In downtown D.C., an emergency surgery is performed on a prominent psychiatrist following a multi-car accident. The ICU nurse on duty has heard many interesting utterances from her groggy patients over the years. Unfortunately, nothing can prepare her for the disturbing revelation that surfaces from her current patient as he regains consciousness from a drug-induced state.
Former FBI consultant Brooklyn Sloane is well acquainted with how doubt and fear can ruin a person's life. It's that reason she takes on a case no one else wants to touch. A respected nurse believes that her patient is a serial killer. A doctor held in the highest esteem by his colleagues, admired by his friends, adored by his family, and who is now claiming his innocence.
As each layer of the investigation is pulled back, something sinister begins to emerge from the darkness. Brook and her team eventually find themselves on the brink of a terrifying discovery that will change the dynamics of the case. The dark and twisted truth will ultimately shake D.C.'s high society and shatter lives forever.
Kennedy 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.
This one started out a bit slow for me. The crime of the book needed to be set up, along with all the players. Things really picked up the last third of the book. I was surprised by who the bad guy was, who helped them and what they did to those around them as things became public.
It was fun to see the team work this case. I loved seeing Bit get out in the field and how as things happened he realized he needed to order new things for them and how Brook never said no. I also liked Brook seeing how Bit has grown, but still has a ways to go and how she kept giving him little hints about what he should be doing to be better prepared.
Being that this happened around Christmas, there was lots of stress for Brook about presents, especially when she realized she needed to do something for the team and the General. I think she nailed everything and it will be hard to top things next year.
Finally, I'm very intrigued by the new direction that Brook went on in her quest to find her brother. It was very smart and intriguing how both Brook and Jacob were pondering how/where Jacob's life changed at the end. It will be interesting to fin out!
Brook is working for a client who heard a confession as a patient of hers came out of an induced coma after surgery. She was ridiculed for saying anything of his murmurings. But if hee killed someone or several someone’s then that should be investstigated. The police found nothing. This was really well done book.. Very fast paced. Loved it.
Corrupted by Sin is book five in the Touch of Evil series and follows Brook and her team as they investigate an ICU nurse and her suspicions, when a prominent psychiatrist undergoes surgery, only to make unusual proclamations as he awakens. This case is different to previous ones as Brook builds her profile in reverse and they soon stumble onto more than they expected😳
A great storyline and engaging characters❣️I’m excited for the next story and unravelling more about Brook’s latest discovery surrounding her brother and exploring more about the tentative relationships being established🤩
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.
Corrupted by Sin is the fifth 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…
I heard of this author via the Facebook psychological thriller site. This is the first book I’m reading in the Touch of Evil series. The book opens with back story allowing the reader a glimpse into the life of Brooklyn Sloan. We find out she suspected her brother had murdered someone at a very young age. Fast forward to present times and we find out Brooke is an ex profiler with the FBI and has opened a PI firm. We also find out that her brother is indeed a serial killer and currently on the loose. Although intriguing I found the first 25 pages very leaden with back story and introductions to so many people it was difficult to keep track of. Maybe it’s just that it takes me a while to get into a new book and its various characters. Was it necessary to know this much back story right off the bat? I feel it could have been sprinkled in a little over the opening chapters instead of all in one shot just to keep the flow of the current story. The pretence of this instalment in the series is a nurse who comes forward warning the team that a prominent psychologist who works at her hospital admitted to murdering someone as he was coming out of anesthesia. This nurse was there to hear his words and has tried to tell the police however no one believes her. Her only recourse is to hire the PI firm and have them investigate before anyone else is hurt. I had some difficult remaining engaged with this novel. It’s very likely that I wasn’t vested in the characters from the first book. The writing is good, the premise is interesting and the twists, although a little predictable, are all timely and well thought out. I gave the novel a three star rating. Someone who has read the series from book one, and more vested, would most likely rate it higher.
I'm being really picky here. But how many times does high heels and dress coat need to be written? Or winter coat/jacket? People are not animals. It's December in DC. If you say coat, does winter need to be said? And her favorite shoes are these comfortable heels. Always stated at the beginning of the book as she switches them out when she walks to her office in her winter boots.
The sheer number of details reads like a movie script and makes me wonder if these were written with the thought of optioning for TV or movie deals in mind.
For example: By this time, Sylvie had used a napkin to clean up the droplets of tea that had landed on the table. She'd even thrown the napkin in the small trashcan underneath the thin table positioned next to the door.
Also: "...and then walked over to where she'd left her winter boots . . . She tossed her black high heels to the side and slipped both feet into her winter boots."
This was so unnecessary for the book. It's as if she was trying to fill an allotment of words.
I really do like the storyline so I'm sticking with them for now. I'm in it for the long haul because of Jacob and now Graham. And I love when Graham says Brook's full name. *swoon*
Sigo lendo a série. Também sigo me irritando com o detalhamento desnecessário de itens de roupa (as botas de inverno, por ex.), e a capinha de celular onde se pode guardar o cartão de crédito e a identidades. Falta uma revisão, para se cortarem palavras desnecessárias ou repetidas demais. Uma das favoritas é "truthfully". Uma vez ou outra quando absolutamente relevante, ok. Mas toda vez que a personagem principal, Brook, diz alguma coisa, tem que ser "honestamente" (tradução livre)? Fora isso, é um bom passatempo para quem gosta de histórias de investigações criminais. E eu também curto essa sequência que conta com o mesmo grupo essencial de personagens, embora não haja muito aprofundamento sobre eles que não esteja diretamente relacionado com a história ou o momento. Mas também, não quero saber muito das dúvidas existenciais deles. Inclusive já disse e repito, o drama básico da personagem principal, que é seu irmão, já me cansou. Aliás, outro ponto de repetição (basta uma vez por livro, para quem não segue a série), que é o mantra de Brook, que o irmão seja preso ou esteja enterrado. Bem chatinho.
Well at around 20% I skipped to sixty %, and honestly I didn’t miss anything, the story continued along smoothly, until I skipped again, sure the main crimes were solved by all of the clues coming together at the very last minute before confession as everyone else was rounded up. But of course the underlying crime, search for the serial killer brother goes on. Why did I skip so much of the story and feel as if I didn’t miss anything at all? Well the story contains minute details, lots of them, lots and lots of them, so many in fact it bogged the story down, made it very slow paced and rather tedious to read. This was my first book by this authour and I’m glad it was a freebie, I won’t be reading more.oh, it was clean.
Likes: the story and intricate plot. Characters are well crafted, although possibly slightly over the top.
Dislikes: it's set at year end, and it's snow season. Why does everyone wear dress coats ALL the time? I've not seen a top coat, overcoat, or parka, although there are plenty of gloves and scarves! Interestingly, one character managed to die/be killed and then subsequently disappeared rather than going down the more normal route of disappearance followed by their death. (Picky, I know, but it's inaccurate and grates on my mind.)
A GREAT read in this awesome series by Kennedy Layne.
I love that the characters stay true to how they were first introduced to us. Even as life changes and they try to work at accepting changes, the deep roots of who they are, doesn't just blindly follow that path. The pro, the plots in each book in the series are not just entertaining, but thought provoking. I try my hand at detecting as I read, but one of the cons for me in this book, was too many played a part. Worth the read and my likelihood of reading more from this author increases with each book I read.
An apparent confession from a renowned physician in ICU leads Sloan and her team on the hunt for a serial killer. The doctor was badly injured, medicated and politicslly conbected. The nurse who reported it is under attack. But four dead women lend credence to the theory.
This is a clumsy clunky story. It is weighed down by too many characters. The alternating narration is confusing. Short shrift is paid to the victims. Did not like it.
While the main serial killer story is about Brooks’ brother Jacob,
The murders in this story were interesting and had several blind opinions as to the killer’s identity. As more information is revealed about Brook and her team, they’re all way beyond the initial introductions. They are also becoming more of a cohesive team. They care about each other. They are opening up to new relationships.
The storyline is interesting and rather original, but the quality of the writing s like books my friends and I used to write back in the 60’s. It’s juvenile. I don’t need to read the term “dress coat” over and over. Coat says it all. So much detail of what everyone is wearing and unnecessary. Sorry to be critical, but only one person’s opinion. You’re the best selling author, not me.
Love love this series. This mystery needing to be solved had a lot of suspects and a lot of theories. Jacob was not in this one as much although a key point is figured out. Story really delved into the personal relationship of the team with each other. This thing with graham is super slowest of slow burn and I kinda want it to move a little bit faster.
Brook and Graham are great together. Big T and little t just might be making their lives their own. Bit is unique. And Kate, I haven't quite figured out. I hope she stays but she needs a bigger part to play. Jakob. I'm not sure. If he is captured or if he dies, I'm not sure if Brook will survive.
I'm hooked. Each book in the Touch of Evil series leaves me wanting more. While the cold case crime solving mystery's that Brooklyn and her team solve are wonderfully thought out and entertaining, it's the connection between Brooklyn and her serial killer brother that keep me coming back for more.
Mixed reaction to this book. The writing was good, with a few gripes, and the mystery itself was good, but it was slow to get into. My gripes were: I didn't need to know every outfit & color scheme Brook wore, her angst over Christmas gifts was too drawn out, and the in & out bits about her brother were too much. Still, a decent mystery.
Another great murder mystery solved by Brooklyn and her S&E Investigator team. Interesting progress made on both Brooks relationship with Graham and on getting closer to learning what turned her brother into the intelligent serial killer that has alluded all attempts to capture him.
Another excellent addition to this series. Turned out BIT was right. Engaging series love all the characters of S&E Investigations are well developed. My only complaint is having to wait til January for the next installment of this series.
Nice to have the main character develope a softer personality. A little romance is always welcome. The story line moved right along. Keeping the readers interest and questions. The "who done it" character was a surprise. Very enjoyable.
I would really like to encourage the author to hire a competent editor. Fortunately, despite the many grammatical errors, this series is terrific. You really get sucked right into the lives of the characters, and the ending is frequently unexpected but never nonsensical.
Brook is a strong woman and she handles her team beautifully. I liked how the two threads in the book were complimentary to each other. Her search for her brother, Jacob was interesting and I want to know more about the four hours that changed his life.
Well-paced, easy read. Interesting plot that seems to never end - just involves in complexity without becoming too heavy or boring. Characters are well developed and stay interesting right to the end. Leaves you anticipating the continuation of the story.
This was well written but was not a page turner. It didn't leave me itching for more. Whatever happens in Brook's pursuit of Jacob is not worth reading the next book in the series.
The pacing in this story is perfect. It moves along quickly without feeling rushed. Brooklyn and her team are believable and easy to like. The ending seemed logical, not contrived.
I liked the characters and the plot. I usually guessed the killer, but did not. One thing that really annoyed me was that for some reason, the author used the term "dress coats" about 100 times. Not sure why she had to constantly describe someone putting on or taking off their dress coat.
This is incredible ; so real! I have never been so riveted to a series. It comes at crime from different angles! Love the characters, the Plots the tension!!
Love these characters and the writers gift for suspense. Brook has assembled a team with varying strength and takes us along as she pieces together the clues to solve the case.
I like Brooklyn makings friends but I am scared Jacob will come after them. The team had a murder to figure out and it takes a very odd turn. A little more is revealed about Jacob (no spoilers), yoh have to read to find out.