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Heartless Intent
The only way three people can keep a secret is if two are dead.
A couples’ nude bodies swaying in the wind on the banks of the Chicago River. A gruesome murder with missing hearts and body parts. The word pedophile carved into the man’s forehead.
It seems like a simple crime for Detective Kacy Lang and her partner, Dave Capello, to solve. The man was a pedophile, his wife knew and kept his secret. But when the body of the second in command of the Brave Hearts' gang is discovered with missing hands and the word thief burned into his forehead it sends a message they can’t ignore.
There’s a vigilante on their beat, and he isn’t finished yet. Tension increases with the local gangs in an uproar and the body count rising. A gang war is imminent. Dave is missing and Kacy has a price on her head. Can she uncover the truth before it’s too late, or will she become the next victim of the killer’s heartless intent?
A couples’ nude bodies swaying in the wind on the banks of the Chicago River. A gruesome murder with missing hearts and body parts. The word pedophile carved into the man’s forehead.
It seems like a simple crime for Detective Kacy Lang and her partner, Dave Capello, to solve. The man was a pedophile, his wife knew and kept his secret. But when the body of the second in command of the Brave Hearts' gang is discovered with missing hands and the word thief burned into his forehead it sends a message they can’t ignore.
There’s a vigilante on their beat, and he isn’t finished yet. Tension increases with the local gangs in an uproar and the body count rising. A gang war is imminent. Dave is missing and Kacy has a price on her head. Can she uncover the truth before it’s too late, or will she become the next victim of the killer’s heartless intent?
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 23, 2019
Detective Kacy Lang and her partner Dave Capello are called in investigate when two bodies are found hanging from trees on the banks of the Chicago River. The man and woman had been mutilated and a name branded into their foreheads. Hearts were missing from both victims.
Shortly after, another body is found. A higher-up member of a local gang is found with missing hands and the word "thief" branded on his forehead.
It seems that a vigilante group is taking out the trash, and tension is rising, especially within the local gangs. A gang war is close at hand with the body count rising unless Lang and Capello can find who's responsible.
But then Dave goes missing ..... and a ten-thousand dollar bounty is placed on Kacy's head.
As with the other books in this series, it's well-written, a page turning action packed novel with highly distinguishable characters that some to life under this author's direction. Although 4th in the series, this one reads easily as a stand alone. I, however, recommend starting at the very beginning in order to see how the main characters have evolved over time.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 4, 2019
The opening lines of this stunning thriller tell you where you’re headed: “Standing at the edge of the riverbank, with a storm brewing overhead…the scent of death.”
Two detectives, Kacy Lang and Dave Capello, must investigate the grisly murders of two people, a man and a woman. Their bodies have been mutilated, and the word pedophile is carved into the man’s forehead. A sickly crime, the two cops figure, but fairly straightforward until another body is found with missing hands and the word “thief” carved into its forehead. It’s the same killer, a vigilante who shows no sign of stopping. Danger ramps up further with gang wars and threats on the lives of the police. When Capello goes missing, Kacy is frantic to find him before time runs out.
The action is fast and the interaction between Kacy and Dave is terrific, complete with occasional cop gallows humor to give reprieve to the terror. In all, a fabulous and really enjoyable read – five stars, highly recommended!
Two detectives, Kacy Lang and Dave Capello, must investigate the grisly murders of two people, a man and a woman. Their bodies have been mutilated, and the word pedophile is carved into the man’s forehead. A sickly crime, the two cops figure, but fairly straightforward until another body is found with missing hands and the word “thief” carved into its forehead. It’s the same killer, a vigilante who shows no sign of stopping. Danger ramps up further with gang wars and threats on the lives of the police. When Capello goes missing, Kacy is frantic to find him before time runs out.
The action is fast and the interaction between Kacy and Dave is terrific, complete with occasional cop gallows humor to give reprieve to the terror. In all, a fabulous and really enjoyable read – five stars, highly recommended!
September 25, 2019
Strange crimes, with body parts missing and their miscues etched into their skin, find a favorite detective team on the scene! Detective Kacy Lang and her partner Detective Dave Capello are called to the case, they Do seem to get All the weird ones!
Fast paced action with all the sarcasm and quick wit we have come to expect from this Team, things happen that call on all the skill of the police force, the loved ones of Kacy and Dave, and 'friends' made from the gangs in the street.
Between the question of a vigilante, tension and fighting among the city's gangs, killing of innocents as effects of drive by shootings and gang crime- suddenly Dave is Missing..And there is a large price for Kacy Lang's head..Will the police be able to work out a deal, our has the dynamic detective duo finally met their Match....Open This Exciting Story To Continue...
Fast paced action with all the sarcasm and quick wit we have come to expect from this Team, things happen that call on all the skill of the police force, the loved ones of Kacy and Dave, and 'friends' made from the gangs in the street.
Between the question of a vigilante, tension and fighting among the city's gangs, killing of innocents as effects of drive by shootings and gang crime- suddenly Dave is Missing..And there is a large price for Kacy Lang's head..Will the police be able to work out a deal, our has the dynamic detective duo finally met their Match....Open This Exciting Story To Continue...
September 22, 2019
Wow what a great book in the Kacy Lang series. This one had a bit of everything.
Gang wars, police being attacked and bounties being laid on our poor detectives.
Undercover operatives and of course there is the romantic side of the book as well. Not too gushy but definitely it adds a lot to the book.
Dave is still one of my favourites as he always seems to be doing something to try and drive his partner nuts. He has a sense of humour that always seems to be on point.
Kacy shows a lot more stress in this book then I have seen in her. She seems to struggle more in this book and is almost in a panic at times. It shows a real human side to her as well as the competent person you normally see.
I really like the interactions and strife between kacy and her father. It adds something to the story.
Gang wars, police being attacked and bounties being laid on our poor detectives.
Undercover operatives and of course there is the romantic side of the book as well. Not too gushy but definitely it adds a lot to the book.
Dave is still one of my favourites as he always seems to be doing something to try and drive his partner nuts. He has a sense of humour that always seems to be on point.
Kacy shows a lot more stress in this book then I have seen in her. She seems to struggle more in this book and is almost in a panic at times. It shows a real human side to her as well as the competent person you normally see.
I really like the interactions and strife between kacy and her father. It adds something to the story.
September 25, 2019
Kacy and Capello are kept on their toes when they are called to a couples bodies hanging by a river. Can Kacy and Capello stop a gang war from breaking out? When Capello goes missing, can Kacy find him before time runs out?
Yet another great book in this series, they really do just keep on getting better. This was a great read that I couldn’t put down. I hope there are more in this series.
Yet another great book in this series, they really do just keep on getting better. This was a great read that I couldn’t put down. I hope there are more in this series.
October 5, 2019
What a cracking read this was, the Kacy Lang series just gets better and better with each book.
I must admit I was shocked when Kacy’s partner went missing.
A complex plot that was a definite page-turner, missing body parts, intriguing murders intent on leading the cops astray. But there is more to the crimes than meets the eye, vigilantism at its detestable best in this book.
Loved it from the beginning to the end.
Merged review:
Fabulous thriller
What a cracking read this was, the Kacy Lang series just gets better and better with each book.
I must admit I was shocked when Kacy’s partner went missing.
A complex plot that was a definite page-turner, missing body parts, intriguing murders intent on leading the cops astray. But there is more to the crimes than meets the eye, vigilantism at its detestable best in this book.
Loved it from the beginning to the end.
I must admit I was shocked when Kacy’s partner went missing.
A complex plot that was a definite page-turner, missing body parts, intriguing murders intent on leading the cops astray. But there is more to the crimes than meets the eye, vigilantism at its detestable best in this book.
Loved it from the beginning to the end.
Merged review:
Fabulous thriller
What a cracking read this was, the Kacy Lang series just gets better and better with each book.
I must admit I was shocked when Kacy’s partner went missing.
A complex plot that was a definite page-turner, missing body parts, intriguing murders intent on leading the cops astray. But there is more to the crimes than meets the eye, vigilantism at its detestable best in this book.
Loved it from the beginning to the end.
September 23, 2019
What a great book! Love this series and this book certainly doesn’t disappoint. Fast paced throughout with Kacy andDave striving to solve some strange gruesome murders, what connects them all?
Enjoyed learning more about Kacy and her relationship. Love all of these characters, they’re fast becoming good friends!
Enjoyed learning more about Kacy and her relationship. Love all of these characters, they’re fast becoming good friends!
November 21, 2019
Action packed from beginning to end!
I've read all the Kacy Lang books, and loved them all! Kacy definitely has her flaws, but her strengths always get her through the tough times. She's a force to be reckoned with. And she doesn't disappoint in this book. I think it's one of her best.
I've read all the Kacy Lang books, and loved them all! Kacy definitely has her flaws, but her strengths always get her through the tough times. She's a force to be reckoned with. And she doesn't disappoint in this book. I think it's one of her best.
October 16, 2019
Great story
Linda S Prather is one of my favorite authors now.
She writes with passion and suspense.
Love the Kacy. Lang series
Linda S Prather is one of my favorite authors now.
She writes with passion and suspense.
Love the Kacy. Lang series
September 22, 2025
Intense
This murder, mystery, romance novel was intense. The pace moved right along and I was surprised by many instances when I thought things were one way, yet that was not the case.
This murder, mystery, romance novel was intense. The pace moved right along and I was surprised by many instances when I thought things were one way, yet that was not the case.
Did Not Finish
October 5, 2026I didn't realize it was a series. It was hard to follow as I didn't know the previous book contents.
March 13, 2020
Loved it what else can I say, must read
October 1, 2019
This is, I think, the 4th book in this series and, whilst some series books can be read as stand alones, I think you would be better off starting from book one and reading this one in order as there is quite a bit of interconnected backstory to be found throughout.
So, we have a couple who have been brutally murdered and, on closer inspection, mutilated. The word paedophile having been carved into the man's forehead. Even more shocking is who he is! Well, the motive being apparent, Kacy thinks she will have this solved in quick time. But then there's another body and another word and, coupled with the fact that the earlier male victim's family are trying to derail her investigation, things take a bit of a turn. Do they have a vigilante on their hands or is the second murder merely a copycat? I mean, the second murder victim was a prominent gang leader - which throws a whole new problem into the mix; retaliation.
There's so much more going on in this book so I will leave my description at that. Believe me, it's all so cleverly and intricately plotted that touching on anything else might inject spoilers into my review and that's a big no-no. Suffice to say that things get personal for Kacy once again and she is forced to get help from a difficult (to her anyway) source.
As with all this author's books, there is a no nonsense attitude to superfluous waffle and the story goes along at a fair lick. Kacy and Dave (along with a few other characters) are now firmly established as characters and continue to develop and mature in this book as with others. Kacy has a whole load more stress piled on her in what happens in this episode but she manages to keep her head above water, learning a few valuable lessons along the way. It's also a sign of great characters when you get that warm feeling when you reconnect with them in a new book. The downside of this being that you are reluctant to say goodbye to them at the end. Hopefully the next book will not be long in coming, really can't wait!
So, we have a couple who have been brutally murdered and, on closer inspection, mutilated. The word paedophile having been carved into the man's forehead. Even more shocking is who he is! Well, the motive being apparent, Kacy thinks she will have this solved in quick time. But then there's another body and another word and, coupled with the fact that the earlier male victim's family are trying to derail her investigation, things take a bit of a turn. Do they have a vigilante on their hands or is the second murder merely a copycat? I mean, the second murder victim was a prominent gang leader - which throws a whole new problem into the mix; retaliation.
There's so much more going on in this book so I will leave my description at that. Believe me, it's all so cleverly and intricately plotted that touching on anything else might inject spoilers into my review and that's a big no-no. Suffice to say that things get personal for Kacy once again and she is forced to get help from a difficult (to her anyway) source.
As with all this author's books, there is a no nonsense attitude to superfluous waffle and the story goes along at a fair lick. Kacy and Dave (along with a few other characters) are now firmly established as characters and continue to develop and mature in this book as with others. Kacy has a whole load more stress piled on her in what happens in this episode but she manages to keep her head above water, learning a few valuable lessons along the way. It's also a sign of great characters when you get that warm feeling when you reconnect with them in a new book. The downside of this being that you are reluctant to say goodbye to them at the end. Hopefully the next book will not be long in coming, really can't wait!
November 2, 2019
Kacy, Dave and Greg are back on the case
Greg is in training for the FBI, but has returned to Chicago for a visit. There is a vigilante killer on the loose and he is killing indiscriminately and carving the victims crimes on their foreheads. He is also staging gang killings to try and set the local gangs against each other. Dave is kidnapped by the vigilantes and threatened with Kacy’s life for his cooperation. Between Kacy, her father, a local crime lord and the police chief combined and working together a plan is put together to find and defeat this rabid enemy.
Greg is in training for the FBI, but has returned to Chicago for a visit. There is a vigilante killer on the loose and he is killing indiscriminately and carving the victims crimes on their foreheads. He is also staging gang killings to try and set the local gangs against each other. Dave is kidnapped by the vigilantes and threatened with Kacy’s life for his cooperation. Between Kacy, her father, a local crime lord and the police chief combined and working together a plan is put together to find and defeat this rabid enemy.
January 21, 2020
Heartless but full of heart
Loved this story - the fourth in the Kacy Lang series. Great story line - everyone good got to do what they needed to do and the bad guys and gals got their just rewards. I have really enjoyed these books and intend to look for more Linda S. Prather stories.
Loved this story - the fourth in the Kacy Lang series. Great story line - everyone good got to do what they needed to do and the bad guys and gals got their just rewards. I have really enjoyed these books and intend to look for more Linda S. Prather stories.
October 5, 2019
What a suspenseful series! This May be the best of the series. I was unable to put this down after the opening sentence. All I can say is Holey-Moley! What a thrilling read. 5-star story.
October 6, 2019
Cleverly worked out story of murder and gang violence. Love the interaction between the main characters
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews