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Detective Jess Bishop #1
Forget Me Not
As she saw his face for the first time, she knew he was going to kill her. She just didn’t know when.
When the dismembered body of Lydia Steiner is found washed up in the waters of a blisteringly hot Louisiana swamp, Detective Jess Bishop knows for certain this isn’t the murderer’s first kill.
Three other dismembered bodies have been found, all bearing the same marks. Marks that strike fear into Jess’s heart. They are identical to those from a case she’s spent her entire career trying to forget.
As Jess and her team try to link the victims, another body is discovered and they fear the serial killer is taunting them. They know it’s only a matter of time before he kills again.
As the body count rises, and the hunt goes cold, Jess knows she has to confront her past in order to catch the killer, even if that means making herself the bait...
When the dismembered body of Lydia Steiner is found washed up in the waters of a blisteringly hot Louisiana swamp, Detective Jess Bishop knows for certain this isn’t the murderer’s first kill.
Three other dismembered bodies have been found, all bearing the same marks. Marks that strike fear into Jess’s heart. They are identical to those from a case she’s spent her entire career trying to forget.
As Jess and her team try to link the victims, another body is discovered and they fear the serial killer is taunting them. They know it’s only a matter of time before he kills again.
As the body count rises, and the hunt goes cold, Jess knows she has to confront her past in order to catch the killer, even if that means making herself the bait...
312 pages, Paperback
First published November 27, 2017
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838 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
May 6, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A new voice in the crime thriller genre! Well done Kierney Scott!
Jess Bishop is a special agent with the FBI. As with most of these leading lady special agents she is typically tough as nails and deeply flawed. But I have to admit she does stand apart from the other leading characters in this genre. The balance works really well showing both her personal and professional life.
Jess and her team investigate the disturbing work of a serial killer. It’s a race against time to take down a killer before he strikes again...or strikes closer to home! Her team includes her former partner Jamison, who had left on an undercover assignment. Is there too much water under the bridge? Can they rekindle the chemistry of the past?
Personally Jess is not doing well. She is determined to keep her past hidden, but uses unhealthy outlets to keep her demons at bay. Can she just move on? Maybe with a new man in her life?
This book can be graphic at times and left me (a hardened thriller lover) squeamish at times!
The ending was shocking and had me quickly moving onto book two, Cross Your Heart.
For this review and our full Traveling Sister review please visit Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
A new voice in the crime thriller genre! Well done Kierney Scott!
Jess Bishop is a special agent with the FBI. As with most of these leading lady special agents she is typically tough as nails and deeply flawed. But I have to admit she does stand apart from the other leading characters in this genre. The balance works really well showing both her personal and professional life.
Jess and her team investigate the disturbing work of a serial killer. It’s a race against time to take down a killer before he strikes again...or strikes closer to home! Her team includes her former partner Jamison, who had left on an undercover assignment. Is there too much water under the bridge? Can they rekindle the chemistry of the past?
Personally Jess is not doing well. She is determined to keep her past hidden, but uses unhealthy outlets to keep her demons at bay. Can she just move on? Maybe with a new man in her life?
This book can be graphic at times and left me (a hardened thriller lover) squeamish at times!
The ending was shocking and had me quickly moving onto book two, Cross Your Heart.
For this review and our full Traveling Sister review please visit Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
January 16, 2018
4.5 stars! I loved this gripping and suspenseful novel!
From the very first page, I immediately liked the main character, FBI Special Agent Jessica Bishop (Jess). I felt an instant connection with her and admired her tough-girl, don’t-mess-with-me personality. The story follows Jess and a team of FBI agents on a case hunting down a horrific serial killer.
The suspense kept me addicted all the way through. I truly enjoyed reading every single page and had a constant feeling of being anxious to find out just how things would all come together in the end. The author, Kierney Scott, did an outstanding job pulling me right into the story which kept me flipping the pages as quick as possible.
I was impressed to learn in the Acknowledgements section that this was the first crime thriller written by Scott who has been a romance writer to date. What a feat for an author to be able to switch genres so smoothly – that’s talent!
I really loved every minute of this book and am excited that this is the start of a series. I’ll be eagerly waiting for Book #2!!
I read this along with my lovely Traveling Sister Brenda. We enjoyed the thrill and anticipation of trying to figure this one out. To find this review, along with Brenda's, please visit Brenda and Norma's fabulous blog at:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
A big thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kierney Scott for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
From the very first page, I immediately liked the main character, FBI Special Agent Jessica Bishop (Jess). I felt an instant connection with her and admired her tough-girl, don’t-mess-with-me personality. The story follows Jess and a team of FBI agents on a case hunting down a horrific serial killer.
The suspense kept me addicted all the way through. I truly enjoyed reading every single page and had a constant feeling of being anxious to find out just how things would all come together in the end. The author, Kierney Scott, did an outstanding job pulling me right into the story which kept me flipping the pages as quick as possible.
I was impressed to learn in the Acknowledgements section that this was the first crime thriller written by Scott who has been a romance writer to date. What a feat for an author to be able to switch genres so smoothly – that’s talent!
I really loved every minute of this book and am excited that this is the start of a series. I’ll be eagerly waiting for Book #2!!
I read this along with my lovely Traveling Sister Brenda. We enjoyed the thrill and anticipation of trying to figure this one out. To find this review, along with Brenda's, please visit Brenda and Norma's fabulous blog at:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
A big thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kierney Scott for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
January 7, 2018
3.5 Stars
I was lost in the dark, unusual, unearthly craggy coulee with Lindsay reading Forget Me Not.
Forget Me Not is a haunting, chilling psychological thriller with a little ick to it that had us a little uncomfortable in the craggy dark trenches of the Coulee looking for a more comfortable place to settle in. It didn’t take long to warm up and find a more grassier sheltered spot as we got to know our flawed and guarded main character, Detective Jess Bishop. We really liked her right from the start and wanted to know what secrets kept her awake at night.
Kierney Scott does a good job creating an interesting story and character here with Detective Jess and she is different from the typical female detective in so many ways that I have read lately with a past she’s trying to hide. She is haunted by the chilling secrets that she would like to keep buried.
Kierney Scott does a good job leading us down a jagged rocky path that starts to break apart as we tried to figure out how they are related to the case Jess is working. We love Jess’s connection with her returning partner and the tension starts to rise between them as their relationship is tested. We started questioning who we could trust or not. There is a little romance to this story that didn’t leave us rolling our eyes or wanting to leave the coulee.
The heat starts to turn up and the tension rises with every twists and turns as we dodge every sharp rock to reach the satisfying end of this enjoyable story. We will definitely be looking out for the second book to this one. We recommend.
Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture and Kierney Scott for a copy to read and review.
All of our Traveling Sisters Review can be found on our sister blog:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
I was lost in the dark, unusual, unearthly craggy coulee with Lindsay reading Forget Me Not.
Forget Me Not is a haunting, chilling psychological thriller with a little ick to it that had us a little uncomfortable in the craggy dark trenches of the Coulee looking for a more comfortable place to settle in. It didn’t take long to warm up and find a more grassier sheltered spot as we got to know our flawed and guarded main character, Detective Jess Bishop. We really liked her right from the start and wanted to know what secrets kept her awake at night.
Kierney Scott does a good job creating an interesting story and character here with Detective Jess and she is different from the typical female detective in so many ways that I have read lately with a past she’s trying to hide. She is haunted by the chilling secrets that she would like to keep buried.
Kierney Scott does a good job leading us down a jagged rocky path that starts to break apart as we tried to figure out how they are related to the case Jess is working. We love Jess’s connection with her returning partner and the tension starts to rise between them as their relationship is tested. We started questioning who we could trust or not. There is a little romance to this story that didn’t leave us rolling our eyes or wanting to leave the coulee.
The heat starts to turn up and the tension rises with every twists and turns as we dodge every sharp rock to reach the satisfying end of this enjoyable story. We will definitely be looking out for the second book to this one. We recommend.
Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture and Kierney Scott for a copy to read and review.
All of our Traveling Sisters Review can be found on our sister blog:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
November 23, 2017
The dismembered body of Lydia Steiner was found washed up in the waters of a Louisiana swamp. Detective Jess Bishop knows that this is not the murderers first kill. Three other dismembered bodies have been found, all bearing the same marks. As Jess and her team try to link the victims, another body is found and they fear the serial killer is taunting them.
This is the first book in a new series to feature Detective Jess Bishop. At first, Jess, is not a very likeable character until we learn a bit of her background, then we understand where she is coming from. There are a lot of twists in this story and they certainly kept me on my toes trying to work out who the culprit was. I would not class this as an edge of your seat read but there is something to keep you turning the pages. I look forward to reading the second book in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Kierney Scott for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in a new series to feature Detective Jess Bishop. At first, Jess, is not a very likeable character until we learn a bit of her background, then we understand where she is coming from. There are a lot of twists in this story and they certainly kept me on my toes trying to work out who the culprit was. I would not class this as an edge of your seat read but there is something to keep you turning the pages. I look forward to reading the second book in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Kierney Scott for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2017
I would have enjoyed this story more if I hadn't found the characters so irritating, especially Jess. As I rolled my eyes at her, the other characters only found her pompousness charming. If only a few of them reacted the way I would imagine most people would, I would have found it more realistic. It made it hard to connect with anyone, and therefore hard to really care about the story. I also found the ending a little ridiculous. Despite my issues, there were moments that made me chuckle... which I always appreciate even more in a darker book. It's not afraid of being pretty graphic, and though the protagonist is hard to like, she is interesting.
A dismembered body has been found washed up in a Louisiana swamp. Though they're able to identify her, she is missing something quite important... her head. This isn't the first headless body found recently, though it seems to be the only thing the murdered women have in common. There's something all too familiar about the case to Agent Jess Bishop, but she can't help hoping it's not connected to her and her past. She wants nothing more than to keep that long ago period in her life locked away. She certainly doesn't want all of her co-workers to know all the gory details...
Jess isn't the only one keeping secrets. Her former partner, Jamison, is back after years undercover. There are several rumors about what he did during that time, but he doesn't want to talk about it... not even to Jess. She's happy to see him, but less happy when she discovers that he now has a fiance and a baby on the way.
A gruesome case, a detective with a dark past that uses sex with strangers to clear her head and make her numb, and a touch of romance all wrapped up in a dark package.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
A dismembered body has been found washed up in a Louisiana swamp. Though they're able to identify her, she is missing something quite important... her head. This isn't the first headless body found recently, though it seems to be the only thing the murdered women have in common. There's something all too familiar about the case to Agent Jess Bishop, but she can't help hoping it's not connected to her and her past. She wants nothing more than to keep that long ago period in her life locked away. She certainly doesn't want all of her co-workers to know all the gory details...
Jess isn't the only one keeping secrets. Her former partner, Jamison, is back after years undercover. There are several rumors about what he did during that time, but he doesn't want to talk about it... not even to Jess. She's happy to see him, but less happy when she discovers that he now has a fiance and a baby on the way.
A gruesome case, a detective with a dark past that uses sex with strangers to clear her head and make her numb, and a touch of romance all wrapped up in a dark package.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
October 3, 2017
At first I was unsure about Jess Bishop, she's more than a little unwelcoming. This lasted maybe two chapters. After that, I was all in. Clever, challenging, disconcerting, different, and never, never dull, this is a woman I want to spend time with. She makes a few questionable decisions, but i'm willing to let her off on the grounds that the shit was really hitting the fan hard at the time. She makes the book for sure (with a little extra thrown in by her returning partner, Jamison, who i'm picturing as Criminal Minds' Derek Morgan), but it's also got a high-energy plot with decapitated heads in jars and all sorts of other fun. I read the whole thing in one sitting and was only disappointed at the end because it was finished and I wanted some more answers Kierney Scott...
So now i'm going to be here. Waiting impatiently. Bring on book 2 and let's see what else life can throw at this FBI agent.
ARC via Netgalley
So now i'm going to be here. Waiting impatiently. Bring on book 2 and let's see what else life can throw at this FBI agent.
ARC via Netgalley
April 21, 2018
4 Stars.
FBI Agent Jess Bishop arrives at the Louisiana Swamp to find the dismembered body of Lydia Steiner. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first body the team has found. For Jess Bishop there is something about the markings on Steiner’s body that look familiar.. something that reminds her of things long forgotten. Complicating matters is Jamison - Jess’ former partner and best friend who returns to the team making her face things she would do anything to avoid.
While investigating the case, more bodies pile up and Jess works feverishly to find links between the victims and while doing so, she finds links to her past as well. This case is going to take things from Jess she never imagined possible and trying to find the serial killer? Well, it might just tear her apart.
“Forget Me Not” by Kierney Scott was a fast paced, suspense novel that kept me on my toes. It also tugged at the heart and had characters that I liked, a lot. This novel is the first in the Jess Bishop series and I am eagerly looking forward to the next.
This was a sister read with Kaceey - we had a great time reading it together and I can’t wait to read book two with her and a few other sisters!
Published on Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon on 4.21.18.
FBI Agent Jess Bishop arrives at the Louisiana Swamp to find the dismembered body of Lydia Steiner. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first body the team has found. For Jess Bishop there is something about the markings on Steiner’s body that look familiar.. something that reminds her of things long forgotten. Complicating matters is Jamison - Jess’ former partner and best friend who returns to the team making her face things she would do anything to avoid.
While investigating the case, more bodies pile up and Jess works feverishly to find links between the victims and while doing so, she finds links to her past as well. This case is going to take things from Jess she never imagined possible and trying to find the serial killer? Well, it might just tear her apart.
“Forget Me Not” by Kierney Scott was a fast paced, suspense novel that kept me on my toes. It also tugged at the heart and had characters that I liked, a lot. This novel is the first in the Jess Bishop series and I am eagerly looking forward to the next.
This was a sister read with Kaceey - we had a great time reading it together and I can’t wait to read book two with her and a few other sisters!
Published on Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon on 4.21.18.
November 20, 2017
Detective Jess Bishop is called in when a body is found washed ashore in a Louisiana swamp and immediately the detectives know that this is the work of a serial killer. The body of Lydia Steiner is found with certain marks that have also been on three other dismembered bodies found recently but those marks are familiar to Jess and she just hopes the past is not catching up to her now that she is a detective.
As Jess and her partner start to investigate the case trying to find any clue or link the various victims together Jess also gets another surprise, her old partner has returned from undercover work. No one knows Jess better than he did but he's not returned alone but with a soon to be pregnant wife. The news in the middle of this high pressure case reminding Jess of her past sends Jess to her destructive ways of pushing those close to her away.
Now You See Me by Kierney Scott is the first book in the new Detective Jess Bishop mystery series. With a flawed main character and a serial killer on the loose it is easy to become engaged in this first book of what looks like it could be a very promising series.
I would say with this first book I think the author should have done Jess' character building a bit earlier on in the story as the reader knows there is something in her past but it's hard to decide whether you want to love her or slap her for her actions without the depth of her story. Eventually the background comes out but I had a bit of a shaky start until finding out more myself.
This is also another book that for me the mystery seemed to be a little on the easy side to solve, not necessarily obvious though. There were plenty of twists built into the story to make one suspicious along the way and keep readers guessing so I wasn't totally sure until the end. Overall I'd rate this first book at 3.5 stars and would check out the next in the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
As Jess and her partner start to investigate the case trying to find any clue or link the various victims together Jess also gets another surprise, her old partner has returned from undercover work. No one knows Jess better than he did but he's not returned alone but with a soon to be pregnant wife. The news in the middle of this high pressure case reminding Jess of her past sends Jess to her destructive ways of pushing those close to her away.
Now You See Me by Kierney Scott is the first book in the new Detective Jess Bishop mystery series. With a flawed main character and a serial killer on the loose it is easy to become engaged in this first book of what looks like it could be a very promising series.
I would say with this first book I think the author should have done Jess' character building a bit earlier on in the story as the reader knows there is something in her past but it's hard to decide whether you want to love her or slap her for her actions without the depth of her story. Eventually the background comes out but I had a bit of a shaky start until finding out more myself.
This is also another book that for me the mystery seemed to be a little on the easy side to solve, not necessarily obvious though. There were plenty of twists built into the story to make one suspicious along the way and keep readers guessing so I wasn't totally sure until the end. Overall I'd rate this first book at 3.5 stars and would check out the next in the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
August 25, 2018
Irritating characters. Great plot. Great story with a fabulous mystery.
The book warms up as you go, like building a fire before it sparks and the flames start to rise.
It’s written really well.
Jessica who is the Detective is as hard as nails.
I could have slapped her many a time until I got to know what’s made her this way. I then mellowed a bit then. But only just.
The heat is on to find the killer and this Detective has her blinkers on to find them, no question, no distractions.
It’s a gruesome case.
I must say, although there’s a book 2 I didn’t particularly like the ending.
Overall
It’s a good story.
Good plot.
It’s graphic so beware if you have a weak stomach.
But sometimes unbelievable.
June 19, 2018
From the very beginning this story had my full attention. A lot of tension and mystery throughout the book which made it an enjoyable suspenseful read. Strong character development and descriptive passages had me not wanting to put this book down. Great storyline and had some unexpected twists and turns.
The book is well-written with good editing. I highly recommend this book and plan to read more by this author!!
I have rated this book 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!
The book is well-written with good editing. I highly recommend this book and plan to read more by this author!!
I have rated this book 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!
November 27, 2017
We’ve all established that I have a morbid fascination with serial killer thrillers by now, right? I’m always on the hunt for a new book, or even better a series to follow featuring a kick ass detective or FBI agent and I’m SO excited that Now You See Me is the start of a new series following Jess Bishop, an agent with flaws galore and the kind of backstory that can take several books to unravel.
Jess is not the most likable woman, but as much as she tried to be that way, I liked her anyways. She’s completely closed off, she keeps her inner circle super tight and she comes across as cold and unfeeling, but she’s actually anything but. She takes her job and the responsibility that comes along with it very seriously and is so hyper focused when she’s working a case trying to talk to her is like speaking to a brick wall. Her current partner is Chan and they work alright together but her old partner, Jamison is truly her right hand man. The chemistry between Jess and Jamison was great, there’s so much underlying tension based on several old happenings and there is so much to explore with these two.
Scott has a graphic writing style, she’s not afraid to write extremely detailed descriptions of the victims of the sadistic killer and the crime scenes. The guy Jess and team are tracking is clever and is clearly loving taunting law enforcement making for an interesting read, edge of your seat read. This was one hell of a roller coaster ride with a ton of red herrings, I swear I changed my mind every few pages and had no idea who to trust! This was exciting, intense with plenty of heart pounding moments and an ending that while resolved left plenty open for the next book, I can’t wait!!
Jess is not the most likable woman, but as much as she tried to be that way, I liked her anyways. She’s completely closed off, she keeps her inner circle super tight and she comes across as cold and unfeeling, but she’s actually anything but. She takes her job and the responsibility that comes along with it very seriously and is so hyper focused when she’s working a case trying to talk to her is like speaking to a brick wall. Her current partner is Chan and they work alright together but her old partner, Jamison is truly her right hand man. The chemistry between Jess and Jamison was great, there’s so much underlying tension based on several old happenings and there is so much to explore with these two.
Scott has a graphic writing style, she’s not afraid to write extremely detailed descriptions of the victims of the sadistic killer and the crime scenes. The guy Jess and team are tracking is clever and is clearly loving taunting law enforcement making for an interesting read, edge of your seat read. This was one hell of a roller coaster ride with a ton of red herrings, I swear I changed my mind every few pages and had no idea who to trust! This was exciting, intense with plenty of heart pounding moments and an ending that while resolved left plenty open for the next book, I can’t wait!!
October 9, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Now You See Me, the first in a projected series of police procedurals to feature Special Agent Jessica Bishop.
Jess is sent to Louisiana with her partner, Alex Chan, to investigate a dismembered body. They find most of the body parts apart from the head, confirming that they are hunting a serial killer as this is the third such body found across the country. With no identification on any of the corpses it is an uphill struggle to get the case moving.
I thoroughly enjoyed Now You See Me. It has a linear timeline with, apart from the prologue, one point of view - Jess's so it is easy to get and stay involved in the narrative, my favourite kind of reading. The plot is absorbing with plenty of twists and a well hidden killer. I think I suspected every character at some point in the read so I got it right (poetic licence on that point) and yet the ending was a complete surprise. I like the way the plot unfurls one small piece at a time into an action packed dénouement. There is something in every chapter leaving the reader wanting more.
The novel has a bit of everything, serial killer, puzzled detectives, romance, edgy relationships between the characters, technology and a very troubled protagonist. Don't worry the techie bits are clever but short lived and easily understood, if telegraphed in advance.
Jess Bishop is an interesting protagonist and in a way the novel is all about her. She has major secrets in her past that aren't revealed until the second half of the novel so the reader has to live with her sketchy behaviour and control issues. She suspects that the killing is linked to this past but it's a bit of an annoying read until it's revealed. I think the author is aiming for suspense but I found it irritating. On the whole Jess is a fairly unlikeable character for most of the novel but by the end she may have reconciled with her past. I would like to read the second novel before making up my mind about her.
Now You See Me is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Jess is sent to Louisiana with her partner, Alex Chan, to investigate a dismembered body. They find most of the body parts apart from the head, confirming that they are hunting a serial killer as this is the third such body found across the country. With no identification on any of the corpses it is an uphill struggle to get the case moving.
I thoroughly enjoyed Now You See Me. It has a linear timeline with, apart from the prologue, one point of view - Jess's so it is easy to get and stay involved in the narrative, my favourite kind of reading. The plot is absorbing with plenty of twists and a well hidden killer. I think I suspected every character at some point in the read so I got it right (poetic licence on that point) and yet the ending was a complete surprise. I like the way the plot unfurls one small piece at a time into an action packed dénouement. There is something in every chapter leaving the reader wanting more.
The novel has a bit of everything, serial killer, puzzled detectives, romance, edgy relationships between the characters, technology and a very troubled protagonist. Don't worry the techie bits are clever but short lived and easily understood, if telegraphed in advance.
Jess Bishop is an interesting protagonist and in a way the novel is all about her. She has major secrets in her past that aren't revealed until the second half of the novel so the reader has to live with her sketchy behaviour and control issues. She suspects that the killing is linked to this past but it's a bit of an annoying read until it's revealed. I think the author is aiming for suspense but I found it irritating. On the whole Jess is a fairly unlikeable character for most of the novel but by the end she may have reconciled with her past. I would like to read the second novel before making up my mind about her.
Now You See Me is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
November 19, 2017
This book was full of very unlikeable characters.. in particular Jess the main detective. I tried to like this book but it just wasn't for me. Parts of it dragged out and others seemed to be skimmed over. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book to read and review
April 6, 2018
Another new author for me. I decided to buy this book after Net Galley approved me for Book number two, Cross My Heart.
Murky water sloshed through the gaps in the jetty’s algae-covered planks. Electricity ran down her spine. The victim’s torso was missing circles of flesh. Jess had seen marks like this before a long time ago. But that killer was already dead, wasn’t he?
When the lifeless body of a young woman is found washed up in the blisteringly hot back waters of a small town, Detective Jess Bishop knows for certain this isn’t the murderer’s first kill.
Two other bodies have been found, both bearing the same marks. Marks that strike fear into Jess’s heart. They are identical to those from a case she’s spent her entire career trying to forget.
As Jess and her team try to link the victims, another body is discovered, and they fear the serial killer is taunting them. They know it’s only a matter of time before he kills again.
As the body count rises, and the hunt goes cold, Jess knows she has to confront her past in order to catch the killer, even if that means making herself the bait…
A great find, a great author, a plot that to me was strong in it's characters more than anything else, tension, pace, twists, strong, gripping and gruesome.
Jess in a strong character, a lot like marmite, you will like her or you will hate her, I did enjoy her down to earth, honest FBI agent fighting to find the truth, with a past that she wants to hide, but haunts her.
I guessed correctly on the villain of this story, but it was paced and filled with red herrings, and I was never fully sure.
Forget Me Note is a gripping and heart-stopping thriller full of twists and perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter, Robert Bryndza , Lisa Gardner, Sharon Bolton, Angela Marsons and Linda Castillo.
Straight on to book two tonight !
Four clear stars.
Murky water sloshed through the gaps in the jetty’s algae-covered planks. Electricity ran down her spine. The victim’s torso was missing circles of flesh. Jess had seen marks like this before a long time ago. But that killer was already dead, wasn’t he?
When the lifeless body of a young woman is found washed up in the blisteringly hot back waters of a small town, Detective Jess Bishop knows for certain this isn’t the murderer’s first kill.
Two other bodies have been found, both bearing the same marks. Marks that strike fear into Jess’s heart. They are identical to those from a case she’s spent her entire career trying to forget.
As Jess and her team try to link the victims, another body is discovered, and they fear the serial killer is taunting them. They know it’s only a matter of time before he kills again.
As the body count rises, and the hunt goes cold, Jess knows she has to confront her past in order to catch the killer, even if that means making herself the bait…
A great find, a great author, a plot that to me was strong in it's characters more than anything else, tension, pace, twists, strong, gripping and gruesome.
Jess in a strong character, a lot like marmite, you will like her or you will hate her, I did enjoy her down to earth, honest FBI agent fighting to find the truth, with a past that she wants to hide, but haunts her.
I guessed correctly on the villain of this story, but it was paced and filled with red herrings, and I was never fully sure.
Forget Me Note is a gripping and heart-stopping thriller full of twists and perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter, Robert Bryndza , Lisa Gardner, Sharon Bolton, Angela Marsons and Linda Castillo.
Straight on to book two tonight !
Four clear stars.
April 15, 2018
A great start to a new series! This follows Special Agent Jessica Bishop. She's a tough agent with a past that alluded to something awful throughout the novel. You get the full story as the pages turn. She's a complex character and hard to like but she tries to do what's right for the victims. This particular serial killer she's after is very sadistic! And might be closer to her than what she knows. I enjoyed this story. It was fast paced, characters that are flawed, and the plot kept me turning the pages. Can't wait for the next book.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2017
Looking for a new murder/detective series and love characters who have "issues?" This just may be a good place to start. It's the first installment featuring 34-year-old FBI Special Agent Jess Bishop, who brings sins of the past to a whole new level. To that end, she reminds me a bit of J.D. Robb's Lt. Eve Dallas, although Jess tends to be more melodramatic, devoid of emotion and on the whole rather unlikable. Still, she's a hard-working, get-the-job-done detective and an intriguing character I'd like to read more about.
She and her former partner, Jamison Briggs, parted on shaky terms; her current partner, Alex Chan, is a good detective but about as companionable as our next-door neighbor's pooch who growls every time he sees me. Jess isn't fond of him either, but she's adjusting; as the story begins, the two have gone from their Washington, D.C., base to Louisiana. In a bayou there, the torso of a woman has turned up. The head is missing - and since it appears to match the MO of other murders, the agents are concerned that they're on the trail of a serial killer who may be keeping victims' heads as trophies.
Then what to her wondering eyes should appear but Jamison - back from an undercover job and ready for reassignment as Jess's partner. There's a lot of mutual hand-wringing and head games as the two try to come to terms with their earlier break-up and Jamison's new love interest, but professionalism (and an obvious like for each other) eventually win out. As for Alex, he doesn't seem fazed by losing his shotgun-riding status - to him, it's just another crappy day in paradise, I guess - and anyway, enough headless bodies keep turning up to keep his and everyone else's minds on finding the killer.
In the middle of all this, Jess meets Matt Ramsey, a smooth-talking, exceptionally hunky FBI agent who's determined to make an honest woman out of her. True to her emotion-shunning personality, though, he pretty much has to stalk her to get her attention - and even when he succeeds, he isn't able to hold it for long. That's partly because as evidence piles up, a worst-case scenario rears its ugly head: could it be that the murders are somehow related to the sordid past Jess has spent all of her grown-up years trying to hide?
The whole thing was a wild ride all the way to the end, when a few strands are left dangling to whet appetites for the next book. Overall, this definitely was an enjoyable experience for me, though my enthusiasm was dampened a bit by repetition and typos (the latter, I trust, will be corrected before the book is released; I read an advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review) as well as a few glitches in the story. As hard-nosed as Jess is, for instance, it's really tough to fathom how she (or anyone else) possibly could go out for a run hours after cutting her bare feet by stepping on glass shards. Ouch!
She and her former partner, Jamison Briggs, parted on shaky terms; her current partner, Alex Chan, is a good detective but about as companionable as our next-door neighbor's pooch who growls every time he sees me. Jess isn't fond of him either, but she's adjusting; as the story begins, the two have gone from their Washington, D.C., base to Louisiana. In a bayou there, the torso of a woman has turned up. The head is missing - and since it appears to match the MO of other murders, the agents are concerned that they're on the trail of a serial killer who may be keeping victims' heads as trophies.
Then what to her wondering eyes should appear but Jamison - back from an undercover job and ready for reassignment as Jess's partner. There's a lot of mutual hand-wringing and head games as the two try to come to terms with their earlier break-up and Jamison's new love interest, but professionalism (and an obvious like for each other) eventually win out. As for Alex, he doesn't seem fazed by losing his shotgun-riding status - to him, it's just another crappy day in paradise, I guess - and anyway, enough headless bodies keep turning up to keep his and everyone else's minds on finding the killer.
In the middle of all this, Jess meets Matt Ramsey, a smooth-talking, exceptionally hunky FBI agent who's determined to make an honest woman out of her. True to her emotion-shunning personality, though, he pretty much has to stalk her to get her attention - and even when he succeeds, he isn't able to hold it for long. That's partly because as evidence piles up, a worst-case scenario rears its ugly head: could it be that the murders are somehow related to the sordid past Jess has spent all of her grown-up years trying to hide?
The whole thing was a wild ride all the way to the end, when a few strands are left dangling to whet appetites for the next book. Overall, this definitely was an enjoyable experience for me, though my enthusiasm was dampened a bit by repetition and typos (the latter, I trust, will be corrected before the book is released; I read an advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review) as well as a few glitches in the story. As hard-nosed as Jess is, for instance, it's really tough to fathom how she (or anyone else) possibly could go out for a run hours after cutting her bare feet by stepping on glass shards. Ouch!
January 29, 2018
There’s been a lot of title changes prepublication recently to some of Bookouture’s books and this one, from Now You See Me to Forget Me Not, makes a lot of sense and I also love the new cover compared to the old one. A book needs a good title and a standout cover and the one for Now You See Me was bland and made it look like any old generic crime thriller.
Jess Bishop is an intriguing character. Others have pointed out that they don’t like her, but I loved her. She pushes people out, doesn’t let anybody get close and can be a bit standoffish but I think sometimes that’s one of the only ways to ensure you don’t get hurt. I don’t let anyone get too close to me who I don’t know or who I wouldn’t expect to hurt me and am quite standoffish with a lot of people so she did remind me a little of myself at times. That said, I’ve never experienced anything like the trauma that Jess did when she was a child and so that went some way to explaining why she was that way. As the book progressed she went on a little bit of a journey and her attitude to sex, or rather her need for sex, didn’t make me see her in a negative way either because I hate the stereotypical view where men can sleep around and yet woman can’t because it makes them sluts. She loves sex and is unapologetic about it and that was refreshing to read. At the same time though her need for it and why she wanted it was at times a little unhealthy but that’s all to do with her past.
The last few crime novels I have read have focused on one city but here Jess is an FBI Agent and so there’s a much more complicated and across state lines investigation to get to grips with. Kierney Scott writes graphically, whether it’s in the sex scenes with the removal and disposal of a condom from a character’s flaccid penis (was that necessary?) or the descriptions of the mutilated women who have been left abandoned in various US states with their heads taken by the killer. Forget Me Not is a gripping read following this investigation and watching the agents try and put all of the puzzle pieces together to look for connections and to ultimately find the person responsible for these brutal murders.
Characterisation is incredibly strong here not only with Jess but also the people that she interacts with. Whilst she comes across as a strong and formidable agent, there’s times where we see a more vulnerable side to her which I felt helped to humanise her a bit more. Had she been cold and standoffish the whole way through then she would remain for most readers as an unlikeable character but we get to really understand her feelings and thought processes as the book progresses. In terms of the romantic decisions that she makes I too fell head over heels for one of the main characters, he oozed sex appeal and I was only left jealous that it was Jess’s clothes he was ripping off and not mine. Anyway, blame Kierney for all of that. And there’s more I want to say about this but I must keep it zipped.
The actual plot I felt flowed brilliantly. I had a few ideas knocking around in my head about who the killer might be and whilst I didn’t work everything out, when the big reveal arrived I rolled my eyes and asked myself how I hadn’t worked it out. I thought to myself, really? I’ve just spent all that time reading a book and this is the ending I have to accept? Whilst I can see that this might be a fantastic ending for some readers and they will express surprise at not seeing it coming, I felt it was incredibly lazy and a real cop out. I am having issues recently with the majority of crime novels that I’ve read and have been marking them down because of poor endings. Maybe it’s because I’ve read that many that it takes a real special ending for a book to blow me away and so I constantly want an ending to surprise me or take my breath away, not be another cliche that has been done to death in countless other crime novels. That said everything about the book I very much enjoyed apart from that ending and so I will be eagerly awaiting book two because I can’t wait to read about Jess again.
Jess Bishop is an intriguing character. Others have pointed out that they don’t like her, but I loved her. She pushes people out, doesn’t let anybody get close and can be a bit standoffish but I think sometimes that’s one of the only ways to ensure you don’t get hurt. I don’t let anyone get too close to me who I don’t know or who I wouldn’t expect to hurt me and am quite standoffish with a lot of people so she did remind me a little of myself at times. That said, I’ve never experienced anything like the trauma that Jess did when she was a child and so that went some way to explaining why she was that way. As the book progressed she went on a little bit of a journey and her attitude to sex, or rather her need for sex, didn’t make me see her in a negative way either because I hate the stereotypical view where men can sleep around and yet woman can’t because it makes them sluts. She loves sex and is unapologetic about it and that was refreshing to read. At the same time though her need for it and why she wanted it was at times a little unhealthy but that’s all to do with her past.
The last few crime novels I have read have focused on one city but here Jess is an FBI Agent and so there’s a much more complicated and across state lines investigation to get to grips with. Kierney Scott writes graphically, whether it’s in the sex scenes with the removal and disposal of a condom from a character’s flaccid penis (was that necessary?) or the descriptions of the mutilated women who have been left abandoned in various US states with their heads taken by the killer. Forget Me Not is a gripping read following this investigation and watching the agents try and put all of the puzzle pieces together to look for connections and to ultimately find the person responsible for these brutal murders.
Characterisation is incredibly strong here not only with Jess but also the people that she interacts with. Whilst she comes across as a strong and formidable agent, there’s times where we see a more vulnerable side to her which I felt helped to humanise her a bit more. Had she been cold and standoffish the whole way through then she would remain for most readers as an unlikeable character but we get to really understand her feelings and thought processes as the book progresses. In terms of the romantic decisions that she makes I too fell head over heels for one of the main characters, he oozed sex appeal and I was only left jealous that it was Jess’s clothes he was ripping off and not mine. Anyway, blame Kierney for all of that. And there’s more I want to say about this but I must keep it zipped.
The actual plot I felt flowed brilliantly. I had a few ideas knocking around in my head about who the killer might be and whilst I didn’t work everything out, when the big reveal arrived I rolled my eyes and asked myself how I hadn’t worked it out. I thought to myself, really? I’ve just spent all that time reading a book and this is the ending I have to accept? Whilst I can see that this might be a fantastic ending for some readers and they will express surprise at not seeing it coming, I felt it was incredibly lazy and a real cop out. I am having issues recently with the majority of crime novels that I’ve read and have been marking them down because of poor endings. Maybe it’s because I’ve read that many that it takes a real special ending for a book to blow me away and so I constantly want an ending to surprise me or take my breath away, not be another cliche that has been done to death in countless other crime novels. That said everything about the book I very much enjoyed apart from that ending and so I will be eagerly awaiting book two because I can’t wait to read about Jess again.
Read
November 24, 2017I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it kept me at the edge of my seat. It took me a little bit to warm up to the main character but I felt I could understand more as the story progressed. The plot kept me guessing what was going to happen next and this book was definitely out of the ordinary. I was excited to finish this book but also didn’t want to end, so this was the great recipe for a page turner. Some might be put of by some of the characters and I was for a little while but overall fully enjoyed this book. Highly recommended!
I recieved this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I recieved this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2017
A thoroughly engaging and addictive serial killer thriller here from Kierney Scott, with an interesting and nicely layered main protagonist who has an intriguing and well imagined obfuscated background that keeps you on board with her even through her rather ill considered choices.
Now You See Me is a great book one for a potentially exciting series to come, whilst I'm not sure I saw anything particularly new or improved on the genre here that isn't a problem because if you love this type of story then you are going to love THIS story. I've always been a fan of FBI and murder mystery related storytelling and this is a very very good example.
One I'm adding to my must read list, for those times I want a good, distracting and (strangely) comforting read that I know I'll enjoy all the way - I look forward to finding out more about Jessica now we have been introduced to her and her motivations.
Recommended for crime lovers.
Now You See Me is a great book one for a potentially exciting series to come, whilst I'm not sure I saw anything particularly new or improved on the genre here that isn't a problem because if you love this type of story then you are going to love THIS story. I've always been a fan of FBI and murder mystery related storytelling and this is a very very good example.
One I'm adding to my must read list, for those times I want a good, distracting and (strangely) comforting read that I know I'll enjoy all the way - I look forward to finding out more about Jessica now we have been introduced to her and her motivations.
Recommended for crime lovers.
December 10, 2017
Well... It has been a long time since I finished a book and said: "That's it? Where's the rest? How...?" Can't wait to read the next book of the series!! The story and characters were so well-defined that I WAS Jess. I was living her life with her, living her fears, her joys, her issues... and suspected the same persons that she did.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-copy of the book!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-copy of the book!
November 21, 2017
In brief - I'm not quite sure about this one, pacey and wouldn't have stopped reading it but not convinced maybe.
This is the first book in a series about Jess Bishop, an FBI agent, and the cases she handles. This one is about a serial killer who dismembers women's bodies and appears to keep the heads. Jess has had a partner for a couple of years now, Chan, however early on in this story her previous partner of 10 years, Jamison, reappears. He was very close to Jess but has been on undercover operations. The story follows the twists and turns in the investigation as well as drawing out aspects of Jess's personal history.
It has to be said that, as this story does cover violent killings and dismemberment, there will be some who may not want to read this. I guess it wasn't quite to my taste however it was not offensive to me. I certainly found Jess a likeable character and she was interesting too. I'm not quite sure I found her fully convincing though. The damage that is in her past affects her present behaviour - so far no problem. However I'm unconvinced that she would have been accepted by the FBI I guess. The other characters are ok however some were not really fleshed out in the course of the book. That left me feeling that I wanted to know more about them and take them beyond two dimensions.
While this book is about catching a serial killer it seemed as though a fair amount of the narrative was taken up with the personal lives of the agents. I'm not sure that that balance worked for me though I can see why the story was written like that.
I have slightly mixed feelings about this book. I certainly would not have put it down and left it unfinished. Equally though it didn't fully satisfy me. Personally I'd like a prequel covering Jess's earlier life and her interactions with some of the other important characters in this, her boss would be an obvious one as would be the other person she is friendly with at work. I'm torn as to whether I'd read another but on balance I probably would. Not the best I've read but quite a way from being the worst. 3.5/5 for me.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
http://viewson.org.uk/thriller/now-se...
This is the first book in a series about Jess Bishop, an FBI agent, and the cases she handles. This one is about a serial killer who dismembers women's bodies and appears to keep the heads. Jess has had a partner for a couple of years now, Chan, however early on in this story her previous partner of 10 years, Jamison, reappears. He was very close to Jess but has been on undercover operations. The story follows the twists and turns in the investigation as well as drawing out aspects of Jess's personal history.
It has to be said that, as this story does cover violent killings and dismemberment, there will be some who may not want to read this. I guess it wasn't quite to my taste however it was not offensive to me. I certainly found Jess a likeable character and she was interesting too. I'm not quite sure I found her fully convincing though. The damage that is in her past affects her present behaviour - so far no problem. However I'm unconvinced that she would have been accepted by the FBI I guess. The other characters are ok however some were not really fleshed out in the course of the book. That left me feeling that I wanted to know more about them and take them beyond two dimensions.
While this book is about catching a serial killer it seemed as though a fair amount of the narrative was taken up with the personal lives of the agents. I'm not sure that that balance worked for me though I can see why the story was written like that.
I have slightly mixed feelings about this book. I certainly would not have put it down and left it unfinished. Equally though it didn't fully satisfy me. Personally I'd like a prequel covering Jess's earlier life and her interactions with some of the other important characters in this, her boss would be an obvious one as would be the other person she is friendly with at work. I'm torn as to whether I'd read another but on balance I probably would. Not the best I've read but quite a way from being the worst. 3.5/5 for me.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
http://viewson.org.uk/thriller/now-se...
November 15, 2017
Hmm. I've had some pretty excellent luck lately with trying new-to-me lady authors in the crime and mystery genre and I had hoped to add Scott to that list after reading the synopsis of this one. But alas I'll have to see what book two in the Detective Jess Bishop series brings; though I'm not writing her off just yet.
There was nothing worse than seeing death firsthand; it was like being violently assaulted by your own mortality.
NOW YOU SEE ME has a creepy awful mystery that I would have enjoyed more if not for the protagonist. Jess has a dark backstory that doesn't get revealed, only teased, until about the 75% mark. It was one of the many frustrating things about her. But the bonus to said backstory was it wasn't at all what I thought it would be -- it was better. That said, Jess' behaviour mirrors that of a lot of gritty female protagonists in this genre; emotionally stunted or damaged from past whatever, tough as nails, and has a tendency to avoid intimate connections in favour of random meaningless sex. Normally I'm totally okay with this but the author was a little heavyhanded and awkward with it and it made Jess even more unlikeable than she already was having been given the unfortunate role as special FBI snowflake.
In addition, Scott's writing was really big on the telling instead of showing, spelling all sorts of facts and behaviours and backstory out in dialogue instead of exposition. As a result, a lot of the interplay between characters was awkward and clunky and it made it hard to connect to the dynamics of the cast. Made worse by an ex-partner of Jess' coming back into the fold and having to watch them dance around each other and try to adapt to their old routine while bantering about the good ol' days in ways no one actually would banter.
I'll be honest. I almost DNF'd this after the first chapter. It does get better but there's more bad than good because the mystery is overrun by the personal drama between the two main FBI agents. Normally I like my mystery to take more of a center stage and that isn't the case here. Based on how book one in this series wraps up, and all that's left unresolved, I would be interested in reading on. But book two would definitely be the make or break in this series and/or author for me.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
There was nothing worse than seeing death firsthand; it was like being violently assaulted by your own mortality.
NOW YOU SEE ME has a creepy awful mystery that I would have enjoyed more if not for the protagonist. Jess has a dark backstory that doesn't get revealed, only teased, until about the 75% mark. It was one of the many frustrating things about her. But the bonus to said backstory was it wasn't at all what I thought it would be -- it was better. That said, Jess' behaviour mirrors that of a lot of gritty female protagonists in this genre; emotionally stunted or damaged from past whatever, tough as nails, and has a tendency to avoid intimate connections in favour of random meaningless sex. Normally I'm totally okay with this but the author was a little heavyhanded and awkward with it and it made Jess even more unlikeable than she already was having been given the unfortunate role as special FBI snowflake.
In addition, Scott's writing was really big on the telling instead of showing, spelling all sorts of facts and behaviours and backstory out in dialogue instead of exposition. As a result, a lot of the interplay between characters was awkward and clunky and it made it hard to connect to the dynamics of the cast. Made worse by an ex-partner of Jess' coming back into the fold and having to watch them dance around each other and try to adapt to their old routine while bantering about the good ol' days in ways no one actually would banter.
I'll be honest. I almost DNF'd this after the first chapter. It does get better but there's more bad than good because the mystery is overrun by the personal drama between the two main FBI agents. Normally I like my mystery to take more of a center stage and that isn't the case here. Based on how book one in this series wraps up, and all that's left unresolved, I would be interested in reading on. But book two would definitely be the make or break in this series and/or author for me.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
March 23, 2018
3.5 Stars
FBI Special Agent Jessica Bishop has a secret past that most people don't know. While investigating female bodies found dismembered and headless, the similarities between them and her past are troubling, to say the least.
It's been many years and she still has panic attacks thinking about the pain and humiliation she suffered as a child. The nightmares are coming nightly. Her best friend and partner, Jamison, had more or less deserted her. He left some time ago to work undercover ... but now he's back and has secrets of his own.
As more women disappear and bodies are later found, Jess and Jamison are in a race to find the killer before anyone else disappears. But are the personal issues between the two of them blinding Jess to the danger which is much closer than she thinks?
I normally like flawed characters, but Jess seems to go a step beyond. I can't imagine that the FBI or any law enforcement would not require some therapy for Jess ... especially as she carries a gun and comes across as unstable at times. Jamison is also not without a secretive past flaws of his own. I liked Chan, Jess' partner while Jamison was gone. He's not the nicest person around, but he comes across as more credible than the others.
The ending was well done and came as an explosive surprise. I look forward to reading the next book featuring Jessica ....CROSS YOUR HEART.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
FBI Special Agent Jessica Bishop has a secret past that most people don't know. While investigating female bodies found dismembered and headless, the similarities between them and her past are troubling, to say the least.
It's been many years and she still has panic attacks thinking about the pain and humiliation she suffered as a child. The nightmares are coming nightly. Her best friend and partner, Jamison, had more or less deserted her. He left some time ago to work undercover ... but now he's back and has secrets of his own.
As more women disappear and bodies are later found, Jess and Jamison are in a race to find the killer before anyone else disappears. But are the personal issues between the two of them blinding Jess to the danger which is much closer than she thinks?
I normally like flawed characters, but Jess seems to go a step beyond. I can't imagine that the FBI or any law enforcement would not require some therapy for Jess ... especially as she carries a gun and comes across as unstable at times. Jamison is also not without a secretive past flaws of his own. I liked Chan, Jess' partner while Jamison was gone. He's not the nicest person around, but he comes across as more credible than the others.
The ending was well done and came as an explosive surprise. I look forward to reading the next book featuring Jessica ....CROSS YOUR HEART.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 27, 2017
I often tell myself I really don’t need a new series in my life but when one pops up that sounds as good as this one, I just can’t help myself. And I can already tell you right now that I’ll be keeping an eye on this one in future.
Now You See Me introduces us to Jess Bishop, who works for the FBI. That bit right there already sold it to me as I really enjoy all things FBI. Their investigations don’t stop at state borders, widening the scenery but also the suspect pool. In fact in this story, we go from Washington D.C with all its memorable buildings, to the bayou in Louisiana, where the dismembered body of Lydia Stein is found. She’s not the first woman to be found murdered like that so it’s obvious early on, we’re dealing with a serial killer here.
Jess has one of the most fascinating backstories I’ve ever read but I’m not going to tell you anything about that. To this day, it affects her in the choices and decisions she makes, her view on relationships, the way she sees things. She makes for one fantastic main character but the whole team is brilliant. It reminded me of the tv show “Criminal Minds”, without the profiling. A varied and diverse cast that somehow manages to work together to solve a case. There’s Jeanie, the boss, for instance. You never quite know what she’s thinking. Tina is the computer genius. Briggs has just returned from a stint undercover. Chan is sort of the funny one but also a bit of a troublemaker. And there’s even a psychologist.
As for chasing the serial killer, the investigation had me on the edge of my seat. Nothing links these women and there’s no way of knowing when the killer will strike again, or where, or where his next victim will be found. There is no doubt though that he will not stop on his own and he needs to be caught. And that’s all I’m saying about that too. I know, I’m a tease but really, you need to read this yourself and find yourself as engrossed as I was.
This is just a fabulous start to a new series. Utterly gripping and compelling! If this one is anything to go by, I have zero doubt this series is going to be an absolute corker and I can’t wait to read the next instalment!
Now You See Me introduces us to Jess Bishop, who works for the FBI. That bit right there already sold it to me as I really enjoy all things FBI. Their investigations don’t stop at state borders, widening the scenery but also the suspect pool. In fact in this story, we go from Washington D.C with all its memorable buildings, to the bayou in Louisiana, where the dismembered body of Lydia Stein is found. She’s not the first woman to be found murdered like that so it’s obvious early on, we’re dealing with a serial killer here.
Jess has one of the most fascinating backstories I’ve ever read but I’m not going to tell you anything about that. To this day, it affects her in the choices and decisions she makes, her view on relationships, the way she sees things. She makes for one fantastic main character but the whole team is brilliant. It reminded me of the tv show “Criminal Minds”, without the profiling. A varied and diverse cast that somehow manages to work together to solve a case. There’s Jeanie, the boss, for instance. You never quite know what she’s thinking. Tina is the computer genius. Briggs has just returned from a stint undercover. Chan is sort of the funny one but also a bit of a troublemaker. And there’s even a psychologist.
As for chasing the serial killer, the investigation had me on the edge of my seat. Nothing links these women and there’s no way of knowing when the killer will strike again, or where, or where his next victim will be found. There is no doubt though that he will not stop on his own and he needs to be caught. And that’s all I’m saying about that too. I know, I’m a tease but really, you need to read this yourself and find yourself as engrossed as I was.
This is just a fabulous start to a new series. Utterly gripping and compelling! If this one is anything to go by, I have zero doubt this series is going to be an absolute corker and I can’t wait to read the next instalment!
January 10, 2018
FBI Detective Jess Bishop is working the case of a serial killer. The killer's style is the same as an old case that Jess has spent years trying to forget. While she searches for the killer, she tries to cope with unpleasant memories from her past and deal with current personal drama. Her old partner, Jamison, has returned to the FBI and they are reassigned as partners. This brings complications into Jess's professional and personal life.
An interesting crime mystery novel. The mystery part of this book was a very entertaining read, so a great book for fans of FBI mystery stories. I was not a fan of the personal drama in Jess's life, mainly the drama between her and Jamison.
Jess was smart, but damaged. She definitely had some personality quirks, which made her somewhat unlikeable. Mainly, she was struggling with personal issues, some of which were not that interesting. However, she was a smart and solid agent when it came to solving cases.
A nitpicky complaint - the main character is Jessica, who goes by Jess, except for one person calls her Jessie. I didn't like the going back and forth between Jessica and Jess. Pick one and stick with it. This probably bothered me more than it should have.
A smart and gritty crime mystery. I'll likely read more of this series.
I received a copy of this book from Bookouture and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
An interesting crime mystery novel. The mystery part of this book was a very entertaining read, so a great book for fans of FBI mystery stories. I was not a fan of the personal drama in Jess's life, mainly the drama between her and Jamison.
Jess was smart, but damaged. She definitely had some personality quirks, which made her somewhat unlikeable. Mainly, she was struggling with personal issues, some of which were not that interesting. However, she was a smart and solid agent when it came to solving cases.
A nitpicky complaint - the main character is Jessica, who goes by Jess, except for one person calls her Jessie. I didn't like the going back and forth between Jessica and Jess. Pick one and stick with it. This probably bothered me more than it should have.
A smart and gritty crime mystery. I'll likely read more of this series.
I received a copy of this book from Bookouture and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2018
2.5. - I was captivated by the synopsis of Forget Me Not. I love serial killer thrillers and I thought this would be one that I would really enjoy. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way for me. I had a hard time liking the characters and some parts of the story just didn’t hold my interest. I wish that there was more focus on the case at hand rather than the main character’s relationships and the drama in her life. Things did pick up towards the end but overall I wasn’t thrilled with it.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Kierney Scott for the opportunity to read Forget Me Not. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Kierney Scott for the opportunity to read Forget Me Not. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.
November 28, 2017
Now You See Me” starts with a bang, a killer hook prologue that tells you that the bad guy is just going to be one of the #baddest guys out there. We are talking pure psychopath material here, this guy has no empathy or remorse. This guy is going for the kill and that scene where he is sitting in the car practising a smile so as to get it just right, tingled my spine from top to bottom!
You know that way you read a book as though a movie is playing out in your head? You do? Well, I have just read a bumper episode of Criminal Minds with an added OOMPH! This book deserves all the #OMFGs as it grabbed me in from the start, chewed me up and spat me out at the other end crying for more!
Caught up in an investigation with chilling similarities to her past, Detective Jess Bishop is struggling to hold herself together. Only one man knows the truth about her past and it looks like she might have been wrong to place her trust in him. With the body count rising and the clock ticking will Jess have to lay her soul bare to ensure the killer is caught? A tense and fast-paced, and may I say perfectly executed, the plot kept me on tenterhooks all the way through it!
“Now You See Me” not only has a heart-racing plot, it is also an exceptional character-driven novel; I found myself getting right under the skin of Jess and Jamison, or rather I should say they got right under my skin. The tension and chemistry between the two of them was electrifying, it was magnetic. Both of them have secrets, secrets they want to keep buried. Both of them know each other’s secrets and this can either work to strengthen or compromise their relationship. When Jamison returns from his undercover assignment, Jess is thrown into turmoil; her feelings for him are conflicted and she doesn’t know how to deal with it. When he announces his wedding she is sure that he is making the worst decision ever but is this because she just cares for him as a partner in a professional sense or is there something more?
As a character, Jess is complex, her secrets haunt her every single day and she lives in fear of them becoming public. We are told her story in a series of flashbacks and only then do we realise what drives Jess to behave the way that she does. She has a fear of becoming close to anyone, she does not want that intimacy a relationship would bring and to her sex is just a means of numbing herself to the pain. In “Now You See Me” her defences are shaken as she is introduced to Matt, could he be the one to make her change her mind? Don’t let all this emotional stuff put you off and make you be thinking that this is just some bodice-busting steamy read – oh, no way is it that – this is a burrowed right inside your head and screw your mind up kind of read; the psychological delving will satisfy the most inquisitive of readers believe me.
Jess, quietly focused, doesn’t do small talk and is prepared to act the “dumb girlie” to get what she needs but don’t be fooled by this act, she can cut you to shreds in seconds if required. Her whole wellbeing is thrown into chaos in this investigation though, as it becomes clear to her that there is a link to her past and this makes for dark and disturbing reading!
Jamison, well here comes a new character crush that’s for sure! Remember I said Criminal Minds, well I think I just found myself a fictional Morgan! Be still my beating heart! This is a man with a past, a man who has just come back from an undercover assignment and seen and done some dark deeds. Just how much has it affected him and how much of his past is he willing to share with anyone other than Jess?
Agent Chan was partnered with Jess while Jamison was on undercover duty. He is a bit of a ladies man and rather shallow it has to be said but watch out for his interview skills, this man is a showman and he might be a bit of an ass at times but the scene where he is interviewing one of the suspects is on point!
And a mention has to go to Tina, a white collar worker in the FBI she has just been transferred to Jess’ team; she is the IT whizz kid and someone that Jess connects with; she had to be my Penelope in the book! She is one person that Jess could see a friendship developing with and I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes as the series develops.
Now obviously as well as exceptional characters, Now You See Me also has an ingenious plot. It is dark, it is disturbing and without giving any spoilers away it will keep you engrossed right until the very end! So many twists, turns and red herrings that you are going to be twisted like a corkscrew by the time you put this book down! It gives you secrets and lies and dysfunctional families and relationships that are taken to a whole new level beyond Jeremy Kyle or Jerry Springer level! These guys are off the wall dysfunctional!
If you like your serial killers twisted, your relationships screwed up and a read that will have you gripped to the point your skin wrinkles in the bath as you cannot get out until you finish the book then “Now You See Me” is one for you! A read that will pick away at your brains and leave you reeling! Do not miss it!
You know that way you read a book as though a movie is playing out in your head? You do? Well, I have just read a bumper episode of Criminal Minds with an added OOMPH! This book deserves all the #OMFGs as it grabbed me in from the start, chewed me up and spat me out at the other end crying for more!
Caught up in an investigation with chilling similarities to her past, Detective Jess Bishop is struggling to hold herself together. Only one man knows the truth about her past and it looks like she might have been wrong to place her trust in him. With the body count rising and the clock ticking will Jess have to lay her soul bare to ensure the killer is caught? A tense and fast-paced, and may I say perfectly executed, the plot kept me on tenterhooks all the way through it!
“Now You See Me” not only has a heart-racing plot, it is also an exceptional character-driven novel; I found myself getting right under the skin of Jess and Jamison, or rather I should say they got right under my skin. The tension and chemistry between the two of them was electrifying, it was magnetic. Both of them have secrets, secrets they want to keep buried. Both of them know each other’s secrets and this can either work to strengthen or compromise their relationship. When Jamison returns from his undercover assignment, Jess is thrown into turmoil; her feelings for him are conflicted and she doesn’t know how to deal with it. When he announces his wedding she is sure that he is making the worst decision ever but is this because she just cares for him as a partner in a professional sense or is there something more?
As a character, Jess is complex, her secrets haunt her every single day and she lives in fear of them becoming public. We are told her story in a series of flashbacks and only then do we realise what drives Jess to behave the way that she does. She has a fear of becoming close to anyone, she does not want that intimacy a relationship would bring and to her sex is just a means of numbing herself to the pain. In “Now You See Me” her defences are shaken as she is introduced to Matt, could he be the one to make her change her mind? Don’t let all this emotional stuff put you off and make you be thinking that this is just some bodice-busting steamy read – oh, no way is it that – this is a burrowed right inside your head and screw your mind up kind of read; the psychological delving will satisfy the most inquisitive of readers believe me.
Jess, quietly focused, doesn’t do small talk and is prepared to act the “dumb girlie” to get what she needs but don’t be fooled by this act, she can cut you to shreds in seconds if required. Her whole wellbeing is thrown into chaos in this investigation though, as it becomes clear to her that there is a link to her past and this makes for dark and disturbing reading!
Jamison, well here comes a new character crush that’s for sure! Remember I said Criminal Minds, well I think I just found myself a fictional Morgan! Be still my beating heart! This is a man with a past, a man who has just come back from an undercover assignment and seen and done some dark deeds. Just how much has it affected him and how much of his past is he willing to share with anyone other than Jess?
Agent Chan was partnered with Jess while Jamison was on undercover duty. He is a bit of a ladies man and rather shallow it has to be said but watch out for his interview skills, this man is a showman and he might be a bit of an ass at times but the scene where he is interviewing one of the suspects is on point!
And a mention has to go to Tina, a white collar worker in the FBI she has just been transferred to Jess’ team; she is the IT whizz kid and someone that Jess connects with; she had to be my Penelope in the book! She is one person that Jess could see a friendship developing with and I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes as the series develops.
Now obviously as well as exceptional characters, Now You See Me also has an ingenious plot. It is dark, it is disturbing and without giving any spoilers away it will keep you engrossed right until the very end! So many twists, turns and red herrings that you are going to be twisted like a corkscrew by the time you put this book down! It gives you secrets and lies and dysfunctional families and relationships that are taken to a whole new level beyond Jeremy Kyle or Jerry Springer level! These guys are off the wall dysfunctional!
If you like your serial killers twisted, your relationships screwed up and a read that will have you gripped to the point your skin wrinkles in the bath as you cannot get out until you finish the book then “Now You See Me” is one for you! A read that will pick away at your brains and leave you reeling! Do not miss it!
November 22, 2017
Jessica (Jess) Bishop is an intelligent, brash, emotionally stunted, by the book FBI agent. She surrounds herself with high walls to keep people from getting too close, physically and emotionally. Even the two people she has let in don’t know all her secrets. She uses sex with random strangers to numb herself to all her emotions.
Jamison was her partner for 8 years before he left to go undercover for 2 years. They were best friends. When he returns, he and Jess struggle to find their balance again.
The ending was cathartic for Jess and opened her eyes to the consequences of her current behaviors, actions and outlook on life.
I figured out early on who the serial killer was and how he was getting to his victims. It was easy to recognize the twists thrown in in an attempt to confuse the reader and have them second guessing or unsure about who the killer was.
The first half of this book feels like you have been dropped into the middle of a series instead of the beginning of one. Many characters introduced and multiple things insinuated, but no details given. This book would have been better if there had been a prequel that gave more information; about Jess’ childhood, what her life was like after the huge incident that altered the course of her life at a young age, how she got to be an agent, how she and Jamison were partnered and we witnessed their bond growing and developing over the years. Also, what led Jamison to go undercover and full disclosure of his family history. There was just too much missing information to make this a smooth read.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I’m left with an abundance of questions about so many things. I would definitely read the next book just to see where the author takes this cast of characters and to see if we are given any more background.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
Jamison was her partner for 8 years before he left to go undercover for 2 years. They were best friends. When he returns, he and Jess struggle to find their balance again.
The ending was cathartic for Jess and opened her eyes to the consequences of her current behaviors, actions and outlook on life.
I figured out early on who the serial killer was and how he was getting to his victims. It was easy to recognize the twists thrown in in an attempt to confuse the reader and have them second guessing or unsure about who the killer was.
The first half of this book feels like you have been dropped into the middle of a series instead of the beginning of one. Many characters introduced and multiple things insinuated, but no details given. This book would have been better if there had been a prequel that gave more information; about Jess’ childhood, what her life was like after the huge incident that altered the course of her life at a young age, how she got to be an agent, how she and Jamison were partnered and we witnessed their bond growing and developing over the years. Also, what led Jamison to go undercover and full disclosure of his family history. There was just too much missing information to make this a smooth read.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I’m left with an abundance of questions about so many things. I would definitely read the next book just to see where the author takes this cast of characters and to see if we are given any more background.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
November 26, 2017
*4.25 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jessica Bishop is an FBI agent. She is currently working on a case where the victims’ limbs and heads are cut off.
Part of the ritual of the killer reminds her of something in her past.
As the story goes, we learn more and more about that past.
I enjoyed this book a lot. Even though it felt pretty short, I still felt deep connections to the characters, especially Jess.
I really liked her, her spirit and even her faults. I was rooting for her from beginning to end. The friendships she had to other women in the book were pretty great and well built. As were her other relationships, workwise or personal-wise.
I liked the case storyline as much as I liked every personal thing that was going on with Jess.
The case part was really captivating. I had my own theories but couldn’t really pick between two main choices until the killer was revealed...
I also really liked how the book was built, how we sometimes had other point of views.
I could not put this book down. I’m really looking forward to a sequel, I can’t wait to see more of these great characters!
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jessica Bishop is an FBI agent. She is currently working on a case where the victims’ limbs and heads are cut off.
Part of the ritual of the killer reminds her of something in her past.
As the story goes, we learn more and more about that past.
I enjoyed this book a lot. Even though it felt pretty short, I still felt deep connections to the characters, especially Jess.
I really liked her, her spirit and even her faults. I was rooting for her from beginning to end. The friendships she had to other women in the book were pretty great and well built. As were her other relationships, workwise or personal-wise.
I liked the case storyline as much as I liked every personal thing that was going on with Jess.
The case part was really captivating. I had my own theories but couldn’t really pick between two main choices until the killer was revealed...
I also really liked how the book was built, how we sometimes had other point of views.
I could not put this book down. I’m really looking forward to a sequel, I can’t wait to see more of these great characters!
November 30, 2017
This sounded like a book that fitted nicely into the category of books I enjoy. I'd heard a lot of good things about it so I was quite looking forward to it. Sadly I found it disappointing. I think this was mainly the fact that I found it very difficult to like any of the characters, particularly Jess Bishop.She has obviously had a bad time. She is totally unable to form good trusting relationships with anyone. If I had been unfortunate enough to be partnered with her I would feel very insecure!
The story is fast paced and well written, although I have to admit I did guess whodunnit and those who follow my reviews know that is not a common occurrence!
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this. Somehow I don't think I'll bother with the next one.
The story is fast paced and well written, although I have to admit I did guess whodunnit and those who follow my reviews know that is not a common occurrence!
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this. Somehow I don't think I'll bother with the next one.
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