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The Family or Foe Saga #1
First Cut
A serial killer returns to taunt the woman once determined to catch him.
In this gripping thriller, former detective Jill Jacobs must confront the Makeup Artist, an elusive psychopath whose trail of terror left seven dead and whose obsession almost destroyed her.
When the Artist strikes again in a new city, Detectives Gordon Daniels and Aaron Remalla must find the woman whose strange psychic connection to the killer is their best hope to catch him.
Desperate and afraid, Jill’s only chance to find closure is to confront the man who stalked her and his grizzly crimes. But there’s a catch. She must return to the mindset that bound her to him. The mindset the killer still seeks from her.
But choosing to help Daniels and Remalla will not only risk her life but also her heart, when she falls for one of them, drawing the attention of the man she’s driven to capture.
After losing everything, can she find the courage to face the murderer who took it all away, and who is eager to do it again?
First Cut is the first book in the new series from award-winning author J. T. Bishop featuring Detectives Gordon Daniels and Aaron Remalla. If you love gripping suspense, enticing romance, charismatic characters, and a story that will keep you up at night, then pick up First Cut today.
324 pages, Hardcover
First published January 8, 2020
805 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
J.T. Bishop
36 books116 followersAward-winning author, J.T. Bishop, is a writer of mystery thrillers with a supernatural edge. Growing up, she read books by Stephen King, Mary Higgins Clark, and Dean Koontz, devoured every episode of The X-files, and watched plenty of TV shows with great partnerships that left her wanting more. She loves tangled relationships, unexpected twists and turns, heart-stopping love stories and the complications that come with all the above. Throw in a little supernatural fun and she’s hooked. Her evil plan is to hook you, too.
She’s the author of The Red-Line Trilogy and its sister series, The Fletcher Family Saga, which features touches of urban fantasy, light sci-fi, and paranormal romance. She’s also happily writing mystery thrillers featuring two charismatic detectives who may occasionally encounter a supernatural villain or two, and a crossover series which follows the exploits of a gifted, but troubled, paranormal P.I. and his spunky sister.
All the above keeps her busy, but in her spare time, she loves a good movie, tasty food, an unfortunate sugar addiction, and traveling.
Get caught up with J.T. and her writing adventures at www.jtbishopauthor.com. And while you’re there, get a short story prelude to her first book for free, plus a novella and a few other offerings. Enjoy!
She’s the author of The Red-Line Trilogy and its sister series, The Fletcher Family Saga, which features touches of urban fantasy, light sci-fi, and paranormal romance. She’s also happily writing mystery thrillers featuring two charismatic detectives who may occasionally encounter a supernatural villain or two, and a crossover series which follows the exploits of a gifted, but troubled, paranormal P.I. and his spunky sister.
All the above keeps her busy, but in her spare time, she loves a good movie, tasty food, an unfortunate sugar addiction, and traveling.
Get caught up with J.T. and her writing adventures at www.jtbishopauthor.com. And while you’re there, get a short story prelude to her first book for free, plus a novella and a few other offerings. Enjoy!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
January 18, 2020
Wow what an amazing thriller! Two detectives hunting a serial killer with 13 victims to his name. They enrol another detective who was burnt out in the chase to catch him in Seattle, but the killer has followed her and started up 'the game' as he calls it....will Jacobs play or not!?
Jacobs has physic ability though denies it at first but she can get into the killers mind.
Book keeps you guessing the whole way through and just when you think you know who the killer is, well lets they it takes a dark turn!
Loved twist at end! Who is the mysterious Sonia! so looking forward to book 2 in this new detective series. I really hope Jacobs comes back into it, even if just for Rem! lol
And yes read this book in one night, just couldnt out it down!
Jacobs has physic ability though denies it at first but she can get into the killers mind.
Book keeps you guessing the whole way through and just when you think you know who the killer is, well lets they it takes a dark turn!
Loved twist at end! Who is the mysterious Sonia! so looking forward to book 2 in this new detective series. I really hope Jacobs comes back into it, even if just for Rem! lol
And yes read this book in one night, just couldnt out it down!
January 12, 2020
A definite breath holding story. A serial killer on the loose and time is running out. I couldn’t stop until I finished the book. Received a free copy and reviewed because I enjoyed the book. Don’t miss out.
May 11, 2020
A serial killer returns to taunt the woman once determined to catch him.
In this gripping thriller, former detective Jill Jacobs must confront the Makeup Artist, an elusive psychopath whose trail of terror left seven dead and whose obsession almost destroyed her.
When the Artist strikes again in a new city, Detectives Gordon Daniels and Aaron Remalla must find the woman whose strange psychic connection to the killer is their best hope to catch him.
Desperate and afraid, Jill’s only chance to find closure is to confront the man who stalked her and his grisly crimes. But there’s a catch. She must return to the mindset that bound her to him. The mindset the killer still seeks from her.
But choosing to help Daniels and Remalla will not only risk her life but also her heart, when she falls for one of them, drawing the attention of the man she’s driven to capture.
After losing everything, can she find the courage to face the murderer who took it all away, and who is eager to do it again?
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
In this gripping thriller, former detective Jill Jacobs must confront the Makeup Artist, an elusive psychopath whose trail of terror left seven dead and whose obsession almost destroyed her.
When the Artist strikes again in a new city, Detectives Gordon Daniels and Aaron Remalla must find the woman whose strange psychic connection to the killer is their best hope to catch him.
Desperate and afraid, Jill’s only chance to find closure is to confront the man who stalked her and his grisly crimes. But there’s a catch. She must return to the mindset that bound her to him. The mindset the killer still seeks from her.
But choosing to help Daniels and Remalla will not only risk her life but also her heart, when she falls for one of them, drawing the attention of the man she’s driven to capture.
After losing everything, can she find the courage to face the murderer who took it all away, and who is eager to do it again?
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
April 6, 2020
J.T Bishop does it again!
I’ve read the entire Red-Line series which has a heavier sci-fi fine to it, so this is her first more “traditional” book.
First Cut is about Jill Jacobs and a series killer that seems to follow her, and target her by proxy.
Along the way we meet Remalla and Daniels, detectives who help Jacobs when trouble leaves Seattle and comes to them.
This book is engaging, and quite well done. I have to admit the ending surprised me a bit. I was soooo frustrated for most of the book because the answers were all so obvious, like open your eyes!! Right? Ugh, maybe not.
This roller coaster ride of bloody writings on the wall, and a trail of roses will have you hooked from the start.
Highly recommend this one, and looking forward to starting Second Slice.
I’ve read the entire Red-Line series which has a heavier sci-fi fine to it, so this is her first more “traditional” book.
First Cut is about Jill Jacobs and a series killer that seems to follow her, and target her by proxy.
Along the way we meet Remalla and Daniels, detectives who help Jacobs when trouble leaves Seattle and comes to them.
This book is engaging, and quite well done. I have to admit the ending surprised me a bit. I was soooo frustrated for most of the book because the answers were all so obvious, like open your eyes!! Right? Ugh, maybe not.
This roller coaster ride of bloody writings on the wall, and a trail of roses will have you hooked from the start.
Highly recommend this one, and looking forward to starting Second Slice.
May 14, 2024
I'First Cut' was an excellent read! The storyline was unique and the characters were incredibly engaging. I was completely engrossed in the action, witty character banter, and pacing of the story. Although there were a few minor flaws such as the detectives not doing much detecting and some parts of the action feeling a bit contrived, I still found the book to be an incredibly enjoyable read. In my opinion, the supernatural aspect of the story could have been fleshed out more, but overall, I think the book was a fantastic read. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling, captivating and unique book!
January 9, 2020
Thank you for the free Arc
One of my favourite authors
This is a fabulous book
Fast paced and action packed
Love the characters
Started and couldn't stop reading
One of my favourite authors
This is a fabulous book
Fast paced and action packed
Love the characters
Started and couldn't stop reading
June 11, 2020
Extremely suspenseful
It's been a while since I've been so captivated with a detective series. Unbelievably intense. Fast paced. Detective work at its finest. The believability and compatibility of the main characters was amazing. The banter between them made them feel so real. The hints at what is to come makes me sure this will be one series that I will definitely be following. Great read!
It's been a while since I've been so captivated with a detective series. Unbelievably intense. Fast paced. Detective work at its finest. The believability and compatibility of the main characters was amazing. The banter between them made them feel so real. The hints at what is to come makes me sure this will be one series that I will definitely be following. Great read!
September 22, 2020
Preface: I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
Actual rating: 3.25 stars
I don't really understand the title of this series. This isn't Daniels' story. It's barely Remalla's. This novel instead revolves almost entirely around Jill (and the ending suggests the rest of the series will, too). Even the first sentence of the blurb is about her, not our two supposed lead detectives.
It's not a bad thing, by any means. Jill is a perfectly serviceable character. It just seems weird to me to style this as a sort of detective-buddy-cop series when that's not really what it's about.
The blurb also makes no mention of the supernatural element to this story, which presents itself relatively early on. I won't go into it, but this factor becomes important to the story (and, again, looks like it will be the driving force of the series). It just seems like a very strange marketing choice.
Moving onto the story itself - it's unfortunately nothing special. The Makeup Artist does appear interesting at first, and it's always fun when the killer has a connection to one of the detectives trying to catch him, but he's too strong. He never makes a mistake, never leaves a trace of evidence, dodges every camera pointed his way - all the usual cliches. I thought maybe the supernatural stuff might explain this, but it doesn't. When the villain is unveiled, the reveal is ridiculous, and they themselves are entirely bland.
The path to finding the murderer isn't particularly great, either. We see very, very little actual policework from our two lead detectives. I don't think they even follow an actual lead until 100 pages in. There's no knocking on doors, no interviews, no fun web of clues to follow. They have a lot of back-and-forth banter, which is fun (though if you took a shot for every time the chief's diet or him threatening to cut Rem's hair comes up, you will be dead by the end of the novel), but the actual solving-the-case stuff comes pretty much all in the last third, even though they're constantly described as staying up long nights to "work on the case."
The conclusion is equally weird. The sheer number of coincidences needed to make things line up for the villain is staggering, and a lot of them are things they couldn't affect even if they wanted to. Everything is just super convenient to squeeze out every last bit of drama.
Overall, this is a pretty bland police procedural stripped of most of the, well, procedures, and spiced up with a supernatural twist. If that's up your alley, this might be serviceable, but overall I found it too empty to be compelling.
Actual rating: 3.25 stars
I don't really understand the title of this series. This isn't Daniels' story. It's barely Remalla's. This novel instead revolves almost entirely around Jill (and the ending suggests the rest of the series will, too). Even the first sentence of the blurb is about her, not our two supposed lead detectives.
It's not a bad thing, by any means. Jill is a perfectly serviceable character. It just seems weird to me to style this as a sort of detective-buddy-cop series when that's not really what it's about.
The blurb also makes no mention of the supernatural element to this story, which presents itself relatively early on. I won't go into it, but this factor becomes important to the story (and, again, looks like it will be the driving force of the series). It just seems like a very strange marketing choice.
Moving onto the story itself - it's unfortunately nothing special. The Makeup Artist does appear interesting at first, and it's always fun when the killer has a connection to one of the detectives trying to catch him, but he's too strong. He never makes a mistake, never leaves a trace of evidence, dodges every camera pointed his way - all the usual cliches. I thought maybe the supernatural stuff might explain this, but it doesn't. When the villain is unveiled, the reveal is ridiculous, and they themselves are entirely bland.
The path to finding the murderer isn't particularly great, either. We see very, very little actual policework from our two lead detectives. I don't think they even follow an actual lead until 100 pages in. There's no knocking on doors, no interviews, no fun web of clues to follow. They have a lot of back-and-forth banter, which is fun (though if you took a shot for every time the chief's diet or him threatening to cut Rem's hair comes up, you will be dead by the end of the novel), but the actual solving-the-case stuff comes pretty much all in the last third, even though they're constantly described as staying up long nights to "work on the case."
The conclusion is equally weird. The sheer number of coincidences needed to make things line up for the villain is staggering, and a lot of them are things they couldn't affect even if they wanted to. Everything is just super convenient to squeeze out every last bit of drama.
Overall, this is a pretty bland police procedural stripped of most of the, well, procedures, and spiced up with a supernatural twist. If that's up your alley, this might be serviceable, but overall I found it too empty to be compelling.
February 7, 2020
Just...WOW!!!! Great thriller!!!
If you want to be on the edge of your seat til the end, this book is well worth the roller coaster ride! The layering of the characters is on point, the foreshadowing turns you into an armchair detective, and by the end, you're ready for more! This is a twisted tale well worth reading! Where is the next book? Be encouraged, this was very well done, keep writing!
If you want to be on the edge of your seat til the end, this book is well worth the roller coaster ride! The layering of the characters is on point, the foreshadowing turns you into an armchair detective, and by the end, you're ready for more! This is a twisted tale well worth reading! Where is the next book? Be encouraged, this was very well done, keep writing!
September 22, 2020
Slow start with a wow ending.
First Cut by J.T. Bishop is the first book in the Detectives Daniels and Remalla Series. The book started out a bit slow, almost to the point of being boring. Then it unexpectedly took off, and from that point on, it was hard to put down.
I didn’t warm to the partnership between Daniels and Remalla until about a quarter of the way through the book. I liked the chemistry between the two of them and Jill, who was once chasing the same killer they were. I loved the fact that the author made her a very strong female character. Lozano, the captain, was a perfect homage to police captains in detective tv shows or movies. My favorite character had to be the the gypsy, Sonia Vandermere. Her character was well written, and so easy to believe.
The book has a sense of humor about it, especially between the partners and their captain. Captain is on a diet, Daniels eats healthy, and Remalla has a love for jelly donuts and tacos. A lot of the conversation centers around these idiosyncrasies. It wasn’t all humor, the author found time to write in quite a bit of action, creepiness, and romance. The last 20 percent of the book, will have your heart racing as you try to determine who the Makeup Artist killer is.
I can’t wait for book two, as the author gave the reader a cliffhanger the last couple of pages of the book. Sneaky, but effective to make the reader continue on to book two. I know I plan on reading book two.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a good mystery or great detective partnerships.
Thank you to HiddenGemsBooks, J.T. Bishop, and Eudora Press LLC for the opportunity to read and review this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book.
First Cut by J.T. Bishop is the first book in the Detectives Daniels and Remalla Series. The book started out a bit slow, almost to the point of being boring. Then it unexpectedly took off, and from that point on, it was hard to put down.
I didn’t warm to the partnership between Daniels and Remalla until about a quarter of the way through the book. I liked the chemistry between the two of them and Jill, who was once chasing the same killer they were. I loved the fact that the author made her a very strong female character. Lozano, the captain, was a perfect homage to police captains in detective tv shows or movies. My favorite character had to be the the gypsy, Sonia Vandermere. Her character was well written, and so easy to believe.
The book has a sense of humor about it, especially between the partners and their captain. Captain is on a diet, Daniels eats healthy, and Remalla has a love for jelly donuts and tacos. A lot of the conversation centers around these idiosyncrasies. It wasn’t all humor, the author found time to write in quite a bit of action, creepiness, and romance. The last 20 percent of the book, will have your heart racing as you try to determine who the Makeup Artist killer is.
I can’t wait for book two, as the author gave the reader a cliffhanger the last couple of pages of the book. Sneaky, but effective to make the reader continue on to book two. I know I plan on reading book two.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a good mystery or great detective partnerships.
Thank you to HiddenGemsBooks, J.T. Bishop, and Eudora Press LLC for the opportunity to read and review this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book.
September 21, 2020
In First Cut, former detective Jill Jacobs must confront her past head on when the elusive serial killer the Makeup Artist starts killing again. With the help of detectives Daniels and Remalla (Rem), Jill will have to face her deepest darkest fears in order to catch the Makeup Artist before he kills again.
First Cut is book one in J. T. Bishop’s new series The Detectives Daniels and Remalla series. The story is told through the eyes of a third person omniscient narrator which helped to provide insight into all of the characters minds and lives. My favourite part of the book is the constant banter between Daniels and Rem this is because it helped to create a wave of humour which crashed its way through the darkest parts of the narrative. Jill is a strong character but the way she acted and treated people became unbearable at times.
I enjoyed the book because the twists and turns always had me guessing. It has the right amount of romance, mystery and suspense which kept me on the edge of my seat. This was the first book that I have read by Bishop and I was surprised at how much I liked it. I will definitely be reading more books by J. T. Bishop and I recommend that others do as well.
I received an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.
First Cut is book one in J. T. Bishop’s new series The Detectives Daniels and Remalla series. The story is told through the eyes of a third person omniscient narrator which helped to provide insight into all of the characters minds and lives. My favourite part of the book is the constant banter between Daniels and Rem this is because it helped to create a wave of humour which crashed its way through the darkest parts of the narrative. Jill is a strong character but the way she acted and treated people became unbearable at times.
I enjoyed the book because the twists and turns always had me guessing. It has the right amount of romance, mystery and suspense which kept me on the edge of my seat. This was the first book that I have read by Bishop and I was surprised at how much I liked it. I will definitely be reading more books by J. T. Bishop and I recommend that others do as well.
I received an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.
June 24, 2024
A Great Mystery
This was an excellent mystery and a great introduction to some memorable and likable characters. The mystery keeps the reader guessing despite sharing enough information to make you think you have it solved. It did not follow a typical cozy mystery format and it was of a comfortable length not leaving the reader feel as if it ended too soon. It was an excellent ending though I can’t say I loved the ending or the open questions still waiting for an answer, yet it was very well done. I will look forward to reading more in this series or possibly spin offs. I believe each of us have some degree of psychic abilities, some more so than others. Sometimes we do need to be trained to trust our inner voices. If however the author steps beyond psychic abilities to something more extreme on the paranormal realm, this reader might not continue on. All in all a very well written mystery that I would recommend to friends who like this genre. It’s definitely not a “cozy mystery”.
This was an excellent mystery and a great introduction to some memorable and likable characters. The mystery keeps the reader guessing despite sharing enough information to make you think you have it solved. It did not follow a typical cozy mystery format and it was of a comfortable length not leaving the reader feel as if it ended too soon. It was an excellent ending though I can’t say I loved the ending or the open questions still waiting for an answer, yet it was very well done. I will look forward to reading more in this series or possibly spin offs. I believe each of us have some degree of psychic abilities, some more so than others. Sometimes we do need to be trained to trust our inner voices. If however the author steps beyond psychic abilities to something more extreme on the paranormal realm, this reader might not continue on. All in all a very well written mystery that I would recommend to friends who like this genre. It’s definitely not a “cozy mystery”.
September 30, 2020
This first book in the Detectives Daniels and Remalla Series by J.T. Bishop was definitely a great start to the series as it had suspense, action, blood and gore, as well as a simmering romance. The characters of detectives Daniels and Remalla were fun and entertaining with their jabs and barbs at each other. The character of Jill on the other hand was treated as much more complex with a mental connection to the serial killer known as the Makeup Artist who appeared to have followed her from his murderous rampage in Seattle down to San Diego where he started another group just to make her engage him mentally and emotionally. The author had no problems leading the reader one direction and then suddenly turning everything on its head and going another as the story sped along to its fascinating conclusion. I am definitely looking forward to adding further books in this series to my TBR file. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Hidden Gems Books.
December 28, 2022
I love this series. This starts the series about Detective Gordon Daniels and Aaron Remalla (Daniels & Rem). These two are great together and keep you laughing, but also ready to solve a crime.
When a body is found and it is very much like killings that had been going on in Seattle, there department reaches out to Seattle to see what clues they can find. The Captain there says that the detective that was on the case in area, but he doesn't think she will help them. The case was too close for her and almost cost her, her life. Daniels and Rem tried to give it a try, but Jill Jacobs meets them with a gun!! She doesn't want any part of this one and now she is ready to move on again.
But, Jill can't quit thinking of the serial killer being where she is and she finally agrees to help them. But, Jill is hiding a lot of secrets from them and can they trust her, especially when they learn that the Serial Killer is actually after Jill!
Don't miss this one!!
When a body is found and it is very much like killings that had been going on in Seattle, there department reaches out to Seattle to see what clues they can find. The Captain there says that the detective that was on the case in area, but he doesn't think she will help them. The case was too close for her and almost cost her, her life. Daniels and Rem tried to give it a try, but Jill Jacobs meets them with a gun!! She doesn't want any part of this one and now she is ready to move on again.
But, Jill can't quit thinking of the serial killer being where she is and she finally agrees to help them. But, Jill is hiding a lot of secrets from them and can they trust her, especially when they learn that the Serial Killer is actually after Jill!
Don't miss this one!!
November 6, 2022
This story begins with Rem and Daniels going to find Jill, a former detective, as a result of information received from their Captain. It seems that she was involved previously with a case similar to the one they were working. Once they located her, she was not helpful and wanted nothing to do with them. She had been hiding out for the last three years.
The case that Rem and Daniels was working on related to a killer that left messages and applied makeup to the victims. Eventually Jill came around and began assisting them in their hunt. It boiled down that the killer was fixated on Jill and that the killer would ultimately make a mistake.
Follow along as the trio hunts for the killer right up to an explosive conclusion. The ending is more than worth it.
You won't be disappointed with this book and will look forward to more from this series.
The case that Rem and Daniels was working on related to a killer that left messages and applied makeup to the victims. Eventually Jill came around and began assisting them in their hunt. It boiled down that the killer was fixated on Jill and that the killer would ultimately make a mistake.
Follow along as the trio hunts for the killer right up to an explosive conclusion. The ending is more than worth it.
You won't be disappointed with this book and will look forward to more from this series.
January 5, 2022
First Cut is Book One in the 'Family or Foe' series and provides thriller and mystery readers with a psychic adventure that revolves around former Seattle detective Jill Jacobs, who has failed to catch a serial killer despite her best efforts and now she is entrenched and defeated by her failure that she is a recluse living a drunken life. The characters have depth and their dialogue perfectly showcases their personalities. The narrative is descriptive and sets a very dark, chilling atmosphere. JT Bishop is a gifted author and she has created a novel you won’t want to miss. The last few chapters were explosive and the ending gave the reader yet another plot twist. I am happy that I can jump right into the next novel. I received the novel through BookFunnel. This is my honest review.
September 27, 2020
No spoilers of any kind included.
First Cut was pretty amazing!
I was completely hooked before I had even finished the first page in chapter one and I stayed ensnared right up to the end of the book.
This is the first time that I have ever read anything by J.T. Bishop and I have to say I’ll definitely be reading more of her work because her style of story weaving is awesome!
So I am going to recommend First Cut because I really enjoyed reading this book and I think you will too.
*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or a promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review*
First Cut was pretty amazing!
I was completely hooked before I had even finished the first page in chapter one and I stayed ensnared right up to the end of the book.
This is the first time that I have ever read anything by J.T. Bishop and I have to say I’ll definitely be reading more of her work because her style of story weaving is awesome!
So I am going to recommend First Cut because I really enjoyed reading this book and I think you will too.
*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or a promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review*
June 24, 2021
Did Not Come Together
A detective has an uncanny connection to a serial killer. She thinks she can use it to thwart him but instead she is driven to the edge. She leaves the department and lives, an alcoholic recluse under the radar. But the killer isn't done with her and she is drawn into yet another investigation. But this time she is working with two decent detectives as determined to capture him as she is.
This story never gelled for me. Too much emphasis on what everyone was eating, drinking and wearing. The banter is clumsy and there is no urgency. The paranormal elements were light. The characters did not engage and the ending was silly. Pass.
A detective has an uncanny connection to a serial killer. She thinks she can use it to thwart him but instead she is driven to the edge. She leaves the department and lives, an alcoholic recluse under the radar. But the killer isn't done with her and she is drawn into yet another investigation. But this time she is working with two decent detectives as determined to capture him as she is.
This story never gelled for me. Too much emphasis on what everyone was eating, drinking and wearing. The banter is clumsy and there is no urgency. The paranormal elements were light. The characters did not engage and the ending was silly. Pass.
September 25, 2023
First Cut: A Serial Killer Murder Mystery Thriller (The Family or Foe Saga with Detectives Daniels and Remalla Book 1), my eighth read from author J.T. Bishop. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book back on June 21, 2021 & am just getting around to reading it and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author and in particular Second Slice: A Murder Mystery Suspense Thriller (The Family or Foe Saga with Detectives Daniels and Remalla Book 2), the next book on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
September 2, 2024
This book was really good and I enjoyed it a lot. The title is a little off because it seems like there is actually a threesome and not a twosome in this series but i will for sure read more of this series and I will find out myself. Jill is a washed up ran out detective that has moved due to a murdered cop and her department turned on her. Daniels and Remalla are at a loss and they are on the hunt to not only find the killer but to find Jill. When they find Jill they get more than what they bargained for. I enjoyed this book and I didn't see the ending coming so I enjoyed that.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 27, 2020
What a great book. You think you know who the killer is but you don't. I love the dynamic between Rem and Daniels. They are both quick-witted and funny which makes for a more enjoyable read. Jacobs has more hidden behind her walls than she lets on. The book is paced well. The book reminds me of Criminal Minds and is probably why I like it so much. I already want to read the next book and lucky for me it's already out.
*I received a free copy of this book from Hidden Gems and am voluntarily giving my honest opinion*
*I received a free copy of this book from Hidden Gems and am voluntarily giving my honest opinion*
March 16, 2021
Serial Killers Take Heed
Jacobs, Ramalla and Daniels make a great team as they work to find a serial killer who applies makeup to the faces of his victims and leaves them in one bloody mess, with a message written in blood. Great characters. Great plot with lots of twists and red herrings. Am looking forward to read more by this author and even a possible return of Jill and Rem! You won’t be able to put this book down and definitely will be anxious to pick up book 2 in this Murder mystery series.
Jacobs, Ramalla and Daniels make a great team as they work to find a serial killer who applies makeup to the faces of his victims and leaves them in one bloody mess, with a message written in blood. Great characters. Great plot with lots of twists and red herrings. Am looking forward to read more by this author and even a possible return of Jill and Rem! You won’t be able to put this book down and definitely will be anxious to pick up book 2 in this Murder mystery series.
January 10, 2022
Just finished reading "First Cut" by J.T. Bishop, first in "The Family or Foe Saga with Detectives Daniels and Remalla" series. There were a few cliche moments and dialogue, but overall a clever detective thriller with interesting characters that kept me guessing till the end. I like the bits of psychic connections weaved throughout and the mysterious Sonia who holds secrets still to be revealed. Ms. Bishop is certainly a prolific writer, and I will definitely come back to see what kind of trouble of trouble Daniels, Ramalla and Jacobs get into next.
August 27, 2024
I actually enjoyed this book. I’m reading this as part of the four book bind up but wanted to list them separately. I did enjoy this book, but the reason I’ve given it a four stars is because despite this being a great detective story- there were things that let it down.
Firstly, the two main detectives take the back burner when Jill Jacob’s turns up due to her connection with the case previously. It then became all about her as the serial killer is obsessed with her.
There is also the element of the supernatural in the fact that Jill has ‘the sight’ and has visions linking to the murders. This made it feel a bit far fetched and less believable.
I must admit, I didn’t work it out who the killer was. I thought it was someone else, it seemed like all the clues went that way and then BANG it was someone else. I should have figured when they turned up out of the blue for no reason.
I’m interested in where the series is going to go as there were definitely some unanswered questions left at the end.
I will continue with the series, I liked the characters and it’s written really well.
4/5 stars.
Firstly, the two main detectives take the back burner when Jill Jacob’s turns up due to her connection with the case previously. It then became all about her as the serial killer is obsessed with her.
There is also the element of the supernatural in the fact that Jill has ‘the sight’ and has visions linking to the murders. This made it feel a bit far fetched and less believable.
I must admit, I didn’t work it out who the killer was. I thought it was someone else, it seemed like all the clues went that way and then BANG it was someone else. I should have figured when they turned up out of the blue for no reason.
I’m interested in where the series is going to go as there were definitely some unanswered questions left at the end.
I will continue with the series, I liked the characters and it’s written really well.
4/5 stars.
July 18, 2022
Jill, a burned out detective from Seattle, goes into hiding. Her lover was killed by a serial killer she was trying to catch. Then the Seattle killings stopped.
Two other detectives in a different city, Daniels and Rem, have some similar murders just starting. They contact Jill, who initially wants nothing to do with them, but then changes her mind and starts helping them.
Why did the killer start up again in a different city?
Two other detectives in a different city, Daniels and Rem, have some similar murders just starting. They contact Jill, who initially wants nothing to do with them, but then changes her mind and starts helping them.
Why did the killer start up again in a different city?
August 22, 2022
This was a good story about a serial killer. There are alot of interesting characters, several suspects. I did figure out who the killer was as he came on the scene in an unusual manner. It was obvious to me, but I did appreciate the way the story broke open. I was a bit surprised at the ending but maybe the next book will explain. The humor was nice, not overdone. I'm interested in following these 2 detectives on their next journey.
February 4, 2023
Sorry but it was the same old recipe for a storyline! It was obvious who the killer was when he made his entry. Then there was ‘coincidences’ popping up which by the 4th character was just too ridiculous, then it was the usual ending with the usually did they die or didn’t they etc etc
Sorry but this book could have been a lot better and feel I should have given 2 stars not 3.
I certainly can’t see it improving in the follow-up books and I won’t be wasted my money to find out.
Sorry but this book could have been a lot better and feel I should have given 2 stars not 3.
I certainly can’t see it improving in the follow-up books and I won’t be wasted my money to find out.
August 15, 2024
GREAT mystery thriller and now I'm hooked into a series that will take me a while to work through. This would have been a five-star review if it hadn't been for the ridiculous number of "groans" throughout the book. It would have made for an excellent drinking game, but I'd be wasted by the end of it. Also, not knowing the difference between "to" and "too" infuriated me more than it probably should have, but hey, nobody's perfect.
December 23, 2025
Nice beginning to a new series.
Police procedural with a little psychic ability thrown in for some extra spice, that looks to be a potentially major element in the following novels.
I like the main trio, Daniels, Rem & Jacobs. The serial killer ‘The Makeup Artist’ is majorly creepy and I totally fell for the bait & switch suspect.
Looking forward to continuing the series and seeing where it goes.
Police procedural with a little psychic ability thrown in for some extra spice, that looks to be a potentially major element in the following novels.
I like the main trio, Daniels, Rem & Jacobs. The serial killer ‘The Makeup Artist’ is majorly creepy and I totally fell for the bait & switch suspect.
Looking forward to continuing the series and seeing where it goes.
November 28, 2021
From the start, the detectives' banter pulled me in. The story kept me there and pulled me through with well-developed characters, sharp and subtle misdirects, solid writing, and a mystery I had to keep reading to learn who-done-it.
This is the first book I've read by this author. It won't be the last. I'm just getting to know these guys and am not ready to let them go!
This is the first book I've read by this author. It won't be the last. I'm just getting to know these guys and am not ready to let them go!
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