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Touch of Evil #1
Thirst for Sin
Brooklyn Sloane works as a special consultant to the FBI as one of the most adept profilers in the agency’s history. She had been recruited at a relatively young age from her career in academics, but her colleagues have no idea the disturbing motive for her success.
While her current investigation into a cold-blooded serial killer garners the attention of the media, Brook is able to discover the unsub’s first kill. When a tragic shooting takes place involving one of the agents assigned to the case, Brook finds herself unexpectedly out in the field searching for evidence that will eventually lead her to a viable suspect.
As Brook moves closer to her target, her own troubling past is breathing its familiar breath down the back of her neck until she finds herself at a crossroad with the very transgression that shaped her moral fiber. As her past and present collide, which one will rid her of the sin that stains her soul?
Reader note: This title could release earlier than the date listed.
While her current investigation into a cold-blooded serial killer garners the attention of the media, Brook is able to discover the unsub’s first kill. When a tragic shooting takes place involving one of the agents assigned to the case, Brook finds herself unexpectedly out in the field searching for evidence that will eventually lead her to a viable suspect.
As Brook moves closer to her target, her own troubling past is breathing its familiar breath down the back of her neck until she finds herself at a crossroad with the very transgression that shaped her moral fiber. As her past and present collide, which one will rid her of the sin that stains her soul?
Reader note: This title could release earlier than the date listed.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2021
2320 people are currently reading
3549 people want to read
About the author
Kennedy Layne
235 books664 followersKennedy Layne is a USA Today bestselling author. She draws inspiration for her romantic thrillers in part from her not-so-secret second life as a wife of a retired Marine Master Sergeant. He doubles as her critique partner, beta reader, and military consultant. Kennedy also has a deep love for cozy mysteries, thrillers, and basically any book that can keep her guessing until the very end. They live in the Midwest with their menagerie of pets. The loyal dogs and mischievous cats appreciate her writing days as much as she does, usually curled up in front of the fireplace.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
May 3, 2022
Brooklyn Sloane, works as a special consultant with the FBI, she’s one of their most adept profilers ever.
Her current investigation into a cold blooded serial killer, takes her from the safety of her office out into the field. She might have reason to wish she’d stayed behind her desk.
Whilst working this case, Sloane is also trying to track down her brother, himself a serial killer, who has evaded justice, but she’s determined to catch him and make him pay, not only for his wicked crimes, but for ruining her and their parents lives.
This was my first ever Kennedy Layne thriller, and it was certainly a page turner. Look forward to more from this accomplished writer.
Her current investigation into a cold blooded serial killer, takes her from the safety of her office out into the field. She might have reason to wish she’d stayed behind her desk.
Whilst working this case, Sloane is also trying to track down her brother, himself a serial killer, who has evaded justice, but she’s determined to catch him and make him pay, not only for his wicked crimes, but for ruining her and their parents lives.
This was my first ever Kennedy Layne thriller, and it was certainly a page turner. Look forward to more from this accomplished writer.
September 20, 2021
Touched By Evil👿
Thirst for Sin is the first book in a new series by Kennedy Layne and I am already hungry for the next one❣️I have to admit this author has a knack for revealing the evil in the world in a brilliant way and the storyline and characters definitely make it that much more intriguing🤔
Brooklyn or Brook is a profiler for the FBI and focuses on serial killers - she has one of the best closure rates for her age but many oppose her position as she’s a consultant😢 However, she has a secret in her past which allows her to see more than most and while she hunts for information on her secret, she also tries to get justice for those that can’t speak for themselves😳
I’m excited for the next one to discover where her new path takes her❤️
Thirst for Sin is the first book in a new series by Kennedy Layne and I am already hungry for the next one❣️I have to admit this author has a knack for revealing the evil in the world in a brilliant way and the storyline and characters definitely make it that much more intriguing🤔
Brooklyn or Brook is a profiler for the FBI and focuses on serial killers - she has one of the best closure rates for her age but many oppose her position as she’s a consultant😢 However, she has a secret in her past which allows her to see more than most and while she hunts for information on her secret, she also tries to get justice for those that can’t speak for themselves😳
I’m excited for the next one to discover where her new path takes her❤️
July 9, 2023
Very intriguing
This was a very good profiler story about a woman whose brother is a serial killer. She is consulting with the FBI on a case about another serial killer who they call the princess Killer because he dresses them up as fairy tale heroines, i.e., Snow White, Gretel, etc. Right before he kills them. She is really good and I loved her interactions with the other members of her crew, and the small town police force she goes to in her search for the killer. She is not sweet and nice, and I loved that about her. She is brilliant and does not take kindly to lying sheriffs. She calls people out on their tells and her deductive skills are amazing. Then her brother starts killing again toward the end of this story, and her obsession with him is fuelled with vengeance and she is off to find him and end his reign of evil. I really enjoyed this and look forward to the next story.
This was a very good profiler story about a woman whose brother is a serial killer. She is consulting with the FBI on a case about another serial killer who they call the princess Killer because he dresses them up as fairy tale heroines, i.e., Snow White, Gretel, etc. Right before he kills them. She is really good and I loved her interactions with the other members of her crew, and the small town police force she goes to in her search for the killer. She is not sweet and nice, and I loved that about her. She is brilliant and does not take kindly to lying sheriffs. She calls people out on their tells and her deductive skills are amazing. Then her brother starts killing again toward the end of this story, and her obsession with him is fuelled with vengeance and she is off to find him and end his reign of evil. I really enjoyed this and look forward to the next story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2021
Thirst for Fear is the first book in a new psychological thriller series from Kennedy Layne. We are introduced to Brooklyn Sloane who even though she works as a consultant for the FBI as a profiler she doesnt make lifelong connections or friendships with anyone for fear of their lives.
Brook's excellence at being a profiler of killers doesn't come from an education learned in a classroom, its comes from being the sister of a serial killer who started his murderous spree with her childhood best friend. He then also brutally murdered her best friend in college because she made the mistake of having a friend.
Her profiles are dead on and she is tenacious when tracking a serial killer but this all stems from her need to catch and either kill or put away the most elusive serial killer – her brother.
This was a thrilling read. Her current case has her going out into the field on her own to try and find a killer who dresses his victims up from scenes fairy tales.
By the end of the book Brook makes a career change due to circumstances so the next book will probably introduce a some new characters which I look forward to.
Brook's excellence at being a profiler of killers doesn't come from an education learned in a classroom, its comes from being the sister of a serial killer who started his murderous spree with her childhood best friend. He then also brutally murdered her best friend in college because she made the mistake of having a friend.
Her profiles are dead on and she is tenacious when tracking a serial killer but this all stems from her need to catch and either kill or put away the most elusive serial killer – her brother.
This was a thrilling read. Her current case has her going out into the field on her own to try and find a killer who dresses his victims up from scenes fairy tales.
By the end of the book Brook makes a career change due to circumstances so the next book will probably introduce a some new characters which I look forward to.
May 2, 2022
I wasn't sure on Brook as I started this one, she comes off as a cold hard ass, but as things went on we see there is a reason why she built so many walls.
The start to this one was slow, too slow, but the foundation needed to be built, we had to know the players and why Brook was the way she was. I liked her leap of thinking about the case and that she was able to get the powers that be to let her run with it.
It was interesting to see Brook start to talk to all the townspeople about what happened 20 years ago. The amount of new info she found was crazy, too many people had secrets to hide in the past and were too close to the investigation. I was surprised by who the bad guy was and how quickly things escalated at the end.
I found I was equally intrigued by the odd job offer that Brook got and how that person protected her, which gave her the real choice if she wanted to make a job change. I do think the Brook made the right choice at the end.
It will be interesting to see what happens to Brook next on so many fronts.
The start to this one was slow, too slow, but the foundation needed to be built, we had to know the players and why Brook was the way she was. I liked her leap of thinking about the case and that she was able to get the powers that be to let her run with it.
It was interesting to see Brook start to talk to all the townspeople about what happened 20 years ago. The amount of new info she found was crazy, too many people had secrets to hide in the past and were too close to the investigation. I was surprised by who the bad guy was and how quickly things escalated at the end.
I found I was equally intrigued by the odd job offer that Brook got and how that person protected her, which gave her the real choice if she wanted to make a job change. I do think the Brook made the right choice at the end.
It will be interesting to see what happens to Brook next on so many fronts.
February 1, 2023
This book is about a Consultant for the Fbi, Brooke. She helps the FBI close cases and has the highest closure rate in FBI history. The current case Brooke is profiling is an unsub who dresses his victims from fairytales..snow white, Hansel and Gretal..etc. The unsub, Brook believes lives in the tri state area around DC but the unsubs first case, she thinks takes place in Pa.
The book follows through the case which includes witnesses, vics families, police departments...etc
While brook helps consult with this unsub we find out that her brother, Jacob is a serial killer and has been on the run for seventeen years. The FBI isn't happy Brooke has been using FBI resources to track her brother.
Brook gets poached by a mysterious man named Elliott who lets her on a secret that the FBI is going to either fire or transfer Brook out of DC. Elliott informs Brooke that if she works for him, she'll be paid triple the salary and she gets to pick her choosing of office space and picks out her own team. He has no issue with brook wanting to track her brother. Elliott seems to know more about brook than she realizes and he's offering her a consult gig, her team, her rules, her office as long as her first case is what Elliott gives her.
Review:
The book was DECENTLY written but it was definitely not great. My BIGGEST issue was that things and names were just thrown in the book with little or no explanation. For example, Jackson. Who the hell is Jackson? We were never told. And then there was Agent Neville. Okay what now! He was just tossed in like an apple falling from a tree. The Book doesn't say when Brooke called him and doesn't say what field office he came from. Sooo okay then. My second ISSUE was some things did not make sense. ONE example: The unsub in the book. Hilarious 😂. Like really? Brooke actually spoke to this "unsub" when this guy was actually at the police station. She had a full on conversation with him. Brooke is supposed to be this amazing perfect profiler who is never wrong and yet she doesn't expect this dude to be the unsub???? Dude, he was the brother!!!! Of a guy she's working with. And if Brooke crossed out the guy she's working with then she'd have to rule out this guy. Lol. Bro come one! I'm dying in laughter. SECOND example: Brooke rules out this one guy because he's a cousin of a dude shes kinda working with and when she crosses him out to be this unsub, she STILL detains him. Ummm whatttt. If he's not your guy then your wasting time girlfriend. Geesh. THIRD example: There were multiple murders in Illinois and yet...the FBI doesn't get involved? Since when????? Like what the hell. Illinois stashes the cases in cold case. Why?? Duuuuuude come on! Lol.
Conclusion: Its decent but needs work. ALOT. Of. It. The chapters were super long fair warning. The book was complicated, confusing, some things didn't make sense. And then there's the characters: Brooke isnt likeable. She's all over the map. SAC Harden was a hard ass but a good guy. Frank seemed to be a good agent but totally overworked. Ann we didn't get enough of so I can't judge. Jacob was mentioned ALOT but he's a psycho and it's super hard to believe the FBI isn't chasing him. The unsub was ridiculous and was laughable because HE didn't make sense. The sheriff seemed to be a good guy. Outgoing. Kind. And I felt bad for the guy. Out of all the characters, I liked the sheriff the best.
In my opinion, this was a three out of five and I think that's generous. It's okay. Not the perfect book though. I won't read the whole series.
The book follows through the case which includes witnesses, vics families, police departments...etc
While brook helps consult with this unsub we find out that her brother, Jacob is a serial killer and has been on the run for seventeen years. The FBI isn't happy Brooke has been using FBI resources to track her brother.
Brook gets poached by a mysterious man named Elliott who lets her on a secret that the FBI is going to either fire or transfer Brook out of DC. Elliott informs Brooke that if she works for him, she'll be paid triple the salary and she gets to pick her choosing of office space and picks out her own team. He has no issue with brook wanting to track her brother. Elliott seems to know more about brook than she realizes and he's offering her a consult gig, her team, her rules, her office as long as her first case is what Elliott gives her.
Review:
The book was DECENTLY written but it was definitely not great. My BIGGEST issue was that things and names were just thrown in the book with little or no explanation. For example, Jackson. Who the hell is Jackson? We were never told. And then there was Agent Neville. Okay what now! He was just tossed in like an apple falling from a tree. The Book doesn't say when Brooke called him and doesn't say what field office he came from. Sooo okay then. My second ISSUE was some things did not make sense. ONE example: The unsub in the book. Hilarious 😂. Like really? Brooke actually spoke to this "unsub" when this guy was actually at the police station. She had a full on conversation with him. Brooke is supposed to be this amazing perfect profiler who is never wrong and yet she doesn't expect this dude to be the unsub???? Dude, he was the brother!!!! Of a guy she's working with. And if Brooke crossed out the guy she's working with then she'd have to rule out this guy. Lol. Bro come one! I'm dying in laughter. SECOND example: Brooke rules out this one guy because he's a cousin of a dude shes kinda working with and when she crosses him out to be this unsub, she STILL detains him. Ummm whatttt. If he's not your guy then your wasting time girlfriend. Geesh. THIRD example: There were multiple murders in Illinois and yet...the FBI doesn't get involved? Since when????? Like what the hell. Illinois stashes the cases in cold case. Why?? Duuuuuude come on! Lol.
Conclusion: Its decent but needs work. ALOT. Of. It. The chapters were super long fair warning. The book was complicated, confusing, some things didn't make sense. And then there's the characters: Brooke isnt likeable. She's all over the map. SAC Harden was a hard ass but a good guy. Frank seemed to be a good agent but totally overworked. Ann we didn't get enough of so I can't judge. Jacob was mentioned ALOT but he's a psycho and it's super hard to believe the FBI isn't chasing him. The unsub was ridiculous and was laughable because HE didn't make sense. The sheriff seemed to be a good guy. Outgoing. Kind. And I felt bad for the guy. Out of all the characters, I liked the sheriff the best.
In my opinion, this was a three out of five and I think that's generous. It's okay. Not the perfect book though. I won't read the whole series.
June 21, 2022
2 1/2 *stars REALLY.
VERY DETAILED IN THINGS I REALLY DIDN'T CARE TO KNOW. EVERY MOVEMENT, CUP OF COFFEE/INGREDIENTS, ROOMS/HOUSE DESIGN, CLOTHING, DRIVING, ROADS, CALLS, GATHERING COAT-PURSE-BRIEFCASE AND EYE MOVEMENTS. WHEW I'M SURE I FORGOT SOME, WITH ALL THAT, I ALMOST FORGOT WHO SHE WAS LOOKING FOR. OH, THE HUNT FOR TWO SERIAL KILLERS. YEAH. I SUPPOSE BROOK WILL CONTINUE HER QUEST TO GET SERIAL KILLERS OFF THE STREET (in each book) WHILE SHE SEARCHES FOR THE ONE ELUSIVE TARGET. ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS THE OLD TV SHOW THE FUGITIVE. . .. MINUS THE ONE-ARMED MAN, IN EACH OF THIS SERIES. ;<
VERY DETAILED IN THINGS I REALLY DIDN'T CARE TO KNOW. EVERY MOVEMENT, CUP OF COFFEE/INGREDIENTS, ROOMS/HOUSE DESIGN, CLOTHING, DRIVING, ROADS, CALLS, GATHERING COAT-PURSE-BRIEFCASE AND EYE MOVEMENTS. WHEW I'M SURE I FORGOT SOME, WITH ALL THAT, I ALMOST FORGOT WHO SHE WAS LOOKING FOR. OH, THE HUNT FOR TWO SERIAL KILLERS. YEAH. I SUPPOSE BROOK WILL CONTINUE HER QUEST TO GET SERIAL KILLERS OFF THE STREET (in each book) WHILE SHE SEARCHES FOR THE ONE ELUSIVE TARGET. ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS THE OLD TV SHOW THE FUGITIVE. . .. MINUS THE ONE-ARMED MAN, IN EACH OF THIS SERIES. ;<
August 26, 2024
This was a great start to a series with an overall ARC that both intrigues and terrifies me. Brooklyn Sloane is a brilliant profiler and a consultant for the FBI. She prefers consulting so that she can hunt for her brother, someone that only a few people at the FBI know she is related to.
The story starts slowly as the author lays out the series arc and sets us up for the case she is currently working. It also introduces her FBI partners, boss, and an outsider who is interested in her services.
I like Sloane, and learning her backstory, which led her to become a profiler. The author revealed things about her brother slowly and the more we learned, the creepier he became.
Right now, she is working on catching a serial killer. She is tenacious in creating her profile and searching for his first kill. A lead forces her into the field, and she ends up in a small-town investigating the unsolved murder of a young girl. The tale was twisted with small-town secrets and judgements. The climatic wrap up to the case while not perfect kept me listening.
The case wraps up, but things are shaken up regarding the overall series arc. I am excited to dive into the next audiobook. Daniela Acitelli narrated and brought Sloane and the other characters, including her brother and the serial killer to life. I highly recommend listening. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
The story starts slowly as the author lays out the series arc and sets us up for the case she is currently working. It also introduces her FBI partners, boss, and an outsider who is interested in her services.
I like Sloane, and learning her backstory, which led her to become a profiler. The author revealed things about her brother slowly and the more we learned, the creepier he became.
Right now, she is working on catching a serial killer. She is tenacious in creating her profile and searching for his first kill. A lead forces her into the field, and she ends up in a small-town investigating the unsolved murder of a young girl. The tale was twisted with small-town secrets and judgements. The climatic wrap up to the case while not perfect kept me listening.
The case wraps up, but things are shaken up regarding the overall series arc. I am excited to dive into the next audiobook. Daniela Acitelli narrated and brought Sloane and the other characters, including her brother and the serial killer to life. I highly recommend listening. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
August 6, 2024
A page turner
This was a new to me author and one I'll definitely be reading more from, including the next book in the series.
This book was a great way to kick off a series.
Not only did it a a plot that would keep you guessing, the series plot thread was perfectly executed.
Keeping this review short and sweet so I can read a bit of book 2 before bed.
This was a new to me author and one I'll definitely be reading more from, including the next book in the series.
This book was a great way to kick off a series.
Not only did it a a plot that would keep you guessing, the series plot thread was perfectly executed.
Keeping this review short and sweet so I can read a bit of book 2 before bed.
April 6, 2022
Blood is thicker!
I liked reading about an FBI agent who was related to a serial killer. The characters sprang into being, with a vibrancy that made them believable. A reader who loves a murder mystery, would find this book enthralling.
I liked reading about an FBI agent who was related to a serial killer. The characters sprang into being, with a vibrancy that made them believable. A reader who loves a murder mystery, would find this book enthralling.
January 16, 2023
Oh, a daring FBI consultant that goes after serial killers, right up my alley!
I love Brooklyn almost as much as Detective Josie. I can see a Quinn/Sloane crossover in the works.
This story had lots of twists to leave you guessing. A quick read for me as I was right there with Brook.
I love Brooklyn almost as much as Detective Josie. I can see a Quinn/Sloane crossover in the works.
This story had lots of twists to leave you guessing. A quick read for me as I was right there with Brook.
January 6, 2025
I’d give this book a 4.5 , it is a new author for me and I really enjoyed the book. It was fast paced , kept my attention , I read it all in one sitting and can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
August 11, 2025
Needs proofreading
The story itself was good, but mistakes made it irritating to read. There were incorrect words used, places where a sentence had been modified and old words not removed, and other grammatical errors. It is very distracting when trying to read the stories. I wish authors would make sure their stories were proofread before release.
The story itself was good, but mistakes made it irritating to read. There were incorrect words used, places where a sentence had been modified and old words not removed, and other grammatical errors. It is very distracting when trying to read the stories. I wish authors would make sure their stories were proofread before release.
January 6, 2026
Gripping Storyline
I read this book as a recommendation from a Facebook post. I was not disappointed. I found myself trying to solve the case with the characters. The ending was put together with precision and made for a great twist. I will definitely continue this series.
I read this book as a recommendation from a Facebook post. I was not disappointed. I found myself trying to solve the case with the characters. The ending was put together with precision and made for a great twist. I will definitely continue this series.
October 24, 2025
I expected better, but after a while it got boring everything went back to her serial killer brother.
Like I get it already, your brother is a serial killer can we move on already.
Like I get it already, your brother is a serial killer can we move on already.
September 15, 2021
A Great Read
This is a great thriller! The first book in the Touch of Evil Series really keeps you on your toes with the suspense. Brook Sloane is profiler and a consultant to the FBI. She does her work in the office and has agents do the leg work. She has a high closure rate and is all business. She has no friends and is totally focused on apprehending her brother who is a serial killer. She has to work her brother’s case on the down low because the FBI refuses to let her work the case. This book focuses on a serial killer who dresses his victims like characters in a fairy tale. She believes she has found his first murder that happened 20 years ago. Due to unforeseen circumstances she ends up going to the small town and begins interviewing key residents. The current and former Sheriffs are neck deep in a coverup. Of what she’s not sure. There are lots of suspects and I enjoyed guess whodunnit. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
This is a great thriller! The first book in the Touch of Evil Series really keeps you on your toes with the suspense. Brook Sloane is profiler and a consultant to the FBI. She does her work in the office and has agents do the leg work. She has a high closure rate and is all business. She has no friends and is totally focused on apprehending her brother who is a serial killer. She has to work her brother’s case on the down low because the FBI refuses to let her work the case. This book focuses on a serial killer who dresses his victims like characters in a fairy tale. She believes she has found his first murder that happened 20 years ago. Due to unforeseen circumstances she ends up going to the small town and begins interviewing key residents. The current and former Sheriffs are neck deep in a coverup. Of what she’s not sure. There are lots of suspects and I enjoyed guess whodunnit. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
June 28, 2025
I thought this story had promise, but I had a real problem with the audio version. The narrator's voice was flat and lacking intonation, and there was very little difference between the male and female voices. Also, I feel that the author was too wordy, over explaining and over describing, which slowed down the story's momentum for me.
February 3, 2024
This was a great psychological thriller, detective, murder mystery
Loved the characters, the setting, the plot, the storyline kept me engaged and reading, read most of it in one day
Brook Sloan is detective working contract for the FBI and she is extremely good at profiling serial killers, something she has had to learn.
The author has created such a great main character that had me at the beginning of the book, now i want to reas rhe series! I really liked her character, she is no nonsense, gets to the point, objective and smart
Loved the descriptive elements of the book, such as surroundings, how the author gives details of everything as you read, helps to visualize as if you are there while reading
First book I've read by Kennedy Layne and won't be the last
Loved the characters, the setting, the plot, the storyline kept me engaged and reading, read most of it in one day
Brook Sloan is detective working contract for the FBI and she is extremely good at profiling serial killers, something she has had to learn.
The author has created such a great main character that had me at the beginning of the book, now i want to reas rhe series! I really liked her character, she is no nonsense, gets to the point, objective and smart
Loved the descriptive elements of the book, such as surroundings, how the author gives details of everything as you read, helps to visualize as if you are there while reading
First book I've read by Kennedy Layne and won't be the last
May 3, 2022
Great read and really kept you interested. Brooklyn Sloane is one of the top profilers and she is now working as a consultant to the FBI. In this case that they brought her in on, women are being killed and staged as "fairy tale" stories.
Brook works her own way, which is sometimes against the rules, but she is also haunted by another serial killer that took the life of her best friend. Her brother. She has been searching for him for years to stop his killings and she knows that he stalks her.
Now, since one of the agents she works with is injured, she must travel out of town on her own to try to apprehend the serial killer.
This is a series and the first!
Brook works her own way, which is sometimes against the rules, but she is also haunted by another serial killer that took the life of her best friend. Her brother. She has been searching for him for years to stop his killings and she knows that he stalks her.
Now, since one of the agents she works with is injured, she must travel out of town on her own to try to apprehend the serial killer.
This is a series and the first!
January 27, 2024
The underlying story is good and has a lot of potential, the execution let’s it all down though.
There is way to much unnecessary detail included, where she hung up her coat at one stage took up half a paragraph. That wouldn’t bother me if it was infrequent or added to the depth of the story description, but that wasn’t the case. There are also too many characters involved, between FBI Agents, local police, suspects… it’s hard to follow who is who at different points!
There is way to much unnecessary detail included, where she hung up her coat at one stage took up half a paragraph. That wouldn’t bother me if it was infrequent or added to the depth of the story description, but that wasn’t the case. There are also too many characters involved, between FBI Agents, local police, suspects… it’s hard to follow who is who at different points!
November 7, 2024
I read this book because it was advertised for fans of JD Robb's "in death" series. I didn't feel that it was an apt comparison. The heroine, an FBI profiler is also the sister of a serial killer. The premise seems to be that each book in the series will solve the case of a serial killer, while the heroine also pursues catching her brother on the side. I don't think I'm interested in continuing the series.
April 12, 2025
The premise is along the thread of Criminal Minds and the Princess Killer was an okay villain. The problem is Brooklyn Sloan, the main character. She has as much personality as a wet paper bag. The attempt to give her character depth by CONSTANTLY referring to her memories of finding her college roommate falls flat. It was nearly impossible to find anything likable or relatable about her at all so instead of being drawn in by her story, it's easy to become bored by the character.
February 22, 2025
I have the first 3 in this series downloaded and I approached this with trepidation after reading other reviewers referring to a lot of errors being happened upon....and sadly, they were right. There are too many, one being a cardinal sin for me of misspelling your own character's name (and not just once) !! That loses a book one star from me itself !! I just wish authors would employ decent proofreaders as it surely costs them in the end when they end up with 3* reviews as opposed to 5* ones all for the sake of missing punctuation or spelling stuff wrong !!
For starters she didn't capitalise Pinot, then there were missed fullstops, I had a sentence on page 46 where she added an extra 'of' in a sentence and then on page 47 she missed 'of' out of a sentence !! You couldn't make it up !! She wrote scruff not scuff (referring to marks on shoes), then jam not jamb....then we got a description of an office repeated pretty much word-for-word from a few pages before describing that very same room, which was most peculiar and also highly aggravating !! We had murder not murders and in not into, gapping not gaping, blue tooth not Bluetooth, she wrote manilla then manila for the same thing, illicit not elicit, confidant not confidante, rational not rationale and of course the character errors-changing Elliott to Elliot and then Pamela to Pamala !! She referred to Joe as Joey at one point but he was only Joey when someone addressed him as such in conversation. We kept hearing about the unsub till it became annoyingly repetitive, twice she wrote broke not brooked, a few more sentences had words missing and apostrophe errors. Yet sometimes she got those correct so it really is in dire need of a good, accurate read-over before publication. It would make a world of difference. However, this was the first in a series so I am hoping I may see improvements in books 2 and 3. I will read them as the story (the HARD part) was highly entertaining; she writes good characters and I really liked and WANT to know how Brook gets on. Although, even in the bit at the end where the next book gets a plug she wrote divulges not dives, which made me give a really heavy sigh......
I made a note that I really liked the cover, though, and, as I say she can write a great story. So, here's keeping everything crossed for book 2 !!
For starters she didn't capitalise Pinot, then there were missed fullstops, I had a sentence on page 46 where she added an extra 'of' in a sentence and then on page 47 she missed 'of' out of a sentence !! You couldn't make it up !! She wrote scruff not scuff (referring to marks on shoes), then jam not jamb....then we got a description of an office repeated pretty much word-for-word from a few pages before describing that very same room, which was most peculiar and also highly aggravating !! We had murder not murders and in not into, gapping not gaping, blue tooth not Bluetooth, she wrote manilla then manila for the same thing, illicit not elicit, confidant not confidante, rational not rationale and of course the character errors-changing Elliott to Elliot and then Pamela to Pamala !! She referred to Joe as Joey at one point but he was only Joey when someone addressed him as such in conversation. We kept hearing about the unsub till it became annoyingly repetitive, twice she wrote broke not brooked, a few more sentences had words missing and apostrophe errors. Yet sometimes she got those correct so it really is in dire need of a good, accurate read-over before publication. It would make a world of difference. However, this was the first in a series so I am hoping I may see improvements in books 2 and 3. I will read them as the story (the HARD part) was highly entertaining; she writes good characters and I really liked and WANT to know how Brook gets on. Although, even in the bit at the end where the next book gets a plug she wrote divulges not dives, which made me give a really heavy sigh......
I made a note that I really liked the cover, though, and, as I say she can write a great story. So, here's keeping everything crossed for book 2 !!
December 1, 2025
4 – 4.5 Stars
Evil touches our lives every day.
We don’t always see it, hear it, or touch it…but it’s there all the same.
Follow along as Brooklyn Sloane, a former consultant for the FBI, takes on cold cases that are thrown on a random desk to gather dust without a second thought to the victims’ families left behind. She knows all too well what it’s like to be the one left with nothing but unanswered questions. Her renowned career as a federal profiler was built on apprehending only the most notorious serial killers who made the front page of the national newspapers. Unfortunately, she failed to bring to justice the one who stained her soul—her very own brother. He is still out there hunting, but she fully intends to be the one who ends his reign of terror.
Thirst For Sin is the first book in the Touch of Evil Series by Kennedy Layne.
Touch of Evil is a gripping blend of psychological intrigue, suspense, and raw emotion and follows Brooklyn Sloane, a former FBI consultant turned private investigator, as she tackles cold cases and confronts her own haunting past.
Brooklyn is a standout FMC – she’s intelligent, determined, and yet deeply flawed. Her relentless pursuit of justice, particularly as she hunts for her estranged brother, who is a cunning serial killer, definitely added extra intrigue as well as a deeply personal layer to the overarching story. Ms. Layne seems to easily manage to delve into Brooklyn’s psyche while also maintaining the tension of the mysteries.
Each book is a carefully crafted puzzle, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The dark, moody tone is balanced by moments of vulnerability and humanity, making the characters feel real and very relatable. Ms. Layne’s writing is sharp and evocative, painting vivid scenes that draw you into the world of crime and justice.
It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys a story that challenges the mind and tugs at the heartstrings. Prepare to be captivated - and maybe even a little haunted - by this unforgettable series.
Happy Reading…
Evil touches our lives every day.
We don’t always see it, hear it, or touch it…but it’s there all the same.
Follow along as Brooklyn Sloane, a former consultant for the FBI, takes on cold cases that are thrown on a random desk to gather dust without a second thought to the victims’ families left behind. She knows all too well what it’s like to be the one left with nothing but unanswered questions. Her renowned career as a federal profiler was built on apprehending only the most notorious serial killers who made the front page of the national newspapers. Unfortunately, she failed to bring to justice the one who stained her soul—her very own brother. He is still out there hunting, but she fully intends to be the one who ends his reign of terror.
Thirst For Sin is the first book in the Touch of Evil Series by Kennedy Layne.
Touch of Evil is a gripping blend of psychological intrigue, suspense, and raw emotion and follows Brooklyn Sloane, a former FBI consultant turned private investigator, as she tackles cold cases and confronts her own haunting past.
Brooklyn is a standout FMC – she’s intelligent, determined, and yet deeply flawed. Her relentless pursuit of justice, particularly as she hunts for her estranged brother, who is a cunning serial killer, definitely added extra intrigue as well as a deeply personal layer to the overarching story. Ms. Layne seems to easily manage to delve into Brooklyn’s psyche while also maintaining the tension of the mysteries.
Each book is a carefully crafted puzzle, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The dark, moody tone is balanced by moments of vulnerability and humanity, making the characters feel real and very relatable. Ms. Layne’s writing is sharp and evocative, painting vivid scenes that draw you into the world of crime and justice.
It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys a story that challenges the mind and tugs at the heartstrings. Prepare to be captivated - and maybe even a little haunted - by this unforgettable series.
Happy Reading…
February 25, 2025
Uma trama que me surpreendeu. Na verdade, tinha começado a ler o nono livro da série, porque tinha sido uma promoção do kindle, e à medida que fui avançando, senti necessidade de entender como tudo começou. Foi melhor. Até porque embora imagine que eles possam ser lidos independentemente, volta e meia surge um nome de personagem ou uma referência (fora a básica, que é sobre o irmão malvado da personagem principal) que já apareceu antes. Normalmente, esses livros em série de autores best-sellers costumam variar pouco em termos de trama, narrativa, personalidades, etc., mas enquanto tiver paciência, vou seguir a ordem dos livros. Isso posto, a história prende, a personagem principal, embora obcecada com a necessidade de capturar o vilão-mor, também. Naturalmente, essa obsessão também limita um tanto o desenvolvimento da personagem principal, Brooke Sloane. Mas a trama, digamos, paralela, ocupa um bom espaço da narrativa, e prende a atenção. Como eu gosto de histórias de investigação de crimes, posso afirmar que vale a pena ler. Espero que na sequência, o diálogo interno obsessivo de Sloane fique menos repetitivo.
July 4, 2023
3 and a half stars
Brook is a consultant for the FBI. She is one of the best profilers in the agency. She has been working on a profile for the Princess Killer. She hardly ever works out in the field until another agent is involved in a shooting. Brook thinks she has found the killers first kill. She heads up to Pennsylvania to a small town of under nine hundred. The town has always believed that the girls boyfriend had killed her but Brook doesn't think he fits her profile. They have three weeks until the next murder but will Brook figure it out in time? Plus her past is about to catch up with her.
I'll be honest, I almost stopped reading this. It is mostly Brook's point of view. There is not a lot of conversation going on. I'm not big on stories like that. I need conversations between people not just inner dialogue. There is no romance. No boyfriend. I will say this, once I really got into it I couldn't put it down. It is one heck of a mystery. There is a cliffhanger.
Brook is a consultant for the FBI. She is one of the best profilers in the agency. She has been working on a profile for the Princess Killer. She hardly ever works out in the field until another agent is involved in a shooting. Brook thinks she has found the killers first kill. She heads up to Pennsylvania to a small town of under nine hundred. The town has always believed that the girls boyfriend had killed her but Brook doesn't think he fits her profile. They have three weeks until the next murder but will Brook figure it out in time? Plus her past is about to catch up with her.
I'll be honest, I almost stopped reading this. It is mostly Brook's point of view. There is not a lot of conversation going on. I'm not big on stories like that. I need conversations between people not just inner dialogue. There is no romance. No boyfriend. I will say this, once I really got into it I couldn't put it down. It is one heck of a mystery. There is a cliffhanger.
March 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this one, I like all the stuff it's setting up for.
Sloan feels distant, but I greatly enjoy it, it fits given what we learn about her. How she's trying to keep herself distant.
I'm so intrigued with everything, especially with Jacob.
Elliot has my attention too
Oh, and Matt, I kind of hope we see him again.
Sloan cares in her own way, her past is just keeping her distant, probably in an effort to protect herself.
ending
I can't wait to see how book two goes with how this one ended.
Sloan feels distant, but I greatly enjoy it, it fits given what we learn about her. How she's trying to keep herself distant.
I'm so intrigued with everything, especially with Jacob.
Elliot has my attention too
Oh, and Matt, I kind of hope we see him again.
Sloan cares in her own way, her past is just keeping her distant, probably in an effort to protect herself.
ending
I can't wait to see how book two goes with how this one ended.
November 29, 2022
Wow! Talk about a page-turner! Layne has written a terrific thriller that is full of suspense with a huge twist. The plot is dynamic with a female protagonist that appears to be as cold as ice until you discover the motive behind her career choices.
Sloane is a special consultant to the FBI. She is one of the best profilers the agency has ever used. Her academic career alone is astounding but her ability to see what others cannot see is what makes her the best. But Sloane has a secret that few people know, a secret that makes her the best at understanding and finding serial killers.
As you sit on the edge of your seat reading, anticipating Sloane’s secret and rapidly turning the pages you will be shocked at the life she chose. Solving this latest crime for the FBI is only the first step to ending the horrors in Sloane’s life.
Sloane is a special consultant to the FBI. She is one of the best profilers the agency has ever used. Her academic career alone is astounding but her ability to see what others cannot see is what makes her the best. But Sloane has a secret that few people know, a secret that makes her the best at understanding and finding serial killers.
As you sit on the edge of your seat reading, anticipating Sloane’s secret and rapidly turning the pages you will be shocked at the life she chose. Solving this latest crime for the FBI is only the first step to ending the horrors in Sloane’s life.
December 9, 2025
Enjoyed the plot- but the minute details are unnecessary- no one cares that her blazer was left in the car so she chose her black dress coat and the repetition of those non-essential details is ugh! They add nothing to the story but contribute to annoyance in the reader 🙄
Two siblings- one psycho killer one FBI consultant makes for an interesting story, especially as they play cat and mouse. Looking forward to reading about who gets the upper hand, though with so many books in the series I’m unsure if it’ll be too dragged out- time will tell.
Also, hated the main murderer in this book having his point of view portrayed- it interrupted the flow of the book, especially since the story of how his mother “disappeared “ from his life and why his hatred for his stepmother wasn’t told.
Going to read book two and perhaps that’ll make me want to up the stars of this read…
Two siblings- one psycho killer one FBI consultant makes for an interesting story, especially as they play cat and mouse. Looking forward to reading about who gets the upper hand, though with so many books in the series I’m unsure if it’ll be too dragged out- time will tell.
Also, hated the main murderer in this book having his point of view portrayed- it interrupted the flow of the book, especially since the story of how his mother “disappeared “ from his life and why his hatred for his stepmother wasn’t told.
Going to read book two and perhaps that’ll make me want to up the stars of this read…
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