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Laurel Snow #3
You Can Die
Set against the atmospheric snowy backdrop of rural Pacific Northwest, New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti's thrilling suspense series follows FBI Special Agent Laurel Snow as she strives to navigate her complicated family life when the father Laurel never knew turns up dead as the latest victim in a series of murders targeting men in the area. But solving his murder and the rest of the killings might be harder than she antcipates if her sociopathic half-sister has any say in the matter. The Blacklist meets The Profiler meets Justified in this fast, page-turning thriller that will have readers guessing until the very end!
It's an especially deadly winter in the Pacific Northwest, as rising star FBI profiler Laurel Snow hunts down a serial killer with a chillingly bitter M.O., in New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti's edgy thriller . . .
Men are dying in the Pacific Northwest, their bodies found near churches, charities, and counseling centers--each with valentine candy hearts shoved down their throats. They're good men with families and community ties--or so they seem until Laurel Snow and her team begin to investigate. Then the case takes a shockingly personal turn when the father she's never met, a former pastor, turns up among the dead.
Now, besides solving her father's murder, Laurel is on the hunt to discover the truth of his past. Complicating things is Laurel's troubled half-sister, Abigail, a brilliant sociopath determined to prove that they've both inherited their father's malignant narcissism.
Assisting Laurel is Washington Fish and Wildlife Captain Huck Rivers, a dangerous loner whose reliance on gut instinct puts him at odds with Laurel's coolly analytic approach. But the choice may be moot when the killer hones in on Huck's own dark secrets--putting him and Laurel squarely in the crosshairs.
It's an especially deadly winter in the Pacific Northwest, as rising star FBI profiler Laurel Snow hunts down a serial killer with a chillingly bitter M.O., in New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti's edgy thriller . . .
Men are dying in the Pacific Northwest, their bodies found near churches, charities, and counseling centers--each with valentine candy hearts shoved down their throats. They're good men with families and community ties--or so they seem until Laurel Snow and her team begin to investigate. Then the case takes a shockingly personal turn when the father she's never met, a former pastor, turns up among the dead.
Now, besides solving her father's murder, Laurel is on the hunt to discover the truth of his past. Complicating things is Laurel's troubled half-sister, Abigail, a brilliant sociopath determined to prove that they've both inherited their father's malignant narcissism.
Assisting Laurel is Washington Fish and Wildlife Captain Huck Rivers, a dangerous loner whose reliance on gut instinct puts him at odds with Laurel's coolly analytic approach. But the choice may be moot when the killer hones in on Huck's own dark secrets--putting him and Laurel squarely in the crosshairs.
354 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 25, 2023
308 people are currently reading
3451 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Zanetti
119 books10.1k followersNew York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has published more than seventy novels and novellas, which have been translated into several languages, with millions of copies sold world-wide. Her books have received Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus starred reviews, favorable Washington Post and New York Times Book Reviews, and been included in Amazon best books of the year.
Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body…all in the name of research. Honest.
Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body…all in the name of research. Honest.
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July 13, 2023
Men are dying near churches with valentine candy hearts shoved in their mouths and multiple stab wounds. This crime thriller with a bit of romance features FBI Special Agent Laurel Snow in the third book in the series. The victims appear to be family men with community ties. Is there a link between them or are they randomly picked? Laurel’s brilliant half-sister, Dr. Abigail Caine, continues to play a large role in this story. She plays mind games with others in the story, including Laurel. Washington Fish and Wildlife Captain Huck Rivers and his team assist Laurel and her team. This seems to be a case of opposites attract.
The characterization is excellent. As the protagonist, Laurel is reasonably strong, honest, and brilliant, but she also has some vulnerabilities. She has an eidetic memory and started college when she was 11. With multiple degrees, she has been successful in her career, but sometimes misses underlying signals from others in social situations. She has dedicated herself to taking criminals off the street. Captain Huck Rivers is something of a loner, is charming and nice, but has trust issues. He likes rules and routines and likes to be in control of situations. Their attraction to each other is only a small part of the story. Abigail is intelligent and a manipulator. The other characters had depth; especially the members of Laurel’s team and Ena, a fish and wildlife officer.
Most of the story is from Laurel’s point of view and is set in and around Genesis Valley, Washington. From her unusual background, to her atypical reflections as she tries to figure out what game the killer is playing with them, to her relentless pursuit of justice for the victims, readers will root for her success.
The well-written story has a clever and deeply involved plot with enough twists and red herrings to keep a reader guessing. The pacing and dialogue are great. As they evolved, the plot facts were intriguing and occasionally unexpected. The suspense builds steadily throughout the story. The physical world-building was vivid and I could feel the cold, sleet, and snow pelting the characters. I wanted a little more closure of one of the threads weaved into the story. However, that may be resolved in the next book. Other themes in the story include friendship, family, romance, desire to learn, and much more.
Overall, this was a riveting story with intense scenes as well as compelling and complex characters that kept me fully engaged. It’s skillfully written and will appeal to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers and police procedurals involving serial killers. The intricacy of the plot plus attention to detail in the world-building made this a definite winner for me. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Kensington Books - Zebra and Rebecca Zanetti provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for July 25 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.38 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
The characterization is excellent. As the protagonist, Laurel is reasonably strong, honest, and brilliant, but she also has some vulnerabilities. She has an eidetic memory and started college when she was 11. With multiple degrees, she has been successful in her career, but sometimes misses underlying signals from others in social situations. She has dedicated herself to taking criminals off the street. Captain Huck Rivers is something of a loner, is charming and nice, but has trust issues. He likes rules and routines and likes to be in control of situations. Their attraction to each other is only a small part of the story. Abigail is intelligent and a manipulator. The other characters had depth; especially the members of Laurel’s team and Ena, a fish and wildlife officer.
Most of the story is from Laurel’s point of view and is set in and around Genesis Valley, Washington. From her unusual background, to her atypical reflections as she tries to figure out what game the killer is playing with them, to her relentless pursuit of justice for the victims, readers will root for her success.
The well-written story has a clever and deeply involved plot with enough twists and red herrings to keep a reader guessing. The pacing and dialogue are great. As they evolved, the plot facts were intriguing and occasionally unexpected. The suspense builds steadily throughout the story. The physical world-building was vivid and I could feel the cold, sleet, and snow pelting the characters. I wanted a little more closure of one of the threads weaved into the story. However, that may be resolved in the next book. Other themes in the story include friendship, family, romance, desire to learn, and much more.
Overall, this was a riveting story with intense scenes as well as compelling and complex characters that kept me fully engaged. It’s skillfully written and will appeal to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers and police procedurals involving serial killers. The intricacy of the plot plus attention to detail in the world-building made this a definite winner for me. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Kensington Books - Zebra and Rebecca Zanetti provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for July 25 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.38 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
September 10, 2023
Laurel has an eidetic memory. She went to college at the age of eleven, and works for the FBI hunting down killers.
Murder mystery/thriller
Side romance
Male victims
Excellent side characters
I am so happy I continued reading this series, I enjoyed this one MUCH more than the last. It’s so refreshing to read a FMC that is intelligent, conscientious, has a soft side, and also kicks ass.
Huck is the perfect partner, work and otherwise. He’s the type of big, burly hero, who wants to protect everyone. He treats Laura as a respected colleague when working in the field, and rocks her body when they can find time between solving murders.
I LOVED the foreshadowing throughout and the surprising ending. Can’t wait to read the next!
Murder mystery/thriller
Side romance
Male victims
Excellent side characters
I am so happy I continued reading this series, I enjoyed this one MUCH more than the last. It’s so refreshing to read a FMC that is intelligent, conscientious, has a soft side, and also kicks ass.
Huck is the perfect partner, work and otherwise. He’s the type of big, burly hero, who wants to protect everyone. He treats Laura as a respected colleague when working in the field, and rocks her body when they can find time between solving murders.
I LOVED the foreshadowing throughout and the surprising ending. Can’t wait to read the next!
July 24, 2023
You Can acid by Rebecca Zanetti
3rd book in the Laurel Snow series. Thriller mystery. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series, in order.
A dead man is found in a tent stabbed dozens of times and Valentine’s Day candy hearts stuffed in his mouth. Laurel Snow is called into the case and finds out the victim is her assistant’s ex husband. Laurel and the local police as well as members of the Washington Fish and Wildlife track down and interview family, friends and coworkers. A second victim is found and the investigation continues as snow continues in the mountain town. Laurel is sure that her half sister Abigail is somehow involved but proving it will pit them against each other. And you don’t want to be on Abigail’s enemy list.
Gripping and electric. Having an instinct about something and proving it are two different things. Lauren is meticulously careful but family can be unpredictable.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher. I also purchased copies to share and keep.
3rd book in the Laurel Snow series. Thriller mystery. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series, in order.
A dead man is found in a tent stabbed dozens of times and Valentine’s Day candy hearts stuffed in his mouth. Laurel Snow is called into the case and finds out the victim is her assistant’s ex husband. Laurel and the local police as well as members of the Washington Fish and Wildlife track down and interview family, friends and coworkers. A second victim is found and the investigation continues as snow continues in the mountain town. Laurel is sure that her half sister Abigail is somehow involved but proving it will pit them against each other. And you don’t want to be on Abigail’s enemy list.
Gripping and electric. Having an instinct about something and proving it are two different things. Lauren is meticulously careful but family can be unpredictable.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher. I also purchased copies to share and keep.
October 1, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 You Can Die is the third installment in the Laurel Snow series and I was waiting with bated breath for my ARC. There is a killer on the lose (yep, again) and this time the victims are all men who have a connection to a law firm, that also happens to be tied to Laurel in a personal and professional way (talk about a tangled web). The men are found with a large amount of stab wounds and Valentine’s Day candy shoved down their throat. Laurel, short handed now that she has officially started the PNW unit, will lean on Huck and his team for help as she has to solve this case, manage her half-sister, and deal with the serial killer from the second book. At the same time Huck and Laurel have an unexpected surprise that propels their relationship forward.
This had a ton of twists and turns in the mystery and also in Laurel's life. I felt the ending was rushed when we figured out who the killer was and I’m still hazy on his motivation (maybe it’s because a certain Dr. was experimenting with him too). I was hoping that this book would wrap up the series but instead we added another character who will continue in the next book. Maybe because of that, I wasn’t as captivated by this installment as the others (5 star ratings). I’m waiting for Abigail to get what’s due to her, now have to figure out her father and his role, and then there’s an addition to the family that I’m surprised was introduced.
Super grateful for Zebra granting me the arc in exchange for my honest review. While this one didn’t knock it out of the park for me, I can’t wait for the next one in the series!
This had a ton of twists and turns in the mystery and also in Laurel's life. I felt the ending was rushed when we figured out who the killer was and I’m still hazy on his motivation (maybe it’s because a certain Dr. was experimenting with him too). I was hoping that this book would wrap up the series but instead we added another character who will continue in the next book. Maybe because of that, I wasn’t as captivated by this installment as the others (5 star ratings). I’m waiting for Abigail to get what’s due to her, now have to figure out her father and his role, and then there’s an addition to the family that I’m surprised was introduced.
Super grateful for Zebra granting me the arc in exchange for my honest review. While this one didn’t knock it out of the park for me, I can’t wait for the next one in the series!
January 20, 2024
The third book featuring Laurel Snow, the neurodivergent FBI agent, wraps things up nicely. Well, not everything, as Laurel's narcissistic biological father and half sister are both still at large and far too interested in our intrepid Special Agent.
Laurel has managed to get an official branch office in Genesis Valley, which means that she has moved home. As is usual in mystery literature, this small community seems to be a vortex for violent murder. Laurel finds herself assembling a team and is even able to count them as friends. It's an unusual feeling for her and she is studying their emotions as she tries to get better at reading people. Her love interest Huck Rivers, has figured out that he has to speak literally to her and spell things out, so their relationship seems to be working.
On one hand, by book's end, the biggest issues have been resolved. The murderer has been apprehended and all of the team are safe and sound. Laurel and Huck are solid. But I am wondering if there will be more books in the series. Abigail is still fixated on her half-sister and Zeke has slipped out of the hospital, leaving a vaguely threatening note. Those two aspects lead me to believe that there is more to come. If there is, I hope my library orders it!
Laurel has managed to get an official branch office in Genesis Valley, which means that she has moved home. As is usual in mystery literature, this small community seems to be a vortex for violent murder. Laurel finds herself assembling a team and is even able to count them as friends. It's an unusual feeling for her and she is studying their emotions as she tries to get better at reading people. Her love interest Huck Rivers, has figured out that he has to speak literally to her and spell things out, so their relationship seems to be working.
On one hand, by book's end, the biggest issues have been resolved. The murderer has been apprehended and all of the team are safe and sound. Laurel and Huck are solid. But I am wondering if there will be more books in the series. Abigail is still fixated on her half-sister and Zeke has slipped out of the hospital, leaving a vaguely threatening note. Those two aspects lead me to believe that there is more to come. If there is, I hope my library orders it!
July 26, 2023
Rebecca Zanetti is a very talented multi-faceted author. She has successfully written Paranormal Romantic-Suspense, Cowboy Romantic-Suspense, FBI Romantic-Suspense, just plain Romance and other sub genres. The Laurel Snow Series is a dark Romantic-Suspense with unique characters and a baddie that isn't reveled till the end. My favorite kind. I loved the romance between Huck and Lauren and how he gets her, when her brainiac would turn off most men, Huck just gets her. I don't know where this series is going, but I'm definitely along for the ride.
The Broken Hearts Killer is murdering men in the Seattle area, most with connections to a certain law firm and a defunct summer camp. The signature killer uses are stabbing the victim multiple times then leaving them in a purple tent neat a church with their mouths stuffed with Valentine's Day hard candy.
FBI Special Agent Laurel Snow has this difficult case to solve in addition to dealing with her half-sister, Abigail Crane, who Laurel is certain is a sociopath and her deepening attraction to hunky Washington Fish and Wildlife Captain Huck Rivers. When her father, Zeke Crane, turns up after a five-year absence, he throws a spammer in the case by being attacked in the same manner. Laurel is fighting against time and a serial killer on a mission and needs all the help she can get, and Huck Rivers is more than willing to help and protect the woman he has come to care a great deal for.
My thanks the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
The Broken Hearts Killer is murdering men in the Seattle area, most with connections to a certain law firm and a defunct summer camp. The signature killer uses are stabbing the victim multiple times then leaving them in a purple tent neat a church with their mouths stuffed with Valentine's Day hard candy.
FBI Special Agent Laurel Snow has this difficult case to solve in addition to dealing with her half-sister, Abigail Crane, who Laurel is certain is a sociopath and her deepening attraction to hunky Washington Fish and Wildlife Captain Huck Rivers. When her father, Zeke Crane, turns up after a five-year absence, he throws a spammer in the case by being attacked in the same manner. Laurel is fighting against time and a serial killer on a mission and needs all the help she can get, and Huck Rivers is more than willing to help and protect the woman he has come to care a great deal for.
My thanks the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
August 3, 2023
This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, romantic suspense thriller. It has a brilliant, strong and capable, female protagonist, a likable, caring and protective male protagonist, murder, mystery, intrigue, romance, family tension, twists and turns, and a surprise ending. This is the third novel in Ms. Zanetti's outstanding Laurel Snow series, and can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone, but is much better when read in order. I am looking forward to reading the next entry in this series with great anticipation.
August 16, 2023
You Can Die continues the growing relationship between Laurel and Huck as they both try to learn how to navigate their high stress jobs and very different personalities. Laurel's half sister and father (Abigail and Zeke Caine) both play significant parts in this book as well. Laurel wants to see them both in prison and gone from her life forever. Each has a number of excessively evil and insidious misdeeds under their belts.
Meanwhile, Laurel feels added responsibility after being appointed lead FBI agent over her own team for the first time. Recently, there has been a string of similar murders and linking clues together has proven more daunting and dangerous than ever. Laurel needs more help and her small team of trusted agents are never out of harms way. One thing Laurel knows for certain, she is on the hunt for yet another depraved serial killer. Now, she just has to figure out if they are friend or foe...
The ending left me hanging so I am hopeful a release date for book four will not be too far in the future. As always, I am looking forward to finding out what Ms. Zanetti has planned next for Laurel, Huck and company.
Meanwhile, Laurel feels added responsibility after being appointed lead FBI agent over her own team for the first time. Recently, there has been a string of similar murders and linking clues together has proven more daunting and dangerous than ever. Laurel needs more help and her small team of trusted agents are never out of harms way. One thing Laurel knows for certain, she is on the hunt for yet another depraved serial killer. Now, she just has to figure out if they are friend or foe...
The ending left me hanging so I am hopeful a release date for book four will not be too far in the future. As always, I am looking forward to finding out what Ms. Zanetti has planned next for Laurel, Huck and company.
July 22, 2023
I absolutely love this series! Laurel is a unique heroine. Her mind retains information beyond the norm. This makes for a very good agent and a great read.
Huck really shined as he fully steps in as the alpha type hero I love. He was protective without running roughshod over Laurel. Not that she would ever let him. I adore the way he is keyed into her idiosyncrasies and understands how to communicate with her. Together they make a fascinating couple.
This had so many twists. I was fiercely trying to figure out who the killer was and I loved that it kept me guessing. Laurel's suspicions of Abigail grows as does my own and it just feels like things are getting close to some type of showdown between them. Abigail definitely has me skeeved out.
This can be read as a standalone.
Dual POV
Safety
Triggers
Steam
Huck really shined as he fully steps in as the alpha type hero I love. He was protective without running roughshod over Laurel. Not that she would ever let him. I adore the way he is keyed into her idiosyncrasies and understands how to communicate with her. Together they make a fascinating couple.
This had so many twists. I was fiercely trying to figure out who the killer was and I loved that it kept me guessing. Laurel's suspicions of Abigail grows as does my own and it just feels like things are getting close to some type of showdown between them. Abigail definitely has me skeeved out.
This can be read as a standalone.
Dual POV
Safety
Triggers
Steam
June 28, 2023
thank you netgalley for the arc !
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 2.5/5 stars *ੈ✩‧₊˚
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ here's the thing, rebecca zanetti is an eminently well-versed writer and she delivers consistently. her literary sentences are fluent, clean and balance that tightrope over purple prose and juvenile sentences bereft of any sophistication. she's churned out a seriously substantive repertoire for herself and it shows; there's an immutable self-assured tenor woven throughout you can die which i appreciated immensely. after reading the forebears of this selfsame book, i'm more confident than ever of this assessment.
the laurel snow series still retains its easily digestible and fun status in my eyes in its third instalment but at a price. around a quarter of the way into this book it became apparent to me that the series has developed a recipe and for a mystery series? this is a mortal wound. we seem to have arrived at an unfortunate point wherein the plot has cultivated a predictable contour and the plot twists (as well as any minor complications) are all but forecasted quite early on. i'm unable to provide empirical evidence for this observation of mine without running the risk of spoiling for any future readers so i'll have to abstain for now. all i can really say to this end is that perhaps the laurel snow series is on the verge of wearing out its material and should be put to pasture (not that i haven't thoroughly enjoyed it but sometimes there is an end in sight). another issue i have to take up with this book is over convincing character motivations in particular the final one revealed which frankly made zero sense and was perilously half-baked.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ oh laurel, you remain the apple of my eye irrespective of any complaints i lodge. laurel is unfailingly, unflinchingly consistent as a character, with loveable idiosyncrasies at times inextricable from her genius iq and inability to read a room (despite her adroitness at profiling). she is a walking oxymoron and we love her for it! so charmingly uncharming and wanting in social skills she'll still insist on stubbornly endearing herself to you. she makes for a seriously singular main character in a romantic suspense novel and she consistently pulls her weight. the degree to which her forthrightness manifests is sometimes uncomfortable to witness but always laudable. i always hold a candle for a female lead with conviction in her own strengths and weaknesses. laurel knows exactly who she is and won't rise to any animosity, facing it instead with a detached intellect which fascinates and enthrals. if you called her a pejorative she'd take a moment to consider any data pointing in the affirmative or negative - what more could one want from a main character? her blindness to insults affords great comedic timing too which zanetti ruthlessly and humorously exploits
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ in the first book, i was decidedly undecided re: huck. he was kind of a douche and a bit of a blackguard. by you can hide, he had grown on me like a barnacle; we were getting there but he was not without his slap-worthy moments. my man has foot in mouth syndrome, someone check him for athlete's foot. finally, he redeemed himself in you can die and proved to be emotionally available. which is all wonderful as my patience was wearing thin. his protective urges and gruff yet gentle disposition conjure ultra teddy-bear comparisons. the manner in which he goes out of his way to take care of laurel is so so sweet without cosseting her or stifling her in her inherently dangerous capacity as an fbi agent. their dynamic comes off so naturally and really rings of genuine real life relationships. it's refreshing and a realistic take on two very strong personalities who bear shortcomings which when placed side by side, in effect, seamlessly meld themselves together.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ conclusion:
a predictable instalment with a questionable wrap-up to the mystery portion of the book - yet still a throughly diverting and well-written read.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 2.5/5 stars *ੈ✩‧₊˚
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ here's the thing, rebecca zanetti is an eminently well-versed writer and she delivers consistently. her literary sentences are fluent, clean and balance that tightrope over purple prose and juvenile sentences bereft of any sophistication. she's churned out a seriously substantive repertoire for herself and it shows; there's an immutable self-assured tenor woven throughout you can die which i appreciated immensely. after reading the forebears of this selfsame book, i'm more confident than ever of this assessment.
the laurel snow series still retains its easily digestible and fun status in my eyes in its third instalment but at a price. around a quarter of the way into this book it became apparent to me that the series has developed a recipe and for a mystery series? this is a mortal wound. we seem to have arrived at an unfortunate point wherein the plot has cultivated a predictable contour and the plot twists (as well as any minor complications) are all but forecasted quite early on. i'm unable to provide empirical evidence for this observation of mine without running the risk of spoiling for any future readers so i'll have to abstain for now. all i can really say to this end is that perhaps the laurel snow series is on the verge of wearing out its material and should be put to pasture (not that i haven't thoroughly enjoyed it but sometimes there is an end in sight). another issue i have to take up with this book is over convincing character motivations in particular the final one revealed which frankly made zero sense and was perilously half-baked.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ oh laurel, you remain the apple of my eye irrespective of any complaints i lodge. laurel is unfailingly, unflinchingly consistent as a character, with loveable idiosyncrasies at times inextricable from her genius iq and inability to read a room (despite her adroitness at profiling). she is a walking oxymoron and we love her for it! so charmingly uncharming and wanting in social skills she'll still insist on stubbornly endearing herself to you. she makes for a seriously singular main character in a romantic suspense novel and she consistently pulls her weight. the degree to which her forthrightness manifests is sometimes uncomfortable to witness but always laudable. i always hold a candle for a female lead with conviction in her own strengths and weaknesses. laurel knows exactly who she is and won't rise to any animosity, facing it instead with a detached intellect which fascinates and enthrals. if you called her a pejorative she'd take a moment to consider any data pointing in the affirmative or negative - what more could one want from a main character? her blindness to insults affords great comedic timing too which zanetti ruthlessly and humorously exploits
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ in the first book, i was decidedly undecided re: huck. he was kind of a douche and a bit of a blackguard. by you can hide, he had grown on me like a barnacle; we were getting there but he was not without his slap-worthy moments. my man has foot in mouth syndrome, someone check him for athlete's foot. finally, he redeemed himself in you can die and proved to be emotionally available. which is all wonderful as my patience was wearing thin. his protective urges and gruff yet gentle disposition conjure ultra teddy-bear comparisons. the manner in which he goes out of his way to take care of laurel is so so sweet without cosseting her or stifling her in her inherently dangerous capacity as an fbi agent. their dynamic comes off so naturally and really rings of genuine real life relationships. it's refreshing and a realistic take on two very strong personalities who bear shortcomings which when placed side by side, in effect, seamlessly meld themselves together.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ conclusion:
a predictable instalment with a questionable wrap-up to the mystery portion of the book - yet still a throughly diverting and well-written read.
July 20, 2023
This is the third book in the outstanding Laurel Snow series by Rebecca Zanetti. Collectively they have a Goodreads rating of about 4.2. Snow is a genius who graduated from college at about 16 with ALL the degrees. (We need to fact check that. lol. I needed to take notes but she definitely graduated earlier then my six years) She is now a FBI agent and along with her boyfriend: Fish and Wildlife Captain Huck Rivers (not a astronaut like the name suggests) get knee deep in another FBI procedural.
I'll just throw you the quick deets on this one because this series is must read material so it doesn't really matter. We have a serial killer just like the other books and this one brutally stabs prominent men about 50 times and then sticks candy hearts up their throat. So mean!
This one is also outstanding because she also goes head to toe with her sister: Abigail who is just as smart as Laurel is. Laurel is determined to bring her sister down for murder but she is having a hard time because she is so so smart and covers all her tracks. The best part of this book is the back and forth confrontation between those two. There is a great quote in the book (Again I need to take notes) where Abigail tells Laurel that even if she is a killer that she will never get caught. She is just too smart.
I already mentioned that I love this series but it's not my favorite of the three. The other two do a great job illustrating how socially awkward Laurel is but this one doesn't really go there. She appears almost..... normal. That's not how I like Laurel Snow. I also didn't really like the ending. I can't spoil but in my opinion it didn't portray Laurel as a strong woman. I would have changed it some but that's just me. And the ending also isn't a result of any good FBI procedural..... After everything that happens it is just luck that we get the big reveal.
Positives: Book checks all the marks: Not too long, short chapters, and even just goes from A-B to the ending. No split timelines or fancy foreshadowing. Just a entertaining, straight forward book.
Just a great FBI series which I'm glad I fell into. Not the best one of the three but still better then most out there in my opinion. Highly recommended! We just need to get Rececca Zanetti to stop writing romance books and concentrate on FBI procedurals.
I really appreciate Kensington Books, Zebra for giving me a advance reader copy to read for free for a honest review and it has a publication date of July 25, 2023.
I'll just throw you the quick deets on this one because this series is must read material so it doesn't really matter. We have a serial killer just like the other books and this one brutally stabs prominent men about 50 times and then sticks candy hearts up their throat. So mean!
This one is also outstanding because she also goes head to toe with her sister: Abigail who is just as smart as Laurel is. Laurel is determined to bring her sister down for murder but she is having a hard time because she is so so smart and covers all her tracks. The best part of this book is the back and forth confrontation between those two. There is a great quote in the book (Again I need to take notes) where Abigail tells Laurel that even if she is a killer that she will never get caught. She is just too smart.
I already mentioned that I love this series but it's not my favorite of the three. The other two do a great job illustrating how socially awkward Laurel is but this one doesn't really go there. She appears almost..... normal. That's not how I like Laurel Snow. I also didn't really like the ending. I can't spoil but in my opinion it didn't portray Laurel as a strong woman. I would have changed it some but that's just me. And the ending also isn't a result of any good FBI procedural..... After everything that happens it is just luck that we get the big reveal.
Positives: Book checks all the marks: Not too long, short chapters, and even just goes from A-B to the ending. No split timelines or fancy foreshadowing. Just a entertaining, straight forward book.
Just a great FBI series which I'm glad I fell into. Not the best one of the three but still better then most out there in my opinion. Highly recommended! We just need to get Rececca Zanetti to stop writing romance books and concentrate on FBI procedurals.
I really appreciate Kensington Books, Zebra for giving me a advance reader copy to read for free for a honest review and it has a publication date of July 25, 2023.
July 25, 2023
Loved every minute of this book! Laurel is such a one-of-a-kind heroine. She's brilliant and socially awkward but handles extreme moments in the best ways.
Her sister is psychotic! It took a bit to figure out if she was going to be good or evil and I think we can finally say we know now.
Huck's character has really grown as well. He was hard to read in the beginning. You could tell Laurel intrigued him but he was firmly planted in a loner lifestyle. We finally get to see him allow himself to care.
The cases in these books are fascinating to follow. You get a new serial killer with each book, and gets solved by the end of the book, however, it feels like we start off where we left off as well. For that reason, I would highly suggest reading this series in order.
This series is turning into a favorite of mine and I can not wait for more. Especially after finding out the little bit of news towards the end of this book.
Her sister is psychotic! It took a bit to figure out if she was going to be good or evil and I think we can finally say we know now.
Huck's character has really grown as well. He was hard to read in the beginning. You could tell Laurel intrigued him but he was firmly planted in a loner lifestyle. We finally get to see him allow himself to care.
The cases in these books are fascinating to follow. You get a new serial killer with each book, and gets solved by the end of the book, however, it feels like we start off where we left off as well. For that reason, I would highly suggest reading this series in order.
This series is turning into a favorite of mine and I can not wait for more. Especially after finding out the little bit of news towards the end of this book.
July 21, 2023
BOOK: You Can Die
SERIES: Laurel Snow #3
GENRE: thriller
TROPES & THEMES: serial killer, mystery-solving, psychological thriller, romance side plot, small town, badass heroine, twists and turns, ongoing side plot from previous books
CLIFFHANGER: no
HOTTIE METER: 🔥🔥🔥
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
RELEASE DATE: July 25th, 2023
Even though this is the third book, if you like, you can read it as standalone. But I would suggest you read the entire series because there is ongoing side plot with Laurel's sister and a growing romance that is happening. While the mystery part is interesting, my favorite thing about this series are the characters.
I would recommend this book to all the fans of the genre and this author's writing.
* I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley.
SERIES: Laurel Snow #3
GENRE: thriller
TROPES & THEMES: serial killer, mystery-solving, psychological thriller, romance side plot, small town, badass heroine, twists and turns, ongoing side plot from previous books
CLIFFHANGER: no
HOTTIE METER: 🔥🔥🔥
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
RELEASE DATE: July 25th, 2023
Even though this is the third book, if you like, you can read it as standalone. But I would suggest you read the entire series because there is ongoing side plot with Laurel's sister and a growing romance that is happening. While the mystery part is interesting, my favorite thing about this series are the characters.
I would recommend this book to all the fans of the genre and this author's writing.
* I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley.
July 27, 2023
The gripping suspense and beautiful romance between Laurel and Huck had me well and truly hooked. I couldn’t put it down.
I have loved Laurel and Huck throughout this entire series so far. They are good for each other. Huck is reintegrating into society and coming back to life because of Laurel. Laurel’s relationship with Huck is encouraging her to improve her skills in reading people and interacting with them. His quiet strength and acceptance of all her quirks are exactly what Laurel needs to thrive. They are so strong together, despite some misgivings that Laurel might have. Strong enough to withstand Abigail’s insidious meddling.
Abigail is terrifying. She manages to be subtle and obvious all at the same time. Laurel knows Abigail is guilty, but she just can’t find the proof she needs.
The plot takes us on a thrilling ride and keeps us guessing as to the identity of the killer until the end. Laurel’s logical reasoning and excellent investigative skills, along with Huck’s support and her loyal team, unravel the mystery one nail-biting step at a time. And through the dangers of the investigation, Laurel has to navigate Abigail-infested waters, other family drama, and her own insecurities.
I can highly recommend this series if you like romantic suspense. I think it’s best to read these books in order. That way you will get to know Laurel and Huck better.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 5, 2023
I loved being back in this world with Laurel who is slowly starting to unbend and understand there's more to life than books and learning. Don't get me wrong she does feel love for her family but struggles to fully appreciate sometimes what is patently obvious to most. When a body is discovered its just the first and yet again this small community is gripped by fear as a serial killer walks amongst them. Laurel knows her half sister is never just an innocent bystander but can she really be connected to these horrific killings ?
This series is so well written that it's a joy to sit down and drop into this landscape of both beauty and murder. I particularly liked that the supporting characters around Lauren are becoming more fleshed out with each book. Yes its bonkers that so many killers operate in the same area but each book is written with panache and a depth that simply draws the reader in.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
This series is so well written that it's a joy to sit down and drop into this landscape of both beauty and murder. I particularly liked that the supporting characters around Lauren are becoming more fleshed out with each book. Yes its bonkers that so many killers operate in the same area but each book is written with panache and a depth that simply draws the reader in.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
May 19, 2023
3.5 stars
Woohoo! I did it!
In this latest addition to the Laurel Snow series, we got an interesting development in the romantic department.
Anyway, to the meat of the story. I have to say that the first half, was a little boring for me. I would say this one is pretty much a continuation of the last book (which if you can, I recommend reading these two books in tandem since we have a lot of reoccurring characters from the previous book). Sure, we have another serial killer on the loose, this time, victims bludgeoned to death and surrounded with Valentine's candies. This part is probably the slow part for me. Especially since it kinda using the same pacing (?), and plot (?) as the second book (except this one was more focused on male victims).
Then, the second half started with the introduction of Zeke Caine a.k.a. the absent abusive father of Laurel Snow. From then on, with the addition of that *twist*, grabbed my attention immediately. Only then, I started to connect the dots together and began to pay attention to what was happening. What I can say about this part, I wished the father character was introduced sooner in the book. We barely got any scenes with him and then, he was attacked. But then again, I guess this mystery would continue into the next book.
All in all, I think this series is starting to shape itself up and I'm excited to see how things will go from now on.
I have received an ARC of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
Woohoo! I did it!
In this latest addition to the Laurel Snow series, we got an interesting development in the romantic department.
Anyway, to the meat of the story. I have to say that the first half, was a little boring for me. I would say this one is pretty much a continuation of the last book (which if you can, I recommend reading these two books in tandem since we have a lot of reoccurring characters from the previous book). Sure, we have another serial killer on the loose, this time, victims bludgeoned to death and surrounded with Valentine's candies. This part is probably the slow part for me. Especially since it kinda using the same pacing (?), and plot (?) as the second book (except this one was more focused on male victims).
Then, the second half started with the introduction of Zeke Caine a.k.a. the absent abusive father of Laurel Snow. From then on, with the addition of that *twist*, grabbed my attention immediately. Only then, I started to connect the dots together and began to pay attention to what was happening. What I can say about this part, I wished the father character was introduced sooner in the book. We barely got any scenes with him and then, he was attacked. But then again, I guess this mystery would continue into the next book.
All in all, I think this series is starting to shape itself up and I'm excited to see how things will go from now on.
I have received an ARC of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
July 29, 2023
TPAM BR 7/25/23
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
No Longer Sure
3.5 Stars
When this series started I was super excited to read it.
The 1st one was really good for action and suspense but lacked in the bedroom department. I want good adult steam in my reads and normally Rebecca Zanetti delivers in that area with well rounded action etc.
The 2nd one was also well written but once again virtually no steam. It also had areas that dragged a bit but all in all, I was good with what I read.
This one, quite frankly, was a disappointment in many places.
Any intimacy between Huck and Laurel was extremely mild and almost non-existent. I had hoped that would improve as the series continued. But it doesn't.
Add to that how this one ended. How the case was solved and a few other elements that disappointed me and I'm now unsure if I want to continue with this series.
I love various characters. Huck, Laurel, Kate, Walter & others. But I need certain things in my reads to keep me thoroughly invested. One of those is a REALLY good intimate scene. The other is a solid road to the 'bad guy'. Those things could have easily been in this story and they weren't.
There were clues. But the ending was a major rush job.
Basically it was 'Surprise! I'm the bad guy'
So while there was a lot I enjoyed about this story, there are many things having me reconsidering continuing this series.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
No Longer Sure
3.5 Stars
When this series started I was super excited to read it.
The 1st one was really good for action and suspense but lacked in the bedroom department. I want good adult steam in my reads and normally Rebecca Zanetti delivers in that area with well rounded action etc.
The 2nd one was also well written but once again virtually no steam. It also had areas that dragged a bit but all in all, I was good with what I read.
This one, quite frankly, was a disappointment in many places.
Any intimacy between Huck and Laurel was extremely mild and almost non-existent. I had hoped that would improve as the series continued. But it doesn't.
Add to that how this one ended. How the case was solved and a few other elements that disappointed me and I'm now unsure if I want to continue with this series.
I love various characters. Huck, Laurel, Kate, Walter & others. But I need certain things in my reads to keep me thoroughly invested. One of those is a REALLY good intimate scene. The other is a solid road to the 'bad guy'. Those things could have easily been in this story and they weren't.
There were clues. But the ending was a major rush job.
Basically it was 'Surprise! I'm the bad guy'
So while there was a lot I enjoyed about this story, there are many things having me reconsidering continuing this series.
July 25, 2023
How does a story that was feeding me answers a crumb at a time, leave me with so many questions in the end? That’s the wonder of Zanetti’s writing and why I consider all of her books must-reads. Whether it’s romantic suspense, paranormal romance, or thriller/mysteries such as You Can Die, I’m guaranteed a worthwhile and enjoyable experience.
A killer is targeting men, stabbing them multiple times and leaving them choking on Valentine’s candy. It makes for a macabre scene set by the author, but I was utterly fascinated. Each clue led to another question, another victim, another link, and honestly… I really was kept in the dark until the end. I had an inkling, shrugged it off, and then realized I should have trusted my instincts!
So I have questions and I’m guessing they’ll be fed to me in any book to come for this series. Dr. Abigail Caine is definitely an enigma, as well as Zeke Caine. They may be Laurel’s family (her sister and father), but she doesn’t know them. She lived her whole life without them and if it were up to her, she’d live the rest of her life the same way.
Is Abigail a killer? Is she as wicked as she seems through Laurel’s eyes? And will Zeke feature in some way in the future?
Honestly, all I really want for Laurel is some true happiness with Huck (I LOVE this man) and a semblance of peace. Is that too much to ask?
Find more here: You Can Die
A killer is targeting men, stabbing them multiple times and leaving them choking on Valentine’s candy. It makes for a macabre scene set by the author, but I was utterly fascinated. Each clue led to another question, another victim, another link, and honestly… I really was kept in the dark until the end. I had an inkling, shrugged it off, and then realized I should have trusted my instincts!
So I have questions and I’m guessing they’ll be fed to me in any book to come for this series. Dr. Abigail Caine is definitely an enigma, as well as Zeke Caine. They may be Laurel’s family (her sister and father), but she doesn’t know them. She lived her whole life without them and if it were up to her, she’d live the rest of her life the same way.
Is Abigail a killer? Is she as wicked as she seems through Laurel’s eyes? And will Zeke feature in some way in the future?
Honestly, all I really want for Laurel is some true happiness with Huck (I LOVE this man) and a semblance of peace. Is that too much to ask?
Find more here: You Can Die
May 2, 2023
You Can Die is a book 3 in the Lauren Snow series by Rebecca Zanetti. It is told in 3rd person from multiple POVs
Tropes:
✔️ law enforcement
✔️ genius heroine
✔️ small-town
Rebecca Zanetti's latest book in the Laurel Snow series, set against the snowy Pacific Northwest backdrop, is a thrilling read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. The author combines elements of romance and suspense with a twisty plot that will leave readers guessing and wanting more.
I’ve really enjoyed Laurel Snow’s character development, who is both analytical and human, and her troubled family dynamic adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story. The secondary characters are also well-developed and endearing. Their team is absolutely coming together and feeling more like family, except for Laurel's sociopathic half-sister, Abigail, who adds a disturbing but fascinating element to the story.
The romance between Lauren and Huck is both sweet, sexy and well blended the romance within the suspenseful plot. I can’t wait to see what happens next between these two strong willed characters.
The race to find the “Broken Heart Murderer” was gripping and had me figuratively biting my nails. I had a hard time putting the book down. However, the confrontation with the ending felt a bit rushed, and there were a lot of loose ends left to tie up hopefully in the next book.
Overall, "You Can Die" is an hast and twisty and unpredictable plot that had me hooked from start to finish. A must read for fans of the series and readier who enjoy TV series like "Bones" and "The Blacklist."
★ I received an ARC of this title from the author via NetGalley. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title.
★See all my book edits on Instagram
Tropes:
✔️ law enforcement
✔️ genius heroine
✔️ small-town
Rebecca Zanetti's latest book in the Laurel Snow series, set against the snowy Pacific Northwest backdrop, is a thrilling read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. The author combines elements of romance and suspense with a twisty plot that will leave readers guessing and wanting more.
I’ve really enjoyed Laurel Snow’s character development, who is both analytical and human, and her troubled family dynamic adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story. The secondary characters are also well-developed and endearing. Their team is absolutely coming together and feeling more like family, except for Laurel's sociopathic half-sister, Abigail, who adds a disturbing but fascinating element to the story.
The romance between Lauren and Huck is both sweet, sexy and well blended the romance within the suspenseful plot. I can’t wait to see what happens next between these two strong willed characters.
The race to find the “Broken Heart Murderer” was gripping and had me figuratively biting my nails. I had a hard time putting the book down. However, the confrontation with the ending felt a bit rushed, and there were a lot of loose ends left to tie up hopefully in the next book.
Overall, "You Can Die" is an hast and twisty and unpredictable plot that had me hooked from start to finish. A must read for fans of the series and readier who enjoy TV series like "Bones" and "The Blacklist."
★ I received an ARC of this title from the author via NetGalley. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title.
★See all my book edits on Instagram
April 11, 2023
The Laurel Snow series by Rebecca Zanetti has become one of my all-time favorite series in the mystery thriller genre. Filled with smart reactive, perfect for television drama this series has a hold on me that won’t be letting go anytime soon. Book three, You Can Die, is a masterful production by the brilliant Zanetti. Again words to describe are smart, edgy, thrilling, entertaining, sexy, and mind-boggling connections. Her secondary characters are just as important as her primary characters. Her ebb and flow in storytelling make her books unprecedentedly un-put-downable. Prepare yourselves, friends the ride isn't over, it’s just getting started. A phenomenal read!
~Tanja
*ARC provided by Kensington Books/Zebra via Netgalley.
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~Tanja
*ARC provided by Kensington Books/Zebra via Netgalley.
Follow me on
✿KTBookReviews✿Instagram✿Twitter✿Facebook✿TikTok
September 8, 2024
5 Stars!!
The Broken Hearts Killer is murdering men in the Seattle area, most with connections to a law firm, a now closed summer camp, and Laurel’s friend and assistant Kate. The perpetrator’s signature is stabbing the victim multiple times, leaving them in a purple tent near a church, and their mouths stuffed with Valentine's Day heart candy.
FBI Special Agent Laurel Snow has her hands full with this case, plus dealing with her half-sister (who is seemingly a psychopath) Abigail Crane, who Laurel thinks is behind several sketchy murders and/or attempted murders, and other vile happenings involving a serial murderer she seemingly controlled….that’s still not resolved nor her role, if any, in his crimes.
Laurel is still in a deepening relationship with Washington Fish and Wildlife Captain Huck Rivers. During all this her biological father Zeke Crane who is NOT a good guy, returns to Genesis Valley after a five-year mystery absence, who is now aware that he has another daughter….Laurel.
Fighting against time before another victim dies at the hands of a serial killer, Laurel needs all the help she can get, seeing as her recently opened Genesis Valley FBI office is woefully short staffed. Luckily Huck Rivers is more than willing to help and protect the woman he has fallen in love with.
This was a great installment to the series! I love this suspense series by Rebecca Zanetti!! So many twist, turns, and a truly surprise ending and killer (to me anyway). I can’t wait for the next book You Can Kill due out next month. Sadly, (I think) book four is the final book in this brilliant series.
*Narration 5 Stars!!!!
Originally read on: 7/25/2023
January 12, 2024
3.5 ☆
July 16, 2023
Zanetti’s suspenseful timing keeps me engaged from beginning to end. Coming into this story, I thought it might be wrapping up a trilogy, but it is clear the story will carry as the over arching story has more story before resolution. This story follows the case of another serial killer with Laurel Snow chasing down the leads. The mystery portion kept me guessing. It was not obvious to me who the killer was. I enjoy Laurel as a character, so I am glad the series will continue. The romance between Laurel and Huck further developed in this story, including some swoony moments.
I would recommend this book if you like a thriller with a touch of romance, but it’s probably best to read the first two first.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book. Views are my own.
I would recommend this book if you like a thriller with a touch of romance, but it’s probably best to read the first two first.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book. Views are my own.
September 28, 2023
Special Agent Laurel Snow is on the hunt for The broken heart killer. A serial killer who stabs his victims to death, places them in a purple tent near a church and stuffs Valentine's candy in their mouths.
Fast paced action and suspense with so many suspects that everyone is in danger. Never a dull moment for Agent Snow as she runs her team to stop the killer in their tracks. I highly recommend this suspenseful thriller.
Fast paced action and suspense with so many suspects that everyone is in danger. Never a dull moment for Agent Snow as she runs her team to stop the killer in their tracks. I highly recommend this suspenseful thriller.
April 27, 2023
I was dying to read this book and I’m so glad Kensington Books approved me for the arc because seriously I couldn’t wait!
Onto the review now.
Story wise, I don’t have any major complaints from this book but I think I started seeing Zanetti’s writing patterns on this third book of this series.
That’s neither a good or bad thing, it just means that I know what I can expect for the next time…
So for me now, details are getting a lot clearer to decipher, twists are not hitting that hard, plot holes and missed directions are getting harder to overlook and repetitive dialogue and behaviours are starting to stick out like a sore thumb.
But this probably ties with the fact that I read 85% of this book in one sitting and sacrificed precious sleep time on a work day to stay up till 4am and read.
If you’re a normal person who reads books at a normal pace you might not encounter or entirely miss the majority of the issues I found.
In the end, #3 of this series was still entirely too gripping, interesting and fast paced.
I wasn’t too shocked by the final reveal and I think all this build up was for nothing, we didn’t get much progress about the continuing plot line from the other 2 books so while this was great and fun I was curious to see what would happen next (I still am) even tho I dont think it added much to the overall continuation of the series.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the digital ARC!
PS: I get that you’re trying to reach as many people as possible trying to pass this as a stand-alone read, after all I stated Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole series from book #4 so I do get it, but you have to tone it down with the physical descriptions every time a character gets introduced in the beginning chapters of the books.
We get it from the first time you described Huck that he’s build like a tank or that Laurel and Abigail look like twins one time should be enough for new readers, old readers don’t even need that!
Onto the review now.
Story wise, I don’t have any major complaints from this book but I think I started seeing Zanetti’s writing patterns on this third book of this series.
That’s neither a good or bad thing, it just means that I know what I can expect for the next time…
So for me now, details are getting a lot clearer to decipher, twists are not hitting that hard, plot holes and missed directions are getting harder to overlook and repetitive dialogue and behaviours are starting to stick out like a sore thumb.
But this probably ties with the fact that I read 85% of this book in one sitting and sacrificed precious sleep time on a work day to stay up till 4am and read.
If you’re a normal person who reads books at a normal pace you might not encounter or entirely miss the majority of the issues I found.
In the end, #3 of this series was still entirely too gripping, interesting and fast paced.
I wasn’t too shocked by the final reveal and I think all this build up was for nothing, we didn’t get much progress about the continuing plot line from the other 2 books so while this was great and fun I was curious to see what would happen next (I still am) even tho I dont think it added much to the overall continuation of the series.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the digital ARC!
PS: I get that you’re trying to reach as many people as possible trying to pass this as a stand-alone read, after all I stated Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole series from book #4 so I do get it, but you have to tone it down with the physical descriptions every time a character gets introduced in the beginning chapters of the books.
We get it from the first time you described Huck that he’s build like a tank or that Laurel and Abigail look like twins one time should be enough for new readers, old readers don’t even need that!
July 24, 2023
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Mystery / Suspense / Romance
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
You Can Die is the Third installment in author Rebecca Zanetti's Laurel Snow Thriller series. The Blacklist meets The Profiler in this edgy, gripping thriller that is set against the atmospheric snowy backdrop of rural Pacific Northwest. FBI profiler and Special Agent Laurel Snow navigates her career as a serial killer hunter with her complicated family life, especially her half sister Abigail, who may or may not be a sociopathic killer. Laurel has recently been given tentative approval to establish the FBI Pacific Northwest Violet Crimes Unit in Genesis Valley.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Mystery / Suspense / Romance
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
You Can Die is the Third installment in author Rebecca Zanetti's Laurel Snow Thriller series. The Blacklist meets The Profiler in this edgy, gripping thriller that is set against the atmospheric snowy backdrop of rural Pacific Northwest. FBI profiler and Special Agent Laurel Snow navigates her career as a serial killer hunter with her complicated family life, especially her half sister Abigail, who may or may not be a sociopathic killer. Laurel has recently been given tentative approval to establish the FBI Pacific Northwest Violet Crimes Unit in Genesis Valley.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
July 24, 2023
Once more, Laurel Snow has work to do. Besides a new killer stabbing men and stuffing their mouth with Valentine candies, she has to deal with her psychopath sister, and the return of the prodigal father, while her relationship with Huck takes a new turn.
First of all, it’s barely a standalone. Sure, the author offers many details to understand what happened in the previous books in the series, but you can’t get the full scope of the side plots about Abigail, Jason, Zello, or even Rachel, without reading them. I loved the continuity, and the fact that Laurel’s previous cases have such an impact on her life, but it implies that the books should be all read, and in order.
To be honest, after what happened in the previous book, I was a bit frustrated that the story between Laurel and her sister didn’t progress much. We learn some new important details about Abigail and how her mind works, but the competition/rivalry between the sisters is at a standstill. Even the arrival of their father doesn’t move the plot a lot. Except now Laurel seems to have a new enemy.
As for the serial killer itself, the author cleverly puts red herrings along the way, and the revelation was a big surprise. Some of those details seemed a bit convenient. All in all, there are a lot of weird coincidences in this book. That’s what suspension of disbelief is for, I suppose. And in the end, it works well anyway.
The author manages a few intense actions scenes, keeping a good pace between scenes of Laurel answering her phone–sometimes it looked like a tag game–and investigation scenes.
And some sexy scenes. Laurel and Huck definitely leveled up. They’re getting serious and I loved that. The love story is always in the background, with characters thinking about it, talking about it, and acting on it. What I like the most is that they’re both aware that they’re different, that they may want different things, but they are willing to make it work–maybe not knowing how to do it yet. They’re equal in this relationship in many ways.
I felt the murders were less gruesome than in the previous books, but that doesn’t mean they were pretty. And this time, men were the victims. Some parts of the investigation were assumed by members of Laurel’s team, meaning we don’t read about every little detail, and that was an interesting change–and meaningful for the character, as she’s slowly becoming more of a leader and less of a loner.
I wonder what will happen in the next book, can’t wait.
Quickie
- Series: Laurel Snow #3 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #romantic suspense #thriller #neurodivergent #serial killer #mountain man
- Triggers: gruesome murders with graphic depictions, cheating, psychological manipulation
- Main couple: Laurel Snow & Huck Rivers
- Hotness: 3/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + lots of red herrings, it keeps you hooked
- – sometimes, I doubted Laurel was as smart as she said
First of all, it’s barely a standalone. Sure, the author offers many details to understand what happened in the previous books in the series, but you can’t get the full scope of the side plots about Abigail, Jason, Zello, or even Rachel, without reading them. I loved the continuity, and the fact that Laurel’s previous cases have such an impact on her life, but it implies that the books should be all read, and in order.
To be honest, after what happened in the previous book, I was a bit frustrated that the story between Laurel and her sister didn’t progress much. We learn some new important details about Abigail and how her mind works, but the competition/rivalry between the sisters is at a standstill. Even the arrival of their father doesn’t move the plot a lot. Except now Laurel seems to have a new enemy.
As for the serial killer itself, the author cleverly puts red herrings along the way, and the revelation was a big surprise. Some of those details seemed a bit convenient. All in all, there are a lot of weird coincidences in this book. That’s what suspension of disbelief is for, I suppose. And in the end, it works well anyway.
The author manages a few intense actions scenes, keeping a good pace between scenes of Laurel answering her phone–sometimes it looked like a tag game–and investigation scenes.
And some sexy scenes. Laurel and Huck definitely leveled up. They’re getting serious and I loved that. The love story is always in the background, with characters thinking about it, talking about it, and acting on it. What I like the most is that they’re both aware that they’re different, that they may want different things, but they are willing to make it work–maybe not knowing how to do it yet. They’re equal in this relationship in many ways.
I felt the murders were less gruesome than in the previous books, but that doesn’t mean they were pretty. And this time, men were the victims. Some parts of the investigation were assumed by members of Laurel’s team, meaning we don’t read about every little detail, and that was an interesting change–and meaningful for the character, as she’s slowly becoming more of a leader and less of a loner.
I wonder what will happen in the next book, can’t wait.
Quickie
- Series: Laurel Snow #3 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #romantic suspense #thriller #neurodivergent #serial killer #mountain man
- Triggers: gruesome murders with graphic depictions, cheating, psychological manipulation
- Main couple: Laurel Snow & Huck Rivers
- Hotness: 3/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + lots of red herrings, it keeps you hooked
- – sometimes, I doubted Laurel was as smart as she said
August 11, 2023
4.5 stars. Mystery, Suspense, Romance and Family
This series continues to be a high level entertainment thanks to Rebecca Zanetti’s masterful storytelling. I am not ashamed to admit that Abigail Kane is my favorite character. I love that this story has flawed characters and I couldn’t quite tell who the serial killer was.
FBI Agent Laurel Snow always gets her killer…or does she? That’s the part that intrigues me. She has met her match and so I want to know if she will win. The family dynamic coupled with FBI crime investigations makes this suspense thriller series captivating to me. And there’s a dash of romance so this story had all the ingredients for a great plot.
I continue to be Team Abigail and look forward to her next move.
This series continues to be a high level entertainment thanks to Rebecca Zanetti’s masterful storytelling. I am not ashamed to admit that Abigail Kane is my favorite character. I love that this story has flawed characters and I couldn’t quite tell who the serial killer was.
FBI Agent Laurel Snow always gets her killer…or does she? That’s the part that intrigues me. She has met her match and so I want to know if she will win. The family dynamic coupled with FBI crime investigations makes this suspense thriller series captivating to me. And there’s a dash of romance so this story had all the ingredients for a great plot.
I continue to be Team Abigail and look forward to her next move.
July 30, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
You definitely need to read the other books before this one to understand the relationships between some characters.
This book kept me guessing, but I’m not sure I can get behind who the killer turned out to be. Some things just didn’t add up.
Very low on the steam factor.
And - the book blurb contains information that is not true and that kind of ticked me off.
I thought this was the final book, but there are loose ends that will need to be tied up.
You definitely need to read the other books before this one to understand the relationships between some characters.
This book kept me guessing, but I’m not sure I can get behind who the killer turned out to be. Some things just didn’t add up.
Very low on the steam factor.
And - the book blurb contains information that is not true and that kind of ticked me off.
I thought this was the final book, but there are loose ends that will need to be tied up.
October 25, 2024
"I think you lead with your brain because it's so big. But you have a big heart, too."
YOU CAN DIE was as enjoyable as the other books in the Laurel Snow series. We have more gruesome murders; Laurel's Father makes a creepy appearance and of course her half-sister Abigail continues to cause problems by being her psychotic self. I'm still puzzled why most of the male population (minus Huck) fall her games but I'm ready for Laurel to slap the cuffs on her and get her out of her life. I have a feeling it's going to get worse before that happens though.
The romance is still a pretty small part of this series, but we do get some surprises for Laurel and Huck. I like how their relationship is progressing and I'm exciting to see them navigate this next chapter. 3.5 Stars!
Memorable Quotes
"Her feelings are real...yours are just a mirroring of the people around you. No matter how hard you try to get to know her, to be in her world, you will never truly belong."
"Someday she'll have to choose one of us, Captain Rivers. I guarantee it won't be you."
"When I see my future, I see you, Laurel."
"I'll go as slow as you need, Laurel Snow. But at the end of all this, it's going to be me and you and whatever family we decide to create."
YOU CAN DIE was as enjoyable as the other books in the Laurel Snow series. We have more gruesome murders; Laurel's Father makes a creepy appearance and of course her half-sister Abigail continues to cause problems by being her psychotic self. I'm still puzzled why most of the male population (minus Huck) fall her games but I'm ready for Laurel to slap the cuffs on her and get her out of her life. I have a feeling it's going to get worse before that happens though.
The romance is still a pretty small part of this series, but we do get some surprises for Laurel and Huck. I like how their relationship is progressing and I'm exciting to see them navigate this next chapter. 3.5 Stars!
Memorable Quotes
"Her feelings are real...yours are just a mirroring of the people around you. No matter how hard you try to get to know her, to be in her world, you will never truly belong."
"Someday she'll have to choose one of us, Captain Rivers. I guarantee it won't be you."
"When I see my future, I see you, Laurel."
"I'll go as slow as you need, Laurel Snow. But at the end of all this, it's going to be me and you and whatever family we decide to create."
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