders + his wife's death...
The night his wife was murdered, he was screwing the female protagonist.
In order to justify him, they said he was separated and almost divorced.
The night his wife tried to reach to him because she was scared, he was with OW/h.
The night his wife was murdered by a hand of a maniac, he was with OW/h.
He even tried to poetically blame the h for seducing him...
What a man. Wow! A gem.
I guess they won't kill him, but would give him a HEA...
Too jealous of a woman, who would get such a great a honourable man, that's why a dnf...
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
September 7, 2021
I could have done without so much romance and sexual tension, but the storyline held my interest enough to try the next book in the series.
My Rating: 3.5 ⭐️’s
Published: February 20th 2018 by Brilliance Audio
Audio: 7 hours, 8 minutes
Recommend: Yes, if you’re in the mood for racy romantic suspense.
#PrettyLittleKillers #AudioBook #RomanticSuspense #Bookstagram #bookaholic #amazonprimeread
My Rating: 3.5 ⭐️’s
Published: February 20th 2018 by Brilliance Audio
Audio: 7 hours, 8 minutes
Recommend: Yes, if you’re in the mood for racy romantic suspense.
#PrettyLittleKillers #AudioBook #RomanticSuspense #Bookstagram #bookaholic #amazonprimeread
February 16, 2018
Pretty Little Killers was a fast-paced suspenseful read with a compelling plot and enjoyable characters.
FBI special agent Hatcher McGee has spent the past few months trying to recover from his wife’s murder and his killing the man responsible. His first case back on the job, he is paired with rookie agent Korine Davenport, a woman he had a one-night stand with while separated from his wife prior to her death. However, Hatcher and Korine don’t have time to deal with their history as the killer they’re after is showing no mercy going after the predators of Savannah. With one body showing up after another, Hatcher and Korine will risk everything to catch a killer seeking revenge which is a motive they both understand all too well.
At five years old Korine witnessed her father’s murder when he was shot and killed while dancing with Korine in his arms. Korine became obsessed with finding out who killed her father and joined law enforcement in the hopes of one day finding his killer. Before joining the FBI, Korine worked as a police officer in the sex crimes unit. Korine relates with victims easily and understands their driving need for justice. Outside of her work, Korine is usually dealing with her family’s issues that developed after her father’s death. Her mother suffers from severe depression and is nearly catatonic whereas her brother has substance abuse problems.
After his wife’s murder, Hatcher took time away from work and spent most of his days drowning his guilt with alcohol. Prior to the start of the book, Hatcher was considered a bit of a legend in the bureau and had a reputation for being able to solve difficult cases. He feels immense guilt over the fact he wasn’t able to get to his wife in time to save her and feels no guilt over killing the man who murdered her. He also feels guilty that he was with Korine when his wife was taken despite the fact they were separated and he’d asked for a divorce. Hatcher now sees his wife’s ghost everywhere he looks and feels she is haunting him for not saving her.
Hatcher and Korine were both immediately attracted to one another but after their one-night stand the two had no contact as Korine was angry after finding out Hatcher wasn’t single as he claimed and Hatcher was dealing with his wife’s murder. After being partnered, both Hatcher and Korine struggle with the attraction they still have for each other. Outside of that, the two work well together on the case and both bring a lot to the table. Despite Korine being a rookie, Hatcher comes to admire her quick thinking and ability to come up with new ideas. Their romance takes a bit of a backseat throughout the case but eventually they give in to their attraction and it’s quite enjoyable to read with some very sexy scenes.
The case of a vigilante killer going after predators was an intriguing one and the author does a great job getting you to sympathize with the killer as the men killed are monsters and it’s easy to see where the killer is coming from. One aspect of the case that I liked was how the author chose to tie the manner of death to each victims’ crimes. I ended up being completely surprised by who the killer turned out to be and my guess was totally wrong. The revelations regarding Korine’s father’s death were quite interesting and definitely came as a surprise.
Pretty Little Killers ended up being a fantastic start to The Keepers series and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
FBI special agent Hatcher McGee has spent the past few months trying to recover from his wife’s murder and his killing the man responsible. His first case back on the job, he is paired with rookie agent Korine Davenport, a woman he had a one-night stand with while separated from his wife prior to her death. However, Hatcher and Korine don’t have time to deal with their history as the killer they’re after is showing no mercy going after the predators of Savannah. With one body showing up after another, Hatcher and Korine will risk everything to catch a killer seeking revenge which is a motive they both understand all too well.
At five years old Korine witnessed her father’s murder when he was shot and killed while dancing with Korine in his arms. Korine became obsessed with finding out who killed her father and joined law enforcement in the hopes of one day finding his killer. Before joining the FBI, Korine worked as a police officer in the sex crimes unit. Korine relates with victims easily and understands their driving need for justice. Outside of her work, Korine is usually dealing with her family’s issues that developed after her father’s death. Her mother suffers from severe depression and is nearly catatonic whereas her brother has substance abuse problems.
After his wife’s murder, Hatcher took time away from work and spent most of his days drowning his guilt with alcohol. Prior to the start of the book, Hatcher was considered a bit of a legend in the bureau and had a reputation for being able to solve difficult cases. He feels immense guilt over the fact he wasn’t able to get to his wife in time to save her and feels no guilt over killing the man who murdered her. He also feels guilty that he was with Korine when his wife was taken despite the fact they were separated and he’d asked for a divorce. Hatcher now sees his wife’s ghost everywhere he looks and feels she is haunting him for not saving her.
Hatcher and Korine were both immediately attracted to one another but after their one-night stand the two had no contact as Korine was angry after finding out Hatcher wasn’t single as he claimed and Hatcher was dealing with his wife’s murder. After being partnered, both Hatcher and Korine struggle with the attraction they still have for each other. Outside of that, the two work well together on the case and both bring a lot to the table. Despite Korine being a rookie, Hatcher comes to admire her quick thinking and ability to come up with new ideas. Their romance takes a bit of a backseat throughout the case but eventually they give in to their attraction and it’s quite enjoyable to read with some very sexy scenes.
The case of a vigilante killer going after predators was an intriguing one and the author does a great job getting you to sympathize with the killer as the men killed are monsters and it’s easy to see where the killer is coming from. One aspect of the case that I liked was how the author chose to tie the manner of death to each victims’ crimes. I ended up being completely surprised by who the killer turned out to be and my guess was totally wrong. The revelations regarding Korine’s father’s death were quite interesting and definitely came as a surprise.
Pretty Little Killers ended up being a fantastic start to The Keepers series and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
July 1, 2018
Not quite what I was expecting, but a good story. Had to speed it up a bit, the narrator was sooo slow!
October 26, 2018
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I felt I needed to create a new shelf just for this book. It would be called ansty, or over-angsty. More was devoted to the angst of the characters than to the story itself. So, the plot:
Korine feels angst and guilt.
Hatcher feels angst and guilt.
Korine and Hatcher are hot for each other.
Korine's mother has a screaming fit.
Korine feels angst and guilt.
Hatcher feels angst and guilt.
Someone gets killed.
Dolls get broken. And perhaps buried. Or turned into night lights.
Rinse and repeat.
After all that angst, the end is a rush and quite disappointing. Perhaps if more time had been spent developing characters and plot instead of hammering into the reader that the characters are full of angst and guilt, the story would have been more interesting. As it was, I had trouble connecting with the characters, found the story mostly improbable and nothing close to suspenseful. In fact, as the story line regarding Korine's father progressed, I started wondering if I'd already read this book because the dolls and their purpose was more than a little familiar from somewhere else.
I was amused at how many times Korine and Hatcher "dodged bullets." No, no - the shooter didn't miss, they dodged bullets. Quite the feat! I wonder if they teach that at Quantico.
By the time I got to the end, I didn't even care about the identity of The Keeper. Good thing, because it was disappointing and, again, improbable.
I felt I needed to create a new shelf just for this book. It would be called ansty, or over-angsty. More was devoted to the angst of the characters than to the story itself. So, the plot:
Korine feels angst and guilt.
Hatcher feels angst and guilt.
Korine and Hatcher are hot for each other.
Korine's mother has a screaming fit.
Korine feels angst and guilt.
Hatcher feels angst and guilt.
Someone gets killed.
Dolls get broken. And perhaps buried. Or turned into night lights.
Rinse and repeat.
After all that angst, the end is a rush and quite disappointing. Perhaps if more time had been spent developing characters and plot instead of hammering into the reader that the characters are full of angst and guilt, the story would have been more interesting. As it was, I had trouble connecting with the characters, found the story mostly improbable and nothing close to suspenseful. In fact, as the story line regarding Korine's father progressed, I started wondering if I'd already read this book because the dolls and their purpose was more than a little familiar from somewhere else.
I was amused at how many times Korine and Hatcher "dodged bullets." No, no - the shooter didn't miss, they dodged bullets. Quite the feat! I wonder if they teach that at Quantico.
By the time I got to the end, I didn't even care about the identity of The Keeper. Good thing, because it was disappointing and, again, improbable.
June 26, 2018
2.5 stars
October 14, 2019
This one really didn't work for me. Although it had potential as a story line, for me, a combination of a lot of issues kept it from seeing its potential.
First off, I was actually confused why the FBI was even on this case from the very beginning. Wouldn't the local police call in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation instead of the FBI? Every time the author referred to Director Bellows I was pulled out of the story. I couldn't imagine the Director of the FBI pairing low level agents in a field office and then asking the lower level agent to spy on the senior agent. I think maybe the Bellows person was really supposed to be an ASAC or the SAC. The set up of what type of agents the H and h were was totally undeveloped. Also why were they waiting for a case? It's like they were hanging around with nothing better to do. From a police/law enforcement procedural aspect this really failed.
All the characters appeared to be guilt driven and riddled with angst. There were a number of undeveloped supporting characters that I couldn't keep track of. I wasn't into the H's twitching c**k or either the inappropriately timed thoughts of lust by both the h and H. It's another romantic suspense novel that doesn't know the difference between lust and romance. The ghost of the H's dead wife was an unneeded element to show the level of guilt that the H was in.
It's pretty obvious how the current cases and a cold case are going to tie back together (sorry the statement is generic but avoiding spoilers). Plus I couldn't buy that the unsub could pass a background check.
I skimmed a lot but was really close to a DNF.
First off, I was actually confused why the FBI was even on this case from the very beginning. Wouldn't the local police call in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation instead of the FBI? Every time the author referred to Director Bellows I was pulled out of the story. I couldn't imagine the Director of the FBI pairing low level agents in a field office and then asking the lower level agent to spy on the senior agent. I think maybe the Bellows person was really supposed to be an ASAC or the SAC. The set up of what type of agents the H and h were was totally undeveloped. Also why were they waiting for a case? It's like they were hanging around with nothing better to do. From a police/law enforcement procedural aspect this really failed.
All the characters appeared to be guilt driven and riddled with angst. There were a number of undeveloped supporting characters that I couldn't keep track of. I wasn't into the H's twitching c**k or either the inappropriately timed thoughts of lust by both the h and H. It's another romantic suspense novel that doesn't know the difference between lust and romance. The ghost of the H's dead wife was an unneeded element to show the level of guilt that the H was in.
It's pretty obvious how the current cases and a cold case are going to tie back together (sorry the statement is generic but avoiding spoilers). Plus I couldn't buy that the unsub could pass a background check.
I skimmed a lot but was really close to a DNF.
July 29, 2018
2.5 stars
November 14, 2018
I do not congratulate myself for being the first one star rating but I can't in good conscience even rattle up a second star. I did not like this book. My first issue was that every single darn character had a grudge and was going to get revenge for something. Korine became an FBI agent because she was going to track down her father's killer. Hatcher killed the man who killed his wife but now needs to seek revenge for the man who almost killed his partner. The Keepers themselves were out to right wrongs. Etc, etc. The lack of character diversity was overkill. Second, the story was supposed to be suspense and while there was some, the jarring interruptions caused by a forced infusion of "romance" ruined the book for me. I quickly got tired of reading happily along only to be interrupted by Hatcher looking at Korine and having his "c0ck twitch." And this happened at the very most inappropriate moments as though there was a page count timer that said it was time to get back to offensive sex talk. I do realize that the publisher focuses on romance but: 1) this wasn't romance. this was gross grunty lust. nothing romantic or loving about it, 2) I have read other books from this publisher that were successful in their attempts to produce a quality suspense book with the inclusion romance. Regarding point 1), this is a short quote: "He struggled to rein in his lust as she jogged down her stairs to meet him.......Except for dark smudges beneath her eyes, she looked fresh and young and...sexy." Okay, she was running down the stairs because they were chasing a killer, not going out on a hot date. And her dark smudges were because she had gotten no sleep for the past several nights. I truly have a difficult time viewing this as being sexy (young or fresh). Needless to say, I won't be reading future books in the series. In fact, I skipped the sex scenes in this book because by then I knew this wasn't love but just plain ol' lust. And that isn't what romance is about.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Montlake Romance in exchange for an honest review.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Montlake Romance in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2018
I'm glad the majority of readers have loved this book. I didn't. Honestly, I'm not sure what the appeal is, but clearly I'm in the minority so far.
Normally, I'd give you pros and cons. But I don't have any pros to offer, so I'll just tell you the stuff that really bugged me. And please know that I don't like bashing books and I don't mean this as a slam to the author. This is only my opinion about this specific book.
The characters: I didn't like them. They're not well developed. There are too many minor characters with unnecessary narrating parts.
The mood: Melodrama on top of angst on top guilt on top of lust.
The plot: It lacks focus. We spend way too much time with the two main characters either lusting after one another or obsessing about their personal demons, pasts, guilt, and attraction to one another. The plot tries for two different storylines that eventually intersect, but it's all over the place.
The romance factor: There isn't any. It's all, 100% lust. Not even erotica. Nothing sensual. Just two people who have porn-worthy fantasies about each other.
The twist at the end: Completely implausible.
And there you have it. Nothing redeemable for me.
Normally, I'd give you pros and cons. But I don't have any pros to offer, so I'll just tell you the stuff that really bugged me. And please know that I don't like bashing books and I don't mean this as a slam to the author. This is only my opinion about this specific book.
The characters: I didn't like them. They're not well developed. There are too many minor characters with unnecessary narrating parts.
The mood: Melodrama on top of angst on top guilt on top of lust.
The plot: It lacks focus. We spend way too much time with the two main characters either lusting after one another or obsessing about their personal demons, pasts, guilt, and attraction to one another. The plot tries for two different storylines that eventually intersect, but it's all over the place.
The romance factor: There isn't any. It's all, 100% lust. Not even erotica. Nothing sensual. Just two people who have porn-worthy fantasies about each other.
The twist at the end: Completely implausible.
And there you have it. Nothing redeemable for me.
April 4, 2018
Pretty decent romantic suspense. Would’ve liked more romance. This is a perfect example of the author telling me they had amazing chemistry, but their actions say otherwise.
January 18, 2018
Jam-packed suspense with multiple plot threads full of serial killers, rapist, child molesters and the victims. The cherry on top of that is there is a vigilante killer brutally killing the sickos..
The two FBI agents leading the search have emotionally scarring pasts both separately and together. They try to keep their pasts out of the investigation but that turns out to be impossible.
FBI Agent Hatcher McGee wife was murdered by serial killers the Skull. He was separated from her at the time, heading for divorce, but the guilt eats at him that he wasn't there in time to save her or his partner Wyatt Camden from getting serious injured.
FBI rookie Korine Davenport witnessed her father's death when she was just 5. Since then she has always wanted to catch the person that killed him. She went into law enforcement eventually applying for the FBI. One of her instructors was Hatcher and one night of passion between them left tons of emotional scars for different reasons for each of them. Since their boss doesn't know about their history he thinks nothing of teaming them together to try and find the vigilante killer which makes for a very uncomfortable partnership between them.
Along with the person issues of Hatcher and Korine and their search for a killer, there is also the group of women who call themselves The Keepers. These are women in predominant professions who want justice for women who were victims of heinous crimes. Question is are they the ones killing or is there someone else exacting revenge. Also in the midst of the madness is the hunt for a serial rapist. His victims also play a part through the book.
There was a lot going on in this book from the first page to the last that concludes with a shocking revelation. I am curious as to where this series will go with future books. Cant wait to see what the next one is about.
The two FBI agents leading the search have emotionally scarring pasts both separately and together. They try to keep their pasts out of the investigation but that turns out to be impossible.
FBI Agent Hatcher McGee wife was murdered by serial killers the Skull. He was separated from her at the time, heading for divorce, but the guilt eats at him that he wasn't there in time to save her or his partner Wyatt Camden from getting serious injured.
FBI rookie Korine Davenport witnessed her father's death when she was just 5. Since then she has always wanted to catch the person that killed him. She went into law enforcement eventually applying for the FBI. One of her instructors was Hatcher and one night of passion between them left tons of emotional scars for different reasons for each of them. Since their boss doesn't know about their history he thinks nothing of teaming them together to try and find the vigilante killer which makes for a very uncomfortable partnership between them.
Along with the person issues of Hatcher and Korine and their search for a killer, there is also the group of women who call themselves The Keepers. These are women in predominant professions who want justice for women who were victims of heinous crimes. Question is are they the ones killing or is there someone else exacting revenge. Also in the midst of the madness is the hunt for a serial rapist. His victims also play a part through the book.
There was a lot going on in this book from the first page to the last that concludes with a shocking revelation. I am curious as to where this series will go with future books. Cant wait to see what the next one is about.
March 12, 2018
Reviewed by Gemini
Pretty Little Killers is the first book in Rita Herron’s The Keepers Series. This was my first time reading this author and I was thoroughly impressed. The book kept me on the edge of my seat. The suspense was chilling. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I found out that I was wrong. I expected it to fit the mold of every other mystery suspense book that I have read but it didn’t.
Pretty Little Killers is about new FBI Agent Korine Davenport and FBI Special Agent Hatcher McGee. Hatcher and Korine had a tryst 6 months ago, which happened to be the same night Hatcher’s wife was being murdered. After hunting down the killer, Hatcher has spent the rest of his time inside a bottle. In his first case back, Hatcher ends up partnering with Korine. Needless to say, tensions are very high; especially considering that they still have feelings for each other. Korine also has the added baggage of having witnessed the murder of her father 25 years ago when she was 5-years-old.
At its core, Pretty Little Killers is about revenge. There is a serial killer who is killing people who basically didn’t get what they deserved. This person is seeking revenge for people who were wronged by the justice system. This is the type of book that makes you question the extent to which you would go to get justice for yourself or someone else. It’s about domestic violence, child abuse, and every other heinous crime that you could think of. There are also some rather gruesome deaths so be warned nothing is candy-coated. The brutality of it all intensifies once certain truths are revealed that shake one of the FBI agents to their core. I can’t go into more detail but I will say that I was beyond shocked. The author has set the bar rather high so I’m very interested to see what she does in the next book. I’m sure that it will be killer.
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.**
Pretty Little Killers is the first book in Rita Herron’s The Keepers Series. This was my first time reading this author and I was thoroughly impressed. The book kept me on the edge of my seat. The suspense was chilling. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I found out that I was wrong. I expected it to fit the mold of every other mystery suspense book that I have read but it didn’t.
Pretty Little Killers is about new FBI Agent Korine Davenport and FBI Special Agent Hatcher McGee. Hatcher and Korine had a tryst 6 months ago, which happened to be the same night Hatcher’s wife was being murdered. After hunting down the killer, Hatcher has spent the rest of his time inside a bottle. In his first case back, Hatcher ends up partnering with Korine. Needless to say, tensions are very high; especially considering that they still have feelings for each other. Korine also has the added baggage of having witnessed the murder of her father 25 years ago when she was 5-years-old.
At its core, Pretty Little Killers is about revenge. There is a serial killer who is killing people who basically didn’t get what they deserved. This person is seeking revenge for people who were wronged by the justice system. This is the type of book that makes you question the extent to which you would go to get justice for yourself or someone else. It’s about domestic violence, child abuse, and every other heinous crime that you could think of. There are also some rather gruesome deaths so be warned nothing is candy-coated. The brutality of it all intensifies once certain truths are revealed that shake one of the FBI agents to their core. I can’t go into more detail but I will say that I was beyond shocked. The author has set the bar rather high so I’m very interested to see what she does in the next book. I’m sure that it will be killer.
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.**
June 24, 2019
Korrine Davenport is back in the Savannah team of FBI agents and has been paired up with Agent Hatcher. The two of them have baggage as the night that Hatcher's wife Felicia was murdered, he was having a one night stand with Korrine. Korrine has been dodging her hometown as it brings back nasty memories of the night her father was killed while they danced together when she was five years old. In Pretty Little Killers, we see a group of criminals who have been let off or mistrials being murdered. Does the FBI team have a vigilante killer on the loose? This leads the agents to Tinsley's cottage where she has been an agoraphobic since she almost died at the hands of a serial killer called The Skull. The Skull's partner was the one who killed Hatcher's wife. Tinsley's therapist advised her to start up a blog as a cathartic journey called Heart and Soul where she can journal her feelings and in a way it has been helping others confess their darkest nightmares. A group called The Keepers have spotted the blog and are getting justice where the "regular " system failed and taking matters into their own hands. What happens when the Keepers get too close? Will Korrine find out the true identity of who killed her father and will she learn the man she loved and admired was nothing like she believed? A warning, some of the murder scenes in the book and the confessions on the blog are quite graphic and emotional.
Find out in this Southern Mystery Crime series "The Keepers" by Rita Herron.
Find out in this Southern Mystery Crime series "The Keepers" by Rita Herron.
February 7, 2018
Rita Herron takes a dark topic sexual abuse of adults and children and create a riveting story that will have readers wanting more.
Each and every character in the story has a purpose that propels the story forward moving leaving in it wake a desire to help those who have been forgotten by the system.
The two main leads McGee and Davenport are both troubled by their past of violence that keeps them fighting for the truth even when it isn't close to what they hope for.
The author creates a thought that will linger with the reader long after they put down the story. What would you do if it was someone you loved? Would you find them and kill them or allow the courts determine there fate?
The story talks about rape, child molesters and serial killers who do not seem themselves as a killer but an angel of mercy.
The romance between the two lead characters is why the story isn't 5 stars. It felt forced, didn't flow with the story and at points would stop the story in its tracks. While I understood the reason for the romance I felt it could have done without the sex scenes. A quick they woke up would have been better with this story line.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher Montlake Romance for the advance copy
#RitaHerron. #PrettyLittleKillers #NetGalley
Each and every character in the story has a purpose that propels the story forward moving leaving in it wake a desire to help those who have been forgotten by the system.
The two main leads McGee and Davenport are both troubled by their past of violence that keeps them fighting for the truth even when it isn't close to what they hope for.
The author creates a thought that will linger with the reader long after they put down the story. What would you do if it was someone you loved? Would you find them and kill them or allow the courts determine there fate?
The story talks about rape, child molesters and serial killers who do not seem themselves as a killer but an angel of mercy.
The romance between the two lead characters is why the story isn't 5 stars. It felt forced, didn't flow with the story and at points would stop the story in its tracks. While I understood the reason for the romance I felt it could have done without the sex scenes. A quick they woke up would have been better with this story line.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher Montlake Romance for the advance copy
#RitaHerron. #PrettyLittleKillers #NetGalley
June 23, 2018
Pretty Little Killers is the first book in the new The Keepers series. I read and loved the Graveyard Falls series, which is why I wanted to read this and I am glad I did.Just like the other books, it is written well and intense. The characters are well developed and fit well in the story. There are sex offenders, serial killers, rapists and child molesters in the story. Never a dull moment in the book. You may not like every character, but they all play a role in the storyline. Great book!
June 10, 2018
3.75 stars
February 27, 2018
Rcvd and ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) I am going to be in the minority and you know what I don't care..I had a couple of issues with this book. First and foremost was that the hero (who wasn't one) and heroine had a one night stand while he was still married, yes he was separated but Korine didn't know that..They don't see each other again for a while, then they get put in job together, and it is supposed to be love that they have for each other but all it is is lust pur
March 29, 2018
I read Slaughter Creek series by Ms. Herron and loved all 4 books AND this could have been good too if it hadn’t been for the constant sexual thoughts and feelings: page 20, “as he drove his cock inside her,” page 25, “how her fingers felt around his cock,” page 72, Korine licked her lips and “his cock twitched.” And then they’d talk about the judge who was beaten to death with a gavel or the pedophile who had his cock cut off and was left to bleed to death AND get eaten by alligators if he hadn’t been found and before Korine shot and killed the alligator, or talk to Tinsley about her being kidnapped and tortured by the Skull, or…or…or… The sexual parts of this book just didn’t belong. It was so bloody and gory and brutal, and then we’d stop a moment and have thoughts of sex?
And, OMG, the guilt! Hatcher is so riddled with it. When his soon-to-be ex-wife called he didn’t take the call because he was having wild monkey sex with Korine and then the ex was murdered well, of course, he blamed himself, even though the ex was always a drama queen. Now he sees the ex everywhere, even in the passenger seat of his car, just above her headstone in the cemetery, and floating around the yard. It’s crazy.
Overall, it was a good murder mystery but it could have been so much better, especially without all the pages and pages of sex. It should have been just a book about the murders, the serial killers, the kidnapper/torturer and a slight touch of romance. I was rolling my eyes at all the thoughts and feelings of pure unadulterated lust, and the sex I skipped completely.
There was explicit sex, however. And the F-bomb was used 14 times.
As to the narration: Andi Arndt is just okay for me. She needs to do better on her men’s voices and learn to put more emotions in her reading. When you’re in a forest and the bad guy is watching the house burn down that he thinks you’re in it and you’re talking about how you’re going to take him down you definitely DON’T talk in a regular voice you whisper. When you don’t whisper you make the scene stupid. IMO.
January 12, 2022
A crime thriller with some slow burn romance between the H/h that ended in a couple of steamy sex scenes. I didn't guess the unsub/s and the main murder mystery was well thought out in general, but I did figure the outcome/perp of one particular plot line way before the end. The whole ghost of the deceased wife part was strange and it seemed a bit weird for this sort of genre.
I wasn't convinced about the romance, it seemed too convenient and fairly clinical and I didn't feel the 'love'. It was quite superficial and didn't engage me at all. This book is 90% back story and the H/h are together the bulk of the book. Perhaps a slow burn and NO previous one night stand for the H/h to each constantly think about, dwell on, remember, wonder about, fantasize over, would have worked better?
The writing was simple in places and very Mills and Boon'ish', (this author does write for M & B) and there were some strange 'reveals' that twisted the plot in places, but they seemed just as convenient as the romance. There were points of view from other characters, and I'm not sure this particular book needed that all those. I understand the author was probably setting up the next book and it's hero and heroine. I skimmed all those strange blog posts and thought the live Facebook plot line was unbelievable.
There's blood, drama and some murder scenes not for the squeamish. I'll be reading the next book in the series though, because I own it and the series can only get better, surely? Plus, I have read some really good thrillers by this author. This book wasn't bad, just not as good as a lot of romance suspense books I've read lately.
I wasn't convinced about the romance, it seemed too convenient and fairly clinical and I didn't feel the 'love'. It was quite superficial and didn't engage me at all. This book is 90% back story and the H/h are together the bulk of the book. Perhaps a slow burn and NO previous one night stand for the H/h to each constantly think about, dwell on, remember, wonder about, fantasize over, would have worked better?
The writing was simple in places and very Mills and Boon'ish', (this author does write for M & B) and there were some strange 'reveals' that twisted the plot in places, but they seemed just as convenient as the romance. There were points of view from other characters, and I'm not sure this particular book needed that all those. I understand the author was probably setting up the next book and it's hero and heroine. I skimmed all those strange blog posts and thought the live Facebook plot line was unbelievable.
There's blood, drama and some murder scenes not for the squeamish. I'll be reading the next book in the series though, because I own it and the series can only get better, surely? Plus, I have read some really good thrillers by this author. This book wasn't bad, just not as good as a lot of romance suspense books I've read lately.
January 23, 2018
There are two reviews I could give this book" one is for the romance part and one is for the mystery/crime part. SInce the romance part was a non-starter for me and I could ignore the fact there really was no romance between the H/H, I'm going to review the mystery/crime plot. THAT WAS EXCELLENT!
Rita Herron gives us two crimes in one story - a past and a present mystery, linking both with the skill of a master storyteller and plotter.
For Agent Korine Davenport, her father's murder is what propelled her to a life at the FBI. Still, unsolved, she works her day job devotedly, slipping in whatever time she can to work on her father's cold case. A one night stand with FBI agent Hatcher MacGee ( conducted off screen before the story starts) is something she tries not to think about. When she's assigned to him as his temporary partner to help with a new case that smacks of vigilanteism, her father's case comes to the forefront.
This story line was excellent. The writing was quick and dynamic and moved the story along nicely. The only bad thing I can say is that the "love" story between Hatcher and Korine rang hollow for me. But that's just me. If you can ignore that part ( or not be bothered by it) then this book is a great read!
5 starts for a really great story! Thanks Netgalley for giving me an arc of this book for an honest opinon
Rita Herron gives us two crimes in one story - a past and a present mystery, linking both with the skill of a master storyteller and plotter.
For Agent Korine Davenport, her father's murder is what propelled her to a life at the FBI. Still, unsolved, she works her day job devotedly, slipping in whatever time she can to work on her father's cold case. A one night stand with FBI agent Hatcher MacGee ( conducted off screen before the story starts) is something she tries not to think about. When she's assigned to him as his temporary partner to help with a new case that smacks of vigilanteism, her father's case comes to the forefront.
This story line was excellent. The writing was quick and dynamic and moved the story along nicely. The only bad thing I can say is that the "love" story between Hatcher and Korine rang hollow for me. But that's just me. If you can ignore that part ( or not be bothered by it) then this book is a great read!
5 starts for a really great story! Thanks Netgalley for giving me an arc of this book for an honest opinon
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