The Perfect Ruse

Jessie Hunt #25

by Blake Pierce

When wealthy housewives are found dead in their own backyards, victims of a serial killer dubbed the “backyard killer,” Jessie must solve the case in the face of tremendous media pressure and a ticking clock. What secrets lie behind these hedges? And what do these victims have in common?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 12, 2023

About the author

Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Reviews

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessie Hunt is concussed, beaten, and broken, but she does not stop, she keeps on hunting the bad guys, and Hannah is following in her steps. This time the killer is aiming at women, in their own houses, strangling them, and not leaving a trace. Hannah has found a case of her own, a girl that everyone believes has been kidnapped and killed, is in fact, leaving home and trying to reach the place where she once was truly happy. The cases are solved as is the relationship between Jessie and Hannah. The ending, however, left me wondering what will be the next story! I thank the author for the ARC.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is awesome.
So many twists and turns!!
Once I start reading I can’t stop!!
Recommend to all

[Camie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Long and drawn out. Nothing that’ll grab your attention around every corner. Nothing that’ll compel you to pick up where you left off.

I found my mind wandering a lot through this (yawn) boring book.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read in the saga of Jessie Hunt LAPD criminal Profiler. This one involves women being killed in their own homes with a security system being played with by being correctly turned on and off during the murder and reactivated as the killer leaves. How does he/she do it is a hard question to answer, but the HSS team figures out the how after a while. The who takes just a bit longer.

Jessies sister Hannah is doing some pi work with Kat Gentry and finds another side case to work on in her off time. A young girl disappears, and Hannah tracks her down and helps her out. She gets the feelings the young girl has and offers her help and makes a difference.

This book has the anxiousness of who else will die before the HSS team can figure it out, will Jessie continue to have the head problems she got from the mine accident? Will Ryan be able to continue to be her boss and husband and keep the roles separate, yet acceptable to Jessie? And will Hannah go too far sometime to get in real trouble in her desire to help people she thinks she can help?

All in all, another great read with several rabbit holes to go down and wonder where they come out, and a nice twist at the end, quite the setup for future issues for certain.

[Jodee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am addicted to jessie Hunt.
If you haven't read any of the Jessie Hunt series I strongly suggest that you do, however you do have to read them in order so that they will make complete sense.

In this story Jessie Hunt is recovering from being concussed, beaten, and broken, but despite all of this she does not stop, she continues to hunt the bad guys. Her sister Hannah seems to be following in her steps. In this story the killer has his sights set on women who are at home alone. He is strangling them without leaving a trace.

While Jessie is trying to find her killer, Hannah finds her own case. In Hanna's case a girl, whom everyone believes has been kidnapped and killed, has actually decided to just leave home and go the place where she was last completely happy.

While solving each case Jessie and Hannah are also able to mend a piece of their relationship.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I feel like the story has dragged on and on with Jessie. It sounds like she has plenty of money and that she has enough to donate to families of fallen police officers, but I think it's time for her to have a safer job and maybe have kids? Her family is now at risk. Hannah, Kat, and Ryan are in danger because of Andy's plan, which is working even from the grave. And then the psycho guy who wants revenge because he couldn't get to be in Jessie's class? I don't know. It is good that Jessie is protecting women, saving lives, and fighting crimes, but enough is enough. We shall see what book 26 brings.

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You think it's over, but it's not."

Oh My God!

The hits just keep coming at Jessie! Literally AND figuratively!

AND (ironically) I read most of this on Friday, June 14th, 2024, which is NOT ONLY Flag Day in the USA but ALSO National Movie Day, so, YAY! POPCORN! 😂🤣😂 🍿

Been craving it through most of the book. 😉 😋

I can't believe how quickly I'm going through this series! I only have a few more to go before I will have to wait for the rest of the series to be released!

😬🥴🥺

But, you know me and being patient and waiting! (I don't have time for that!) 😉

Onto Book #26

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good addition to the series. I enjoy seeing Hannah come into her own and discover her strengths. Jesse is learning to lean into others and begrudgingly let’s others take the lead. Operation Z is still looming in the background. I enjoy each of these cases and the quick, concise way they are solved.

[Sheyanne Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This followed the same suit as the other Jessie Hunt Books- The major thing I didn't like was a lot of each book is spent re-hashing the previous books. I thought it was medium paced. Classic crime fiction.

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

[Toni H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wealthy housewives are being strangled in their homes and Jessie Hunt is assigned to the case. Since the women are wealthy and it’s all over the media, there is pressure to solve the case rather quickly. Jessie is still suffering the aftermath of her recent kidnapping but she rises to the task and gives her all to find the killer. At the same time her sister has been interning as a private investigator and gets involved in her own case.

[Carmen O · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am ready for book 26!!!!

[Numps · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was the Jessie Hunt series written by ChatGPT?

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated PG15 violence

[Amy Temple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great protagonist and great series overall!!!!!!!!

[Jenny Boutin Farbotko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beaucoup de longueur & trop de rappelle des anciens romans, mais je tiens à ses personnages, ainsi je continue haha.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a plot twist

Blake Pierce is always setting you up to be on the edge of your seat!!! Each book gets better and better. Should be a tv series or movie.

[Brenna Albritton · Rating 2 out of 5]

🎧🎧

[Samantha Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[Castle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continued progress with Jessie Hunt....

[Debbie Joyner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie is finally healing & able to work again. While she's busy on her next case, Hannah finds a case to solve on her own. This series is always good! Hopefully Hannah will have her own series before long. Thanks Blake Pierce for this great series!

[Cathy Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever read any of Blake Pierce's Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller you know that you are in for another awesome read. If you have never read a Jessie Hunt book you should get one of these books and start reading, I suggest you start at book one, it got me hooked on this series and now I am 26 books into this series. I don't know why I didn't review this one once I was finished but you better know that something else must have been going on. I probably was reading late at night.
In this story Jessie Hunt is recovering from being concussed, beaten, and broken, but despite all of this she does not stop, she continues to hunt the bad guys. Her sister Hannah seems to be following in her steps. In this story the killer has his sights set on women who are at home alone. He is strangling them without leaving a trace. Now that she is back her husband Ryan is her boss and their Captain is over them. This book makes for good reading, and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.