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Zoe Bentley Mystery #1
Der Präparator
Der »Washington Post«-Bestseller: Auftakt zur neuen Thriller-Reihe um die forensische Psychologin Zoe Bentley.
In Chicago wurden drei Frauen erwürgt, einbalsamiert und in lebendig wirkenden Posen zur Schau gestellt. Das FBI bittet die forensische Psychologin Zoe Bentley, die Ermittlungen zu unterstützen. Von Anfang an gerät sie dabei mit ihrem neuen Partner aneinander, dem selbstgefälligen und unkonventionellen Special Agent Tatum Gray.
Aber sie müssen sich gemeinsam in die Psyche des Serienmörders versetzen und dessen kranke Fantasien ergründen, damit nicht noch mehr Frauen sterben. Als der Inhalt dreier unscheinbarer Umschläge jedoch eine erschreckende Verbindung zu grausamen Morden aus Zoes Kindheit erahnen lässt, wird die Jägerin auf einmal zur Gejagten.
460 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2018
23560 people are currently reading
50069 people want to read
About the author
Mike Omer
22 books2,320 followersMike Omer is the author of the Zoe Bentley Mystery Series, the Abby Mullen Thrillers, and more. In the past, he's been a journalist, a game developer, and the CEO of the company Loadingames. He lives in Ireland, and is married to a woman who diligently forces him to live his dream. He is the father of an angel, a pixie, and a leprechaun.
Mike loves to write about true-to-life people who are perpetrators or victims of crimes. He also likes writing funny stuff. He mixes these two loves quite passionately into his mystery books.
You can contact Mike by sending him an e-mail to mikeomerauthor@gmail.com
Mike loves to write about true-to-life people who are perpetrators or victims of crimes. He also likes writing funny stuff. He mixes these two loves quite passionately into his mystery books.
You can contact Mike by sending him an e-mail to mikeomerauthor@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,879 reviews
July 26, 2018
3.5 stars
“Corniest serial killer ever.”
A Killer’s Mind is an entertaining, easy to read thriller about “the corniest serial killer ever.” This book is full of snarky characters, wacky murderers, and quirky characters (including a cat and fish).
Zoe Bentley, a forensic psychologist who consults for the FBI, has a unique connection to her job. She loves what she does for a living, which allows her to get inside the sick and twisted minds of psychopaths and unlock their motivations in hopes of helping the FBI identify them. When a serial killer in Chicago begins embalming victims, Zoey, along with agent Tatum Gray, are brought in to help local police stop the sick and twisted killer before it’s too late.
Told in alternating point of views, this is a fast-paced read that doesn’t waste any time getting into the nitty-gritty of the crimes. If anything, it moves too quickly as it doesn’t really allow the reader to unpack many nuances. At the same time, I enjoyed this element as I often read this after work and needed a mindless diversion from reality!
I chose A Killer's Mind as one of my Kindle First reads and went into it with zero expectations. I was quickly drawn by Zoe and Tatum’s snarky wit, as well as by the demented killer’s POV. Zoe and Tatum have great chemistry, but I am not sure if I would like a romance to develop between them. It seems as if this is going to be a series, and the ending left me looking forward to the next installment. Overall, A Killer’s Mind is over-the-top, mindless fun!
“Corniest serial killer ever.”
A Killer’s Mind is an entertaining, easy to read thriller about “the corniest serial killer ever.” This book is full of snarky characters, wacky murderers, and quirky characters (including a cat and fish).
Zoe Bentley, a forensic psychologist who consults for the FBI, has a unique connection to her job. She loves what she does for a living, which allows her to get inside the sick and twisted minds of psychopaths and unlock their motivations in hopes of helping the FBI identify them. When a serial killer in Chicago begins embalming victims, Zoey, along with agent Tatum Gray, are brought in to help local police stop the sick and twisted killer before it’s too late.
Told in alternating point of views, this is a fast-paced read that doesn’t waste any time getting into the nitty-gritty of the crimes. If anything, it moves too quickly as it doesn’t really allow the reader to unpack many nuances. At the same time, I enjoyed this element as I often read this after work and needed a mindless diversion from reality!
I chose A Killer's Mind as one of my Kindle First reads and went into it with zero expectations. I was quickly drawn by Zoe and Tatum’s snarky wit, as well as by the demented killer’s POV. Zoe and Tatum have great chemistry, but I am not sure if I would like a romance to develop between them. It seems as if this is going to be a series, and the ending left me looking forward to the next installment. Overall, A Killer’s Mind is over-the-top, mindless fun!
August 23, 2018
My first venture into the world of Mike Omer’s writing will surely not be one I forget. A serial killer novel that flips the genre on its head, Omer keeps the reader guessing throughout, in a piece that loses no momentum the deeper the plot. Dr. Zoe Bentley is an accomplished forensic psychologist with a passion for her work. When she is contracted to consult for the FBI, she leaps at the opportunity, getting neck-deep into a case that has been chilling Chicago to its core. While the local profiler scoffs at her ideas, FBI Special Agent Tatum Gray takes a liking to Bentley’s quirky side, though is kept in his place throughout the investigation. Someone has been murdering women and leaving them on public display, but not before embalming them, a unique act that has dubbed the killer the Strangling Undertaker. While investigating, Bentley cannot help but think back to a string of serial murders from her youth, which shocked her small town in Massachusetts. Bentley was sure she could identify the killer, but no one would listen to a teenager at the time. Back in Chicago, the killer seems to be getting sloppy and is almost caught, offering up a number of digital breadcrumbs on which the authorities can capitalise. When Bentley’s past and the current investigation collide, she cannot help but wonder if the horrors from two decades before might be rejuvenated, allowing a killer to whet their appetite again. Omer chills the reader to their core and provides the perfect mix of action and killer perspective to ensure the reader will come back for more. Those who love serial killer thrillers (what a tag-line for the sub-genre!) will want to keep this one on their list.
With the rise of certain television programmes, FBI profilers tend to be protagonists that are appearing throughout novels of this genre. That said, while anyone can spout out theories and ideas, it is the killer who deserves the praise, should they be thoughtful enough to provide a unique approach to crimes. Readers want to see new and intriguing ways to have their spines tingled, while trying to see what clues are left for synthesizing. Mike Omer does both very well and was able to keep me hooked, wondering throughout each passing chapter. Introducing Zoe Bentley’s character with such a backstory did much to convince me this would be a novel worth my time. I found her to be not only well-grounded throughout the investigation, providing both a serious and lighter side, but also to have a lovely, if dark, past as a teenager, which surely got her interested in all things serial killer. Omer balances these well and mixes them throughout the narrative, helping develop an attachment for the reader. Tatum Gray and some of the other characters laid the foundation for what could be a great series, should Omer continue with his strong FBI pairing, though there is likely a twist or two coming by next summer. The story was strong, yet did not get bogged down in too much psychological analysis, providing readers from all walks of life to feel comfortable navigating through the novel. Things flowed well and there were enough moments where the story took a twist so that the reader could not predict too much as things developed. Having not read any of Omer’s earlier work, I cannot comment on whether this venture into the genre is new or surprising, but I will say that he has made a fan out of me and I will keep my eyes peeled for the second Bentley instalment next July.
Kudos, Mr. Omer, for entertaining and educating in equal measure. You’ve made a fan out of me and I would venture that many others who take the time will sing your praises too!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
With the rise of certain television programmes, FBI profilers tend to be protagonists that are appearing throughout novels of this genre. That said, while anyone can spout out theories and ideas, it is the killer who deserves the praise, should they be thoughtful enough to provide a unique approach to crimes. Readers want to see new and intriguing ways to have their spines tingled, while trying to see what clues are left for synthesizing. Mike Omer does both very well and was able to keep me hooked, wondering throughout each passing chapter. Introducing Zoe Bentley’s character with such a backstory did much to convince me this would be a novel worth my time. I found her to be not only well-grounded throughout the investigation, providing both a serious and lighter side, but also to have a lovely, if dark, past as a teenager, which surely got her interested in all things serial killer. Omer balances these well and mixes them throughout the narrative, helping develop an attachment for the reader. Tatum Gray and some of the other characters laid the foundation for what could be a great series, should Omer continue with his strong FBI pairing, though there is likely a twist or two coming by next summer. The story was strong, yet did not get bogged down in too much psychological analysis, providing readers from all walks of life to feel comfortable navigating through the novel. Things flowed well and there were enough moments where the story took a twist so that the reader could not predict too much as things developed. Having not read any of Omer’s earlier work, I cannot comment on whether this venture into the genre is new or surprising, but I will say that he has made a fan out of me and I will keep my eyes peeled for the second Bentley instalment next July.
Kudos, Mr. Omer, for entertaining and educating in equal measure. You’ve made a fan out of me and I would venture that many others who take the time will sing your praises too!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
April 4, 2022
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 3.5/5 | Ending: big nah/5
THE PLOT
Forensic psychologist Dr. Zoe Bentley and BAU agent Tatum is called in to consult on a spooky af case in Chicago—but wait... could the serial killer stalking the corners of Chi city have ties to Zoe's creepy childhood???
MY OPINION
This is my second Mike Omer book following Damaged Intentions which I LOVED. It's interesting reading older books after you've read the author's latest—you can see how much Omer has improved since A Killer's Mind. Safe to say, I liked Damaged Intentions much better.
This book was solid up until the last 30%. I liked Zoe, she was obviously intelligent, self-assured, but not a block of cheese... she was written with a bit of humor and quirk. Tatum was a little harder to put my thumb on—was he an asshole? An egomaniac? A lover not a hater? A baller? Did he wish he was a little bit taller? idk.
Anyways. The pacing was on point. I felt like I was watching an episode of Criminal Minds. Everything was flowing nicely with lots of action peppered throughout, and then things just started going downhill. Here's what happened:
- Zoe yeeted all logic and common sense out the window
- The plot holes in Zoe's flashbacks were GAPING. So a mans broke into your house and confessed to a whole ass murder/rape combo in great detail and you guys were like: oh silly lil girl, he was just coming over to have a chit chat about all the creepy murder paraphernalia you found in his bedroom. NBD.
- There were too many baddies in the frame... I mean is it even statistically possible??
- Zoe has a PhD and JD from Harvard but had to resort to stripping to distract the serial killer. GOOD BYE.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: kinda funny, I liked Zoe's character (for the most part), good pacing, intrigue was poppin
Cons: that last 30% and reducing zoe to her sexuality WHYYYYYYYYY
Follow me on IG: @girlwiththepinkskimask
THE PLOT
Forensic psychologist Dr. Zoe Bentley and BAU agent Tatum is called in to consult on a spooky af case in Chicago—but wait... could the serial killer stalking the corners of Chi city have ties to Zoe's creepy childhood???
MY OPINION
This is my second Mike Omer book following Damaged Intentions which I LOVED. It's interesting reading older books after you've read the author's latest—you can see how much Omer has improved since A Killer's Mind. Safe to say, I liked Damaged Intentions much better.
This book was solid up until the last 30%. I liked Zoe, she was obviously intelligent, self-assured, but not a block of cheese... she was written with a bit of humor and quirk. Tatum was a little harder to put my thumb on—was he an asshole? An egomaniac? A lover not a hater? A baller? Did he wish he was a little bit taller? idk.
Anyways. The pacing was on point. I felt like I was watching an episode of Criminal Minds. Everything was flowing nicely with lots of action peppered throughout, and then things just started going downhill. Here's what happened:
- Zoe yeeted all logic and common sense out the window
- The plot holes in Zoe's flashbacks were GAPING. So a mans broke into your house and confessed to a whole ass murder/rape combo in great detail and you guys were like: oh silly lil girl, he was just coming over to have a chit chat about all the creepy murder paraphernalia you found in his bedroom. NBD.
- There were too many baddies in the frame... I mean is it even statistically possible??
- Zoe has a PhD and JD from Harvard but had to resort to stripping to distract the serial killer. GOOD BYE.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: kinda funny, I liked Zoe's character (for the most part), good pacing, intrigue was poppin
Cons: that last 30% and reducing zoe to her sexuality WHYYYYYYYYY
Follow me on IG: @girlwiththepinkskimask
March 31, 2021
Q:
“Is there a serial killer convention in Chicago?” (c)
Sociopathic cats and murder investigators run amok in this one.
Love the frisky octogenarians.
Love how the main protagonist is so very weird. (Maybe too - but I think that was intentional).
Ok, some decisions / plot vehicles were seriously off in their search for being the ultimately weird ones. But then I'll not harp too much about that.
Q:
“We have a fish?”
“Yeah. His name is Timothy, and apparently, he’s a bastard. You two should get along great. Just keep Freckle away from him.” (c)
Q:
Bad planning of chocolate division was how things went downhill. (c)
Q:
After seeing the ungodly things that had been done to his couch, Tatum was pretty sure they would need a flamethrower and an exorcist to really get the job done. (c)
Q:
... an eerie feeling. She knew there was a term to describe this phenomenon—the uncanny valley. (c)
“Is there a serial killer convention in Chicago?” (c)
Sociopathic cats and murder investigators run amok in this one.
Love the frisky octogenarians.
Love how the main protagonist is so very weird. (Maybe too - but I think that was intentional).
Ok, some decisions / plot vehicles were seriously off in their search for being the ultimately weird ones. But then I'll not harp too much about that.
Q:
“We have a fish?”
“Yeah. His name is Timothy, and apparently, he’s a bastard. You two should get along great. Just keep Freckle away from him.” (c)
Q:
Bad planning of chocolate division was how things went downhill. (c)
Q:
After seeing the ungodly things that had been done to his couch, Tatum was pretty sure they would need a flamethrower and an exorcist to really get the job done. (c)
Q:
... an eerie feeling. She knew there was a term to describe this phenomenon—the uncanny valley. (c)
July 1, 2018
Like many books in this genre, “A Killer’s Mind” began with a description of the killer at work, putting the finishing touches on his latest conquest. What was refreshing was that author Mike Omer gave us just enough of a taste in the first chapter to entice readers to keep turning pages.
The author introduces us to Zoe Bentley, a forensic psychologist who is good at her job but doesn’t feel she gets the recognition she deserves. Tatum Grey is an FBI agent, “promoted” to his current position due to an event that the author purposely shrouds. The shadows in both their paths are initially left hidden, creating curiosity. Despite their faults, I found myself liking both of the characters.
Mr. Omer tells the story through multiple eyes, giving us a chance to experience the story from Zoe and Tatum, as well as sharing occasional glimpses of the killer. It was interesting for the author to develop the character of Zoe with flashbacks to her high school days during a time when a serial killer was terrorizing her community.
The book has a good, even flow to it, the action proceeding at a steady pace and the police procedural aspects carrying a realistic feeling. This is a story that you can sink your teeth into, and I never got the feeling that the author would let me down by introducing surrealistic twists or having Zoe or Tatum do things that were drastically out of character. For those concerned about language, Mr. Omer has managed to craft a book that features very little cursing or swearing, relying more on his talent rather than shock value.
Overall, an entertaining read, and definitely a positive start to a series. Five stars.
The author introduces us to Zoe Bentley, a forensic psychologist who is good at her job but doesn’t feel she gets the recognition she deserves. Tatum Grey is an FBI agent, “promoted” to his current position due to an event that the author purposely shrouds. The shadows in both their paths are initially left hidden, creating curiosity. Despite their faults, I found myself liking both of the characters.
Mr. Omer tells the story through multiple eyes, giving us a chance to experience the story from Zoe and Tatum, as well as sharing occasional glimpses of the killer. It was interesting for the author to develop the character of Zoe with flashbacks to her high school days during a time when a serial killer was terrorizing her community.
The book has a good, even flow to it, the action proceeding at a steady pace and the police procedural aspects carrying a realistic feeling. This is a story that you can sink your teeth into, and I never got the feeling that the author would let me down by introducing surrealistic twists or having Zoe or Tatum do things that were drastically out of character. For those concerned about language, Mr. Omer has managed to craft a book that features very little cursing or swearing, relying more on his talent rather than shock value.
Overall, an entertaining read, and definitely a positive start to a series. Five stars.
November 12, 2018
4.0 Stars—- I just finished my first book by Mike Omer and for the most part I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book tells the story of FBI consultant/psychologist Zoe Bentley and her work assisting the FBI and Chicago police in working the case of a serial killer with the worst nickname ever —-“The Strangling Undertaker.” Bentley is assigned to work the case with FBI agent Tatum Gray, who is an enjoyable cut-up and the antithesis to the no-nonsense, no-fun, all work Bentley. The book alternates between the current case and a case from 20 years ago (when Bentley was 14) in which Bentley was personally involved in solving a different serial killer case. Although it is obvious to the reader she solved this case, the police do the dreaded ‘don’t take her serious because she’s a kid’ routine and blame it on someone else. These two investigations inevitably come together but with some very different outcomes and twists. Personally, I believe this is why I enjoyed the book so much. Just when I thought that it was going to turn into a boring book that I have read 20 different times with 20 different names, it surprised me by going in a totally different direction. It also has one of the better climactic scenes to bring the story to an end I have read in quite a while. If it wasn’t for some typical stupid local law enforcement overreactions and one completely ridiculous out of character Bentley field trip, I might have given the book the full 5 stars, but a solid effort nonetheless.
February 20, 2024
Авто�� активно підтримує та співпрацює з країною-терористом. Відгук, що я писала раніше, залишаю, але читати далі цього письменника точно не планую.
Давно не читала трилерів про маніяків, і хоч цей - не найкраще, що я читала у своєму житті, але я отримала від нього навіть більше, ніж сподівалася. Настільки більше, що вже замовила дві наступні частини :)) читається дуже швидко, динамічно без зайвої води, а ще сподобалося почуття гумору героїв. Якщо не брати до уваги місцями жахливий переклад, зловживання словом «брунатний» (так, дуже гарне слово, не сперечаюсь, однак не все підходить для описів, використовуючи саме це слово, чим «коричневий» не влаштовує?), «незлий» у значенні «нормальний, непоганий» та «хлопака». Брррр, а ще порядок слів у деяких реченнях виглядав так, ніби перекладали з російської 🙄 через деякий час зняла зірку (спочатку поставила пʼять) за те, що лише один раз за всю книжку у мене дійсно було відчуття, що читаю трилер, напруги, за якою я йду в такі книжки, тут немає. От ніби й маніяк, ніби й страшні злочини коїть, але написано так примітивно просто, що такий текст не лякав. Зої сподобалася, люблю розумних жінок, які займаються розслідуванням.
Давно не читала трилерів про маніяків, і хоч цей - не найкраще, що я читала у своєму житті, але я отримала від нього навіть більше, ніж сподівалася. Настільки більше, що вже замовила дві наступні частини :)) читається дуже швидко, динамічно без зайвої води, а ще сподобалося почуття гумору героїв. Якщо не брати до уваги місцями жахливий переклад, зловживання словом «брунатний» (так, дуже гарне слово, не сперечаюсь, однак не все підходить для описів, використовуючи саме це слово, чим «коричневий» не влаштовує?), «незлий» у значенні «нормальний, непоганий» та «хлопака». Брррр, а ще порядок слів у деяких реченнях виглядав так, ніби перекладали з російської 🙄 через деякий час зняла зірку (спочатку поставила пʼять) за те, що лише один раз за всю книжку у мене дійсно було відчуття, що читаю трилер, напруги, за якою я йду в такі книжки, тут немає. От ніби й маніяк, ніби й страшні злочини коїть, але написано так примітивно просто, що такий текст не лякав. Зої сподобалася, люблю розумних жінок, які займаються розслідуванням.
April 17, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded up
When starting a new mystery series, initial impressions are important to me. Do I like the characters? I have to say, I wasn’t initially drawn to Zoe. She just seemed a little too off kilter. But Tatum drew me in and his grandfather, Marvin, his cat and his fish really kept me listening. And as the chapters went on, I came to appreciate Zoe and her intelligence.
Zoe is a forensic psychologist who is a consultant to the FBI. Tatum Gray is a recently “promoted” and transferred FBI agent. Together, they are brought in to consult on a series of murders in Chicago where the victims have been embalmed and staged. The two really don’t get along. Zoe is prickly, intense and not tactful at all. Tatum is a little too self important. It takes them a while to learn to trust each other and their growing relationship is one of the strengths of the book.
As the book goes along, in addition to the murder investigation, we learn more about Zoe’s background and what has made her the way she is. Omer is smart to use Zoe’s early interest in profiling to teach the reader what it’s really all about. We hear from multiple characters, not just the two investigators. The killer’s chapters add a dark, quirky twist. The narrator’s Massachusetts’ accent for Zoe tends to come and go which was a little distracting.
The book moves at a nice, steady pace. It kept me guessing as to the identity of the killer. It was entertaining but lacked enough oomph to make this a solid four stars. Still, I will definitely seek out book two.
When starting a new mystery series, initial impressions are important to me. Do I like the characters? I have to say, I wasn’t initially drawn to Zoe. She just seemed a little too off kilter. But Tatum drew me in and his grandfather, Marvin, his cat and his fish really kept me listening. And as the chapters went on, I came to appreciate Zoe and her intelligence.
Zoe is a forensic psychologist who is a consultant to the FBI. Tatum Gray is a recently “promoted” and transferred FBI agent. Together, they are brought in to consult on a series of murders in Chicago where the victims have been embalmed and staged. The two really don’t get along. Zoe is prickly, intense and not tactful at all. Tatum is a little too self important. It takes them a while to learn to trust each other and their growing relationship is one of the strengths of the book.
As the book goes along, in addition to the murder investigation, we learn more about Zoe’s background and what has made her the way she is. Omer is smart to use Zoe’s early interest in profiling to teach the reader what it’s really all about. We hear from multiple characters, not just the two investigators. The killer’s chapters add a dark, quirky twist. The narrator’s Massachusetts’ accent for Zoe tends to come and go which was a little distracting.
The book moves at a nice, steady pace. It kept me guessing as to the identity of the killer. It was entertaining but lacked enough oomph to make this a solid four stars. Still, I will definitely seek out book two.
February 20, 2024
Після того, як чувак розсипався любовʼю до узьких, то це не книга, а повна залупа
July 24, 2019
A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer is a great start to the Zoe Bentley series.
The characters in this first book are character's I'm looking forward to reading more about and watching them grow into a fantastic team.
It's a dark twisted story with two different killers, one from Zoe's past(who is probably going to be around a while) and a crazy killer who likes embalmed his women 😲
It's a fast read that keeps you guessing because there's no clue who it could be,but the ending is a little shocking and slaps you sideways when you realise who it is.
I recommend this if you're looking for a fast thriller 📖
The characters in this first book are character's I'm looking forward to reading more about and watching them grow into a fantastic team.
It's a dark twisted story with two different killers, one from Zoe's past(who is probably going to be around a while) and a crazy killer who likes embalmed his women 😲
It's a fast read that keeps you guessing because there's no clue who it could be,but the ending is a little shocking and slaps you sideways when you realise who it is.
I recommend this if you're looking for a fast thriller 📖
July 2, 2018
An FBI serial killer book, interesting characters, that I liked for the Chicago setting.
Some of the best mystery-thriller Chicago books are authored by Sara Paretsky--suggesting readers start with those if they haven't already read them.
Some of the best mystery-thriller Chicago books are authored by Sara Paretsky--suggesting readers start with those if they haven't already read them.
February 18, 2024
За позицію автора. Краще зразу переїжджати на расію, а не з західних країн хвалити як там на расії круто і все розвивається
August 24, 2018
Pretty good but predictable ending.
A Killer's Mind was one of those kindle books that jumped at me. Having no idea what it was actually about - I was still intrigued to read it. Yes, I am one of those people who barely reads the synopsis before clicking the book. It usually ends up being a good.. but for the terrible ones. Well, I end up having trust issues with myself.
In this book, you will meet Zoe. She basically grew up around murder mysteries. In the town she grew up in, three murders happened. However, they quickly stopped once the "murderer" committed suicide. Since then she went to school for psychology and ended up working with the police on murders/crimes.
Then the day that she meets the new agent, Tatum Gray, does her world sort of get flipped upside down. She's thrown right into an interesting murder case. One that makes her think of her hometown murders and the guy she always saw as the suspect.
Of course, this book gives you some twists and turns.. and I was trying to figure out if there was more than one case or murderer in this book. Again, my mind was all over the place in this book and still the ending was predictable! I just knew that it was going to happen because of all the little clues throughout the book. She poked the bear.. and the bear poked back.
I can't wait to dive into the next book.
A Killer's Mind was one of those kindle books that jumped at me. Having no idea what it was actually about - I was still intrigued to read it. Yes, I am one of those people who barely reads the synopsis before clicking the book. It usually ends up being a good.. but for the terrible ones. Well, I end up having trust issues with myself.
In this book, you will meet Zoe. She basically grew up around murder mysteries. In the town she grew up in, three murders happened. However, they quickly stopped once the "murderer" committed suicide. Since then she went to school for psychology and ended up working with the police on murders/crimes.
Then the day that she meets the new agent, Tatum Gray, does her world sort of get flipped upside down. She's thrown right into an interesting murder case. One that makes her think of her hometown murders and the guy she always saw as the suspect.
Of course, this book gives you some twists and turns.. and I was trying to figure out if there was more than one case or murderer in this book. Again, my mind was all over the place in this book and still the ending was predictable! I just knew that it was going to happen because of all the little clues throughout the book. She poked the bear.. and the bear poked back.
I can't wait to dive into the next book.
October 22, 2021
Ти бачиш, як це зроблено: автор майстерно «укріплює» головний сюжет загадкою з минулого. Більше того, «шерлок» і «ватсон» тут чоловік і жінка, що починають свою співпрацю з конфлікту і це також чіпляє увагу на гачок. Ну, а закінчення книги готує фундамент для продовження історії, тобто виникає надія на серію. Тож усі прийоми прозорі.
На практиці усе це спрацьовує на побудову справжнього page turner, якого мені часто бракує, коли я беруся читати трилери. Динамічно, легко і напружено. Нема питань до того, чому ця книга стала бестселером.
На практиці усе це спрацьовує на побудову справжнього page turner, якого мені часто бракує, коли я беруся читати трилери. Динамічно, легко і напружено. Нема питань до того, чому ця книга стала бестселером.
July 6, 2018
Rating between 1 and 2 stars.
This was Amazon Kindle First and thankfully free. It never ceases to amaze me when there are so many really good authors out there that many of these offerings are so second rate. This was like a tepid version of Criminal Minds and should therefore with serial killer material have been exciting. It was about as exciting as watching paint dry. The prose was often turgid and so full of unnecessary detail that it bored me to tears. Who cares if Zoe Bentley liked her coffee strong and her bacon crisp? Did it help us to get into the mind of the killer(s)? There was some ridiculous dialogue when Zoe tells Crystal her friend had been murdered ‘It was a man who did it’. No s**t Sherlock. You don’t need to have gone to Quantico or be in the BAU to know that nugget. Most serial killers are men. Fact. There were two story strands in this book and to find out how the second one pans out you need to buy the sequel when it’s published. Not a chance I’ll waste my spondoolies on that!!
So in essence, poor, unoriginal as it’s basically the tv show without the good characters.
This was Amazon Kindle First and thankfully free. It never ceases to amaze me when there are so many really good authors out there that many of these offerings are so second rate. This was like a tepid version of Criminal Minds and should therefore with serial killer material have been exciting. It was about as exciting as watching paint dry. The prose was often turgid and so full of unnecessary detail that it bored me to tears. Who cares if Zoe Bentley liked her coffee strong and her bacon crisp? Did it help us to get into the mind of the killer(s)? There was some ridiculous dialogue when Zoe tells Crystal her friend had been murdered ‘It was a man who did it’. No s**t Sherlock. You don’t need to have gone to Quantico or be in the BAU to know that nugget. Most serial killers are men. Fact. There were two story strands in this book and to find out how the second one pans out you need to buy the sequel when it’s published. Not a chance I’ll waste my spondoolies on that!!
So in essence, poor, unoriginal as it’s basically the tv show without the good characters.
August 19, 2018
A Killer's Mind was boom shakalakabambam. It was a fantastic read. Its one of the best thrillers I've read in a while.
July 3, 2024
Були моменти, які мене сильно дратували, але загалом було цікаво, вбивцю взагалі не вгадала, навіть на нього не думала. А ще я ненавиджу такі закінчення в книжці, де обривається на цікавому моменті. І мені ця книжка трішки вайбить «Хімія смерті» та серія «Ріццолі та Айлз»
November 28, 2019
This was good, really good. Seriously good. I don't even like the synopsis, maybe I didn't read it. But I did read the book.
July 1, 2018
A KILLER'S MIND
I loved this book, it was my pick of the Kindle First books for July- I did not even have to agonize over the choices this month, loved the brief description.
Zoe and Tatum make a great team, albeit not exactly willingly. There is a lot of humor spread throughout the pages making this a fun read even though it's about a serial killer. Looking forward to the next book.
I loved this book, it was my pick of the Kindle First books for July- I did not even have to agonize over the choices this month, loved the brief description.
Zoe and Tatum make a great team, albeit not exactly willingly. There is a lot of humor spread throughout the pages making this a fun read even though it's about a serial killer. Looking forward to the next book.
August 6, 2018
I really enjoyed this book! It is one of the most interesting and entertaining books I've read this year. I wish I could give half stars (I find myself wishing this a lot), but this book for me is 4.5 stars.
The basic plot isn't anything new, but it was well written and for me it had just the right amount of suspense. There is a serial killer on the loose and the FBI is sent in to assist a police department. Of course the agent is set up to be a rogue agent with a problematic past and the police are somewhat resistant to assistance. Adding a twist to the mix is a forensic psychologist who is a consultant for the FBI and sent to help with the investigation.
The Pros: I thought at the beginning that I was not going to like the FBI agent Tatum. From the book description it seemed like he was going to be obnoxious and full of himself. But in reading the book he wasn't. He was very likable and played the partner role well. He also had a soft side evidenced by Freckle the cat and his grandfather. I would have to say that Tatum was actually my favorite character...next to the cat!
The forensic psychologist, Zoe, was quirky and had few social skills, but this worked to make this more interesting than the standard whodunit serial killer story. I also enjoyed the pace of the story. It took them quite some time to find the killer, but the story was never boring. The amount of time it took to find the killer gave the story more credibility in my opinion. There were mistakes made and a lot of time spent trying to find the killer's motivation. On tv or other books there is some "genius" who puts things together quickly and everything is solved, but that is clearly not how it happens IRL.
There was a plot twist and portions of the book are in flashbacks. The book never gets confusing and the flashbacks were integral to understanding more about Zoe. I did figure out who the killer was before the reveal, but that didn't impact the enjoyment of the story.
Tatum and Zoe have good chemistry and I liked the fact that the author did not immediately throw them into a relationship or into bed together. I think that is probably going to happen at some point if these stories continue. Note to the author Mike Omer, when that happens, I hope that it is handled with the right amount of awkwardness on Zoe's part and the complimentary amount of patience, understanding and sarcasm from Tatum. I'm not even into romance novels, but these two getting together after the right amount of build up and tension...yeah, I'm here for that!
The Cons: There were two points in the book where I didn't like how something was handled, but neither effected my overall enjoyment of the book. One being how casually Zoe showed pictures of the crime scene and suspects without any approvals, which seemed like it would be against some type of protocol. The other, when Zoe decides to go off on her own and of course it doesn't work out too well. Just once I'd like an author not to use this, the reader knows that something is going to go wrong because it always does. Without giving too much away, I would have preferred for that sequence of events to have taken place in her hotel room, apartment, etc., someplace where she should have reasonably been.
I would recommend this book and I can't wait until the next book.
The basic plot isn't anything new, but it was well written and for me it had just the right amount of suspense. There is a serial killer on the loose and the FBI is sent in to assist a police department. Of course the agent is set up to be a rogue agent with a problematic past and the police are somewhat resistant to assistance. Adding a twist to the mix is a forensic psychologist who is a consultant for the FBI and sent to help with the investigation.
The Pros: I thought at the beginning that I was not going to like the FBI agent Tatum. From the book description it seemed like he was going to be obnoxious and full of himself. But in reading the book he wasn't. He was very likable and played the partner role well. He also had a soft side evidenced by Freckle the cat and his grandfather. I would have to say that Tatum was actually my favorite character...next to the cat!
The forensic psychologist, Zoe, was quirky and had few social skills, but this worked to make this more interesting than the standard whodunit serial killer story. I also enjoyed the pace of the story. It took them quite some time to find the killer, but the story was never boring. The amount of time it took to find the killer gave the story more credibility in my opinion. There were mistakes made and a lot of time spent trying to find the killer's motivation. On tv or other books there is some "genius" who puts things together quickly and everything is solved, but that is clearly not how it happens IRL.
There was a plot twist and portions of the book are in flashbacks. The book never gets confusing and the flashbacks were integral to understanding more about Zoe. I did figure out who the killer was before the reveal, but that didn't impact the enjoyment of the story.
Tatum and Zoe have good chemistry and I liked the fact that the author did not immediately throw them into a relationship or into bed together. I think that is probably going to happen at some point if these stories continue. Note to the author Mike Omer, when that happens, I hope that it is handled with the right amount of awkwardness on Zoe's part and the complimentary amount of patience, understanding and sarcasm from Tatum. I'm not even into romance novels, but these two getting together after the right amount of build up and tension...yeah, I'm here for that!
The Cons: There were two points in the book where I didn't like how something was handled, but neither effected my overall enjoyment of the book. One being how casually Zoe showed pictures of the crime scene and suspects without any approvals, which seemed like it would be against some type of protocol. The other, when Zoe decides to go off on her own and of course it doesn't work out too well. Just once I'd like an author not to use this, the reader knows that something is going to go wrong because it always does. Without giving too much away, I would have preferred for that sequence of events to have taken place in her hotel room, apartment, etc., someplace where she should have reasonably been.
I would recommend this book and I can't wait until the next book.
October 16, 2020
3.5/5
Pažintį su detektyvais ir trileriais dar ankstyvoje paauglystėje pradėjau mamos dėka. Ji – didelė šio žanro gerbėja, mėgstanti po sunkios darbo dienos atsipalaiduoti su neįpareigojančia užsukta istorija, todėl buvo tik laiko klausimas, kada mano rankose atsidurs Tess Gerritsen ar panašių autorių knygos. Pareigingai skaičiau įvairias serijas, žiūrėdavau pagal jas sukurtus serialus ir todėl turbūt neturėčiau stebėtis, kad dabar esu apsiskelbusi true crime fanatikė. Tikriausiai įgimta. Ir nors pastaruoju metu retokai į rankas patenka koks detektyvas, atrodo, pajaučiau tokių knygų stygių. Tokių, kurias perskaitai per daugiausiai pora dienų, įtraukiančių, su žaviais veikėjais, kraupiais, tačiau ne per daug šiurpiais nusikaltimais ir nenutraukiama įtampa. Puikiai tinkančių tada, kai norisi kažko, kas neapsunkina, kažko, kas skaitytųsi taip, lyg žiūrėtum kriminalinį serialą ir kažko nostalgiško. „Žudiko kailyje“ išpildė šiuos lūkesčius su kaupu.
M. Omer mane šioje knygoje labiausiai sužavėjo dėl to, kad nusprendė giliau panagrinėti serijinių žudikų psichologiją ir darė tai neatmestinai. Čia minimi įvairūs autoriai, jų teorijos ir spėjimai, be to, rodoma, kaip tai panaudojama praktikoje, ko panašaus žanro knygose kartais pritrūksta. Autorius akivaizdžiai pats domisi tema, o tai jaučiama verčiant knygos puslapius. Viskas pateikiama ne sausai ir per daug neapkraunant skaitytojo, suprantamai tiems, kurie visiškai nauji šiam pasauliui ir pakankamai suintriguojant tokius kaip aš, kurie apie tai domisi daugiau. Įdomu buvo sužinoti ir „kas?“, bet labiau domino „kodėl?“, ir šiame trileryje tas „kodėl?“ neerzino, buvo logiškas ir intriguojantis. Pagrindinė veikėja, net jei ir turėjo stereotipinių bruožų ir buvo karjeristė, negalinti gyventi be šimto puodelių kavos per dieną bei bėganti nuo savo praeities, visgi ta praeitimi sugebėjo sudominti ir apskritai ją mėgti nebuvo sunku. Pavyzdingai išlaikyta pusiausvyra tarp detektyvų ir tyrėjų darbo subtilybių atskleidimo, pačio nusikaltimo, nusikaltėlio gyvenimo ir veikėjų praeities, o viskas galiausiai susipina į tikrai pačia geriausia prasme pramoginį reikalą.
Ir net jei „Žudiko kailyje“ pernelyg nešokiravo, neprivertė naktį krūpčioti ar nenustygti vietoje iš įtampos, mėgavausi sau suteikta trumpute pauze nuo visai kitokių kūrinių. Neprailgo, nepabodo ir nepaisant tam tikrų klišių pasirodė sumanu ir smagu. Kiek tai gali būti smagu kalbant apie balzamuojamus lavonus. Bet vėlgi, kiekvienam savo. Užvertus paskutinį puslapį ir supratus, kad su istorija čia nebus atsisveikinta, jaučiu – skaitysiu ir kitas dalis. Visgi tai tam tikra nostalgija paauglystės laikams ir duoklė mano kiek iškraipytam pomėgiui kapstytis po psichopatų galvas.
Pažintį su detektyvais ir trileriais dar ankstyvoje paauglystėje pradėjau mamos dėka. Ji – didelė šio žanro gerbėja, mėgstanti po sunkios darbo dienos atsipalaiduoti su neįpareigojančia užsukta istorija, todėl buvo tik laiko klausimas, kada mano rankose atsidurs Tess Gerritsen ar panašių autorių knygos. Pareigingai skaičiau įvairias serijas, žiūrėdavau pagal jas sukurtus serialus ir todėl turbūt neturėčiau stebėtis, kad dabar esu apsiskelbusi true crime fanatikė. Tikriausiai įgimta. Ir nors pastaruoju metu retokai į rankas patenka koks detektyvas, atrodo, pajaučiau tokių knygų stygių. Tokių, kurias perskaitai per daugiausiai pora dienų, įtraukiančių, su žaviais veikėjais, kraupiais, tačiau ne per daug šiurpiais nusikaltimais ir nenutraukiama įtampa. Puikiai tinkančių tada, kai norisi kažko, kas neapsunkina, kažko, kas skaitytųsi taip, lyg žiūrėtum kriminalinį serialą ir kažko nostalgiško. „Žudiko kailyje“ išpildė šiuos lūkesčius su kaupu.
M. Omer mane šioje knygoje labiausiai sužavėjo dėl to, kad nusprendė giliau panagrinėti serijinių žudikų psichologiją ir darė tai neatmestinai. Čia minimi įvairūs autoriai, jų teorijos ir spėjimai, be to, rodoma, kaip tai panaudojama praktikoje, ko panašaus žanro knygose kartais pritrūksta. Autorius akivaizdžiai pats domisi tema, o tai jaučiama verčiant knygos puslapius. Viskas pateikiama ne sausai ir per daug neapkraunant skaitytojo, suprantamai tiems, kurie visiškai nauji šiam pasauliui ir pakankamai suintriguojant tokius kaip aš, kurie apie tai domisi daugiau. Įdomu buvo sužinoti ir „kas?“, bet labiau domino „kodėl?“, ir šiame trileryje tas „kodėl?“ neerzino, buvo logiškas ir intriguojantis. Pagrindinė veikėja, net jei ir turėjo stereotipinių bruožų ir buvo karjeristė, negalinti gyventi be šimto puodelių kavos per dieną bei bėganti nuo savo praeities, visgi ta praeitimi sugebėjo sudominti ir apskritai ją mėgti nebuvo sunku. Pavyzdingai išlaikyta pusiausvyra tarp detektyvų ir tyrėjų darbo subtilybių atskleidimo, pačio nusikaltimo, nusikaltėlio gyvenimo ir veikėjų praeities, o viskas galiausiai susipina į tikrai pačia geriausia prasme pramoginį reikalą.
Ir net jei „Žudiko kailyje“ pernelyg nešokiravo, neprivertė naktį krūpčioti ar nenustygti vietoje iš įtampos, mėgavausi sau suteikta trumpute pauze nuo visai kitokių kūrinių. Neprailgo, nepabodo ir nepaisant tam tikrų klišių pasirodė sumanu ir smagu. Kiek tai gali būti smagu kalbant apie balzamuojamus lavonus. Bet vėlgi, kiekvienam savo. Užvertus paskutinį puslapį ir supratus, kad su istorija čia nebus atsisveikinta, jaučiu – skaitysiu ir kitas dalis. Visgi tai tam tikra nostalgija paauglystės laikams ir duoklė mano kiek iškraipytam pomėgiui kapstytis po psichopatų galvas.
March 8, 2023
“There was something wholesome about waking up in bed with the woman you loved, watching her lie there-her eyes closed, her face innocent, her body warm….Well, maybe not warm."
Wait a minute...somebody pump the brakes please!!! Do WHAT?
Meet forensic psychologist Zoe Bentley and FBI special agent Tatum Gray. They are called to work together on a case where three Chicago women have been found strangled, embalmed, and posed in public places (and the killer is so good at posing their victims that multiple people have walked by and not known the victims were deceased). There is a killer on the loose and they have been deemed the “Strangling Undertaker”. Will Bentley and Gray be able to catch the killer before another victim turns up?
The book is told from multiple POV and two time periods; flashbacks from when Zoe was a teenager in 1997 and present day. In her teenage years, Zoe was involved with a case containing a serial killer who killed three teenage girls and after being arrested, committed suicide in jail (or so the cops said). Eventually, both cases intertwine. I was honestly hooked from the first chapter. As the book went on, I wanted to know what the connection was from Zoe’s past and Omer did a superb job weaving in both timelines. Both characters are flawed in different ways but IMO that is what makes them work well together and they make a great team. Get ready for twists and turns galore and suspense that keeps you hanging on to the edge of your seat. The book is fast paced with plenty of action to keep you entertained.
This is book 1 of 3 of the Zoe Bentley Mystery Series by Mike Omer and after finishing this book with that cliffhanger, I went ahead and purchased the other two books. I’m in it until the END! I’m so thrilled to continue the series. It’s so interesting to be in “A Killer’s Mind.”
Wait a minute...somebody pump the brakes please!!! Do WHAT?
Meet forensic psychologist Zoe Bentley and FBI special agent Tatum Gray. They are called to work together on a case where three Chicago women have been found strangled, embalmed, and posed in public places (and the killer is so good at posing their victims that multiple people have walked by and not known the victims were deceased). There is a killer on the loose and they have been deemed the “Strangling Undertaker”. Will Bentley and Gray be able to catch the killer before another victim turns up?
The book is told from multiple POV and two time periods; flashbacks from when Zoe was a teenager in 1997 and present day. In her teenage years, Zoe was involved with a case containing a serial killer who killed three teenage girls and after being arrested, committed suicide in jail (or so the cops said). Eventually, both cases intertwine. I was honestly hooked from the first chapter. As the book went on, I wanted to know what the connection was from Zoe’s past and Omer did a superb job weaving in both timelines. Both characters are flawed in different ways but IMO that is what makes them work well together and they make a great team. Get ready for twists and turns galore and suspense that keeps you hanging on to the edge of your seat. The book is fast paced with plenty of action to keep you entertained.
This is book 1 of 3 of the Zoe Bentley Mystery Series by Mike Omer and after finishing this book with that cliffhanger, I went ahead and purchased the other two books. I’m in it until the END! I’m so thrilled to continue the series. It’s so interesting to be in “A Killer’s Mind.”
June 11, 2020
Thank you Mike Omer for getting me out of my reading slump...I just binged this book in one day straight. What’s even better is that it didn’t come to me as a recommendation; I picked it up purely on a whim. I chose it especially due to the creepiness of the cover. Some things are just meant to be.
Meet Zoe Bentley : a Civilian Profiler/ Forensic Psychologist from Boston with a childhood that traumatizes her to this day.
Meet Tatum Gray: a Special Agent from Los Angeles who has one too many strikes against him in the force.
When Tatum gets transferred in order to stay employed, he is asked to begin solving the not only brutal, but unusual murders of “The Strangling Undertaker.” He is known as a vicious serial killer who embalms his victims after he murders them. But, why? He also rapes his victims post mortem, yes you read that correctly, AFTER they’re dead. When he is done with these ladies, this freak also poses them as if they were alive, causing many passerby’s to think that they are fine. That is—- until they get just a little bit closer.
“The next one would be better. He would figure out a way to make her more lifelike. Perhaps glass eyes would help. He should look into that. But first he had to break up with this one.”
Gray quickly realizes that the “specialist” in charge of profiling the killer is about as useless as they come, and quickly gets Zoe taken off of her current tasks and involved in this case. What Zoe doesn’t realize is that in an unfortunate turn of bad luck, this case will entangle her with her past once again—WAY too close for comfort!
This thriller is one that is expertly woven between the past and present. This story is told from multiple perspectives including a behind the scenes narrative with the killer as he chooses his victims and what he does when he has them all to himself. The chapters transition between Zoe’s frightening childhood in Massachusetts 1997 and Present Day, 2016, in Illinois.
“...The car filled with her perfume, an innocent, sweet fragrance, something a schoolgirl would wear. He was in love.”
“What’s that smell?” She asked.
“Formaldehyde. Nasty smell, right? But you get used to it.”
“Are you like a doctor or something?”
“Something like that.”
I loved so much about this book: The comedic parts involving Tatum’s grandfather and the cat, that there wasn’t an insta-love or romantic relationship ( if it’s to come in the future books, though, I’m all about it.), and that the author doesn’t hold back from the gore.
Zoe is a strong female protagonist who likes her coffee strong, her bacon extra crispy, and has the mouth of a truck driver. She is basically my hero.
4.5/5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads.
I will 1000% percent be continuing on with this series.
Why this book received 4.5 stars and not the full 5 stars...
Spoilers Ahead—
At times the believability of this story was lacking. I don’t think that the police officer would have let the killer through the barricade with the “ barbecue sauce” all over his shirt. He would have to have been incredible naive. I also don’t believe that Zoe’s parents would have left her and Andrea alone with a murderer on the “loose” to go to a town meeting. Therefore, the attack from the madman next door never would have happened.
Meet Zoe Bentley : a Civilian Profiler/ Forensic Psychologist from Boston with a childhood that traumatizes her to this day.
Meet Tatum Gray: a Special Agent from Los Angeles who has one too many strikes against him in the force.
When Tatum gets transferred in order to stay employed, he is asked to begin solving the not only brutal, but unusual murders of “The Strangling Undertaker.” He is known as a vicious serial killer who embalms his victims after he murders them. But, why? He also rapes his victims post mortem, yes you read that correctly, AFTER they’re dead. When he is done with these ladies, this freak also poses them as if they were alive, causing many passerby’s to think that they are fine. That is—- until they get just a little bit closer.
“The next one would be better. He would figure out a way to make her more lifelike. Perhaps glass eyes would help. He should look into that. But first he had to break up with this one.”
Gray quickly realizes that the “specialist” in charge of profiling the killer is about as useless as they come, and quickly gets Zoe taken off of her current tasks and involved in this case. What Zoe doesn’t realize is that in an unfortunate turn of bad luck, this case will entangle her with her past once again—WAY too close for comfort!
This thriller is one that is expertly woven between the past and present. This story is told from multiple perspectives including a behind the scenes narrative with the killer as he chooses his victims and what he does when he has them all to himself. The chapters transition between Zoe’s frightening childhood in Massachusetts 1997 and Present Day, 2016, in Illinois.
“...The car filled with her perfume, an innocent, sweet fragrance, something a schoolgirl would wear. He was in love.”
“What’s that smell?” She asked.
“Formaldehyde. Nasty smell, right? But you get used to it.”
“Are you like a doctor or something?”
“Something like that.”
I loved so much about this book: The comedic parts involving Tatum’s grandfather and the cat, that there wasn’t an insta-love or romantic relationship ( if it’s to come in the future books, though, I’m all about it.), and that the author doesn’t hold back from the gore.
Zoe is a strong female protagonist who likes her coffee strong, her bacon extra crispy, and has the mouth of a truck driver. She is basically my hero.
4.5/5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads.
I will 1000% percent be continuing on with this series.
Why this book received 4.5 stars and not the full 5 stars...
Spoilers Ahead—
At times the believability of this story was lacking. I don’t think that the police officer would have let the killer through the barricade with the “ barbecue sauce” all over his shirt. He would have to have been incredible naive. I also don’t believe that Zoe’s parents would have left her and Andrea alone with a murderer on the “loose” to go to a town meeting. Therefore, the attack from the madman next door never would have happened.
July 26, 2025
I devoured this one!
Zoe Bentley, a forensic psychologist, is a kickass protagonist: fierce, stubborn, intelligent, vulnerable.
As the plot progresses, readers are privy to the killer's thoughts, so by design, we know more than Zoe does, but surprises still lurk on the horizon.
Zoe is partnered with Tatum Gray, a rogue FBI agent. There's no romantic involvement between Zoe and Tatum, and I hope it stays that way (although that's probably wishful thinking on my part).
Excellent pacing, spine-chilling plot, fab characters, but the author committed a cardinal sin: descriptions of horrific things being done to animals (mentioned briefly and not on-page, but it was still disturbing).
Zoe Bentley, a forensic psychologist, is a kickass protagonist: fierce, stubborn, intelligent, vulnerable.
As the plot progresses, readers are privy to the killer's thoughts, so by design, we know more than Zoe does, but surprises still lurk on the horizon.
Zoe is partnered with Tatum Gray, a rogue FBI agent. There's no romantic involvement between Zoe and Tatum, and I hope it stays that way (although that's probably wishful thinking on my part).
Excellent pacing, spine-chilling plot, fab characters, but the author committed a cardinal sin: descriptions of horrific things being done to animals (mentioned briefly and not on-page, but it was still disturbing).
June 19, 2023
4★
This ends on a cliffhanger😭😭 Now I am dying to read the second book.
I really enjoyed A Killer's Mind, I liked the characters, Zoe was amazing, the plot wasn't predictable and the twists shocked me. I couldn't put this down because I just wanted to know what was going to happen next, this book made my heart race multiple times. The writing style was simple and flowed well and the book was very fast paced, I really need a book to grab my attention and this did it perfectly. I highly recommend it.
Can't wait to read the rest of the series😌
This ends on a cliffhanger😭😭 Now I am dying to read the second book.
I really enjoyed A Killer's Mind, I liked the characters, Zoe was amazing, the plot wasn't predictable and the twists shocked me. I couldn't put this down because I just wanted to know what was going to happen next, this book made my heart race multiple times. The writing style was simple and flowed well and the book was very fast paced, I really need a book to grab my attention and this did it perfectly. I highly recommend it.
Can't wait to read the rest of the series😌
February 19, 2019
3.5 stars
This story left me with mixed feelings. This is one of my favorite genres. In this story a serial killer is on the loose and terrorizing the citizens of Chicago. But here the writing often felt juvenile. The characters and dialog unrealistic. At one point the Chicago police are close to capturing “The Strangling Undertaker.” They put up roadblocks and are stopping every vehicle. The killer gets stopped. The police officer shines a flashlight on him and notices some kind of mess on his shirt. BBQ sauce or something. There is no one else in the vehicle so the officer lets him through the roadblock. Really?
Zoe Bentley is a forensic psychologist who consults for the FBI. Tatum Grey is an FBI agent who was “promoted” from the Los Angeles office. They are assigned to assist the Chicago police with capturing a serial killer the media have dubbed “The Strangling Undertaker.” So far three woman have been murdered, embalmed, and posed in public places. Of course there is the usual tension between the task force in the Chicago police and the FBI.
The story alternates between the past and present. The present being the hunt for “The Strangling Undertaker.” The past deals with Zoe when she was fourteen and a serial killer was loose in her hometown. Zoe read some books and being observant and smart was able to figure out who the killer was. The police didn't take her seriously because she was a kid. Besides they had a suspect. The suspect was arrested and committed suicide. The real killer disappeared. The killings stopped. Case closed. But not for Zoe. For twenty years Zoe has been getting envelopes from this serial killer. Now envelopes show up at the crime scenes in Chicago. Could it be the same person?
Ever since she was fourteen and a killer was on the loose in her hometown Zoe has gone to the scene where the bodies were found. To try and place herself in the mind of the victim ... and the killer. She does the same thing here. Without Tatum. Without anyone from the Chicago PD. During one of these trips she encounters the killer although the reader doesn't know it. But there were hints there and I thought he might be the killer.
There were parts of this story that I enjoyed and parts that were annoying. It was not a page turner. I went with 3.5 stars. I did find the ending good as it left you wondering what happens next.
This story left me with mixed feelings. This is one of my favorite genres. In this story a serial killer is on the loose and terrorizing the citizens of Chicago. But here the writing often felt juvenile. The characters and dialog unrealistic. At one point the Chicago police are close to capturing “The Strangling Undertaker.” They put up roadblocks and are stopping every vehicle. The killer gets stopped. The police officer shines a flashlight on him and notices some kind of mess on his shirt. BBQ sauce or something. There is no one else in the vehicle so the officer lets him through the roadblock. Really?
Zoe Bentley is a forensic psychologist who consults for the FBI. Tatum Grey is an FBI agent who was “promoted” from the Los Angeles office. They are assigned to assist the Chicago police with capturing a serial killer the media have dubbed “The Strangling Undertaker.” So far three woman have been murdered, embalmed, and posed in public places. Of course there is the usual tension between the task force in the Chicago police and the FBI.
The story alternates between the past and present. The present being the hunt for “The Strangling Undertaker.” The past deals with Zoe when she was fourteen and a serial killer was loose in her hometown. Zoe read some books and being observant and smart was able to figure out who the killer was. The police didn't take her seriously because she was a kid. Besides they had a suspect. The suspect was arrested and committed suicide. The real killer disappeared. The killings stopped. Case closed. But not for Zoe. For twenty years Zoe has been getting envelopes from this serial killer. Now envelopes show up at the crime scenes in Chicago. Could it be the same person?
Ever since she was fourteen and a killer was on the loose in her hometown Zoe has gone to the scene where the bodies were found. To try and place herself in the mind of the victim ... and the killer. She does the same thing here. Without Tatum. Without anyone from the Chicago PD. During one of these trips she encounters the killer although the reader doesn't know it. But there were hints there and I thought he might be the killer.
There were parts of this story that I enjoyed and parts that were annoying. It was not a page turner. I went with 3.5 stars. I did find the ending good as it left you wondering what happens next.
March 16, 2023
Easy fast read. Nothing there to grab me though. The beginning just drudged on and on and didn't get much better. I was dissapointed. There was just no thrill, suspence, mystery or any feelings used in a good book. I plugged through the entire book. Maybe it just wasn't for me.
June 14, 2019
3.5 stars, really, this was a bit of a rollercoaster of a read - pieces I liked followed by bits that bothered me, all wrapped up into a decent package.
"Till death do us part" was an unambitious concept at best. True love should ascend beyond that point.
A Killer's Mind is the first in a series of FBI/serial killer hunter novels, centering around Zoe Bentley, a civilian consultant to the FBI, and forensic psychiatrist. I'm a bit of a sucker for this genre, so despite some quibbles, I actually ended up enjoying this quite a lot.
Let's get the bad news out of the way:
-References which dated even between publication and writing. Much as I appreciate a good detail, specifics of songs, websites, etc, massively date a novel. Specifically naming Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Yelp, etc, meant there were references in here that were just slightly off.
-
-Though I loved some of the quirkier parts of the book, it got out of hand at times. That's usually something that settles by the second novel, though, so it deserves a pass until then.
Alright, and with that done, on to the good stuff!
- Research! Clearly Mike Omer has done his, because this might be the best fictional representation of both policing methods and serial killers that I've seen. Talking heads and their common misconceptions are directly called out, and profiling isn't a magic trick, but a clear deduction. And despite being so spot on with the facts, it never derails into pedagogy or dryness.
- Male author writing decent female characters - though Mike Omer is no Craig Schaefer (still the benchmark!), he does a good job of pulling off authentic female voices. Though the Beyonce part was a step too far, I think :)
- Great characters all round. From the unit chief and her fish drama, to Tatum's wily grandfather and sociopathic cat, we were treated to a truly fantastic range of very enjoyable characters. As I mentioned above, perhaps a little too far on the quirk sometimes, but even if it doesn't settle down in book 2 I'll still enjoy it.
Overall, a solid start to a new series. Definitely one to watch.
"Till death do us part" was an unambitious concept at best. True love should ascend beyond that point.
A Killer's Mind is the first in a series of FBI/serial killer hunter novels, centering around Zoe Bentley, a civilian consultant to the FBI, and forensic psychiatrist. I'm a bit of a sucker for this genre, so despite some quibbles, I actually ended up enjoying this quite a lot.
Let's get the bad news out of the way:
-References which dated even between publication and writing. Much as I appreciate a good detail, specifics of songs, websites, etc, massively date a novel. Specifically naming Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Yelp, etc, meant there were references in here that were just slightly off.
-
-Though I loved some of the quirkier parts of the book, it got out of hand at times. That's usually something that settles by the second novel, though, so it deserves a pass until then.
Alright, and with that done, on to the good stuff!
- Research! Clearly Mike Omer has done his, because this might be the best fictional representation of both policing methods and serial killers that I've seen. Talking heads and their common misconceptions are directly called out, and profiling isn't a magic trick, but a clear deduction. And despite being so spot on with the facts, it never derails into pedagogy or dryness.
- Male author writing decent female characters - though Mike Omer is no Craig Schaefer (still the benchmark!), he does a good job of pulling off authentic female voices. Though the Beyonce part was a step too far, I think :)
- Great characters all round. From the unit chief and her fish drama, to Tatum's wily grandfather and sociopathic cat, we were treated to a truly fantastic range of very enjoyable characters. As I mentioned above, perhaps a little too far on the quirk sometimes, but even if it doesn't settle down in book 2 I'll still enjoy it.
Overall, a solid start to a new series. Definitely one to watch.
September 5, 2018
full review...
A Killer's Mind was easily one of the most 'surprise-reads' I've read all year! The book is a real page turner, and I can't recommend it enough for all suspense-murder-thriller lovers!
The book came to me as a freebie with 'prime book of the month', and I literally picked it up in a whim! You know they say never judge a book by its cover or title...but that's exactly what I did! 😂
The book tells the tale of 'Zoe' a forensic psychologist, who works in conjunction with the FBI, in trying to solve an ominous serial killer. The killer is a real sicko-scumbag, who kills women, rapes post-mortem and 'embalms' them just for shits and giggles! 😬😱
The book is brilliantly crafted, and the suspense mounts throughout the story organically. The author Mike Omer, did his research and through nitty gritty detail of the embalming process, the reader feels 'entrapped' into the murders! Also, Zoe the protagonist is quite fucked up herself, with a messed up childhood which involved a murderer in her home town. Omer flashbacks constantly, and gives the reader tidbits of Zoe's past and the murders involved in her childhood...the results are powerful and completely relevant to the present story.
A Killer's Mind, easily surpassed ALL my expectations and provided non-stop suspense thriller, and a nasty serial killer that doesn't shy away from 'Hannibal Lecter'!
4 1/2 Stars
A Killer's Mind was easily one of the most 'surprise-reads' I've read all year! The book is a real page turner, and I can't recommend it enough for all suspense-murder-thriller lovers!
The book came to me as a freebie with 'prime book of the month', and I literally picked it up in a whim! You know they say never judge a book by its cover or title...but that's exactly what I did! 😂
The book tells the tale of 'Zoe' a forensic psychologist, who works in conjunction with the FBI, in trying to solve an ominous serial killer. The killer is a real sicko-scumbag, who kills women, rapes post-mortem and 'embalms' them just for shits and giggles! 😬😱
The book is brilliantly crafted, and the suspense mounts throughout the story organically. The author Mike Omer, did his research and through nitty gritty detail of the embalming process, the reader feels 'entrapped' into the murders! Also, Zoe the protagonist is quite fucked up herself, with a messed up childhood which involved a murderer in her home town. Omer flashbacks constantly, and gives the reader tidbits of Zoe's past and the murders involved in her childhood...the results are powerful and completely relevant to the present story.
A Killer's Mind, easily surpassed ALL my expectations and provided non-stop suspense thriller, and a nasty serial killer that doesn't shy away from 'Hannibal Lecter'!
4 1/2 Stars
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