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The Capsule Killer #1

Tracking the Treasures

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Let the web unravel itself and try not to die in the process.

After losing her mother in a freak accident, Suede Harris is trying to pick up the pieces and move on with her life. With a history of trouble, including bad relationships, alcohol, and ditching college, finishing up her criminology degree seemed like the best way to start.

While catching up back home with summer courses, she joins a study group to keep on track, but when her friends convince her to go geocaching, a simple trip will shake up her entire world. When the only treasure they find is a human bone, it will send her on a mission fueled by personal trauma to figure out what happened to the victim.

Will she find the killer, or uncover secrets that have been long buried?

Author Note: This is book 1 of a 6 book murder mystery series. The books cannot standalone, so please be warned that you'd need to read all 6 to get the full story. Each book will release the last Thurs of the month! The town in the story is fictional, so the coordinates on the cover do NOT correlate to the murder locations. Hope you love the story.

179 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 25, 2019

510 people are currently reading
510 people want to read

About the author

W.L. Knightly

121 books366 followers
WL Knightly is a thriller/murder mystery co-writing pen name for two USA Today Best Selling Authors. "W" when not writing can be found dealing in Antique Jewelry and hanging out with her awesome hubby and three kids. And "L" is a full-time writer that lives near Nashville, TN and spends her time cooking, hanging out with her hubs and 3 kiddos, or wrangling new ideas as they float by!
Their love of a good mystery novel caused them to combine forces and go after their dream of telling stories that sent a shiver down your spine. I'm thinking they figured it out!
These two friends met years ago when they both started writing and publishing in various young adult genres and needed a critique partner.
The rest is history...They'd love for you to join the fun!
Website-http://thezodiackillerseries.com/
Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/wlknightlyau...
Insiders Group- https://dl.bookfunnel.com/j1rryhvu53

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5 stars
173 (33%)
4 stars
142 (27%)
3 stars
120 (23%)
2 stars
48 (9%)
1 star
32 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
253 reviews3 followers
October 6, 2019
Today nobody writes books but series of 4-9 installments stretching story to breaking point. Next move is to give 1-3 first ones as a free books to hook readers to buy the rest. Unfortunately those first ones have to be good to achieve desired result. This one is far away from that - clunky, stilted dialogues, robot like characters and slow moving story makes it barely readable.
It is nice to get a free book but if time is money think how much one actually pays reading rubbish book and wasting ones time!!
Profile Image for Kirsten Osa.
12 reviews
Read
January 6, 2020
It doesn’t end - you need to read several more in the series to get answers. It didn’t grab me so I won’t bother.
4,143 reviews25 followers
July 24, 2019
Great complex investigation, while remaining romantic
The story is extremely well written, totally different from WL Knightly's previous series, but it's also a very good story. Here, the characters are of different ages and the heroes are young adults, which gives them both a certain inexperience and a lack of perspective at first, on what is happening around them. They experience and begin to get out of the torpor or problems in which they were or are still stuck until everything rocks.
The beginning seemed a little long to set up both the atmosphere and the characters, but the story is so dense in information that I understand the need, especially that the authors are used to well hide the suspects in the normality, and the atmosphere of a small town is perfect for that. This atmosphere seems full of secrets, investigations abandoned or not carried out in their terms in the past, pressures.
Suede wants to start again her studies in criminology that she left after the accident of her mother who disappeared (her car was found two years before in the water). His father-in-law Ted has also struggled with this disappearance. He is the detective of this sector and Suede wants to follow him in internship, in addition to her work of storage in the local newspaper, with Maggie who worked with her mother when she was a journalist.
Riley lives with his older brother who wants to become mayor, but is rather insupportable, irascible. He doesn't take care very well of the farm and the bed and breakfast that their parents had built. Yet his brother has a good reputation, when Riley has a very bad reputation despite his efforts.
Riley and Suede meet in a study group with their mutual friend Graham to work on a criminal report.
The study group has 6 people: Graham in pairs with Jenn, David with the unbearable Kara, and Riley with Suede.
During a geocaching outing, Jenn, Graham, Riley and Suede discover human bones over the cache's capsule: this is the beginning of a quest whose clues are scattered or by a killer or someone who seeks to denounce a crime.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
Profile Image for Karen.
Author 27 books164 followers
February 17, 2022
I didn't know when I started this that this was only the first part of a six part story. Pretty sneaky way to make more money off of one idea. It also need editing. The conflict in descriptions of characters from one page to the next is very confusing. And there is too much repetition. I won't be buying the rest of them.
Profile Image for Billie.
5,783 reviews72 followers
July 25, 2019
Let the web unravel itself and try not to die in the process.
After losing her mother in a freak accident, Suede Harris is trying to pick up the pieces and move on with her life. With a history of trouble, including bad relationships, alcohol, and ditching college, finishing up her criminology degree seemed like the best way to start.
While catching up back home with summer courses, she joins a study group to keep on track, but when her friends convince her to go geocaching, a simple trip will shake up her entire world. When the only treasure they find is a human bone, it will send her on a mission fueled by personal trauma to figure out what happened to the victim.
Will she find the killer, or uncover secrets that have been long buried?

Author Note: This is book 1 of a 6 book murder mystery series. The books cannot standalone, so please be warned that you'd need to read all 6 to get the full story. Each book will release the last Thurs of the month!

I really enjoyed this great novel that is start to new series.
There is great world building. Love the small town set up.
Reall great and interesting characters that I want to learn more about.
Looking forward to the next one now.
Recommend reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
6 reviews1 follower
April 27, 2020
Part 1, Not a Complete Mystery

This book really needed to be proofread and edited to flow properly. The mistakes were not vital to the story and could be missed entirely, but they were evident enough to be distracting a few times. I was planning to mention them anyway when I suddenly came to the end of the book. There was absolutely no resolution of anything. It ended just as another body was found. I was directed to check out the next book in the series. Now, I knew this was the first book in a series when I started it, but I did not know it was a total cliffhanger. I like to read books in a series. I do not like being forced to do it to find any resolution at all.
Profile Image for Marty Langenberg.
Author 14 books2 followers
September 28, 2019
No ending!

I hate books without an ending! There was no prior warning about this - if there had been I would not have wasted my time. It is DISHONEST to present a book in this way. There are not enough hours in the day for this kind of TRICKERY. The authors show no respect for their readers. They have lost me for good.
5 reviews
October 2, 2019
No closure!

I dislike authors who should end a story in one book instead of taking 3 books to tell the story. Not that good that I want to purchase more just to read the conclusion that should have been in book 1.
Profile Image for Gr.
33 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2021
While I liked the story, even though some things were wrong … Geocaches are NEVER supposed to be buried! Covered with a pile of rocks? Sure. Under a stack of unusual sticks? Of course. After finding over 1000 caches myself I’ve seen LOTS of hiding places but never buried.
The story itself was ok. I wasn’t happy that it is more like part one of a serial. Not sure if I want to spend the $$ on the next 5 (five) books when at times the prose could’ve been tightened and cleaned up a bit to make it not only a bit clearer but shorter so two tomes could’ve been combined so instead of having to buy 6 books one would only need to get 3 slightly larger ones.
But hey that’s my opinion and yours may differ.
Profile Image for Nina.
1,862 reviews10 followers
January 20, 2020
This is supposedly a series, but it is actually a serial. That is, the first book "ends" in the middle of the story and you are expected to move on to the next book. I will not. Every book should be complete unto itself, not merely chapters in a longer story. I imagine the purpose is to entice you to buy another book, but instead it just ticks me off, so I will not be reading any more of this author's work. The concept was at least interesting, because geocaching was being used as a plot device, which is novel.
Profile Image for Jeremy.
53 reviews
March 21, 2024
The story was entertaining enough, even if it was lacking any real sort of suspense or adventure.
I love the way the author worked geocaching into the plot. I disliked how it encouraged burying caches. That is absolutely against what the community preaches.
The author's obsession with the word sideward was a little odd too. I've never encountered it before (I'm more of a sideways kinda guy). It seemed to appear at least twice a chapter. Odd, but I just couldn't stop thinking about it.
19 reviews
December 16, 2025
lest injury g to be a detective

The heroine has survived the disappearance on her mother. Her body was never found. She lives with her almost step father. He , a police officer was her mother’s boyfriend. She is working on a paper for college admissions. She and friend meet for study. They go on a a geo cache hunt and find bones, a second clue leads to more remains. A serial killer perhaps. The FBI is called for help.
591 reviews6 followers
November 17, 2020
Thrilling and fearful

This thriller is full of suspense. The characters are interesting and well developed. The story flows smoothly, but it ends too soon for me. I prefer stand alone books in the series I read. Otherwise, it is a well written book with a variety of characters who promise to provide lots of excitement.
Profile Image for Mcf1nder_sk.
600 reviews26 followers
December 31, 2019
This story had a decent premise, but as a geocacher for seven years, the fallacies and incorrect information about geocaching really took away from my enjoyment of the story. A little research on this global pastime would have definitely given this book at least a fourth star.
804 reviews19 followers
March 7, 2021
I liked how the author wrote from different characters' perspectives. It was quick reading. BUT... it did not end. You have to read book 2 and 3 (I assume) to find out what happened to Suade's mother and who is killing the young girls.
33 reviews
March 24, 2025
Most disappointing. A reasonably written storyline which abruptly ends in the middle of homicide investigations with nothing solved! Stating “The End” and then expecting readers to have to go and buy the next book … on principle alone I would not get it.
Profile Image for Sarah Stein.
Author 55 books518 followers
April 30, 2021
Read as part of the 3-book series. Left the review on that page.
18 reviews
October 1, 2021
No conclusion

Good read, good story....NO CONCLUSION. At least sone ending, but none. Would love to read further, but will not read next book....not worth it.
796 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2025
This was a really interesting story. I enjoyed it a lot. It was well written and really kept my interest.
I can't wait to read the other 5 books in the series.
10 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2019
I voluntarily reviewed this ARC.

I loved WL Knightly’s Zodiac series and this latest series looks set to be just as good. Suede and Riley are a couple of Criminology students who both have enough baggage to fill a plane. Suede is adjusting to life after her mother’s death and is moving in with her mother’s boyfriend, a Police detective where she is interning. Riley is almost finished with his probation after punching Suede’ ex, and is considering a career in law enforcement. Both decided to join a summer study group to improve their selves, and join the groups geocaching day out. The discovery of human remains points in the direction of a possible serial killer, a mystery which proves intriguing to a group of criminology students.

A well written book with the potential for lots of plot twists, I can’t wait until book 2 is released.

Merged review:

I voluntarily reviewed this ARC.

I loved WL Knightly’s Zodiac series and this latest series looks set to be just as good. Suede and Riley are a couple of Criminology students who both have enough baggage to fill a plane. Suede is adjusting to life after her mother’s death and is moving in with her mother’s boyfriend, a Police detective where she is interning. Riley is almost finished with his probation after punching Suede’ ex, and is considering a career in law enforcement. Both decided to join a summer study group to improve their selves, and join the groups geocaching day out. The discovery of human remains points in the direction of a possible serial killer, a mystery which proves intriguing to a group of criminology students.

A well written book with the potential for lots of plot twists, I can’t wait until book 2 is released.
2,603 reviews10 followers
July 26, 2019
Do you believe in second chances?? Suede is now off of probation and needs to move on with her life. After her mother’s death, she moved in with Teddy who is a detective in their city as well as her mother’s boyfriend. Unfortunately, moving on means moving back to the house that her mother left her along with many memories. She is also going to be going back to school and has joined a study group with some friends, working at the paper where her mother worked and wanting to intern at the police department. Considering she wasn’t to go into some sort of law enforcement, the internship will help her decide. Riley is also wanting to change his life. His probation is almost over. He got into trouble for punching Suede’s ex-boyfriend and has been in and out of trouble growing up before this happened. So needless to say, he has quite the reputation. He too is wanting to go into some sort of law enforcement, going back to school and still working on the family blueberry farm with his overbearing brother Brody. When their study group decides to go on a geocaching day and find bones, human bones will this be the beginning of something big? When they find a clue and then another body will this be the work of a serial killer? So much going on and so many things left to go. This is a well written story with many things going on within that will keep you glued to your seat. I’m looking forward to see where the next book goes since this one ends with a cliffhanger… I enjoyed the characters and I look forward to see how much more they develop within the series.
63 reviews2 followers
November 25, 2019
A real thriller

I'd recommend this first installment. If the first is this thrilling I can't wait for the next book. Good read.
Profile Image for Julianne Macneil.
3,697 reviews28 followers
July 27, 2019
i read this book as part of an arc program. This is the first book in a new series by WL. In this book, Suede Harris a young woman who is returning to college to study criminology. Suede's mother died and her mother's boyfriend Ted is a detective. Suede is starting an internship where she will work with Ted. Suede also joins a study group with her friend Graham and she is going to research a local crime as her project. Graham asks everyone in the group to go geocaching and the first week, Suede can't go, but Riley and Jess go with him. The next week Suede goes and they find human bones. Suede has found the crime for her project and she wants to investigate it. Riley is the town's bad boy who lives with his older brother on their blueberry farm. Riley and Suede have had problems in the past and are both trying to start over. This first book has be intrigued and curious as to who the killer could be. I have a couple of ideas and am looking forward to reading more to see if i am right. I love a good mystery and i think this one will be full of twist and turns like i expect from WL. Great start!
8 reviews
October 1, 2019
Ok I got to be honest here... I saw "Geocaching" and that is what drew me into this book.

While I haven't been out geocaching in over a year, I do enjoy the past time, and from reading the book it sounds like the authors do too, or at least they did pretty good research on it. The story itself is fairly well written, and the authors do keep the plot moving.

the characters are for the most part fairly well developed, altho Kara and David were a little shallow, especially considering the end of this book. Maybe that will be dealt with in the next installment.

Cons:

a bit on the soap opera side in how the characters interact. Also the profanity could be toned down, but the one thing that surprised me was the (warning: slight spoiler) section toward the end where Riley and Suede are making out... I thought it was going to go full porno. it was so weird that it shocked me because most of the book to that point did not have that kind of feel to it. for that page or two I almost thought a different author was writing the book...

The book overall was decently written and I will read the 2nd installment soon.

2,616 reviews8 followers
July 25, 2019
This captivating new series by WL Knightly will keep you on the edge of your seat. Thrilling storyline, wonderful characters and twists you won't expect. Riley and Suede are criminology students and part of a study group with their friend Graham. They have all been through tragic pasts and are trying to turn their lives around. Graham gets them into geocaching but they end up finding human bones. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Merged review:

This captivating new series by WL Knightly will keep you on the edge of your seat. Thrilling storyline, wonderful characters and twists you won't expect. Riley and Suede are criminology students and part of a study group with their friend Graham. They have all been through tragic pasts and are trying to turn their lives around. Graham gets them into geocaching but they end up finding human bones. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
59 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2019
Great start to what I can only imagine is going to be a compelling series.
Not the same feel to this book as the other series I’ve read from WL however a great book all the same.
The storyline appears to be as complex as I have come to expect which is what keeps me hooked in a book... there’s always something going on and it’s never obvious what is going on or what is coming. I received an arc of this book and I’m leaving an honest and voluntary review.
There’s a good deal of scene setting at the beginning of this book, I think it’s essential to the fabric of the story to ensure the characters and background are fully understood. I like Suede and Riley and there are very entertaining as a coupling. With there histories and backgrounds being different but in some ways similar they have a good understanding of each other.
Great start to the series hope the rest are as addictive as this book was
Profile Image for Munira Vahed.
453 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2019
I have loved the previous series that this author has written such as the Hangman series and the Zodiac series.
I started reading this book which is the first book in a new series.
It follows Suede and Riley as they embark on their study group to complete their educational achievements after both got in trouble with the law due to personal circumstances.
The study group embark on a geocaching trek and discover human remains. Thus ensues the journey which the group embark on to discover whose remains they are and how they died and to solve this murder mystery.
It was a little slow to start with but began to move at a steady pace after the characters are introduced.
The book ends on a cliffhanger and has made me eager to read the next book in this series.
Another fab start to a new series by this fabulous author.
I received an ARC from the author. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
Profile Image for Linda Lee.
1,361 reviews17 followers
July 25, 2019
This storyline is so unique, I’ve never read anything like it. A study group of six students is formed by Graham. They are a mixed bag, three who have made mistakes and are still paying for them, one who’s immature and silly, another who thinks she is the bees knees and one who has no backbone and is on his knees. What brings them together...criminology and the study of a criminal and his or her crime. Graham has found himself a hobby, it keeps him out of trouble. He asks them to join him on his next Geo-caching venture. Finding themselves following coordinates and trekking through the bush on a hunt for a cache becomes an addiction. They have just brought a whole lot of attention to the town and themselves. Can’t wait for the next instalment.
Profile Image for Jennifer Soppe.
2,251 reviews13 followers
July 25, 2019
I look forward to holding on to my seat for the ride.

Suede and Riley, criminology students with tragic pasts, take part in a geocaching hunt with two other members of their study group and find more than they bargained for. As the story progresses their histories come out to haunt them, they try to make sense of life in general, and the mysteries get deeper. W.L. Knightly’s latest series starts out strong in Tracking the Treasure. With a varied cast and deepening mysteries there is plenty of time and space for the undoubtedly twisted journey that the reader will be taken on to unfold. I look forward to holding on to my seat for the ride.

I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews

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