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The Husbands
A BREATHTAKING CRIME THRILLER FULL OF SHOCKING TWISTS AND TURNS
He kills their wives. He destroys their families. Then he comes after the husbands. “Do you want to know who killed your wife?” he asks.
Kelly Roth, FBI profiler, returns home to Syracuse to stop a sadistic serial killer. Three murders in three separate jurisdictions in central New York State have the same pattern: women killed by fatal headshots from a hunting rifle. Kelly Roth is sent from Virginia to help the local police.
Each victim was found murdered in a remote area or in a quiet park. The media call him “The Park Killer.” But Kelly doesn’t think the killer lurks in the bushes. She thinks he hunts his victims somewhere else.
But is he really contacting the bereaved husbands or is this a cover for their own guilt? Kelly will risk her own life in a heart-stopping race against time to stop more murders and find out the truth.
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO DISCOVER WHO KILLED YOUR WIFE?
If you like Jeffery Deaver, Linwood Barclay, Lisa Unger, Kendra Elliot, or JD Robb you will enjoy this compelling new mystery novel.
The book is set in New York State, an area the author brings to life with compelling detail based on his local knowledge.
ALSO BY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR T.J. BREARTON HABIT SURVIVORS DAYBREAK BLACK SOUL DEAD GONE TRUTH OR DEAD GONE DARK WEB DARK KILLS
He kills their wives. He destroys their families. Then he comes after the husbands. “Do you want to know who killed your wife?” he asks.
Kelly Roth, FBI profiler, returns home to Syracuse to stop a sadistic serial killer. Three murders in three separate jurisdictions in central New York State have the same pattern: women killed by fatal headshots from a hunting rifle. Kelly Roth is sent from Virginia to help the local police.
Each victim was found murdered in a remote area or in a quiet park. The media call him “The Park Killer.” But Kelly doesn’t think the killer lurks in the bushes. She thinks he hunts his victims somewhere else.
But is he really contacting the bereaved husbands or is this a cover for their own guilt? Kelly will risk her own life in a heart-stopping race against time to stop more murders and find out the truth.
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO DISCOVER WHO KILLED YOUR WIFE?
If you like Jeffery Deaver, Linwood Barclay, Lisa Unger, Kendra Elliot, or JD Robb you will enjoy this compelling new mystery novel.
The book is set in New York State, an area the author brings to life with compelling detail based on his local knowledge.
ALSO BY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR T.J. BREARTON HABIT SURVIVORS DAYBREAK BLACK SOUL DEAD GONE TRUTH OR DEAD GONE DARK WEB DARK KILLS
291 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2019
1637 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Brearton
46 books387 followersTimothy James Brearton lives in the Adirondack Mountains with his wife and three children. He's loved thrillers and police stories for most of his life. HABIT follows broken cop Brendan Healy down the rabbit hole of a human trafficking conspiracy. DEAD GONE delivers Florida cop Tom Lange into a criminal underworld and THE KILLING TIME introduces FBI agent Shannon Ames, a country girl in the big city.
http://tjbrearton.net/about
http://tjbrearton.net/about
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
March 5, 2019
"In this life you have to move forward. It's the only way."
FBI profiler Kelly Roth has returned to her hometown of Syracuse, New York to stop a serial killer who kills married women (and sometimes their children) and then targets their grieving husbands. Each woman was killed by a fatal gunshot to the head in remote parks and their killer is eventually dubbed the "park killer". Kelly has her own issues with returning to Syracuse and must put them behind her in order to work on this case
“Do you want to know who killed your wife?”
Then he contacts the women's husbands. Grieving men who want to know why, why was their wife was murdered? Who was the killer? Why is he taunting them? Hasn't he done enough? What if anything, do the women have in common? Were the wives the intended victims or were their grieving husbands? The women were killed fast, the men are made to suffer.
I found this to be a fast and entertaining read. I had several theories while reading this book and was fooled. Ha! I love when that happens. We also get small glimpses into the killer’s mind which is always interesting and works well with this story. The killer says some interesting things to one of the husbands which had me scratching my head. Hmmm…is this killer some new age philosophical killer? Between you and me, I prefer a creepy sadistic serial killer over one who is going to pontificate his way-out-there deep thoughts to me that one needs a Ph.D. to decipher. But then again, where did these thoughts come from? Agent Kelly Roth is rushing against the clock to make sure the killer is caught before more lives are lost. It was fun to tag along as she gave her profile, interviewed witnesses and possible suspects.
By the end of the book, I was certain that I knew the identity of the killer. I had that "aha" moment to only learn that I was wrong, wrong, wrong. So, when the reveal occurred, I was not expecting it. I almost wish the ending had been just a little more shocking, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Heck, I devoured it. I was plugged into the investigation and search for the killer.
Thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
FBI profiler Kelly Roth has returned to her hometown of Syracuse, New York to stop a serial killer who kills married women (and sometimes their children) and then targets their grieving husbands. Each woman was killed by a fatal gunshot to the head in remote parks and their killer is eventually dubbed the "park killer". Kelly has her own issues with returning to Syracuse and must put them behind her in order to work on this case
“Do you want to know who killed your wife?”
Then he contacts the women's husbands. Grieving men who want to know why, why was their wife was murdered? Who was the killer? Why is he taunting them? Hasn't he done enough? What if anything, do the women have in common? Were the wives the intended victims or were their grieving husbands? The women were killed fast, the men are made to suffer.
I found this to be a fast and entertaining read. I had several theories while reading this book and was fooled. Ha! I love when that happens. We also get small glimpses into the killer’s mind which is always interesting and works well with this story. The killer says some interesting things to one of the husbands which had me scratching my head. Hmmm…is this killer some new age philosophical killer? Between you and me, I prefer a creepy sadistic serial killer over one who is going to pontificate his way-out-there deep thoughts to me that one needs a Ph.D. to decipher. But then again, where did these thoughts come from? Agent Kelly Roth is rushing against the clock to make sure the killer is caught before more lives are lost. It was fun to tag along as she gave her profile, interviewed witnesses and possible suspects.
By the end of the book, I was certain that I knew the identity of the killer. I had that "aha" moment to only learn that I was wrong, wrong, wrong. So, when the reveal occurred, I was not expecting it. I almost wish the ending had been just a little more shocking, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Heck, I devoured it. I was plugged into the investigation and search for the killer.
Thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 6, 2019
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4
He kills their wife's. He destroys their families. Then he comes after the husbands. Jelly Roth, FBI Profiler, returns home to Syracuse to stop a sadistic serial killer. Three murders in three separate jurisdictions in a central New York State. Kelly has been sent from Virginia to help the local police. Each victim was found murdered in a remote area or a quiet park.
The media have called him "The Park Killer". Does the perpetrator wait in parks on the off chance of finding his next victim or does he have another way of deciding who his next victim will be? A killer who shoots his victims from a hunting rifle, then contacts the bereaved husbands telling them he killed their wife. I liked this storyline and the characters seemed true to life. These murders could have happened anyplace in the world. Kelly is fighting her own demons as she helps to investigate these murders. I quite liked this page turning novel that kept me turning the pages until I found out who and why these murders were happening.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author T.J. Brearton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
He kills their wife's. He destroys their families. Then he comes after the husbands. Jelly Roth, FBI Profiler, returns home to Syracuse to stop a sadistic serial killer. Three murders in three separate jurisdictions in a central New York State. Kelly has been sent from Virginia to help the local police. Each victim was found murdered in a remote area or a quiet park.
The media have called him "The Park Killer". Does the perpetrator wait in parks on the off chance of finding his next victim or does he have another way of deciding who his next victim will be? A killer who shoots his victims from a hunting rifle, then contacts the bereaved husbands telling them he killed their wife. I liked this storyline and the characters seemed true to life. These murders could have happened anyplace in the world. Kelly is fighting her own demons as she helps to investigate these murders. I quite liked this page turning novel that kept me turning the pages until I found out who and why these murders were happening.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author T.J. Brearton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2019
Kelly Roth, FBI Profiler, has been sent to her small hometown in Nw York. Someone is targeting wives and children and then he targets the husbands.
The sadistic serial killer starts with one woman ... a shotgun blast to the back of her head. The next victim is a pregnant woman. Then comes a woman and her young son. All killed brutally and all the same.
Kelly and local law enforcement have nothing to go on. The victims have nothing in common, there are no clues left behind ... other than bullet casings. The police think this is a deliberate act.
And then come the phone calls. A man calls the husband and wants to know how he's feeling. One husband kills himself ... another hides out in a remote cabin.. another turns to alcohol.
And then it gets real personal for Kelly. And there are more deaths.
This is a well-written crime fiction with several major twists and turns. Is this killer targeting random families? Or is he known to one or more of them? Is this a cover for one of the husbands?
Kelly will risk her own life in a heart-stopping race against time to stop more murders and find out the truth.
Kelly is a terrific character and I enjoyed how the author weaved her backstory into today's killings. There are plenty of suspects with a story premise that keeps you guessing until the very end.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 23, 2019
The Husbands, written by T.J. Brearton, is a tense suspense novel regarding a serial killer who kills women (and sometimes their children) only to torture the husbands afterward by taunting them via text and phone calls. Sometimes I found the pace unbearably slow (mostly the first third of the book), only to see that it picked up and had my attention again. There are twisty plots and layers of plots... The Husbands definitely has layers and layers. My advice is to stick with it through the beginning because it goes deeper and deeper into the secrets behind the characters, including FBI Profiler Kelly Roth. The action in the last half of the book makes up for the slower pace in the beginning and the writing gets tighter as the plot progresses!!!
March 7, 2019
3.5 stars
The Husbands by T.J. Brearton is a psychological thriller
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Joffe Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis:
Three crime sites, in three different jurisdictions of Syracuse NY. All victims were found on, or close to, a park trail. One victim was alone, another pregnant, and another was a woman and her ten year-old son. All dead. One shot to the head by a hunting rifle. The casings are left behind. It appears everyone in the area owns a similar rifle. The pool of suspects is wide. Are the targets women in secluded areas? Are they specific women? How and where are the victims targeted? Are they followed, or will anyone that shows up suffice? So many questions.
FBI Agent Kelly Roth is called in to profile the killer. This is her first time in the field, and although she is a little nervous, she’s been doing this job for a long time behind a desk, and she’s confident. When her opinions differ from the police officers working the cases, her luke-warm reception starts to turn icy. Her boss, however, reassures her, and provides whatever she asks for.
Kelly is sure that the real targets are the husbands. One of them told an officer that he got a text message and then a call from someone that admitted to being his wife’s killer. The officer dismissed this. By the time Kelly found out, the husband had committed suicide. Another of the husband’s has left town for a bit, and the third husband is not saying much. Kelly has her work cut out for her, because she is sure this killer isn’t done.
On a personal level, Kelly doesn’t really want to be back in Syracuse. She is from the area, and past events still haunt her. Facing her family will not be easy.
My Opinions:
I’ve read a couple of other books by T.J. Brearton, and thought they were great, so I was really looking forward to this one.
I really liked the premise of the book, and the character of Kelly was really good in that I could really feel her determination and anxiousness. The other characters were okay, but I just couldn't relate to any of them.
I had sort of guessed the perpetrator part way through, so that was disappointing. As well, although it was generally fast paced, some parts dragged. The explanations about guns and shells went on, and on…
So, overall, I’m on the fence. I liked it, but didn’t love it. It won't, however, stop me from reading more by this author.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
December 17, 2019
I grabbed a copy of
The Husbands
as I have previously read Buried Secrets by
T.J. Brearton,
so I knew I was in for a treat with this one! I am so glad that I did because it transpired to be an amazing, compulsive read and I didn’t want it to end.
Set in New York, the story follows FBI profiler Kelly Roth as she investigates the murders of three women, all killed months apart by a single head shot in remote areas. Protagonist Kelly is a solitary figure by nature, still affected by a traumatic event in her past which caused her to flee many years previously. This is her first trip back to home to Syracuse and Brearton's portrayal of her was so effective that I could almost feel her agony whilst focusing on and committing to the case. Dubbed “The Park Killer” by the media, the reader is privy to little glimpses into the killer's mind. These short but chilling scenes from inside his or her warped psyche and a small taste of what horrors (s)he has planned next, take this thrilling tale to another level.
The Husbands is a slower paced thriller than I had been expecting, however, there is a slow release of events that lead up to a very surprising denouement. The main focus is on the unravelling of a case with no discernible clues, suspects or leads, but instead the case is presented more from a psychological perspective.
I relished that I had no real clue to as to where the investigation was leading, or the outcome of the story until the final reveal, making this incredibly compulsive reading. The way in which T.J. Brearton brings everything to a conclusion is just fabulous and I haven’t got anything negative thing to say about this book. I loved it and it has left me eager to read more from this author. The Husbands is an exciting mystery-thriller that I highly recommend, and a must-read for crime fanatics and for those who love Jeffery Deaver.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Joffe Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Set in New York, the story follows FBI profiler Kelly Roth as she investigates the murders of three women, all killed months apart by a single head shot in remote areas. Protagonist Kelly is a solitary figure by nature, still affected by a traumatic event in her past which caused her to flee many years previously. This is her first trip back to home to Syracuse and Brearton's portrayal of her was so effective that I could almost feel her agony whilst focusing on and committing to the case. Dubbed “The Park Killer” by the media, the reader is privy to little glimpses into the killer's mind. These short but chilling scenes from inside his or her warped psyche and a small taste of what horrors (s)he has planned next, take this thrilling tale to another level.
The Husbands is a slower paced thriller than I had been expecting, however, there is a slow release of events that lead up to a very surprising denouement. The main focus is on the unravelling of a case with no discernible clues, suspects or leads, but instead the case is presented more from a psychological perspective.
I relished that I had no real clue to as to where the investigation was leading, or the outcome of the story until the final reveal, making this incredibly compulsive reading. The way in which T.J. Brearton brings everything to a conclusion is just fabulous and I haven’t got anything negative thing to say about this book. I loved it and it has left me eager to read more from this author. The Husbands is an exciting mystery-thriller that I highly recommend, and a must-read for crime fanatics and for those who love Jeffery Deaver.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Joffe Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
April 3, 2019
"...you can trace all human behavior to love or a lack thereof."
FBI Agent Kelly Roth of the Behavior Science Unit is sent to the town where she grew up to investigate a serial murderer known as the "Park Killer" (all the murders happened in some kind of state or local park). Three women have been killed, one pregnant and also a 10-year-old boy. The killer simply puts a single shot in each victim's head and apparently drives off leaving shell casings and the dead behind where they fell. As she navigates between police departments and the usual turf protectiveness, Kelly finds that the is definitely a case where her training in psychopathology will be put to use as the killer is using some sort of "no free will" manifesto to justify his behavior. As she interviews the devastated husband survivors, it is discovered that the killer is contacting the men and manipulating their minds. In a complicated investigation involving the FBI and local police, Kelly is confounded by contradictory evidence and frustrating interviews. Can they discover the killer's identity and stop him before he takes more victims? NO SPOILERS.
This was an interesting police procedural and crime thriller that focused primarily on the psychological aspects of a person devoid of some of the vital parts of humanity. The notion that pain is all in the mind and that people are reactive rather than liberated by thoughts and that control of anything is an illusion. The novel, however, was filled with characters who were only partially more than one-dimensional and I didn't feel as if Kelly Roth was fully developed. The book focused less on people than on theory to some degree. It was a quick read and I'll probably look for other books by this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.
FBI Agent Kelly Roth of the Behavior Science Unit is sent to the town where she grew up to investigate a serial murderer known as the "Park Killer" (all the murders happened in some kind of state or local park). Three women have been killed, one pregnant and also a 10-year-old boy. The killer simply puts a single shot in each victim's head and apparently drives off leaving shell casings and the dead behind where they fell. As she navigates between police departments and the usual turf protectiveness, Kelly finds that the is definitely a case where her training in psychopathology will be put to use as the killer is using some sort of "no free will" manifesto to justify his behavior. As she interviews the devastated husband survivors, it is discovered that the killer is contacting the men and manipulating their minds. In a complicated investigation involving the FBI and local police, Kelly is confounded by contradictory evidence and frustrating interviews. Can they discover the killer's identity and stop him before he takes more victims? NO SPOILERS.
This was an interesting police procedural and crime thriller that focused primarily on the psychological aspects of a person devoid of some of the vital parts of humanity. The notion that pain is all in the mind and that people are reactive rather than liberated by thoughts and that control of anything is an illusion. The novel, however, was filled with characters who were only partially more than one-dimensional and I didn't feel as if Kelly Roth was fully developed. The book focused less on people than on theory to some degree. It was a quick read and I'll probably look for other books by this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.
March 13, 2019
When a serial killer starts to rack up a body count of married women and any of their children that happen to be with them, there doesn’t seem at first like there is any connection between the families. That is apart from the obvious, they have each been murdered by a single shot and all had either regularly taken short cuts through parks or visited parks with their children. The only other common factor is that they each had a loving husband.
The police department at Syracuse, New York is getting no-where fast so FBI Profiler Kelly Roth, who left her demons there years ago, is assigned to return and help give the police some sort of focus to find the killer. Kelly makes a promise that she won’t leave until the killer is caught, but she has to overcome her personal past if she is to concentrate on the case. Kelly is also battling to be accepted by some of the force, who see her a bad mark that they aren’t doing a good job. The killing of the women and children is only means to an end as the sadistic killer targets the grieving husbands with a deal.
It is obvious from the start that this killer is one pretty damaged, deranged bloke that wants to inflict mental cruelty on the victims that have been left behind, the husbands. His questions are torturous and cruel to these broken men. The author creates an atmosphere in these phone calls that made me feel like it would be impossible to put the phone down on him and although it is a book, the silence only cut into by this man’s voice on the phone seems so eerie, like all other noise doesn’t exist but his voice. Yet when the action is at the police station the pages seem to buzz with noise, everyone trying to find connections or reasons of why these families? What is special about these families that drew the killer to them?
The story and police department seem chaotic to begin with but as Kelly begins to get it together and it takes on a personal edge, then it picks up the pace and channels the team to work in the right direction. I would love to see Kelly return in future books as I had really taken to her by the end.
The police department at Syracuse, New York is getting no-where fast so FBI Profiler Kelly Roth, who left her demons there years ago, is assigned to return and help give the police some sort of focus to find the killer. Kelly makes a promise that she won’t leave until the killer is caught, but she has to overcome her personal past if she is to concentrate on the case. Kelly is also battling to be accepted by some of the force, who see her a bad mark that they aren’t doing a good job. The killing of the women and children is only means to an end as the sadistic killer targets the grieving husbands with a deal.
It is obvious from the start that this killer is one pretty damaged, deranged bloke that wants to inflict mental cruelty on the victims that have been left behind, the husbands. His questions are torturous and cruel to these broken men. The author creates an atmosphere in these phone calls that made me feel like it would be impossible to put the phone down on him and although it is a book, the silence only cut into by this man’s voice on the phone seems so eerie, like all other noise doesn’t exist but his voice. Yet when the action is at the police station the pages seem to buzz with noise, everyone trying to find connections or reasons of why these families? What is special about these families that drew the killer to them?
The story and police department seem chaotic to begin with but as Kelly begins to get it together and it takes on a personal edge, then it picks up the pace and channels the team to work in the right direction. I would love to see Kelly return in future books as I had really taken to her by the end.
November 14, 2019
This serial killer had a hidden agenda. Agent Kelly has to think outside of the box to catch this guy. This was a slightly different spin on psychological suspense.
March 8, 2019
This is a real page turner, about a killer who murders woman and then provokes the husbands and it starts the story with a recently bereaved husband of a murdered woman receiving a text from a person who says he killed her, "how do you feel?" asks the text? What follows is an intricate tale of Kelly Roth, an FBI behavioural analysis agent, who visits the town where a number of women have been murdered and whilst fighting her own demons works this difficult case.
The characters are complex and interesting and it maintained my interest throughout.
Thanks to NetGalley, Joffe Books and TJ Brearton for the opportunity to preview this excellent read in exchange for my honest review.
The characters are complex and interesting and it maintained my interest throughout.
Thanks to NetGalley, Joffe Books and TJ Brearton for the opportunity to preview this excellent read in exchange for my honest review.
March 10, 2019
This is a new psychological thriller by TJ Brearton set in his home town of New York.
Someone is killing wives and children and then taunting the husbands. Kelly, an FBI agent, is sent to investigate. Kelly is an FBI profiler and that means the story is told from an unusual perspective. As Kelly tries to get into the mind of the killer the bodies stack up. How many more will die before her colleagues realise she is right?
With a large pool of victims to choose from and the police fumbling about in the dark the unsub gains confidence and that spells danger.
The characters develop well into realistic complex individuals and the story has plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader intrigued. Maybe not as fast paced as I would like but an engaging read.
Someone is killing wives and children and then taunting the husbands. Kelly, an FBI agent, is sent to investigate. Kelly is an FBI profiler and that means the story is told from an unusual perspective. As Kelly tries to get into the mind of the killer the bodies stack up. How many more will die before her colleagues realise she is right?
With a large pool of victims to choose from and the police fumbling about in the dark the unsub gains confidence and that spells danger.
The characters develop well into realistic complex individuals and the story has plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader intrigued. Maybe not as fast paced as I would like but an engaging read.
May 13, 2019
Intense. Twisted. Riveting. Emotional. Suspenseful. Addictive. Dark. Complex. Jaw-dropping! This book brings it ALL! Truly a MUST for your TBR list!
#TheHusbandsHowFarWouldYouGoToFindOutWhoKilledYourWife #NetGalley
#TheHusbandsHowFarWouldYouGoToFindOutWhoKilledYourWife #NetGalley
March 8, 2019
I could not wait for this book to end! I skimmed half of it because the characters were boring and the story dragged. There was also way too much information on firearms and ballistics throughout the book. Sorry to say I will not be recommending. Thank you netgalley for letting me give an honest review of this book.
November 8, 2019
Hmmm, I’m in two minds about this book. I half enjoyed it, and half found it boring. I couldn’t get to grips with the protagonist, Kelly Roth, she was very morose, sombre and unapproachable. I know she had a painful past, but that wasn’t what this book was about. I just felt like I couldn’t take to her at all.
There were parts of the book that dragged and went into too much detail. Such as the lecture given on guns, I found myself skim reading this section as, although, relevant to the story I don’t feel like that much detail needed to be given.
Something that really grates on my nerves, and I’ve mentioned this for other books are acronyms without an explanation. The first time one is used, it should always have the full version alongside it. It shouldn’t be assumed that the reader knows what they are, especially as the majority in this book were police-related. I’m from the UK, and this is set in America, so I definitely didn’t know half of the terminology used (FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) or course I did) which left me stumbling over the acronyms with no clue what the characters were talking about.
The thing that kept me most interested in this book, however, was the small snippets we were given into the killer’s mind. These were the most fascinating sections, and I kept moving forward, wanting to know who he/she was and why were they doing these awful things.
I guessed who their next target was going to be, but the end of the book fell very flat. The unveiling of the killer felt effortless, and I was left thinking “oh, is that it?” I was expecting a more significant twist, and I felt cheated for having invested in the book for this ending.
I’m still giving this three stars, but this is only because of the suspense that the book built up. I think without the snippets from the killer, this would have been just a two-star read.
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com
There were parts of the book that dragged and went into too much detail. Such as the lecture given on guns, I found myself skim reading this section as, although, relevant to the story I don’t feel like that much detail needed to be given.
Something that really grates on my nerves, and I’ve mentioned this for other books are acronyms without an explanation. The first time one is used, it should always have the full version alongside it. It shouldn’t be assumed that the reader knows what they are, especially as the majority in this book were police-related. I’m from the UK, and this is set in America, so I definitely didn’t know half of the terminology used (FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) or course I did) which left me stumbling over the acronyms with no clue what the characters were talking about.
The thing that kept me most interested in this book, however, was the small snippets we were given into the killer’s mind. These were the most fascinating sections, and I kept moving forward, wanting to know who he/she was and why were they doing these awful things.
I guessed who their next target was going to be, but the end of the book fell very flat. The unveiling of the killer felt effortless, and I was left thinking “oh, is that it?” I was expecting a more significant twist, and I felt cheated for having invested in the book for this ending.
I’m still giving this three stars, but this is only because of the suspense that the book built up. I think without the snippets from the killer, this would have been just a two-star read.
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com
March 8, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the second T.J.Brearton book that I've read and been disappointed in. I had no expectations going into this book and hadn't heard anything about it however from just reading the blurb, it sounded like it could be a great plot, unfortuantely not. My actual rating is probably more like a 2.5 star but not high enough to round it to a 3 star!
I feel like this had the makings of a great story however there was so much unnecessary talking and parts of the book which I actually had to skim through. There were parts of a psychology book paragraphed in the book despite the overarching theme of the book being mentioned throughout, and also in depth descriptions of ballistics which could have been interesting, but not in this story and it ws written so blandly. The plot sounded so intriguing from the blurb and I feel like the author could have explored this so much more if the book was slightly longer and less rambly.
We got a few chapter's from the perspective of the killer and it would have been interesting to hear more from that perspective. It would have been great if the killer had been explored a bit more and maybe even if there had been more murders. It felt that towards the end of the book, there was a big rush to wrap up who the killer was when this could have benefited from having a bit more attention and possibly a few more murders to help flesh it out a bit more.
I'm so unsure on Kelly Roth so was the main character in this book; she's an FBI profiler who has been sent in to try and create a profile on the park killer to help catch him. We aren't told that much about her however from reading this I would have thought there was a previous book which introduced her as I felt like I really didn't know her and I still felt this way by the end of the book. We find out that she has been through something when she was younger and we do find out what it was but it sortt of felt like this and her other background information was just put in to make her controversial when returning to her home town. It was similar with some of the other characters; we get to know Broward well as he works the closest with agent Roth however there were so many other detectives and then another agent Dixon (who I still don't exactly understand who he is or was) and it was confusing trying to keep up and also devleop an opinion on them.
I think this is a book which had great potential with it's storyline but unfortunately fell short of the mark for me. I have another T.J.Brearton book which I have marked as to read so I may give that a go if I ever find the physical copy or the eBook is cheap before I write him off completely but I didn't enjoy this book.
This is the second T.J.Brearton book that I've read and been disappointed in. I had no expectations going into this book and hadn't heard anything about it however from just reading the blurb, it sounded like it could be a great plot, unfortuantely not. My actual rating is probably more like a 2.5 star but not high enough to round it to a 3 star!
I feel like this had the makings of a great story however there was so much unnecessary talking and parts of the book which I actually had to skim through. There were parts of a psychology book paragraphed in the book despite the overarching theme of the book being mentioned throughout, and also in depth descriptions of ballistics which could have been interesting, but not in this story and it ws written so blandly. The plot sounded so intriguing from the blurb and I feel like the author could have explored this so much more if the book was slightly longer and less rambly.
We got a few chapter's from the perspective of the killer and it would have been interesting to hear more from that perspective. It would have been great if the killer had been explored a bit more and maybe even if there had been more murders. It felt that towards the end of the book, there was a big rush to wrap up who the killer was when this could have benefited from having a bit more attention and possibly a few more murders to help flesh it out a bit more.
I'm so unsure on Kelly Roth so was the main character in this book; she's an FBI profiler who has been sent in to try and create a profile on the park killer to help catch him. We aren't told that much about her however from reading this I would have thought there was a previous book which introduced her as I felt like I really didn't know her and I still felt this way by the end of the book. We find out that she has been through something when she was younger and we do find out what it was but it sortt of felt like this and her other background information was just put in to make her controversial when returning to her home town. It was similar with some of the other characters; we get to know Broward well as he works the closest with agent Roth however there were so many other detectives and then another agent Dixon (who I still don't exactly understand who he is or was) and it was confusing trying to keep up and also devleop an opinion on them.
I think this is a book which had great potential with it's storyline but unfortunately fell short of the mark for me. I have another T.J.Brearton book which I have marked as to read so I may give that a go if I ever find the physical copy or the eBook is cheap before I write him off completely but I didn't enjoy this book.
March 4, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Husbands, a stand alone thriller set in upstate New York.
Special Agent Kelly Roth is sent to her home area of New York State to investigate the separate murders of three women, all killed months apart by a single head shot in remote areas. The press made the link before the separate police jurisdictions and nicknamed him The Park Killer but what they don’t know is that he is contacting the widowers afterwards.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Husbands which is an entertaining read told at a fast pace. This is Kelly’s first field assignment so she hits the ground running and, determined to make a success of it, works at a frenetic pace. The reader gets a real sense of her urgency from the writing as the novel is told mostly from her point of view. I found myself caught up and hooked from the start. The novel has a good premise, not only does the reader have to work out who and why but they also have to try and work out what he wants from those left behind. I must admit that I found the killer’s reasoning a bit murky and difficult to follow when he was finally unmasked but Kelly’s take on it is succinct and reasonable. The journey to the denouement, however, is absorbing with plenty of twists and turns, most of which I didn’t see coming.
Kelly Roth is a good character. She is solitary by nature and obviously still affected by a traumatic event in her past which caused her to flee the area many years previously. This is her first trip back and you can almost hear her swallowing and taking a deep breath before plunging in to the case. She isn’t as sure of herself as she’d like to believe so she covers this by working harder.
The Husbands is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Special Agent Kelly Roth is sent to her home area of New York State to investigate the separate murders of three women, all killed months apart by a single head shot in remote areas. The press made the link before the separate police jurisdictions and nicknamed him The Park Killer but what they don’t know is that he is contacting the widowers afterwards.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Husbands which is an entertaining read told at a fast pace. This is Kelly’s first field assignment so she hits the ground running and, determined to make a success of it, works at a frenetic pace. The reader gets a real sense of her urgency from the writing as the novel is told mostly from her point of view. I found myself caught up and hooked from the start. The novel has a good premise, not only does the reader have to work out who and why but they also have to try and work out what he wants from those left behind. I must admit that I found the killer’s reasoning a bit murky and difficult to follow when he was finally unmasked but Kelly’s take on it is succinct and reasonable. The journey to the denouement, however, is absorbing with plenty of twists and turns, most of which I didn’t see coming.
Kelly Roth is a good character. She is solitary by nature and obviously still affected by a traumatic event in her past which caused her to flee the area many years previously. This is her first trip back and you can almost hear her swallowing and taking a deep breath before plunging in to the case. She isn’t as sure of herself as she’d like to believe so she covers this by working harder.
The Husbands is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
March 10, 2019
Agent Kelly Roth is an FBI profiler and although not normally out in the field she finds herself allocated to a murder case.
Chosen because she knows the area she not only has to discover the identity of the killer but finds herself dealing with traumatic events from her past.
The case involves the murders of three women killed months apart by a single shot to the head.
They were all discovered in remote areas.
The press have linked them as having been committed by the same person "The Park Killer".
The local forces seem determined to pin the murders on one or other of the husbands.
Kelly searches for a link.
However its not until one of the husbands commits suicide and they find his notes of a phone call he received from a man claiming to have killed his wife that things start to move at apace.
Kelly becomes convinced that the husbands, not the wives or in some cases their children are the killers real targets.
Suddenly there are more leads and suspects for Kelly to pick from and when her brothers own family are presented as the next targets the race is on to catch the vicious serial killer.
An exciting and engrossing read once again from T J Brearton.
Thanks to Joffe books for the chance to read this as an ARC in return for an honest review.
Chosen because she knows the area she not only has to discover the identity of the killer but finds herself dealing with traumatic events from her past.
The case involves the murders of three women killed months apart by a single shot to the head.
They were all discovered in remote areas.
The press have linked them as having been committed by the same person "The Park Killer".
The local forces seem determined to pin the murders on one or other of the husbands.
Kelly searches for a link.
However its not until one of the husbands commits suicide and they find his notes of a phone call he received from a man claiming to have killed his wife that things start to move at apace.
Kelly becomes convinced that the husbands, not the wives or in some cases their children are the killers real targets.
Suddenly there are more leads and suspects for Kelly to pick from and when her brothers own family are presented as the next targets the race is on to catch the vicious serial killer.
An exciting and engrossing read once again from T J Brearton.
Thanks to Joffe books for the chance to read this as an ARC in return for an honest review.
March 13, 2019
This is the second T.J. Brearton novel I have read and, once again, I got lost in the plot and the characters. Kelly Roth, an FBI profiler, is called in when there have been a number of murders of women in New York. They have all been shot through the head and now their husbands are being contacted by the killer and asked how they feel. The murders have been committed in three different parts of New York and there are police from three different jurisdictions trying to solve the crimes.
I didn't take to Kelly who seemed more concerned about her status amongst so many police than about finding the killer. I found her attitude to be boring as she was more concerned about what had happened to her in that area years before, than about the crimes.
I am from the UK and didn't understand all the shorthand jargon for the different types of police and I got very bored learning about guns and ballistics. At one point, I began to suspect the police of committing the murders and attempting to murder Kelly. It is easy to lose interest when one is surrounded by too many characters and too many obscure points of reference. I believe the story could have been reduced for more clarity.
I didn't take to Kelly who seemed more concerned about her status amongst so many police than about finding the killer. I found her attitude to be boring as she was more concerned about what had happened to her in that area years before, than about the crimes.
I am from the UK and didn't understand all the shorthand jargon for the different types of police and I got very bored learning about guns and ballistics. At one point, I began to suspect the police of committing the murders and attempting to murder Kelly. It is easy to lose interest when one is surrounded by too many characters and too many obscure points of reference. I believe the story could have been reduced for more clarity.
August 8, 2019
Suspenseful Crime Thriller
This author is no joke--an absolute talent. This book was gripping, well-written, and the characters are so realistic. We watch a case of murders unfold and conjoined through the intelligent eyes of an FBI agent. She has some hidden secrets of her own, skeletons in the closet that just so happen to stem from the same place she's been sent to investigate. We also get little glimpses from the killer. Short but chilling scenes from inside his warped mind and sense of reality. And just a small taste of what horrors he has planned next . . . A must read for True Crime bingers and hobby sleuths, or just readers who enjoy a gripping read.
This author is no joke--an absolute talent. This book was gripping, well-written, and the characters are so realistic. We watch a case of murders unfold and conjoined through the intelligent eyes of an FBI agent. She has some hidden secrets of her own, skeletons in the closet that just so happen to stem from the same place she's been sent to investigate. We also get little glimpses from the killer. Short but chilling scenes from inside his warped mind and sense of reality. And just a small taste of what horrors he has planned next . . . A must read for True Crime bingers and hobby sleuths, or just readers who enjoy a gripping read.
April 8, 2019
Tis is the second book of TJ’s I have read and I am loving them. The one thing that draws my attention is that it is set in New York, which adds a whole new level and excitement.
This book follows an FBI profiler as she investigates the murders of women by a serial killer.
I really liked the fact that Kelly is new to the job so we learn things as she does especially to do with the way procedures are and we get to learn about Kelly’s back story throughout the book.
I really liked the character of Kelly and the way she worked made the story fly, so much so that I got to the end before I realised and hadn’t even tried to work anything out in advance.
Overall this is another great book by TJ, which I really enjoyed and can’t wait to read more by him
This book follows an FBI profiler as she investigates the murders of women by a serial killer.
I really liked the fact that Kelly is new to the job so we learn things as she does especially to do with the way procedures are and we get to learn about Kelly’s back story throughout the book.
I really liked the character of Kelly and the way she worked made the story fly, so much so that I got to the end before I realised and hadn’t even tried to work anything out in advance.
Overall this is another great book by TJ, which I really enjoyed and can’t wait to read more by him
March 11, 2019
He hunts families. He kills the wives. Then he goes after the husbands.
FBI Agent Kelly Roth is a behavioural analysist with a chip on her shoulder. She is called upon to go back to her home state of New York to investigate a series of murders by the Park Killer. While Agent Roth investigates the killer, he hunts for further prey. Agent Roth soon finds herself a target.
I was initially drawn to the premise of this novel but was unfortunately very disappointed and struggled to finish reading. The writing style was boring and I felt it was too heavy on the dialogue. At times there were paragraphs about behavioural analysis that felt like it was copied and pasted from a Psychology 101 textbook. There were also passages of this novel that droned on and on about things in too much detail. I know more than I ever want to know about guns and how to trace a phone. This novel needed a serious edit. Also – all the damn cop acronyms needed to be explained! I hate when novels do this. Not every reader is from the United States and understands the reference.
However, the biggest problem for this novel was the character of Kelly Roth. I found her extremely unlikable and could not connect with her in any way. She was gruff, distant and far too dramatic to be a believable cop. The novel contained snippets of her past and tried to describe how she became a damaged cop with a tough attitude. Blah – it was a crappy characterization that I have seen a hundred times.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel. Unfortunately, I would not recommend.
FBI Agent Kelly Roth is a behavioural analysist with a chip on her shoulder. She is called upon to go back to her home state of New York to investigate a series of murders by the Park Killer. While Agent Roth investigates the killer, he hunts for further prey. Agent Roth soon finds herself a target.
I was initially drawn to the premise of this novel but was unfortunately very disappointed and struggled to finish reading. The writing style was boring and I felt it was too heavy on the dialogue. At times there were paragraphs about behavioural analysis that felt like it was copied and pasted from a Psychology 101 textbook. There were also passages of this novel that droned on and on about things in too much detail. I know more than I ever want to know about guns and how to trace a phone. This novel needed a serious edit. Also – all the damn cop acronyms needed to be explained! I hate when novels do this. Not every reader is from the United States and understands the reference.
However, the biggest problem for this novel was the character of Kelly Roth. I found her extremely unlikable and could not connect with her in any way. She was gruff, distant and far too dramatic to be a believable cop. The novel contained snippets of her past and tried to describe how she became a damaged cop with a tough attitude. Blah – it was a crappy characterization that I have seen a hundred times.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel. Unfortunately, I would not recommend.
January 22, 2025
I like this author, and this book didn’t disappoint. We have an FBI agent working with law officials across multiple towns to find the serial killer before he hits too close to home. My only complaint is that there are too many characters to keep track of. I think the author should have kept reminding us who they were. But it’s a minor complaint. The book was good!
March 11, 2019
Good thriller
I enjoyed this one. The characters, the plot, kept me turning the pages. Kelly, the heroine, is FBI. She had once been the victim of a vicious assault. Now she has a killer who is targeting women then calling their husbands and talking to them about the crime.
I enjoyed this one. The characters, the plot, kept me turning the pages. Kelly, the heroine, is FBI. She had once been the victim of a vicious assault. Now she has a killer who is targeting women then calling their husbands and talking to them about the crime.
March 4, 2019
Great read, full of suspense! Couldn’t put it down, intelligently written and the author has you inside the head of the hero and the killer! Definitely recommend this book!
May 1, 2019
I would love to see this book made into a movie! A unique story that held my attention throughout the entire book!
May 8, 2019
Horrifically entertaining.
I read this story within a day because it was so intriguing. It was like watching an episode from one of my favorite forensic science shows.
Nothing is quite as it seems. Are the murders connected? Did a group of men murder their families of their own accord? Do you have any idea of what is happening?
You’ll be guessing to the end!!
I read this story within a day because it was so intriguing. It was like watching an episode from one of my favorite forensic science shows.
Nothing is quite as it seems. Are the murders connected? Did a group of men murder their families of their own accord? Do you have any idea of what is happening?
You’ll be guessing to the end!!
February 5, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It was well-written with engaging characters and a story line that moved along at a brisk, exciting pace. I will be reading more from this author.
March 10, 2019
A BREATHTAKING CRIME THRILLER FULL OF SHOCKING TWISTS AND TURNS
He kills their wives. He destroys their families.
Then he comes after the husbands.
“Do you want to know who killed your wife?” he asks.
Kelly Roth, FBI profiler, returns home to Syracuse to stop a sadistic serial killer.
Three murders in three separate jurisdictions in central New York State have the same pattern: women killed by fatal head shots from a hunting rifle. Kelly Roth is sent from Virginia to help the local police.
Each victim was found murdered in a remote area or in a quiet park. The media call him “The Park Killer.” But Kelly doesn’t think the killer lurks in the bushes. She thinks he hunts his victims somewhere else.
Is he really contacting the bereaved husbands or is this just someone playing a sick game?
Kelly will risk her own life in a heart-stopping race against time to stop more murders and find out the truth.
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO DISCOVER WHO KILLED YOUR WIFE?
Kelly is a terrific character and I enjoyed how the author weaved her backstory into today's killings. There are plenty of suspects with a story premise that keeps you guessing until the very end.
I love the fact that it is the males left trying to cope with being left behind instead of it being the females.
This is very well written; very atmospheric and chilling.
What I really liked about this novel was that there is no clue to what the outcome was going to be and no real idea where the investigation was leading, making this compulsive reading.
I could not put this book down. As for the ending; WOW; that just blew me away. Another explosive read from this author and so highly recommended.
Thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
He kills their wives. He destroys their families.
Then he comes after the husbands.
“Do you want to know who killed your wife?” he asks.
Kelly Roth, FBI profiler, returns home to Syracuse to stop a sadistic serial killer.
Three murders in three separate jurisdictions in central New York State have the same pattern: women killed by fatal head shots from a hunting rifle. Kelly Roth is sent from Virginia to help the local police.
Each victim was found murdered in a remote area or in a quiet park. The media call him “The Park Killer.” But Kelly doesn’t think the killer lurks in the bushes. She thinks he hunts his victims somewhere else.
Is he really contacting the bereaved husbands or is this just someone playing a sick game?
Kelly will risk her own life in a heart-stopping race against time to stop more murders and find out the truth.
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO DISCOVER WHO KILLED YOUR WIFE?
Kelly is a terrific character and I enjoyed how the author weaved her backstory into today's killings. There are plenty of suspects with a story premise that keeps you guessing until the very end.
I love the fact that it is the males left trying to cope with being left behind instead of it being the females.
This is very well written; very atmospheric and chilling.
What I really liked about this novel was that there is no clue to what the outcome was going to be and no real idea where the investigation was leading, making this compulsive reading.
I could not put this book down. As for the ending; WOW; that just blew me away. Another explosive read from this author and so highly recommended.
Thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 8, 2019
Kelly Roth, a profiler for the FBI Behavioral Science Unit. She is called in on a case in her home state of NY in the same area she grew up. She left NY after she was attacked just before going to college. She lives a solitaire life in Virginia working for the FBI. She likes her life where she keeps to herself and does her job. She hasn’t been in the field much and this case will give her that experience as well as bring her back home. Kelly meets up with the area police that are working the cases in the three different counties where women were murdered and left to be found by whomever might stumble upon them in local parks near their homes.
As Kelly begins to create her profile and meet with the investigators on the cases, she has to prove her theories to the investigators. She is the only FBI agent on the case after three deaths and the media tagging the murders as the Park Killer victims. When a fourth victim is found still breathing, Kelly calls her boss and asks for help and a larger team to find the killer.
The only way these cases seem to be connected are due to the way the victims have been killed, the victims are women and one child. One of the women is pregnant, but the women or families are not known to each other. Kelly has to figure out how the victims are selected.
The was the first book I’ve read by T. J. Brearton. It was full of suspense and a twist at the end. I really liked it and was surprised at who the killer was and how he acted. I give this story a 4.5-star review and recommend it to any reader who likes police procedural, suspense, crime, or detective stories, and stories with a twist at the end. It was a great story and sucked me in from the first page and wouldn't let go until I finished the final chapter. I love a story that will pull in so quickly and keep me there.
As Kelly begins to create her profile and meet with the investigators on the cases, she has to prove her theories to the investigators. She is the only FBI agent on the case after three deaths and the media tagging the murders as the Park Killer victims. When a fourth victim is found still breathing, Kelly calls her boss and asks for help and a larger team to find the killer.
The only way these cases seem to be connected are due to the way the victims have been killed, the victims are women and one child. One of the women is pregnant, but the women or families are not known to each other. Kelly has to figure out how the victims are selected.
The was the first book I’ve read by T. J. Brearton. It was full of suspense and a twist at the end. I really liked it and was surprised at who the killer was and how he acted. I give this story a 4.5-star review and recommend it to any reader who likes police procedural, suspense, crime, or detective stories, and stories with a twist at the end. It was a great story and sucked me in from the first page and wouldn't let go until I finished the final chapter. I love a story that will pull in so quickly and keep me there.
March 31, 2019
I loved the concept of this book, unfortunately, I kept imagining different twists or paths the story could have taken and was disappointed with the way it actually played out.
The Husbands is a hardcore Police Procedural, meaning the author delves so deeply into aspects of crime solving that the book has an extreme technicality to it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing and definitely appeals to a certain audience. It just wasn't well suited for me.
Additionally, the book is made up primarily of dialogue which hints at development issues and had the greatest effect on characterization. Layering character and behavioral traits through actions and less through how they describe themselves or retell their stories would have brought more balance to the novel.
I can't say I know much about law enforcement but this book indicates that TJ Brearton definitely knows his stuff. I hope the attention to detail is an accurate portrayal as this is the strongest leg the book has to stand on. Serious Police Procedural fans will devour this book!
You can hear more from me about this book in my April Recent Reads YouTube video. Thank you to NetGalley and the author.
The Husbands is a hardcore Police Procedural, meaning the author delves so deeply into aspects of crime solving that the book has an extreme technicality to it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing and definitely appeals to a certain audience. It just wasn't well suited for me.
Additionally, the book is made up primarily of dialogue which hints at development issues and had the greatest effect on characterization. Layering character and behavioral traits through actions and less through how they describe themselves or retell their stories would have brought more balance to the novel.
I can't say I know much about law enforcement but this book indicates that TJ Brearton definitely knows his stuff. I hope the attention to detail is an accurate portrayal as this is the strongest leg the book has to stand on. Serious Police Procedural fans will devour this book!
You can hear more from me about this book in my April Recent Reads YouTube video. Thank you to NetGalley and the author.
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