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Notorious Minds

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What does it take to commit the perfect crime?

Delve into these dark and twisted tales by twenty USA Today and International Bestselling Authors.

No matter what kind of crime story typically catches your imagination, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

Conspiracies, political plots, and yes, even murder, are just a few of the crimes waiting inside this box set.

Discover a narcissistic grandmother running an underground syndicate, or a support group bent on murder…and even a serial killer who turns his victims into fairytale creatures.

Uncover the passion, jealousy, and fear lingering in every tale.

This box set is packed with thousands of pages that will hold you on the edge of your seat, crying for answers.

Definitely a must for fans of Patterson, Lee, and Grisham

Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2019

65 people are currently reading
108 people want to read

About the author

Eric J. Gates

28 books153 followers
Award-winning author Eric J. Gates has had a curious life filled with the stuff of thriller novels. Writing Operating Systems for Supercomputers, cracking cryptographic codes under extreme pressure using only paper and pen and teaching cyberwarfare to spies are just a few of the moments he’s willing to recall. He is an ex-International Consultant who has travelled extensively worldwide, speaks several languages, and has had articles and papers published in six different countries, as well as radio and TV spots. His specialty, Information Technology Security, has brought him into contact with the Military and Intelligence communities on numerous occasions. He is also an expert martial artist, holding 14 black belt degrees in distinct disciplines. He has taught his skills to Police and Military personnel, as well as to the public.
He now writes thriller novels, drawing on his experiences with the confidential and secret worlds that surround us.

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5 stars
22 (61%)
4 stars
8 (22%)
3 stars
4 (11%)
2 stars
1 (2%)
1 star
1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Samantha.
1,921 reviews41 followers
October 17, 2020
Laby Butcher by Sian Claven

I enjoyed Claven's intriguing writing style with this story. I was along for the ride and ready for whatever darkness would come my way.
This was a terrific read with all the great elements of Cat & Mouse.
Chapter Six was absolutely WOW! It contained a truly shocking revelation and had me even more curious about what would happen next.
Chapter Nine had me even more on edge and then BAM! My jaw just dropped! And even once I thought I had a handle on events, I was to be completely shocked once again!
This was a brilliant story and a terrific addition to the boxset. I'm still just blown away.
16.7k reviews157 followers
October 16, 2020
Dying to Confess DL Jones. This is the only one of this set I have read. This is fast paced and will grab you from the first page to the very last page

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for mary arnold.
438 reviews
October 22, 2020
I am writing a review of The Fairytale Killer, part of this boxset.
The first thing I noticed about this author is the way the writing flows. It much easier to read than some other authors.
Eva and Mark, the protagonists are early into their relationship but they have developed a great respect for each other and the different careers that they have.
In this book, they are up against a serial killer who poses his victims as fairytale characters. He is very careful to leave no forensics. Now he has left 4 bodies in one day, but one is different. Will this be the one that brings him down, or is it a copycat?
This is an intriguing thriller that will keep you turning pages until the end.
Profile Image for Bonnye Reed.
4,709 reviews110 followers
Want to read
July 11, 2020
Preorder, May 20, 2020 at Amazon 99
pub date October 13, 2020 delivery
3,001 reviews45 followers
November 25, 2020
Incomplete and Confusing Story for Riddle Me This

This short story is part of the Notorious Minds Mystery/Thriller Crime Boxset and has loads of different characters, which I found really difficult to follow. One of the first characters is DEA agent Xavier Johnson who is struggling with the guilt of the death of a fourteen year old boy called Hank, at a private school, one of five found dead on the bathroom floor. Xavier had promised to look after Hank and his mother Meg Sands, after the death of Walter, Meg’s husband, who I have to presume was a work colleague or friend of Xavier. Xavier’s fellow agent Troy Jones has been going out with X’s sister Felicia and wants to marry her, but X refuses to agree to that! Hank died from using a drug called Deja, for the very first time. They are working on a big case with a newer and more stable version of the drug, called Desom, arriving in Bogota, Columbia at the end of the week. They are due to fly there with a Foreign Advanced Specialized Team, to try and stop the shipment getting to the States.

There is a very graphic sex scene between Xavier and his wife Sheila, which ends up in her needing to be taken to the hospital and when they get back, it’s suddenly his turn as he has a heart attack, and he finds out he has a hereditary heart condition. He shouldn’t be travelling to Bogota, and would be benched if his superiors find out, but he gets his partner to keep it secret. He is given a defibrillator vest to keep him alive until he gets surgery, but has an attack, right when they should have been carrying out part of the raid! Two of the team don’t make it back and it seems there has been a leak from their end and they know who it probably was.

A gay man William Tanner, forced to marry by his father Bill, who doesn’t accept him being homosexual when Bill was running for Vice President in the States. A man called the Riddler, who was harassing a man called Francisco Menendez, a gay man in denial, who raped loads of women and got infected with HIV and passed this on to many. His young lover Juan who is angry Francisco hasn’t left his wife as promised. The Riddler being spotted by a woman killing a local drug dealer for demanding protection money from an old lady he was helping and then killing her for refusing to pay. A hitman called Jason Brawler, nicknamed Black Shadow, told to meet William in Kiev, where he will meet an arms dealer called Natasha Kohut. When she tries to bring her men in to attack William, he warns her off with the threat of a bomb.

A Japanese woman called Izumi Takahashi who is a neurosurgeon who cuts herself to cope with the death of her husband and is tricked to go to see a doctor by her sixteen year old son Akihiko. Her son gets a lot of racial abuse as his father was African American, and Izumi’s own mother is extremely racist about anyone of colour and even refuses to be served by a waitress sue to her colour! All while bringing gifts for her grandson, whose own father she never accepted. She even disowned and disinherited her daughter. The mother and son end up at the office of a psychologist Dr Paul Ziegler, who is accompanied by a much younger and model like male doctor, who we find out is called Dr Jace Carrington. He is very astute and notices her wound from earlier in the day and insists she come to see him professionally, which she refuses, but allows him to see her son, as Dr Ziegler is retiring and he is taking over his cases bit by bit. Dr Carrington is also seeing Sheila, if she ever talks to him about why she is there!

So many other characters that I haven’t even tried to name in this description, as there are just so many and only by writing them all down can I figure out some of them. Yes, I worked out part of the plot to provide a deadly drug, the doctor who created it, a man who was pulling the strings to ensure it was done, but also the Riddler, who goes around trying to protect some, but then also killing others. A very convoluted storyline, some of it intermingles as characters cross paths, but others seem to just be there to add another person to the cast and annoyingly the story is still to be continued, after ending at a sudden point, as an FBI profiler who is suicidal is asked to take on one last job! You can’t really seem where all of these characters are going in this shortened story and it will be continued, but I have no idea where. Parts of it were starting to get intriguing, but it was just bits and pieces of a story, without enough to flesh it out. It was like trying to put everyone into play, instead of just concentrating on the most important characters. If it is continued somewhere soon, then I will try to read it, but this really put me off, considering how much I have liked the author’s other books. This is not a review on the rest of the stories in the boxset, as I haven’t read them as yet. I received an ARC copy of this boxset, but had also bought it, as there are a large number of exciting authors included in it. I have freely given my own opinion of the short story Riddle Me This by K.L. Kamar. Incomplete!
539 reviews10 followers
October 23, 2020
Deranged serial killer stages victims as a fairytale diorama paired with a love story - 4 Stars

Homicide detective Mark Novak and journalist Eva independently look for clues after finding murdered victims staged to be in scenes from fairytales. A envelop mysteriously appears with links to four murder scenes and the chase is on.

It is winter in Berlin, Germany and the officials think that an American military person is responsible for the carnage. News reports sensationalize the situation making the police look bad. The hints are nearly nonexistent while the pattern seems to mimic a similar crime that occurred half a year ago. The killer is methodical and careful.

It is easy to get interested in the case. Except that, for me, the nascent love between the two investigators gets distracting.

There are plenty of surprises and shocking things to absorb along the way. Mark and Eva have completely different styles and sources of information based on feet on the ground investigations.

The cold and the snow of the winter season add to the chills of the masterful murders.

The author promises to bring additional Eva and Mark investigations for your enjoyment. The Fairytale Killer is a promising start.
371 reviews
October 18, 2020
A woman, Frankie, lost her husband, son, and her best friend's son in an accident 5 years ago. About fifteen years before that when she was still a teen, her mother was kidnapped and never heard from again. Her Dad had left and said he worked for Yellowstone Park about 6 hrs. away from their ranch because he wanted peace. Frankie ran the ranch with help from her ranch hand, Cole, and his family. Her best friends were Lexi, her protective dog and Concho, her horse. She is a feisty, independent, hard- working woman who feels lonely and is angry at God. One evening as its raining, her calf, Diesel, gets lost. Concho and Frankie find him stuck in a gooseberry bush by a birch tree. A wolf attacks, she fights him off and discovers a human bone. This is where the story really picks up, twists around, introduces characters - who may be good or bad - and starts a search for answers and the truth...while being threatened by someone. This was a really good read with lots of action.

Red Robin

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sharon.
4,152 reviews31 followers
November 2, 2020
Mystery Bones Murders – Karen Randau
A fast-paced read that has a lot of twists and turns to the plot that it easily held my attention throughout. The characters are well fleshed out. This is an intriguing mystery read.

Riddle Me This – K. L. Lamar
This author had me on the edge of my seat at times as I eagerly read this book that is brilliant from start to finish. Another fast-paced edition to this book.

The Fairytale Killer – Lena Bourne
This is the third story I’ve read in this boxset and it’s another brilliant read. The plot, the characters are all so well written and a shear joy to read. Loved the mystery and suspense.

Dying to Confess – DL Jones
Wow, I can’t believe that there are so many great books in this boxset. This is the 4th one I’ve read and it’s another fantastic read. The plot, the characters are brilliant, there really is nothing to dislike about this murder mystery. The 4th fast-paced wonderful read in this set.



I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Fleur.
3,738 reviews31 followers
November 1, 2020
4.5 star The Fairytale Killer - Lena Bourne
From the start to finish this was a page turner, you are captivated by the characters Eva being a great journalist as well as trusted confidant to Mark who is a US Military Special Investigator brought in to investigate the gruesome murders. Your are intrigued by Marks headquarters as well as those he works including both US and German counterparts and feel his desperation as well as mistrust of pretty much everyone. You are trying to work out who is behind the killings along with the reasoning of why and when things start to hype up and get personal then you are left chewing your lip as things slowly unfold and when everything is finally revealed ... wow yeah wow!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Shax.
130 reviews5 followers
October 22, 2020
Omg!!!
I've just finished reading the fairytale killer book which is a part of this boxset!
I must say I LOVE the author and the way they wrote the book it was amazing!
The suspense that is created form the very beginning about who the fairytale killer is and why hes doing all these things made me think for hours!!!!
It grips you in write from the beginning and i love mark and eva and how they both try to tackle the case together!
They're relationship sometimes is put on the line but the best thing is when they're able to work it out together and move on happily.
I absolutely recommend this fantastic book for anyone who loves suspense and mystery books! This is right up your alley!
Enjoy xx
Profile Image for Renee Arthur.
433 reviews4 followers
October 17, 2020
Burning waters
Inge-Lise Goss

What a ride! It grabs you right off the bat and kept me so interested I didn't want to put it down. Gwynn goes undercover at a company called H&E. It seems that employees keep disappearing. Gwynn is on the job snooping and finding interesting information. She's doing pretty well. Soon enough two more employees of her real boss show up to help out. This is definitely a whirlwind ride that I enjoyed every bit of.

I'm also looking forward to reading more books from this anthology. If they're even half as good as this, I'll be happy for a good while.
Profile Image for Debbie.
861 reviews5 followers
November 2, 2020
The Fairytale Killer was a fantastic read. I loved it. This story was definitely worth buying the bookset. Eva was very likeable. Mark was well, let's just say he takes some getting used to. I liked the twists and the surprise in the story. Not going to give any hints. Just read the book. And if you read some of the reviews that say they don't like the boookset, then buy it if only for The Fairytale Killer it's definitely worth it. Remember if you want to read a book you can't put down, you have to pick it up first.
11 reviews1 follower
October 12, 2020
In Mystery Bones Murders, author Karen Randau delivers a compelling story for those who love twists and turns. Her characters are believable, and the plot will keep you guessing. One scene races to the next, until suddenly you are turning the final page. This was my first Karen Randau book, but it won't be my last. I particularly enjoyed her skillful descriptive style, bringing people and places to life. A great read.

I received a free copy via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Charlene.
1,284 reviews39 followers
October 15, 2020
I read Mystery Bones Murder by Karen Landau....I loved this book! The complex and interesting characters and intense story kept me turning the pages. Lots of twists and turns make this a wonderful mystery read! I was kept guessing, and intrigued up to the last page! I look forward to reading more written by this author!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for blueyed_cntry_girl.
1,583 reviews4 followers
October 17, 2020
Fairytale Killer

WOW ! This was a great suspenseful story. One that grabs your attention and doesn’t let it go. The twists are great and there’s some shockers in there also. I loved Eva’s character and Mark well he was good at his job but for his personal life umm I struggled to like him. Let’s just say there’s a really big part that in my opinion he messes up royally. Overall I loved the story!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,353 reviews19 followers
October 23, 2020
A thrilling read that grabs your attention and holds you in its grip until you read the last words. It's well written and full of suspense and mystery. Characters that are well developed, well described and realistic. If you're a fan of a well written, thrilling mystery that keeps your interest from beginning to end, this is one you don't want to miss.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Profile Image for  ✰  Charlie  ✰ Chisholm.
1,984 reviews22 followers
October 13, 2020
I have only read one book so far in this box set.

Lady Butcher by Sian B. Claven

Once I started I couldn't put it down I needed to know. The book is dark and gripping I didn't want it to end. I got right into the story. The writing was good and the story pulls you in till the very last page.

Can't wait to read the other stories.
5,450 reviews32 followers
October 14, 2020
This review is on The Fairytale Killer (E&M Investigations Prequel) by Lena Bourne.

I enjoyed this story in the E&M Investigations series. The story line was great and the character work was well written. Lena Bourne is doing a great job with this newest genre.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
10.8k reviews125 followers
October 24, 2020
I received a free copy of Dying to Confess via booksprout that are part of the Notorious Minds Boxset; after reading it, I went and bought the boxset so I can read the rest of the books included and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

The story lines caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I loved the characters.
1,849 reviews49 followers
October 12, 2020
I received an arc in exchange for a fair review. This book had lots of twists and turns. There were several different stories within this story. This is a different type of book that I normally read but I appreciated The authors creativity and story telling.
Profile Image for Theresa Ritchie.
753 reviews
October 14, 2020
I've only read lady butcher by sian b. Craven
I've been so looking forward to reading this book from sian another amazing book by her her books always pull you in from the start you can't put down until the end I highly recommend her books
Profile Image for LUZCELENIA V.
93 reviews1 follower
October 26, 2020
Oh my goodness!! This book kept me on the edge of my seat. You keep wanting to guess who it is and then something happens to change your mind. Can’t wait for the next in the series!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Karen - Kazza's Books Blog .
647 reviews38 followers
October 13, 2020
Review for Lady Butcher by Sian. Claven

This story kept me engaged and I was drawn into the darkness that the ‘lady butcher’ had created. It’s dark and depraved and that just how I like my stories.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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