Absolution

Ava Saunders #2

by Ellen J. Green

Dark secrets and family crimes drive a ruthless female serial killer in Ellen J. Green’s breathtaking sequel to Amazon Charts bestseller Twist of Faith.

Ava Saunders was only a child when she saw her mother murdered—a brutal family mystery that was buried with her. Unearthing the past has been Ava’s obsession. Anyone in her way has paid the price. Now on the run, Ava needs to disappear, and she gets her chance when the skeletal remains of her latest victim are mistaken for Ava herself. Is it a sign? Have her sins been washed away? Or has she been given a second chance to finish what she started?

The case surrounding the trail of murders has consumed Ava’s friend Detective Russell Bowers. Victim by victim, he’s been hunting the hunter. One new chilling clue has left no doubt in Russell’s Ava is alive, and not well.

He can’t help but follow her, from the shores of the Mediterranean to the mountains of Italy, where the last of Ava’s blood relatives are hiding her family’s most dreadful secret—and where Russell himself could be pulled into the unforgivable darkness of Ava’s revenge.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Serial Killer, Novels, Contemporary

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 2019

About the author

Ellen J. Green is the Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Ava Saunders novels (Absolution and Twist of Faith) and The Book of James. She attended Temple University in Philadelphia, where she earned her degrees in psychology, and has worked in the psychiatric ward of a maximum-security correctional facility for fifteen years. She also holds an MFA degree in creative writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Born and raised in Upstate New York, Ms. Green now lives in southern New Jersey with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book featuring Ava Saunders. First in this series was TWIST OF FAITH. While not absolutely necessary to read the first book, I highly encourage you to do so.

Ava Saunders was a young child when she saw her mother murdered. This was a terrifying family history that everyone buried... even away from Ava. She has spent her life searching for information. And all around her, bodies are dropping.

The case surrounding the trail of murders has consumed Ava’s friend Detective Russell Bowers. Victim by victim, he’s been hunting the hunter.

TWIST OF FAITH was highly suspenseful with a huge twist that left the reader with a cliff hanger. ABSOLUTION picks up at the exact point in time.. with alternating chapters with the killer's voice, the detective's voice, and of Joanee, a good friend.

I don't think this one was as good as the first one, but it did hold my interest throughout. And again .. there is a small cliff hanger in anticipation of a third book.

Many thanks to the author/ Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Jennifer Lambouris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh! So annoyed! How can all of these people be SOOOO completely evil and then just get away with it?!?! I was frustrated after the first book and then stupidly decided to read the second. Now to find out there’s a third???? WTH?! This story needs to be done! I gave it 3 stars because I wanted the closure of the story, to have all of the secrets out. But there’s more! More secrets, more revenge. I just don’t think I’ll be reading the last book....

[Sharon Schueck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!

Oh my gosh this book was mindboggling. I couldn't put the 1st one down but the 2nd 1 was crazier yet I listen to audio books on my phone while I'm cleaning doing menial household chores to pass the time carry my phone with me everywhere I went listening to this book I carried it into doctors offices I could not stop please read these books but make sure you read both of them they are so good However their I'm more then one twist of fate

[Teresa Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

This book starts where the first book ended. All of Ava’s questions about her family are finally answered with many twists and surprises. I can’t wait for the final book to find out what happens to Russell and Joanne.

[Jypsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great follow up. It's got plenty of twists and turns and keeps your interest until the end. It's interesting and entertaining.

[Vanessa Burnaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted

I won this book and it was a good read! :) Suspenseful with quite a few twists and turns. At certain points it was overly complicated and felt book could have been shorter. there are a number of characters and a few could have used more development. Overall though I enjoyed this book. It kept me hooked and turning the pages.

[Rich Apple · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was somewhat disjointed in places. I don't know why Russel (a cop) allowed Ava to leave the first time - maybe it's a New Jersey thing. It was good enough that I wanted to see how it ended but I don't think that I'll be up for Silent Redemption in December.

[Cheryl Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just ok

This book was confusing at times and not at all based in reality. Really, someone murders so many people and everyone knows it and she doesn’t get caught?

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow again for book 2.

Book 1 - A Twist of Faith was a good read so I immediately decided to read book 2 to see how the storyline continued. I had a difficult time putting it down. I even switched to audio when I developed a headache.

After reading both books, it is still not clear who the good players are; if there even are any. Ava seemed straight up crazy but does things that make some of her actions understandable if not forgivable. Russell seemed like a great guy done wrong but maybe not. Joanne, at times, seemed like a busy body, then a loyal friend, or was she excited to be caught up in something and got in way over her head?

These books had me from the beginning and never let go. Now I will be waiting for book 3, Silent Redemption, to be released in December of this year. I have already pre-ordered it from Amazon, something I seldom do since I have KU and it could possibly be free.

There are a lot of characters in this storyline so it is not a series to be skimmed or it will be confusing. If you are willing to take the time to sort out the characters and the involved plot, this will take you on a twisty ride!

[Meg GlitteryOtters · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publishers for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

When I started this book I was not aware it was the second book in a series. After a few chapters I was ready to put the book down. That is something I never do. It was obvious that there was another book before this one and the first book had to be read if you wanted to understand the second one. A short look in my Kindle and that problem was solved. I didn’t even remember buying the first one.

The second trip to “Absolution” was much easier to read. However, you still have to stay on your toes. There are lots of twists and turns, names, and characters along with several murders. This is not an easy read. The author also chose to give most of the main people a name that is similar and starts with an “A” and the two main women in Russell’s life are Juliette and Joanne.

Most of the characters had some serious mental problems or was just straight out evil. Russell seemed to be into porn and poor Joanne was just a good friend and busy body who got caught up in the mayhem.

The book is good and I am glad I read it. I will also buy the next one. I couldn’t give it a 5 star simply because it was hard to read at times.

[Lauren Talk Back Fernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 This is really hard to write a review on. The story was okay at the beginning, but enough to keep you reading. I always love when the authors have chapters for each main character and you find out pieces of the puzzle each chapter; however, there were so many twists, turns, names, and characters that the story was a little hard to follow. Half way through I started catching onto the characters and how they were connected and the book actually picked up and was much better half way through. The story was a quick read and interesting, but there was something missing. Maybe it was the very complicated story that made me not love it. All-in-all entertaining, with lots of family drama.

I did receive this free from Goodreads Sweepstakes.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first of this series, Twist of Faith, last year and thought it might be hard to continue the story without reading it again, but it wasn't. There is some needed backstory, but the book moves forward with a different angle to the story. I found it really interesting that Marie and Ava were both given letters by the grandmother that they need to decipher in order to get the missing passcode to the bank accounts. But the letters serve as a story unto themselves, telling the tale of Anais' marriage. It's amazing the author took the sequel and made it a prequel and a sequel. I loved it. It was just as good as Twist, maybe better. Yes, better.

[Kimberley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely horrible. I don't write reviews to often but this book just blew my mind. I get the story is non fiction but it was just to unrealistic for me. Flying back and forth between Italy and the United States with no money, going on a killing spree and not getting caught. A one night stand kills your Fiance to get your attention and you welcome her with open arms.An upstanding Cop let a killer go yet again. No ma'am I will not be reading the last book at this point I'm not even interested how it end. It would just be some unrealistic bull cap that would never happen in reality.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

How is it possible for one family to have so many murderers in it? This is the 2nd book in the series. It was better than the first only in the fact it was more about the family's secrets instead of people getting killed. How can so many characters in one story have so many lies and secrets? Still no likable characters. A bit far fetched to have people committing so many crimes and wandering all over without being caught. The twists were predictable. I will read the last in the series to see if it gets any better.

[Edith Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing sequel to Twist of Faith. And interesting twist (hate to use that word) on the original story using letters left by Anais Lavoisier to fill in details of the past. I love the character of Ava and I also love the way the author takes us from a dirty bar in Philadelphia, to the town of Cherbourg France, to Vicenza and Tuscany Italy, each setting filled with description. Not a shocking ending, but interesting!! I loved it. If there's another coming, I'm in!

[Beth Brackett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Complicated

I liked the first book better. This book had so many stories going on that I felt I was reading several books at times. It was interesting and had many surprises in the storyline. The ending was basically a non-ending again. I'm very disappointed that the author doesn't bring the book to a complete conclusion. I read a book to be told a story, a whole story. Not to be left wondering.

[Reader_27 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I haven't read the first in this growing series (there's a third on the way), I was able to keep up and not feel lost. It works well as a stand alone and kept me guessing. The story is very engaging, with a variety of evil characters to choose from. My only drawback is that I really wanted a conclusion, but alas, we have to wait for book 3 for answers.

I received this book in a GoodReads giveaway.

[Leigh Goldian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best series ever!

Okay so I started this book yesterday before bed and couldn’t put it down! I’ve been reading it during every break at work, on the machines at the gym and even snuck in a few lines during commercial breaks. This series had me totally flabbergasted! I kept thinking I knew what was going to happen, but then a big twist came that I never saw coming and I was in mystery all over again! I definitely recommend this series!!

[Diana L. Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twists and Turns

This is a continuation of “Twist of Faith”, but can also be read as a stand alone, Ellen fills in the blanks when talking about the different characters. You are horrified by Ava’s actions and in the next chapter cheering her on. She is a broken person searching for her family, raised by a pit of snakes and fed lies to cover up past sins. It is an engrossing read. I’m waiting for Silent Redemption to be released in December of 2019.

[L Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure if I enjoyed this one as much as the first book. Lots of twists, but it’s hard to keep liking or cheering for these people. They’re pretty morally deprived. Trying to decide if I’m interested enough to read the third book or if I don’t care whether they just finish each other off and the story is done. Some profanity, seemed like a little more in this book than the first. A few sexual scenes, nothing graphic if I remember correctly.

[Lisa Stadler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I didn’t read the 1st book and decided to just start with this book, which is the second book in the series. This book seems to stand alone well. The book moves very quickly with lots of twists and turns. It is a great mystery book with lots of unexpected turns. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to others.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really intrigued to see where she was going to take this second book. I found all of the twists really interesting and couldn't wait to see what was next. I was disappointed at the character development. I did not like where they took the characters, particularly Russell. It was very compelling, but I think I would have rather left it at the ending from Book 1.

[Keri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could be so much better

This book / series could be so much better. The premise is interesting but the writing style is unfortunately a bit confusing, I found myself having to go back and read certain parts again. There are way too many lose ends because the author is trying to throw you off.

[Sue Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't pick your family

This family! Talk about some interesting characters involved in the web this family created. The settings are well described, the plot and subplots are some that have been fun to follow. Having chapters from different points of view worked well most of the time, but there were instances that were a bit jagged.

[Courtney M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

I read the first book in this series based on a recommendation, and although I thought the writing was really bad I found the cliffhanger intriguing enough to read this second one, which spends a lot of time rehashing the first book and makes every single character entirely unlikeable by the end.

[Candida · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dark secrets and disfunction continues. This is suspense with a Gothic feeling. The murders are piling up and everyone that has helped and loved Ava are left with their lives in shambles. Yet they are all obsessed with her in some way or other. Ava has been declared dead but that stops no one from watching for her to show up destroying whatever is left of their lives.

[Sarah R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... the books just get better!

After reading Ellen's first Ava book, I didn't think that they could get better. Now I am running to get book number three! I imagine that if you know anything about how crazy family can get, these books are even better. Okay, most families aren't this crazy but that makes them better.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

If only i had read 'Twist of Faith' before reading 'Absolution'! I did enjoy reading this book nonetheless and have now downloaded 'Twist of Faith' from Amazon.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review.

[Daniel E Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

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