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Circle of Evil #1
Chasing Evil
There's nothing strange about bodies buried in cemeteries - unless they don't belong there. And when six murdered women are discovered in other people's graves, the hunt for a sadistic serial killer begins before he can claim a seventh victim. Agent Cam Prescott of Iowa's Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the search alongside forensic psychologist Sophia Channing, who knows the minds of psychopaths inside and out. And after a brief but passionate affair, she knows Cam almost as well. What she doesn't know is that her high-profile involvement in the case has caught the twisted predator's eye - and sparked his fury. When Sophia suddenly vanishes, Cam and his team shift into overdrive to keep horrific history from repeating itself. But for Sophia, being trapped in the same isolated lair where so much innocent blood has been spilled may get her inside her vicious captor's head - and may offer her the only chance she has to escape an agonizing and lethal fate.
284 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2013
901 people are currently reading
1179 people want to read
About the author
Kylie Brant
82 books638 followersThe mother of five children, Kylie Brant claims she began writing to save her sanity. Plotting stories became her method of escape from the reality of constant ball games, chauffeuring kids, and refereeing "minor" disagreements between her perfect offspring.
In 1992 she was elated to get a call from Silhouette offering to buy her second novel. Home with laryngitis at the time, she still managed to croak out agreement, and her career was born. A few months later she went on to sell Rancher's Choice, the first manuscript she’d written.
Kylie is married to her high school sweetheart, and they make their home in Iowa. She insists that all her heroes are based on her husband of 23 years because he possesses that most heroic of make qualities — ironing skills. Those abilities come in handy, as she juggles a full time teaching job with writing and a family.
Doing things the easy way has never held much appeal for this multi award-winning author. She graduated with high honors from the University of Northern Iowa. A graduation photo shows her in cap and gown holding her two sons, one aged 16 months and the other three weeks. She went on to obtain a teaching job working with learning-disabled children while completing her master’s degree at night and during summers.
"There was a time in my life when I could imagine myself as a life-long student," she recalls. "I actually toyed with the idea of pursuing a doctorate. But instead, my life took a spin and I ended up writing romances. I’ve never regretted it!" Her family has since been completed by the birth of another son and a set of twins, a boy and a girl.
Kylie’s books are regularly featured on bestseller lists such as Waldenbooks and B. Dalton Bookseller. With over a million copies of books in print, her novels have been distributed in 20 countries and released in seven languages.
Family and friends are the main focus of Kylie’s life. When she isn’t writing or teaching, she enjoys reading and flower gardening. She loves traveling, preferring beach, ocean, and room service.
In 1992 she was elated to get a call from Silhouette offering to buy her second novel. Home with laryngitis at the time, she still managed to croak out agreement, and her career was born. A few months later she went on to sell Rancher's Choice, the first manuscript she’d written.
Kylie is married to her high school sweetheart, and they make their home in Iowa. She insists that all her heroes are based on her husband of 23 years because he possesses that most heroic of make qualities — ironing skills. Those abilities come in handy, as she juggles a full time teaching job with writing and a family.
Doing things the easy way has never held much appeal for this multi award-winning author. She graduated with high honors from the University of Northern Iowa. A graduation photo shows her in cap and gown holding her two sons, one aged 16 months and the other three weeks. She went on to obtain a teaching job working with learning-disabled children while completing her master’s degree at night and during summers.
"There was a time in my life when I could imagine myself as a life-long student," she recalls. "I actually toyed with the idea of pursuing a doctorate. But instead, my life took a spin and I ended up writing romances. I’ve never regretted it!" Her family has since been completed by the birth of another son and a set of twins, a boy and a girl.
Kylie’s books are regularly featured on bestseller lists such as Waldenbooks and B. Dalton Bookseller. With over a million copies of books in print, her novels have been distributed in 20 countries and released in seven languages.
Family and friends are the main focus of Kylie’s life. When she isn’t writing or teaching, she enjoys reading and flower gardening. She loves traveling, preferring beach, ocean, and room service.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
December 20, 2018
2.5 Apathetic Stars
I should be pissed because the ending leaves you hanging.
I should be dying to find out where the author will take us next.
I should one-click the next book right away.
I should, but I won't.
Because right now I feel nothing. That's how engrossed in the story I was.
Average writing, okay characters and boring plot are not enough for me to continue with the series.
Don't get me wrong, the book is not so bad. What it lacks, however, is intensity, passion, the thrill, that addictive adrenaline rush that sets your pulse racing and makes you crave for more.
I should be pissed because the ending leaves you hanging.
I should be dying to find out where the author will take us next.
I should one-click the next book right away.
I should, but I won't.
Because right now I feel nothing. That's how engrossed in the story I was.
Average writing, okay characters and boring plot are not enough for me to continue with the series.
Don't get me wrong, the book is not so bad. What it lacks, however, is intensity, passion, the thrill, that addictive adrenaline rush that sets your pulse racing and makes you crave for more.
August 15, 2015
I really enjoyed this one. Cam and Sophia were great characters. Opposites. She was champagne, he was beer. Chalk and Cheese!
I read some review that said that "this book has no romance." I didn't think that. Cam and Sophia had a "relationship" in the past but it was over during the time frame of this book. But at the beginning of each chapter, there is a flashback to their time together and, yes, I found some of the times romantic.
Some of the language (of the bad guy's actions) might be a bit grizzly and descriptive but not so much that I couldn't handle it.
It ends on a kind of a cliffhanger ... we are left wondering and wanting to find out what happens next.
Renowned forensic profiler Dr. Sophia Channing has analyzed the most notorious psychopaths in the country. So she's a natural to join Iowa's DCI task force to hunt the vicious sadist who has tortured and killed six women. Her insight into the killer's mind is just what's needed to stop him before he strikes again.
DCI Agent Cam Prescott has had tough cases before. But trailing this serial killer will require all his focus. He's haunted by the discovery of the six bodies buried in shallow graves in rural Iowa—and determined that there won't be a seventh. But when the killer sets his sights on Sophia, Cam fears he won't be in time to stop a madman from numbering yet another victim…
I read some review that said that "this book has no romance." I didn't think that. Cam and Sophia had a "relationship" in the past but it was over during the time frame of this book. But at the beginning of each chapter, there is a flashback to their time together and, yes, I found some of the times romantic.
Heat. It flared in his gaze, frankly carnal.
Tinder and spark.
Unbelievably combustible.
And a smart man didn't play around with fire.
His loss of control had heat, quick stabbing spears of it, arrowing down her spine. Her world narrowed until there was only Cam and her. Bodies twisting and straining as they sped through the darkness on a race for release.
Some of the language (of the bad guy's actions) might be a bit grizzly and descriptive but not so much that I couldn't handle it.
She was immersed in the nightmare.
It ends on a kind of a cliffhanger ... we are left wondering and wanting to find out what happens next.
August 15, 2015
Holy hell.. I'm exhausted. I can barely move my eyelids at this point. This one was INTENSE. I can't even manage a review yet. And it's not over yet... must dive into book two. This series just might kill me. Review to follow... if I recover.
September 22, 2015
Unlike a lot of other reviewers on Goodreads, I thought that this book had too much romance. Clearly, those that read Kylie Brant are used to the focus being on the relationship between the two main characters, but for me, I prefer this element to take up very little space, if it is present at all. Each chapter begins with a flashback to the interaction between the two characters, largely sexual, and their relationship framed every action. For me, the book would have been much better without the addition of these sections at all as they took away for the current sequence of events and interrupted the build up of suspense.
However, i think it was my failure in understanding the type of novel Brant writes that is what led me to not really enjoy it, not the book itself. The plot was good and if you like crime novels where a romantic relationship is a significant factor, definitely give this a go.
Many thanks to Kylie Brant, Netgalley, and Thomas & Mercer for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
However, i think it was my failure in understanding the type of novel Brant writes that is what led me to not really enjoy it, not the book itself. The plot was good and if you like crime novels where a romantic relationship is a significant factor, definitely give this a go.
Many thanks to Kylie Brant, Netgalley, and Thomas & Mercer for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2013
I feel I need to warn readers before they start this book, this book has no romance instead at the beginning of each chapter we read snippets of the hero/heroine's 12 day affair. The hero is a DCI agent and something happened when he was undercover with a federal task-force, but we never find out. The heroine is a profiler,who is divorced. What age is the heroine etc is never revealed instead the book focuses on the psychopath rapist and worst of all we are forced to read his sick POV. The book ends on a cliffhanger with the other crime partner still not revealed and the hero/heroine having no romantic/sexual interaction. I am not sure I will try the next one.
September 15, 2015
Dr. Sophia Channing is a forensic profiler on loan to Iowa's DCI task force. Working alongside Agent Cam Prescott, they are looking for a depraved sexual sadist who has already killed six women.
Dr. Channing does her job and issues a profile based on the knowledge they have. Unfortunately the killer does not agree with the profile and he sets his eyes on her ..to make her see the error of her ways.
When Sophia suddenly vanishes, Cam and his team shift into overdrive to keep her from being the latest victim.
The story goes back and forth between present time and some time previous when Sophia and Cam have a brief passionate affair.
This is a Romantic Suspense.. about a 50/50 mix. The intimate moments are graphic, but very well done. The characters both come across as very believable.
Since this is the first book in a series of three, there is a cliffhanger. Most of this story stops with a satisfactory ending.. with enough to keep you coming back for Book 2 ... TOUCHING EVIL.
My thanks to NetGalley / Thomas & Mercer for furnishing a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Dr. Channing does her job and issues a profile based on the knowledge they have. Unfortunately the killer does not agree with the profile and he sets his eyes on her ..to make her see the error of her ways.
When Sophia suddenly vanishes, Cam and his team shift into overdrive to keep her from being the latest victim.
The story goes back and forth between present time and some time previous when Sophia and Cam have a brief passionate affair.
This is a Romantic Suspense.. about a 50/50 mix. The intimate moments are graphic, but very well done. The characters both come across as very believable.
Since this is the first book in a series of three, there is a cliffhanger. Most of this story stops with a satisfactory ending.. with enough to keep you coming back for Book 2 ... TOUCHING EVIL.
My thanks to NetGalley / Thomas & Mercer for furnishing a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
December 29, 2015
This was my first exploration into the fiction of Kylie Brant and I really enjoyed it. I am keen to read the second book following on from this one now. I was a bit sceptical on how I would go as some reviewers had felt that there was too much relationship/romance intertwined with crime and serial killing going on but honestly, I found it to be quite balanced and well done.
I thought the characters were written well in this novel and I could happily have more of them. The plot was fast paced enough to hold my interest whilst intertwining some interesting human elements and relationship angles along the way.
There’s nothing strange about bodies buried in cemeteries—unless they don’t belong there. And when six murdered women are discovered in other people’s graves, the hunt for a sadistic serial killer begins before he can claim a seventh victim.
Agent Cam Prescott of Iowa’s Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the search alongside forensic psychologist Sophia Channing, who knows the minds of psychopaths inside and out. And after a brief but passionate affair, she knows Cam almost as well. What she doesn’t know is that her high-profile involvement in the case has caught the twisted predator’s eye—and sparked his fury.
A serial killer has his sights on Sophia Channing, little does she know. It's always interesting when we get to see things from the killer's perspective and get into the head (not always fun however!), so I liked the fact that it was written from different points of view, it made the read really effective.
I didn't find the book overly graphic or violent as are many in this category which for me is quite tame but I think that aspect will appeal to a wider audience than just us freaks that like our serial killers really, really nasty. All up, this was an easy enjoyable read that earned itself 4 stars from me.
Many thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for a fair, honest and professional review.
For more of my reviews, books to win and author features: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
I thought the characters were written well in this novel and I could happily have more of them. The plot was fast paced enough to hold my interest whilst intertwining some interesting human elements and relationship angles along the way.
There’s nothing strange about bodies buried in cemeteries—unless they don’t belong there. And when six murdered women are discovered in other people’s graves, the hunt for a sadistic serial killer begins before he can claim a seventh victim.
Agent Cam Prescott of Iowa’s Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the search alongside forensic psychologist Sophia Channing, who knows the minds of psychopaths inside and out. And after a brief but passionate affair, she knows Cam almost as well. What she doesn’t know is that her high-profile involvement in the case has caught the twisted predator’s eye—and sparked his fury.
A serial killer has his sights on Sophia Channing, little does she know. It's always interesting when we get to see things from the killer's perspective and get into the head (not always fun however!), so I liked the fact that it was written from different points of view, it made the read really effective.
I didn't find the book overly graphic or violent as are many in this category which for me is quite tame but I think that aspect will appeal to a wider audience than just us freaks that like our serial killers really, really nasty. All up, this was an easy enjoyable read that earned itself 4 stars from me.
Many thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for a fair, honest and professional review.
For more of my reviews, books to win and author features: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
February 3, 2016
The suspense is top-notch and knuckle-biting at certain points of the book. I screamed no, when I realized the book ended in a cliffhanger as the next book in the series picks up where this one leaves off. What didn't wow me, was the backfill scenes of Cam and Sophie's romance. The only reason I say that, was it was harder for me to feel the romance between the two. On the other hand I get why KB did it this way. I did feel the emotion that they both had for on another once a certain event took place. If romantic suspense is your thing (very light on romance at this point) then KB's latest may just be your thing.
October 15, 2015
I stopped doing things I should have done yesterday to finish Chasing Evil. This story gripped me from the first page. It's part one of a trilogy, and I am now looking forward to reading Touching Evil.
In Chasing Evil we are introduced to forensic psychologist Sophia Channing who is asked to assist in the search for a serial killer who has been abducting women. The investigation is lead by Cam Prescott of the Iowa DCI. Sophia and Cam had a short-lived, ardent affair which we learn about in flashbacks. Neither of them is quite over it.
Chasing Evil has a very good mix of suspense, police investigation and sizzling romance. The characters are full of depth, and I liked Sophia as well as Cam very much. They felt authentic. The suspense side of the book is also really well done. It was quite gruesome in parts with strong language and graphic sexual scenes. The hunt for the serial killer was intense and thrilling. Not everything is resolved by the end of book 1 (obviously, as it's a trilogy), but as cliff hangers go this wasn't bad. It definitely left me wanting to read more about Sophia and Cam and the sadists they are hunting.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Highly recommended for romantic suspense fans!
In Chasing Evil we are introduced to forensic psychologist Sophia Channing who is asked to assist in the search for a serial killer who has been abducting women. The investigation is lead by Cam Prescott of the Iowa DCI. Sophia and Cam had a short-lived, ardent affair which we learn about in flashbacks. Neither of them is quite over it.
Chasing Evil has a very good mix of suspense, police investigation and sizzling romance. The characters are full of depth, and I liked Sophia as well as Cam very much. They felt authentic. The suspense side of the book is also really well done. It was quite gruesome in parts with strong language and graphic sexual scenes. The hunt for the serial killer was intense and thrilling. Not everything is resolved by the end of book 1 (obviously, as it's a trilogy), but as cliff hangers go this wasn't bad. It definitely left me wanting to read more about Sophia and Cam and the sadists they are hunting.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Highly recommended for romantic suspense fans!
May 3, 2018
Good Character Development
SPOILER: While I really liked the storyline and character development, I disliked how similar it was to another book I had just read by Kylie Brant. A female character, her hero, a psychopath, a barn for keeping kidnapped victims, and the victims being numbered. Just way too similar.
SPOILER: While I really liked the storyline and character development, I disliked how similar it was to another book I had just read by Kylie Brant. A female character, her hero, a psychopath, a barn for keeping kidnapped victims, and the victims being numbered. Just way too similar.
July 11, 2024
Great premise
I love this author and this book was,very intriguing but I did not like the history their 2 week relationship being inserted every other chapter. It broke up the mystery and it just didn't feel right. I would have liked it first maybe but I don't know. I am not a writer. The details of the case were pretty disgusting so maybe it was meant to break that up. I really Loved Cam but Sophie wasn't my favorite at first. She did save herself so that was,awesome but we'll see what happens in the next one because she might have saved herself once but is there another one out there lurking in the dark?
I love this author and this book was,very intriguing but I did not like the history their 2 week relationship being inserted every other chapter. It broke up the mystery and it just didn't feel right. I would have liked it first maybe but I don't know. I am not a writer. The details of the case were pretty disgusting so maybe it was meant to break that up. I really Loved Cam but Sophie wasn't my favorite at first. She did save herself so that was,awesome but we'll see what happens in the next one because she might have saved herself once but is there another one out there lurking in the dark?
August 11, 2016
Awesome CLIFFHANGER and even more awesome narrration..
I love every character in this book! Because of the narrator!
The killer was just sick enough, making him so easy to hate, and I certainly did.
One thing I didn’t understand, or like, was how often Cam and Sophia were in bed together, every chapter or two, when in actuality they had broken up months ago. Why did we keep jumping into the past? I didn’t really get that. It really didn’t hurt the story but it did seem extremely unnecessary.
Oh, I did love, love, love Cam and Sophia. They tried so hard to be business-like but couldn’t keep their minds focused all the time. You could tell they had fallen in love during the weeks they were together but neither of them thought it would work so they went their separate ways. Although, it was actually Sophia that called it quits.
Their chemistry was so great, throughout the story. And there were some exciting bedroom scenes, too. There was swearing and the F-bomb was released 27 times.
The mystery and murder and mayhem this guy caused was a thrilling and exciting storyline. I’ve never read this author before but she’s awesome. Even though this was a CLIFFHANGER that I wasn’t aware of, because I despise cliffhangers, I’ve already got the other 2 books in the series and I can’t wait to get started on them.
As to the narrator: When I can just listen to a book without saying to myself “geez, this narrator sucks,” then that’s a good narrator. And when she reads with such terrific emotions, then it’s really good. And when everyone has their own voice, then it’s just excellent. When the bad guy had thoughts or was talking to himself Kate Zane was just awesome. He sounded like a madman was supposed to, and when he talked to Sophie it was just so horrible and thrilling all at once. I enjoyed every second of this book, thanks to the narrator. When narration can make me buy 2 more books of a cliffhanger series that really says a lot about the author.
I love every character in this book! Because of the narrator!
The killer was just sick enough, making him so easy to hate, and I certainly did.
One thing I didn’t understand, or like, was how often Cam and Sophia were in bed together, every chapter or two, when in actuality they had broken up months ago. Why did we keep jumping into the past? I didn’t really get that. It really didn’t hurt the story but it did seem extremely unnecessary.
Oh, I did love, love, love Cam and Sophia. They tried so hard to be business-like but couldn’t keep their minds focused all the time. You could tell they had fallen in love during the weeks they were together but neither of them thought it would work so they went their separate ways. Although, it was actually Sophia that called it quits.
Their chemistry was so great, throughout the story. And there were some exciting bedroom scenes, too. There was swearing and the F-bomb was released 27 times.
The mystery and murder and mayhem this guy caused was a thrilling and exciting storyline. I’ve never read this author before but she’s awesome. Even though this was a CLIFFHANGER that I wasn’t aware of, because I despise cliffhangers, I’ve already got the other 2 books in the series and I can’t wait to get started on them.
As to the narrator: When I can just listen to a book without saying to myself “geez, this narrator sucks,” then that’s a good narrator. And when she reads with such terrific emotions, then it’s really good. And when everyone has their own voice, then it’s just excellent. When the bad guy had thoughts or was talking to himself Kate Zane was just awesome. He sounded like a madman was supposed to, and when he talked to Sophie it was just so horrible and thrilling all at once. I enjoyed every second of this book, thanks to the narrator. When narration can make me buy 2 more books of a cliffhanger series that really says a lot about the author.
September 23, 2015
Dr. Sophia Channing is a forensic profiler who works closely with Agent Cam Prescott. Some might say a little too closely, they had a brief affair which we learn about in snippets during flashbacks. These flashbacks start every chapter, which breaks up the almost non-stop action and gives the reader a little breathing room to process the horror of the rest of the story. They also give us some insight into why Prescott is hesitant and a little awkward about working with Channing on what may be the biggest case of his career.
A twisted, sadistic maniac is hunting women and leaving their remains in other people's graves. The first body is discovered by accident but it doesn't take long to discover there are more. The hunt is on, and the team is using every means at their disposal to figure out who the killer is before he strikes again. But when Channing's profile is aired on the news their plans go badly arwy Now they have to find him before one of their own ends up in a shared grave.
I thought the romantic elements lent some spice to the story, and helped to explain the tension between them. Cam has secrets from time spent on a federal task force, and while we don't learn what they are, those secrets get between Cam and Sophie and doom their relationship from the start. Yet each is still powerfully attracted to the other. It makes the story more human, most serial killer psychological thrillers focus solely on the hunt. This one gives insight into what makes the good guys tick and left me at least wanting to know if they ever surmount their personal obstacles and get back together. Since it's a trilogy, hopefully more relationship will unfold in book two, while they hunt down the next killer.
A twisted, sadistic maniac is hunting women and leaving their remains in other people's graves. The first body is discovered by accident but it doesn't take long to discover there are more. The hunt is on, and the team is using every means at their disposal to figure out who the killer is before he strikes again. But when Channing's profile is aired on the news their plans go badly arwy Now they have to find him before one of their own ends up in a shared grave.
I thought the romantic elements lent some spice to the story, and helped to explain the tension between them. Cam has secrets from time spent on a federal task force, and while we don't learn what they are, those secrets get between Cam and Sophie and doom their relationship from the start. Yet each is still powerfully attracted to the other. It makes the story more human, most serial killer psychological thrillers focus solely on the hunt. This one gives insight into what makes the good guys tick and left me at least wanting to know if they ever surmount their personal obstacles and get back together. Since it's a trilogy, hopefully more relationship will unfold in book two, while they hunt down the next killer.
February 15, 2024
I recently read a book by Kylie Brant called Pretty Girls Dancing and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I checked on Amazon to find another book by her. This one was free with Prime Reads so I decided to give it a try.
Pretty Girls Dancing focused primarily on the family and victims of a stranger abduction of several teenage girls, specifically two girls, one abducted seven years prior to the events of the novel and one abducted at the beginning of the story. There are multiple narrators, one of which is an FBI agent, but the focus is on what happens with the families and the victims.
Chasing Evil is a straight-up police procedural. It is the first book of a trilogy but this book does not end on a major cliffhanger (although there are loose ends). If you like police procedurals, Chasing Evil is a good one and I would recommend it.
Pretty Girls Dancing focused primarily on the family and victims of a stranger abduction of several teenage girls, specifically two girls, one abducted seven years prior to the events of the novel and one abducted at the beginning of the story. There are multiple narrators, one of which is an FBI agent, but the focus is on what happens with the families and the victims.
Chasing Evil is a straight-up police procedural. It is the first book of a trilogy but this book does not end on a major cliffhanger (although there are loose ends). If you like police procedurals, Chasing Evil is a good one and I would recommend it.
October 21, 2015
For the full review, visit
Fangirls Read It First
First of all, anyone who has experienced sexual trauma may want to avoid this book. It wasn’t as graphic as some books and shows, but it gave enough detail to warrant caution. The story was paced very well. It moved quickly with lots of action and changed perspective often enough to keep the reader’s attention. While some of the plot points were predictable, there were a few twists that kept me guessing and intrigued.
The male lead, Agent Cam Prescott, came across as stereotypically “macho” and sexist. He has a difficult time reconciling the cool and “regal” doctor with her job of interviewing and profiling some of the worst, most gruesome criminals out there. He even compared her to a fairy princess at one point. I very much enjoyed Sophia. She was intelligent, witty, resourceful, and defiantly chose her own path. She was not a damsel-in-distress; she was a complex woman who didn't depend on others to do what needed to be done.
Fangirls Read It First
First of all, anyone who has experienced sexual trauma may want to avoid this book. It wasn’t as graphic as some books and shows, but it gave enough detail to warrant caution. The story was paced very well. It moved quickly with lots of action and changed perspective often enough to keep the reader’s attention. While some of the plot points were predictable, there were a few twists that kept me guessing and intrigued.
The male lead, Agent Cam Prescott, came across as stereotypically “macho” and sexist. He has a difficult time reconciling the cool and “regal” doctor with her job of interviewing and profiling some of the worst, most gruesome criminals out there. He even compared her to a fairy princess at one point. I very much enjoyed Sophia. She was intelligent, witty, resourceful, and defiantly chose her own path. She was not a damsel-in-distress; she was a complex woman who didn't depend on others to do what needed to be done.
November 3, 2015
This is a story that has no romance in the story but instead is a suspense/psychological thriller. We do get a glimmer of the hero/heroine’s brief affair . Dr. Sophia Channing is a forensic profiler on loan to Iowa's DCI task force & Agent Cam Prescott is an agent who is working on a task force for a nasty, sick depraved sexual sadist who has already made multiple kills. Dr. Channing does her job and issues a profile based on the knowledge they have. Well, the killer doesn’t agree with her assessment and kidnaps her. Cam and his team shift into overdrive to keep her from being the latest victim. That is when we see as the story goes back and forth that between present time and some time in the past that Sophia and Cam had a brief passionate affair and there may be some lingering feelings. The sex is intense but well done. This is the first book in the series and the book ends on a cliffhanger.
My Rating: 4.5 stars ****
***A gifted copy was provided by the publisher for my honest review****
My Rating: 4.5 stars ****
***A gifted copy was provided by the publisher for my honest review****
July 16, 2013
I did enjoy Kylie Brant's Mindhunters Series. Hope she re-visits those Characters at some point. I did find the language a little graphic in places in this book. I prefer more of an insinuation to evil in my books. I sure hope there is a repercussion pertaining to the Maria character releasing Sophia's name to the public. Hope the next books shows a little less conflict and superiority from Sophia.
February 5, 2015
I rate this 5 stars due to the excellent storyline and the way the author kept up the Suspense. I agree the romance part of Romantic Suspense could have been "more"; however, it is there and it is well written. The flashbacks are the only real romance, and I feel as if we could have had some current interaction. I understand why she wrote it as she did as the story unfolds. Hopefully, in this second book, there will be an "evolving" in the relationship. :) Great writing, and very suspenseful!
July 7, 2013
I'm a big fan of Kylie Brant's Mindhunters series (read them, if you haven't already!) I jumped at the chance to read this new series, and she didn't disappoint. Suspense, mystery and romance. Brant has it all. Of course, I wanted to throw my Kindle at her when I got to the end! I need the next book, please!!
November 30, 2015
Read it in one.
Brilliant, can't wait to read the next book. Read this in one afternoon, I couldn't put it down. It's the first Kylie Brant book I have read but it won't be the last.
Brilliant, can't wait to read the next book. Read this in one afternoon, I couldn't put it down. It's the first Kylie Brant book I have read but it won't be the last.
January 17, 2016
Was difficult to read.
Many murders and violence. Not under the chapter headings, but inside the chapters from one paragraph to next it was going back and forth. Stopping the flow of story, also apparently author like to write romance novels.
Many murders and violence. Not under the chapter headings, but inside the chapters from one paragraph to next it was going back and forth. Stopping the flow of story, also apparently author like to write romance novels.
December 4, 2015
Perfect blend of romance and serial killer suspense. Characters are well written and fleshed out enough to engage the reader in the story and the characters. Always a surprise twist included.
October 24, 2013
I could not get into this book at all.
June 9, 2020
Thriller, Romance
“Backdropped against clumps of rich black Iowa topsoil was an unmistakably human hand.”
Women’s murdered bodies are discovered concealed in the graves of the recently buried throughout Iowa. DCI investigator Cam Prescott is assigned lead on the case and they have called in several specialists to consult on it. One of those specialists is Forensic Psychologist Dr. Sophia Channing, brought in to assist by providing a profile on the suspect.
“She’d spent the better part of graduate school interning with Louis Frein, renowned profiler at Quantico’s Behavioral Science Unit. In the last decade and a half, she’d interviewed the most notorious serial killers in captivity. There was more, much more to the woman than her appearance.”
She has worked with Cam before on cases but they also have recently ended a torrid 14 day affair. Sophie claims she broke it off due to their professional relationship but deep down her feelings were scaring her. Feeling wholly unlike herself and out of control had her running for the hills.
With Dr. Channing’s profile and the identity of a few of the victims, they are able to nail down the suspect’s MO. He is targeting single, wealthy women with children. He follows them until the perfect moment when he snatches them, makes them go to a bank and withdraw large sums of money by using threats against their children for control. Over the course of the next several weeks, unspeakable things are done to them, and then they are discarded in someone else’s grave to be forgotten. Until now. Once they know his workings, they find he has just struck again. Can they find him in time to save his newest victim?
A decision is made by the top brass to give the media pieces of Dr. Channing’s profile, they gotta feed the machine. What they don’t realize, is this will have devastating consequences for Sophie. When they killer hears what they are saying about him, he is furious and the one to blame is Dr. Channing. There is only one thing for him to do, he must make her pay.
“She couldn’t seem to move, and she couldn’t blame her immobility on whatever drug he’d injected her with. Fear kept her limbs leaden. Her mind frozen. But a couple of thoughts were clear enough. The man they’d been seeking so diligently had found her. And he didn’t look at all like the stranger depicted in the forensic sketch Jenna had drawn.”
“Despite the way their relationship had ended, she was certain Cam would stop at nothing to find her. She wouldn’t wait for that rescue. Couldn’t count on it. But it warmed something inside her to be certain of his efforts on her behalf.”
Cam knows his time is limited, based on their knowledge of the killer. He must find Sophie before it’s too late.
This was a great book! The perfect combination of thriller and romance. I really enjoyed how the beginning of every chapter was a little piece of the relationship between Cam and Sophie. It was just enough that it did not take away from the hunt for a serial killer. This was an easy read that had me hooked from the prologue to the last chapter, which leaves you hanging. I will definitely be getting book 2 to keep it going. I must have answers! This was my first Kylie Brant book and I was not disappointed, she has certainly been added to my author watch list.
“Backdropped against clumps of rich black Iowa topsoil was an unmistakably human hand.”
Women’s murdered bodies are discovered concealed in the graves of the recently buried throughout Iowa. DCI investigator Cam Prescott is assigned lead on the case and they have called in several specialists to consult on it. One of those specialists is Forensic Psychologist Dr. Sophia Channing, brought in to assist by providing a profile on the suspect.
“She’d spent the better part of graduate school interning with Louis Frein, renowned profiler at Quantico’s Behavioral Science Unit. In the last decade and a half, she’d interviewed the most notorious serial killers in captivity. There was more, much more to the woman than her appearance.”
She has worked with Cam before on cases but they also have recently ended a torrid 14 day affair. Sophie claims she broke it off due to their professional relationship but deep down her feelings were scaring her. Feeling wholly unlike herself and out of control had her running for the hills.
With Dr. Channing’s profile and the identity of a few of the victims, they are able to nail down the suspect’s MO. He is targeting single, wealthy women with children. He follows them until the perfect moment when he snatches them, makes them go to a bank and withdraw large sums of money by using threats against their children for control. Over the course of the next several weeks, unspeakable things are done to them, and then they are discarded in someone else’s grave to be forgotten. Until now. Once they know his workings, they find he has just struck again. Can they find him in time to save his newest victim?
A decision is made by the top brass to give the media pieces of Dr. Channing’s profile, they gotta feed the machine. What they don’t realize, is this will have devastating consequences for Sophie. When they killer hears what they are saying about him, he is furious and the one to blame is Dr. Channing. There is only one thing for him to do, he must make her pay.
“She couldn’t seem to move, and she couldn’t blame her immobility on whatever drug he’d injected her with. Fear kept her limbs leaden. Her mind frozen. But a couple of thoughts were clear enough. The man they’d been seeking so diligently had found her. And he didn’t look at all like the stranger depicted in the forensic sketch Jenna had drawn.”
“Despite the way their relationship had ended, she was certain Cam would stop at nothing to find her. She wouldn’t wait for that rescue. Couldn’t count on it. But it warmed something inside her to be certain of his efforts on her behalf.”
Cam knows his time is limited, based on their knowledge of the killer. He must find Sophie before it’s too late.
This was a great book! The perfect combination of thriller and romance. I really enjoyed how the beginning of every chapter was a little piece of the relationship between Cam and Sophie. It was just enough that it did not take away from the hunt for a serial killer. This was an easy read that had me hooked from the prologue to the last chapter, which leaves you hanging. I will definitely be getting book 2 to keep it going. I must have answers! This was my first Kylie Brant book and I was not disappointed, she has certainly been added to my author watch list.
October 12, 2020
Dark and unimaginable
A woman's darkest fear outside of someone harming their children. The idea that men like these exist. One with so little regard for women that kidnapping, raping, beating, the killing them is a sport for them.
In this chilling story, Can Prescott leads a team to discover the identity of the monster responsible for the abuse and murder of at least six women. Working alone or as a team, when six bodies are discovered with various signs of sexual and physical abuse, the hunt for the ones responsible begins in the hopes to avoid another victim being snatched. With the help of Sophia, Cam hopes to catch him or them before another woman is abducted. Unfortunately, when another woman goes missing, Sophia's profile of the killer is released to the press and the killer decides to punish her.
Now in the hands of a sadistic person, she has to find a way to survive while hoping Cam finds a way to rescue them.
Reading just how insignificant Sophie is in comparison to her abductor physically and the abuse he heaps upon the other woman was hard. All I could think about was if Cam didn't kill him, I hoped someone would. Definitely a nail biter and the end was surprising but not overly shocking.
A woman's darkest fear outside of someone harming their children. The idea that men like these exist. One with so little regard for women that kidnapping, raping, beating, the killing them is a sport for them.
In this chilling story, Can Prescott leads a team to discover the identity of the monster responsible for the abuse and murder of at least six women. Working alone or as a team, when six bodies are discovered with various signs of sexual and physical abuse, the hunt for the ones responsible begins in the hopes to avoid another victim being snatched. With the help of Sophia, Cam hopes to catch him or them before another woman is abducted. Unfortunately, when another woman goes missing, Sophia's profile of the killer is released to the press and the killer decides to punish her.
Now in the hands of a sadistic person, she has to find a way to survive while hoping Cam finds a way to rescue them.
Reading just how insignificant Sophie is in comparison to her abductor physically and the abuse he heaps upon the other woman was hard. All I could think about was if Cam didn't kill him, I hoped someone would. Definitely a nail biter and the end was surprising but not overly shocking.
July 10, 2018
This is a review of the audio edition: Great start to a series which I will continue reading/listening to because of the excellent character development. The author opens the story getting to know the players during the investigation into a series of murders with a focus on the romantic relationship between an shrink and a detective. The crime is the kidnapping of the shrink by the serial killer because her profile of him was released to the public and he wants to exact revenge. All the moving parts then focus on rescue and capture of this monster with flashbacks by the lovers to events during their brief but meaningful 12 day relationship. Well done and there is a twist at the end that sets up #2 in the series quite nicely. Great job! The only complaint I have goes for most audio books and there production... when shifting scenes, either have a greater pause or some other signal of the shift. I do all sorts of things while reading, including driving. Without cues, I tend to get lost...
August 5, 2018
3.7 stars
I liked this one, kind of different set up. The main characters are working together after ending a two week affair. Every chapter starts with a flashback of that time. They are trying to find a serial killer, when she is kidnapped by said killer. This has some disturbing things while investigating the M/O of this killer.
This is the first of many books with these characters so you wont see a lot of character development or romance. They are meh in the likable department. I did start liking her a lot more while she was captive. I was rooting for both of them then.
My biggest complaint is that the writing was confusing sometimes. I didn't always know who was talking and sometimes the character would figure something out and we are just supposed to know too.. I will read the second book since this one has some twists that I am interesting in reading about.
I liked this one, kind of different set up. The main characters are working together after ending a two week affair. Every chapter starts with a flashback of that time. They are trying to find a serial killer, when she is kidnapped by said killer. This has some disturbing things while investigating the M/O of this killer.
This is the first of many books with these characters so you wont see a lot of character development or romance. They are meh in the likable department. I did start liking her a lot more while she was captive. I was rooting for both of them then.
My biggest complaint is that the writing was confusing sometimes. I didn't always know who was talking and sometimes the character would figure something out and we are just supposed to know too.. I will read the second book since this one has some twists that I am interesting in reading about.
September 26, 2018
Twisted tale
It took me a little while to get into this story and at first found the swapping from present back to moments during the 12 day affair between Sophia and Cam disconcerting (sounds like they spent the whole 12 days in bed!).
As I got further into the story however, I became more used to the style of writing. It is quite a gritty tale of twisted psychopath. The ending leads to needing to follow up by reading the second book of the trilogy.
This is not a book for those who like a cozy uncomplicated mystery with ordinary believable characters, but recommended for diehard fans of more gritty police procedurals & "perfect" (read handsome/beautiful, intelligent) lead characters and of course the most twisted psychopathic perpetrator.
It took me a little while to get into this story and at first found the swapping from present back to moments during the 12 day affair between Sophia and Cam disconcerting (sounds like they spent the whole 12 days in bed!).
As I got further into the story however, I became more used to the style of writing. It is quite a gritty tale of twisted psychopath. The ending leads to needing to follow up by reading the second book of the trilogy.
This is not a book for those who like a cozy uncomplicated mystery with ordinary believable characters, but recommended for diehard fans of more gritty police procedurals & "perfect" (read handsome/beautiful, intelligent) lead characters and of course the most twisted psychopathic perpetrator.
May 12, 2021
2.5 stars. It was a bit strange - the book wasn't particularly long in pages, but reading it just seemed to drag on. It was catchy enough for me to finish it, but it was not my favourite read. The interspersed sex scenes seemed extensive, and I should have paid more attention to the genre labels before I started this book (romance novels are not really my thing, although sex scenes don't represent romance to me). I don't understand why there were so many sections about the main character's years as an undercover agent; this aspect was very vague and left the reader hanging unnecessarily. I don't mind that the ending was a bit open, although I'm not sure I'll rush to read the next in the series. Maybe one day.
April 26, 2018
I like the story line but am not a fan of jumping from the real time action to what characters are remembering from the past. DCI Prescott is investigating a serial killer. Dr. Sophia Channing is a forensic profiler helping on the case. Before this case came up they had a short affair. As the suspense build in the story you get whole chapters of either Cam or Sophia remembering things that happened during their affair. The only reason I could see for this was because Dr. Channing had been abducted by the killer so it was to show the reader the mental struggle they were going through. Overall a good story.
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