Layton, Minnesota is a sleepy little town, free from crime for nearly three decades. But when new counseling intern Shelli Hoffman starts working at the high school, she quickly finds herself involved in a complex web of murder and kidnapping. What she thought was going to be an easy semester turns out to be the most terrifying thing she's ever experienced. When she gets too close to the answers, she becomes the next victim.Melissa Sullivan has been Chief of Layton Police for a few years now, and her tenure has been peaceful. When a student is murdered and a staff member disappears, she must hunt through years of strange deaths surrounding the new family in town. Will she find the killer before it's too late?
A thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable story. It had me guessing until the vary end. The characters were well written and the storyline was thrilling! I can't wait for the second book to drop! 5 stars for 'The Internship!'
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were well-developed and likable. Some good twists and surprising events along the way. I really appreciated some of the details and grounding elements of the story. I liked following the character Olivia, the real estate agent at the beginning, I felt like Sarah Reilley did an excellent job capturing that character and her job and allowing the reader to experience her world. And that was true for all the characters that was just the first one where I was caught up in the scene. All the scenes were vivid. Overall, very satisfied and looking forward to the next Hoffman & Sullivan novel.
Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite Sarah Reilley’s absorbing mystery-thriller, The Internship (Hoffman and Sullivan Book 1) follows the harrowing events of a small town in Minnesota. Back in the ‘80s, the residents of Layton had been terrorized by a savage serial killer. Though he had been apprehended, a feeling of fear still hung around the sleepy town. Five months away from becoming a professional psychologist, Shelli Hoffman is apprehensive about her internship. With uneasiness, she embarks on the journey to Layton, the town which had terrified her as a child. As her internship begins, everything appears normal but Shelli is reluctant to dismiss the feelings of apprehension she feels around the new boy in school. When a girl disappears and Shelli is threatened, the events bring back the residents’ memories of the ‘80s horrific murders.
Sarah Reilley develops a fascinating story that is absorbing throughout. From the beginning, the tension around Layton is palpable as its history is described. Shelli is a relatable character. Her apprehension towards Layton and her eccentric character portray her as authentic. Other characters are well developed and their stories are easy to follow. I loved that the story kept me guessing, trying to figure out who the killer could be. The pace of the story is swift but still accommodating. Enough details about the characters and the setting are given. The end is surprising. It answers the questions raised and ties together the threads of the story. The Internship by Sarah Reilley is a gripping story with intriguing characters and a captivating plot.