Las rosas de mayo

The Collector #2

by Dot Hutchison

En una antigua iglesia ha aparecido una joven con el cuello cercenado y el cuerpo rodeado de hermosas flores. Un retorcido ritual de violencia, belleza y castidad que el asesino cumple cada invierno con escalofriante puntualidad.
La hermana de Priya fue una de esas víctimas y, desde entonces, ella y su madre viven condenadas a cambiar de ciudad constantemente: cuando se mudan a un nuevo lugar con la esperanza de poder empezar de cero, la llegada de un misterioso arreglo floral aparece como un mal presagio, recordándoles que la muerte las acecha y que Priya podría ser la siguiente víctima.
Tras resolver el caso de El Jardín de las Mariposas, los detectives del FBI saben que deben emprender una desesperada carrera contra reloj para descubrir al asesino antes de que sea demasiado tarde y, aunque en ello Priya arriesgue su propia vida, es la única oportunidad para conseguirlo.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Horror, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

296 pages, Paperback

First published May 23, 2017

About the author

Dot Hutchison is the author of A Wounded Name, a young adult novel based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, and the adult thriller The Butterfly Garden.

With past experience working at a Boy Scout camp, a craft store, a bookstore, and the Renaissance Faire (as a human combat chess piece), Hutchison prides herself on remaining delightfully in tune with her inner young adult.

She loves thunderstorms, mythology, history, and movies that can and should be watched on repeat.

For more information on her current projects, visit www.dothutchison.com or check her out on:

Tumblr https://www.dothutchison.tumblr.com

https://www.facebook.com/DotHutchison

Reviews

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh boy. Where to start. I knew I shouldn’t have complained about the dang ending in the previous book. Deep breath. So last year I stumbled upon a novel titled The Butterfly Garden on NetGalley and decided it looked equal parts disturbing and beautiful, and it was both of those things and so much more. I have raved about that book for well over a year now, and if the ending hadn’t thrown in a few unnecessary details in attempting a shocking twist, it would have been my favorite read of the entire year. It was light horror kept wholly in the natural world; I was stunned at how the author wrote of such nightmare inducing content with a fully readable nature. TBG might very well stay in my list of most memorable reads; it was just that good and I highly recommend it to anyone with a strong enough stomach. All this to say, my expectations were extremely high when I found out the story was being extended into a trilogy. Perhaps I misunderstood, but in my opinion this really isn’t a continuation of the original story as much as it is a spin off. We are briefly introduced to a family who’s daughter was murdered years prior as they are close to one of the FBI agents investigating TBG; Roses of May focuses on their back story while also creating a forward narrative of the serial killer who took the life of Priya’s sister Chavi.

Once I realized this story wouldn’t focus on the butterflies or their pending case in court, I was still excited to read it. I love crime fiction and I was convinced Hutchison would bring us that same horror we loved from the first collector novel, just with the focus being on a different story. If you are expecting anything remotely close to the feel of the first novel, let me stop you right here. This book was NOTHING like the first one, and that is both good and bad. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work as well for me, as I had picked this up in order to feel things that I experienced previously in the series. If I had known this would be an entirely different book, I likely would have given it at least another half star. I was worried at about 25% in; I was having so much difficulty remembering many of the previous minor characters from the first story and we have a large number of new characters introduced as well. All the names were throwing me for a loop, and on top of that the pacing is VERY slow. VERY… SLOOOOOWWWW…. Ok, you get it. Honestly, I would categorize this slow burn more as crime fiction with a sub genre of police procedural. Heavily procedural. We get a lot of detail in every aspect of the plot, which left little room for suspense to carry us through the story with any sense of urgency.

However…

Once I made it about 50% in I finally was able to connect on some level with the story, and while I never was completely engrossed, I managed to develop a feeling of moderate interest in where it was going, who was behind the murders, and how this would all wrap up. I was satisfied with the ending, but I think what made me bump this from a 2 star to a 3 star read was how impressed I was with the author’s improvement in her quality of writing and language use. While I was goo goo over TBG, it did hold a quality of immaturity in some aspects. The phrases were repetitive, the language very basic, and it held a somewhat young adult aura that I couldn’t quite shake. Not so here; TROM was very much adult writing; the phrases were beautiful and well thought out and I am highly impressed that there was such a jump from one book to the next in that arena.

I’m not really sure where the next book will take us, as this one wrapped up pretty much every aspect with a neat little bow, but I also felt the last book had given essential closure, so I guess I’m not a great judge of that sort of thing. I will say that while I’ll probably read the next book so that I can finish out the trilogy, I likely won’t rush to get to it like I have the past two. I did eventually connect with the characters and find pleasure in some of the beautiful writing, but I fear the slow burn and complete genre change between the first and second book in the series didn’t quite work for me. I’m eager to hear other’s thoughts, as I know some readers have thoroughly enjoyed how the author chose to write this new entry. I think if someone were to be made aware of the pacing and changes in this book ahead of time, it might make it a more enjoyable read, so I hope I’ve been able to provide that for someone somewhere. ❤

*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley; it was a pleasure to provide my honest thoughts here.

🌺🌸🌹🌷🥀🌼🌻🌺🌸🌹🌷


BR with Solly Wolly Doodle All The Day; even if it sucks I'm sure we'll come up with some really great catch phrases. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Roses of May' is the second book in 'The Collector' series, by Dot Hutchison. Although there are a few connections, through characters, between the two books, they are really not a major factor. This book could easily be read as a standalone.

This book is told from multiple POVs, but the majority of the book is told from the POV of Priya Sravasti. Year's ago, Priya's sister, Chavi, was murdered by a serial killer that has managed to evade capture for over a decade. Now it seems that she has become the murderer's latest obsession.

Priya and her mother have moved all over the country trying to lay low and avoid Priya's new stalker. With each new springtime murder, Priya receives flowers like the ones left on the victims. It is clear that they are coming from the murderer.

Meanwhile, three eager FBI agents work with Priya to try and find the killer before he strikes again. Some have a more personal stake in the manhunt and over the years they've formed a bond with Priya and her mother. Eventually they begin considering ways to use Priya to help them draw out the killer.

All in all, it was an okay type of read. I didn't hate it, but I never really felt a strong connection to any of the characters either. It was pretty predictable and lacked the tension and anxiety that I would have expected for a suspense/thriller. It also seemed to have several long lulls, where I was waiting for something...anything...to happen. In my opinion, this follow-up wasn't nearly as good as the first book.

Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com

[Always Pouting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago Priya Sravasti's sister was murdered by a serial killer who is still at large, leaving her family irreversibly changed. Her mother, Deshani, must constantly change location for her work helping to shape up HR departments making them move across the country constantly. When Priya's mother is profiled for her success she happens to mention the new town they're moving to this time leading the serial killer after them. When flowers that match up with the murder victims begin to show up on their doorstep Priya and her mother inform the FBI, but after hearing about another person's on going court case Priya must decide whether or not she'll have to take justice into her own hands.

I haven't read the butterfly collector, though I definitely plan to now, so I didn't know about the butterfly girls and the garden going into the book. It didn't take away from the book though because it does a good job of letting the reader know about it and what happened. Reading about the aftermath was really interesting also, especially the public attention and the court case. I never thought about the negative attention that must come with being attached to such a high profile case before.

The main story line was definitely intriguing and can I just say Priya and Deshani were great, I love scary and strong women. I don't know how I felt about the killer though, because I thought it was kind of obvious who it was and I don't see why the first girl he kills had to be his sister like what was the point of that plot twist it felt unnecessary. It just made the FBI look dumb, which okay they kind of are so it's realistic, because the first victim is supposed to be the most important one, the one usually linked to the killer and I can't believe they didn't look into him earlier. I was super happy about Priya killing him because that was pretty awesome. I think it was completely justified.

Anyway I enjoyed the book, though I'm not sure how neatly the two arcs of Priya and the butterfly girl's came together. The identity of the killer wasn't surprising but the build up to the confrontation was excellent.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those that loved THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN...

This is the second book of The Collector Series. I recommend that you start with book 1 The Butterfly Garden. I loved The Butterfly Garden and this one was really creepy good. I didn't find it to be as disturbing as the first book. I loved this one too. It continues the story of the butterfly girls while introducing us to a new plot.

There is a new serial killer who kills a teenage girl and leaves her body in a church surrounded by flowers, every spring for well over a decade. Priya and her mother move every few months to be safe. They seem to be doing good in a small Colorado town but then flowers begin to appear and are afraid that they are in danger.

I loved the author's writing style and how the characters were developed. You still have some of the same characters,
the FBI Agents, and a couple of the butterfly girls. The main character is Priya who is the sister of one of the serial killer's victims. Even though she tries to be tough, at times she is depressed and angry at what happened to her sister five years ago. Priya's mother is very protective and dominant.

This is a very tense read. It is so suspenseful. I loved the action, which didn't seem to stop with lots of twists and turns.

Why only four stars and not five? I was able to guess thekiller and it was quite obvious and I love to be kept guessing but that was just minor and didn't matter to me because the creep factor kept me turning the pages.

I recommend this book for those that love a dark thriller. Serial Killer Lovers will love these two books.

I want to thank Netgalley, the publisher, and Dot Hutchison for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

[Tulay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't recommend.

This second book isn't as engaging as the first book. One clever and obnoxious girl and her mother. Understanding and patient FBI characters. Parts of the story was confusing, found myself re-reading some parts. Won't be reading the next book in this series.

[Mischenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my full review @ https://readrantrockandroll.com/2017/...

I read The Butterfly Garden in 2016 and it was truly a captivating thriller. When I saw that the second book was out, I requested it from NetGalley right away. The problem was that I was too late getting to it and ended up having to purchase the book. I didn’t mind because I expected that I would love this one as much as the first.

The story follows Priya, a girl who lost her sister Chavi four years ago after she was murdered. Priya and her mother are still very upset about the loss of Chavi and relocate frequently as they are working hard to move on with their lives and to keep low. Chavi’s killer has murdered multiple girls and he’s still out there. Maybe closer than anyone thinks and possibly right under Priya’s nose.

Meanwhile, the detectives are still working to help the surviving butterflies (previous book) now that they’re back in the world and trying to adjust to real life again. Many are struggling to adapt and it’s possible that Priya might be able to help them. Eventually, the detectives work together alongside Priya to try to locate Chavi’s killer and lock him up once and for all.

I’m not an expert, but If I were to rate this book on the writing alone, I’d give it five stars. The truth is that the story didn’t captivate or thrill me like I expected it to and the pacing is fairly slow for my taste. I think what threw me off the most is that this book is nothing like the first and takes place about four months after the end of The Butterfly Garden with not much focus on the first book at all. I had issues connecting with the characters, but I did enjoy the relationship between them and I did still enjoy the book, especially the ending. I’m looking forward to the final book in the trilogy. I’ll rate this one 3.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to preview this book for an honest review.

[Kylie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, seeing as the first book in the trilogy was so powerful, and I was wondering if this follow up would be a worthy successor. It only took me a few pages, however, to be sucked right in. In this book Priya and her mother have moved to Colorado, trying to find a new life after the brutal slaying of her sister 5 years before, a victim of a serial killer. It doesn't take long for the madman to find her there though. He starts stalking her, leaving her flowers that are symbolic of his previous victims. He has been killing girls for 17 years, and still nobody seems to have any clue as to who he is. So who in her new town is stalking her? There honestly isn't a lot of choice, Priya's favourite pastime is playing chess in the park with a group of war veterans.

I loved the characters in this book, from the strong female figures of Priya and her mum, our three FBI agents from "The Butterfly Garden" and I just adored the chess vets. I especially loved the relationship Priya has with Eddison. Who would have thought he had it in him! A truly wonderful book, full of heartwarming relationships. Highly Recommended.

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 4 out of 5]

#1 The Butterfly Garden ★★★★★
#2 Roses of May ★★★★☆
#3 The Summer Children ★★★★★

"And he realizes that no, he doesn't have to be here. There's no Bureau requirement, no order, no generally agreed guideline, nothing official that mandates his presence at the funeral of a girl who killed herself because the seams where she broke the first time were too fragile to stitch together a second time."

It's hard enough on the agents when the butterflies start falling apart, but suicides of girls who can't seem to fit back in outside of the Garden are only half of the heartache that Eddison has to face down now. While the girls await their day in court with the Gardener, another killer is at large: the Spring Killer, who kills one teen every spring, and has done so for 17 years without exposing himself. His only marker is the flowers that he leaves around each girl's lifeless body.

Eddison may not have a younger sister in blood anymore, but he's got Priya, a spunky London transplant whose older sister Chavi was one of the Spring Killer's victims 5 years prior. Though Priya and her mother have moved across the country to Colorado to escape their past, something is looming on the horizon that has Eddison terrified. These women are the only family he's got left, and he'll be damned to lose them.

---

4.5 STARS

If you've been following my reviews for a while, you probably already know that The Butterfly Garden, book 1 in The Collector series, was a 5-star read for me; in fact, it was easily one of my top reads of 2016. I was so excited when I got approved for an ARC of this sequel on NetGalley, but this book actually took me a few days to get through (I only note that because the first book was practically a one-sitting read for me). To be totally honest, Dot Hutchison ripped my heart into so many tiny pieces in The Butterfly Garden that I was a little bit terrified to read more of her writing.

That said, I am so glad that I read this, because I really enjoyed it so much. It took a little bit of time to get into, as the beginning did feel a little slow, but once Dot got into the meat of the story, I ate it up. While the first book alternated POVs between Inara's memories and Vic Hanoverian's detective work, this one alternated between Priya's first-person experiences and Eddison's third-person investigations and experiences, as well as brief bouts of second-person thoughts from the killer (which was AMAZING). I love the way Dot seamlessly switches perspectives, and she's mastered each formatting so well, which isn't something just any author can do. I also was kind of ecstatic to see the trio of agents back again, especially with the focus having shifted to Eddison; it made me wonder, will the third and final book in the trilogy come from Ramirez's POV? One can only hope, because I'm kind of in love with her character's sass.

Speaking of character development, Priya was such an enjoyable narrator; she and her mother are Indian, but have moved to the States from London, so there's some really delightful backstory revealed here and there. Her mother, Deshani, is a firey badass who terrifies everyone she meets (except Priya), and she was just so fun to read about. There's a lovely diverse cast in this book, even more so than in the first one, and there are so many wonderful side characters, especially in the cast of grumpy old veterans that Priya befriends.

As far as action goes, it took a while to pick up, but Dot took her time carefully crafting the back story so that, once the action began, I really felt like she just dove in headfirst. Don't get me wrong, this isn't the kind of book with ridiculous new situations and events every other chapter, but she builds up the sense of dread so beautifully that I felt nauseated more than a few times, just out of apprehension for what was going to happen and who the killer would turn out to be. I wasn't shocked by the reveal of the killer, but I honestly don't think we were intended to be taken off-guard; much like in a good horror film, sometimes the best part is learning who the villain is through little crumbs here and there.

The story was lightened up here and there with sweet familial bonding, friendly banter between Eddison and Inara (who makes a solid reappearance, much to my delight), and Priya's memories, but all in all, this was a solid thriller/suspense novel that kept me on the edge of my seat more than a few times. I won't say anything further to avoid spoiling it for you guys, but seriously, if you enjoyed the first book, please pick this one up, because it's SO damn good. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys thrillers and can handle being kept up at night a little bit, pondering the horrors of mankind.

Content warning: this book contains physical and sexual violence, and may be a difficult read for survivors of abuse or anyone with a weak stomach for abuse. Please read at your own risk and keep yourself healthy and happy.

[Meredith (Trying to catch up!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Roses of May is a psychological thriller about a young girl seeking closure for her sister’s murder.

Priya Sravasti’ is being targeted by a serial killer; the same killer that murdered her sister several years ago. The majority of the narrative is told through Priya’s POV. She is struggling to cope with her sister’s death, her father’s abandonment, and her desire for revenge.

At the same time, Priya is being protected by the Quantic0 3, a group of FBI agents on the hunt for the serial killer.

The reader also gets glimpse into the killer’s mind, as some of his previous murders are detailed.

The Roses of May is the follow up to The Butterfly Garden, which I did not read, so I might have a different perspective than other readers. I found it to be slow moving and I felt like I was just waiting to get the end for the inevitable to play out. Also, there some things that happen that are totally unbelievable and just didn’t work for me--I won’t name them because I don’t want to include any spoilers. However, Priya was an interesting enough character to keep me invested.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Jess☺️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Roses of May is the second book in Dot Hutchison the collector series.
This one isn't my favourite I found it to be kind of slow to start , it picked up almost at the end.
I liked the slight continued story from book one the the girls from both stories interact really well and fun.
You know soon in who the stalker/killer was it's pretty obvious.
I would still recommend this one I'm looking forward to the next.

[*•MJ•* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down 👏

Priya and her mother Deshani, Inara and Bliss are such fierce characters 💕🔥

•There are moments I realize just how unconventional my relationship with Mum is. Moments I have to admit that she probably has sociopathic tendencies and simply chooses not to use her powers for excessive evil. And I am my mother’s daughter•

[Jill McGill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow... Dot Hutchison has done it again!!! Her imagination is scary, creepy and absolutely brilliant!

The Roses of May is the 2nd book in “The Collector" trilogy series, but it isn’t a direct sequel to The Butterfly Garden. You will see the “Butterflies” throughout, but the main focus of this book is on a teenage girl, Priya Sravasti, who lost her sister to a diabolical serial killer that surrounds his victims with different types of flowers. Hanoverian, Eddison, and Ramirez, “The Quantico 3”, are back again with more developed characters. They have been on the case since Priya’s sister was murdered 5 years ago, since then they have formed a special bond with Priya and her very strong mother, Deshani. Also, to make it even creepier Dot Hutchison takes us into the mind of the serial killer allowing the reader the chance to see how he justifies killing each victim.

The Roses of May isn’t dark and twisted like The Butterfly Garden was, but it’s still a very well-written, suspenseful, riveting, and creepy novel that will keep you wanting more. If you enjoy a mystery with suspense, brilliant writing, and a very strong plot, then you will absolutely love this book! I’m definitely looking forward to the 3rd book in this remarkable trilogy!

I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had a love/hate relationship with this book, and I think I have myself to blame for that!

As soon as I saw the follow up to The Butterfly Garden, I knew I had to grab this, hoping for another 5 star read. I honestly don't think I even bothered to read the description-I just had to know what happened to the captive Butterflies! I don't think I am the only person who felt this way either.
So here is where the disappoint comes into play and my expectations fell apart....

While there are some mentions of the Garden and some of the more memorable 'Butterflies', it's clear the author has moved on. Book 2 introduces us to a new victim, a new serial killer, and a police procedural story line that just fell flat for me. The pace was soooooo slow, especially in the middle, that even when there were attempts to tie the Butterflies into the plot, it wasn't enough to move things along.

I also had a hard time believing the relationships that these FBI agents had with their victims. How are they able to solve any cases when their time is so wrapped up in checking on them and staying in their lives? It's very sweet, but completely unrealistic.

I do wonder how this book would have read on it's own, without having any ties whatsoever to The Butterfly Garden. Would I have enjoyed it more without the disappoint of it not being what I wanted it to be? Hard to say, but I'm thinking it would have fared better that a 3*.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Nandakishore Mridula · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sigh. I don't know what to say. This book, I have to state sadly, is absolute trash.

The first book in the series, The Butterfly Garden, despite its wildly improbable premise and absolute let-down of an ending, managed to hold the reader's interest throughout. This one, the second in the series, though much more believable, had me yawning about 20 percent into the book. There is a serial killer who murders young girls, sometimes rapes them too, and arranges them with floral decorations in churches- in May each year. This has been going on for sixteen years, and somehow it's all connected to seventeen-year-old Priya Sravasti, whose sister Chavi he had murdered 5 years ago.

Well, stated like that, the premise does sound intriguing - but it's anything but. The whole plot lacks any kind of coherent logic: the psychology is totally wonky: and the "aha!" moment is a damp squib. And to bore you further, the entire cast of the first book keeps on paying unnecessary visits into this one.

Avoid it.

[RedemptionDenied]

Oooh - the Kindle edition is currently on special offer - $1.35 in the States and £0.99p in the UK.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had an inclination who might be behind it but that yucky plot twist near the end.. Yikes!

[Alexandra Tefft-Cassidy · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Quantico 3 are officially THE WORST investigators of all time. Like, how are they in the FBI? I could rant for hours but instead I will put it into list form. It might get spoilery but I'm too lazy to care.

1. How come no one cares that Priya's sister and best friend were murdered? They never look into why the killer would focus on Priya?
2. The incorporation of the Butterflies was kind of random and didn't seem to have a point except to try to tie the books into one another.
3. Eddison and Priya's relationship felt rather creepy sometimes.
4. I was over the whole 'she's a scary biatch and it's awesome' theme about 5 pages in. It's literally all they talk about - for every girl.
5. The FBI looked all over town for Landon and found nothing. The local cops tried for 5 mins and located him.
6. Like how is getting all the flowers not relevant? Wouldn't that be considered a lead? If you had no leads for the past 10 years or whatever wouldn't you jump on anything you could find?
7. Why didn't they think of warning the flower shops months ago if they knew the pattern? DUH.
8. How did Priya legit solve this crime on Facebook? Like the FBI can't solve it over years of 'trying' and Priya one day decides to look on FB and solves it in 5 minutes.
9. Why did the FBI never read through Chavi's journals about the weeks leading up to her murder when she chronicles her day to day activities? Like ummm, maybe she noticed something fishy?
10. Why do they keep putting the camera outside when they know the killer knows it's there. It's the 21st century, you can be more sneaky than that.
11. Why do people give Priya oreos and why does Priya want more oreos after she pukes from them all the time.
12. Priya's mom when considering the fact that Priya might die: "I might be lonely." Not: "I don't want you to die, please don't risk your life!!!!!!" She literally encourages Priya to die and doesn't seem to care except to think about how now she should maybe connect with their long lost relatives. And then Priya admits her mom wouldn't legit be fine if she died cause ya know, she's a tough lady.
13. How does Priya think she's going to kill someone without a plan or a weapon?? Like hello, you are going to murder a big man with your bare hands when he has a knife? Sure.
14. What was the point of Ward, the 'tough Denver boss', who really had no effect on anything at all except to make things overly dramatic?
15. The end? Now everything is just peachy and Priya will be happy now?

I read this with two friends because we all loved the first book. This one had quite the opposite effect. In the first book you were witnessing this elaborate f'd up original crime. In this book you were witnessing a sh*t poor investigation and some super dramatic people doing nothing about anything. We'll see if I bother to read the third.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book isn't really a proper sequel in my opinion. I was really confused at the start of the book because I couldn't figure out who each of the characters were and whether they were in book 1 or not; Google wasn't much help so I just powered on reading in hopes that I would catch on and eventually, I did. I feel like this book would have been a lot better if it was a standalone book and not part of the trilogy. Hutchison could have kept the Quantico Three (the three agents that link book 1 & 2) in as a sort of homage to book 1 but she should have left most of the stuff with the butterflies out of it. I felt like the mix of the new story and the old story was so messy and it came off as being really forced. It was also 100% not necessary. I feel like it didn't add anything to the book and it didn't really add much to the either story. Why force it? The plot of this book is intriguing enough without having to drag the butterflies into it. If Hutchison was set on adding the butterflies then she should have really gone for it. Sprinkling them into the story every so often didn't work for me.

Book 1 & 2 are quite different. In book 1, I felt like the agents were used as a very smart way to tell the story of the butterfly garden but in book 2 they are very much apart of Priya's life. The story isn't told the same way and I felt like that was a negative difference from the first book. I also kept questioning why the agents were so invested in Priya's life. I've never spoken to real agents or anything but the ones in the book came off as really unprofessional. I kept thinking over and over again "would this really happen?" and that pulled me away from the story and it took away from my reading experience as a whole. This story was a lot more far-fetched then Book 1 and Book 1 was pretty far-fetched! The only difference was that I was totally engrossed in The Butterfly Garden and didn't quite question the authenticity until that silly twist at the end.

I thought the serial killer was interesting. I liked his little snippets throughout the book and I thought his motives and backstory was perfectly messed up. It's painfully obvious who the serial killer is, which was unfortunate but I was glad to get a little bit of a twist with his backstory. I thought the strongest aspect of this book was the serial killer as I wasn't really pushed with the main characters. I didn't understand them and I couldn't really relate to them. I especially couldn't understand the relationship dynamics. The characters and their relationships seemed unrealistic and two-dimensional for the most part.

The writing was good. I find Hutchison's books very easy to read and this book helped me get out of a slump. Her books are also quite addictive. Even though I mentioned quite a few problems that I had with the book, I didn't want to stop reading it. I wanted to see how it played out and so that is a really good thing.

Would I recommend this? Maybe. Will I be reading the next book? Yes! I hope it is better than this book though.

*I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"...it just hurts so fucking much in a way that doesn’t make any sense, because anything that hurts this much should be able to bleed out, should be able to be fixed and it can’t be, so eating Oreos until I’m bloated and cramping and vomiting just gives a way for the pain to make sense."

"Guilt doesn’t have to make sense; it just is."

"[She was] one person who didn’t know the old Priya, and so couldn’t compare me to who I’d been and find me lacking or discomfiting now."

[Sarah Joint · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Butterfly Garden was a book that stuck with me. It was dark, it was disturbing, it is the kind of book you just don't simply forget about. Though I remembered the plot well and most of the characters, I re-read it before this one. Not only to refresh my memory, but because I just knew I'd genuinely enjoy it again. I'm glad I did, and would really recommend you start with the first book before this one. Though it adds new main characters, several we met in the first feature as well.

This one is slower to get started than it's predecessor, and it took me awhile to get into it. The new characters are intensely likeable and the story is interesting. Don't go into it expecting another Butterfly Garden. This one also focuses on a serial killer who forms strange attachments to the young girls he kills and has several strong and inspiring female characters, but that's where the similarities end. While the first book focuses on imprisonment and escape, this one focuses mostly on a young girl named Priya dealing with the tragic death of her older sister. The murderer has never been caught, and the investigation is ongoing. He strikes the same time every year, and that time is approaching...

The book also focuses on the "Butterflies" we met in the first... the women who escaped the madman that stole them from their lives and kept them practically in a gilded cage for his own pleasure. They've been free for a few months but the media attention still swirls around them and they're all having difficulty adjusting to the outside world.

The same agents from the first book are still working on the case of the Butterflies, and now bracing for another victim from the murderer who has left the bodies of girls in churches around the county. They have a special affection for Priya, having met her after she found her sister. They'd protect her at any cost, and now that May is creeping closer, they may have to.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

[Michael David (on hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 2nd book in The Collector series, and I finished in one day. This one is dark, but maybe a bit less disturbing than the first. The characters are so well written. I really came to care about them. I can’t wait to read the last two books of the series.

I would definitely recommend reading book 1, The Butterfly Garden, before getting into this one.

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the blurb suggest that this was a continuation of The Butterfly Garden, in reality it isn't. Sure, we meet the same agents again, and some of the girls make a (rather brief) appearance. But the plot revolves around a new case of serial killings and the book is far from being the same sick thriller the first one had been.

It's a slow read, that is more about several characters dealing with their respective traumata. An introspective story, without many suspenseful moments, which is unusual for a book about a serial killer case. I still like it because of some beautiful writing and its strong-willed characters. I also liked that we got Priya's PoV in first person, the agents' in third person and the killer's in second person. And the seamless transition between the three. That was cool. But I can see why fans of The Butterfly Garden might be disappointed in this second book.

For me it didn't hold up quite as well on a re-read as the first one in the series did. I mean, I already liked this less than The Butterfly Garden, but that's okay. That one is after all one of my favorites. But while I again enjoyed The Roses of May for the characters and the prose, I was disappointed in the denouement (which I had mostly forgotten about) and also thought that towards the end the author told us a little too often how great these girls and women are. I loved them already. There's really no need to repeatedly hit me over the head with their awesomeness.

3.5 stars, rounded down.

Buddy read with Alla, with whom I already have a date for the third one. :)

[Ariannha · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Algunas personas se quedan rotas, pero otras vuelven a rearmarse dejando las partes afiladas hacia afuera”.


Las rosas de mayo es la segunda novela de la serie “El Coleccionista” y también es el segundo libro que leo de la autora.

A pesar de que dicen ser independientes, tenemos personajes comunes y desde mi punto de vista, hay que leerlos de forma secuencial.

Esta novela tiene un ritmo más lento y menos crudo (si puede decirse) que su predecesor, quizás un poco menos intenso y con menos intriga; sin embargo conserva la narrativa de la autora y te mantiene en el nivel de suspense necesario.

El final, para mi gusto, ha sido un poco abrupto.


100% recomendado

“Sabes mejor que nadie que la maldad puede esconderse a plena vista”.

[Abby • Crime by the Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find my full review here: http://crimebythebook.com/blog/2018/3...

3.5/5 stars for this one. While I did enjoy this book, I didn’t *love* it. It’s incredibly hard not to compare this book to its predecessor, THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN - this book just doesn’t have the same gripping, addictive, dark tension of TBG. That being said, I did really enjoy this story’s main character, Priya. This one’s a mixed bag!

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I think I liked this even more than the first book!
It was not as heavy or dark as the first book, but it certainly had it's twisted aspects.
I thought Priya and her mum were a wonderful addition to the already fantastic characters.
Their sarcasm and snarky inner monologues had me nodding my head with approval while fighting back giggle fits.
Super excited to dig into the next book!

"There is nothing resting about that bitch face."

[Milica's Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prvoj polovini knjige bih dala dvojku, čak sam i razmišljala da odustanem, ali se ostatak čita u jednom dahu.
'Bašta leptirica' mi je bila dosta zanimljivija priča jer je nekako više bila fokusirana na samu radnju, a ova priča se više vrti oko međuljudskih odnosa likova.

[Creya Casale | cc.shelflove · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

I would say this book could be read as a standalone, but it is definitely a more enjoyable read if you already know and love the characters. Roses of May revisits the Quantico Three, the FBI agents responsible for investigating the Gardener’s torturous acts. It’s spring, which means a serial killer from a different open case will strike again soon. While thrilling, this book was definitely not as dark and disturbing as the first. Phew! (I’m sure none of the other books in this series will live up to The Butterfly Garden 😬) One thing I struggled with was the nature of Agent Eddison and Priya’s relationship. The two met because the aforementioned serial killer murdered Priya’s sister. She is a minor. They’re texting, he’s looking out for her, and they refer to each other as family. At the end of the book he kisses her forehead in farewell and IDDDKKKK. I get she doesn’t have a dad anymore and so maybe he is a new father figure to her, but it was slightly ick. Maybe Eddison sees her as the sister he lost many years ago? Slightly weird, folks! In any event, it was worth my time, and it was a bit refreshing to not have to read about the Gardener on every page. 🥴 The next book appears to be Agent Ramirez’s time in the spotlight!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Roses Of May is the 2nd book in the "Collector" series by Dot Hutchison.
While this was a gripping novel it didn't have the same shock factor as the 1st in the series, The Butterfly Garden.
This story follows the same detectives as they dive into another unrelated case. However, the characters and the story from The Butterfly Garden interweave slightly with this story.
A serial killer is, once again, on the prowl and the detectives have formed a friendship with the sister of one of the murder victims. This is the chilling tale of Priya who starts finding clues that the killer might be targeting her next.
A haunting story that left me wanting more.
I look forward to the final book in the trilogy.

[Fiona Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic entry in the series. Dot Hutchison continues to use her considerable skill to bring humanity and life to her characters, while expanding on the universe she built up in The Butterfly Garden.

This novel takes us to another acquaintance of Vic, Ramirez and Eddison - Priya, and her mother, Deshani. They've lost what used to be a loving and close-knit family to a killer who leaves his targets cloaked in flowers in churches around the country.

I really like that the killer in this book didn't get a "killer name" - I still find it ironic that the series is named after the first Collector, despite the books so emphatically not being about him. We built on those themes in this book too, and it was a relief to see Inara and Bliss so present despite their absence.

Is it too early to be hanging out for the next book yet? Because I absolutely am.

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley.

[Melissa Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is being written weeks after I finished. I normally write the review IMMEDIATELY after finishing a book, this one however I finished at like 3 a.m. and meant to write the review later in the day....well now it's weeks later. I apologize for not having the book fresh in my mind while writing this review. What I can tell you right off the bat is that I'm giving this book 4.5 stars.

Before I can write a review of this book 'The Roses of May', I need to set the tone of the previous book 'The Butterfly Garden'. In book 1, we meet two F.B.I. agents (Eddison and Hanoverian) and an abducted victim (Maya or Inara). She was kidnapped from work by a extremely wealthy man referred to as The Gardner. He captured girls between the ages of 16-21. The Gardner would then place the girls in a enclosed garden on his property and tattoo butterfly wings on their backs. When they became "too old" in his eyes at 21 years of age, they would be encased in glass, like a real life pinned butterfly. Maya or Inara escaped The Garden and tell the F.B.I agents all about her experience living with the girls and her abductor. 'The Butterfly Garden' was a deeply engrossing crime thriller.

Now we can discuss 'The Roses of May'. As this book is called the sequel, I want to start off by saying it is... in a way. If you have read other crime thrillers that are series like The Scarpetta series, by Patricia Cornwell, for example or The Hannibal Lecter series the books don't necessarily follow the same people. The Scarpetta series follows the same medical examiner, but each case is different. The Hannibal Lecter series follows a few of the same F.B.I agents through out all the books. This is the case in this series.

'The Roses of May', takes place 4 months after The Butterfly Garden. We still hear about that horrific case in the background, but right now our F.B.I agents, (Eddison, Hanoverian and Ramirez) are closely following an open serial murder investigation. Our main character in this book is Priya Sravasti. Her sister was murdered by the serial killer a few years ago and she is just trying to survive one day at a time, but the murderer is still on the loose and Priya and her mother think he might be back for seconds. As the previous book, 'The Butterfly Garden' the antagonist had an obsession. He loved butterflies. In this book our serial killer like flowers/churches. Each murder victim is found in a church surrounded by their own personal flower.

This story isn't as fast paced as the first book. In the 'Butterfly Garden', we knew who the antagonist was and we were getting a glimpse of the past through the eyes of Maya the main character. In this sequel, we don't know who the killer is. We have to slowly follow the clues in order to find out, but just like in real life, the case keeps getting botched through error and red tape. We follow Priya on her day to day. How she copes with the death of her sister and how the F.B.I agents that worked "her" case are still in her life keeping a close eye on her for personal and professional reasons.

I enjoyed how strong our main character was. I loved that she found solace among old dudes playing checkers. I loved that the F.B.I agents were like family even thought they didn't have to be. I liked that the victims from both stories meet. It keeps the books connected in that way. I just liked all the strong female characters and I liked that the men were loving in a shy and awkward way.

I do own the third book in this series/trilogy? I can't wait to pick it up. Dot Hutchison has an easy way of writing that keeps you engaged. It's not too heavy with police terms even though some of it is procedural. Great crime thriller.

[Tudor Vlad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

“How do you put yourself back together when the pieces permanently lost are the only reasons anyone’s looking at you?”

The thing with this book is that you have to leave The Butterfly Garden behind, don’t do the mistake I did and expect a sequel with the same spirit as the original, this is not what you’re going to get. What you will get is a book that builds upon The Butterfly Garden but that is its own thing.

The first book haunted me, it was a twisted and beautiful thriller and while the sequels keeps the beauty, it loses the constant sense of creepiness that kept you enthralled and made the book hard to put down. Not to say that The Roses of May wasn’t compelling, but I felt like it was longer than it needed to be, the plot took way too long to get going and even when it did, it had too many moments of downtime when not much happened. In hindsight, those moments are easier to forgive because they lead to a beautiful ending that has me excited for the last book in this trilogy.

Apart from some small cameos from the butterflies and the return of the same FBI team behind the Butterfly case, this books focuses on a new assemble of characters of which Pryia is the main star. Pryia’s sister was brutally murdered years ago by a serial murder and ever since that she and her mother have been moving to new places every few months hoping for a new beginning that seems impossible while the murderer is still on the run. Pyria’s story mirrors the story of the butterflies in many ways.

Ever since her sister got murdered, Pryia has formed a sort of family with the FBI agents involved in that case, the same agents involved with the butterflies. Of the three, the one that gets his own chapters is Eddison. If you liked Eddison before, you’re going to love him here. He is just as grumpy as before but his relationship with Pryia will reveal sides of him that were hinted upon before but never shown. Vic and Ramirez are just as present, but as far as characters go, Eddison is much more interesting in part because of the dynamic he and Pryia have. Pryia’s mother is also a character that stood out for me, she is at times the antithesis of what a mother should be, but not in an abusing way. She’s her own person and quite independent and you can see a lot of her personality in Pryia. Their relationship help alleviate some of the darker parts of the book, insufflating the story with much needed humor.

To call The Roses of May disappointing would be unfair, but it does suffer for being the sequel of a book that was almost perfect. It does pick up in the second part and it delivers an amazing ending that had me beg for more. Seeing as this will be a trilogy, I am excited to see more of these characters and where this journey will lead them.