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Extrasensory Agents #1
Cold Sight
Leslie Parrish introduces Extrasensory Agents, a band of psychic investigators interested only in the cases nobody else wants-the coldest ones...
After being made a scapegoat in a botched investigation that led to a child's death, Aidan McConnell became a recluse. Still, as a favor to an old friend, Aidan will help on the occasional XI case. But under his handsome, rugged facade, he keeps his emotions in check--for fear of being burned again.
Reporter Lexie Nolan has a nose for news--and she believes a serial killer has been targeting teen girls around Savannah. But no one believes her. So she turns to the new paranormal detective agency and the sexy, mysterious Aidan for help.
But just as the two begin forging a relationship, the case turns eerily personal for Lexie--and Aidan discovers that maybe he hasn't lost the ability to feel after all...
After being made a scapegoat in a botched investigation that led to a child's death, Aidan McConnell became a recluse. Still, as a favor to an old friend, Aidan will help on the occasional XI case. But under his handsome, rugged facade, he keeps his emotions in check--for fear of being burned again.
Reporter Lexie Nolan has a nose for news--and she believes a serial killer has been targeting teen girls around Savannah. But no one believes her. So she turns to the new paranormal detective agency and the sexy, mysterious Aidan for help.
But just as the two begin forging a relationship, the case turns eerily personal for Lexie--and Aidan discovers that maybe he hasn't lost the ability to feel after all...
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2010
173 people are currently reading
2363 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
July 18, 2010
Don't do what I did (if you can help it) and drag this read out for a week. I'm sure this book would've been a whole lot more enjoyable if I could've made some time to read it consistently. I kept having to put it down, pick it up, put it down...it was hard to keep the tension going reading it that way. However, once I was able to devote more time to it, it got harder to put it down, and the book took off for me. The first 100 pages are so are used to set up the story, and set up the series, so there are a few things to keep straight, but you're not overloaded. This story reads a lot like a Karen Rose book--lots of good suspense with a creepy, evil villain (although not as diabolical as a Rose villain), and strong characters ( a newspaper reporter heroine; a hero who uses his psychic gifts to help solve crimes) to root for. Although I must admit, I think the victims upstaged the H/h in this book--whenever the teenage victim was written about, the book became more interesting and suspenseful for me. I was a little disappointed in the romance between the H/h--there just wasn't enough for me. I understand why there realistically couldn't be more--they were in the middle of trying to solve a kidnapping of a teenage girl before it developed into a murder, and they couldn't very well jump in the sack whenever the spirit moved them...but still...afterward, I was hoping for a little more.
The plot in a nutshell: handsome, brooding Aidan McConnell has psychic powers that he uses to help solve crimes, and is quite well-known. But when an investigation goes wrong, he is made a scapegoat by reporters and the family of the young victim. He retreats from his home in Savannah and becomes a recluse in the small town of Granville, 50 miles away. He's had it with getting involved in missing persons investigations, and just wants to be left alone--especially by reporters.
Lexie Nolan is a newspaper reporter in Granville, and she believes there's a serial killer on the loose. Teenage girls have been disappearing, but no one seems to care since they've all been from the 'wrong side' of town. The locals and the police chief all look the other way, calling the girls trashy runaways, because they refuse to believe that anything like that could happen in their little community. When she writes an article about what she believes is happening, she's ostracized from the townfolk and threatened. Luckily her boss at the newspaper agrees that something fishy is going on--Granville seems to be hiding lots of secrets, and he agrees that Lexie should delve a little deeper. When yet another teen disappears (a young scholar from the wrong side of the tracks,Vonnie Jackson)--one who is a friend of his teenage twin daughters-- he suggests she try to get the help of the town's newest resident, the renowned, but reluctant physchic, Aidan McConnell. Will Aidan put his disgust of reporters aside and help the feisty, beautiful Lexie find Vonnie and help her figure out what kind of evil is permeating the town of Granville?
Cold Sight was a very well-written romantic suspense. Lexie and Aidan had chemistry and had some verbal sparring going on at first, and Lexie was able to charm and impress Aidan enough to agree to help her. When the case took a more personal turn for Lexie, Aidan called in his friends and former co-workers from Savannah for help, and the reader gets to meet a handful of fellow psychic investigators (each with their own unique skills) who will surely have their own stories told in the future. As Lexie and Aidan get closer, and when Lexie's life is on the line, they agree that their feelings are beyond friendship--and their relationship does turn physical. The one love scene in the book was well-done and certainly hot enough, but it left me wishing for more between Aidan and Lexie. After the case was solved and they had time to explore the relationship, I was hoping for more 'spelled-out' romance scenes, but that was not to be. It was a case of tell-but-don't-show, which left me a wee bit disappointed. Still, a very good first effort in a new series. It did keep me guessing about who the villain was, and it did serve up a sad shocker that I didn't see coming. I liked the H/h well enough, and the fellow psychics all seem like they'd have some interesting stories to tell. I wish there was a bit more romance in the book, but that's the way it is with RS--sometimes an RS is heavier on the suspense. If it's as well-done as "Cold Sight", then you live with it. I'll definitely be checking out the second in the series, Cold Touch, and be hoping for a bit more romance. 4 stars
The plot in a nutshell: handsome, brooding Aidan McConnell has psychic powers that he uses to help solve crimes, and is quite well-known. But when an investigation goes wrong, he is made a scapegoat by reporters and the family of the young victim. He retreats from his home in Savannah and becomes a recluse in the small town of Granville, 50 miles away. He's had it with getting involved in missing persons investigations, and just wants to be left alone--especially by reporters.
Lexie Nolan is a newspaper reporter in Granville, and she believes there's a serial killer on the loose. Teenage girls have been disappearing, but no one seems to care since they've all been from the 'wrong side' of town. The locals and the police chief all look the other way, calling the girls trashy runaways, because they refuse to believe that anything like that could happen in their little community. When she writes an article about what she believes is happening, she's ostracized from the townfolk and threatened. Luckily her boss at the newspaper agrees that something fishy is going on--Granville seems to be hiding lots of secrets, and he agrees that Lexie should delve a little deeper. When yet another teen disappears (a young scholar from the wrong side of the tracks,Vonnie Jackson)--one who is a friend of his teenage twin daughters-- he suggests she try to get the help of the town's newest resident, the renowned, but reluctant physchic, Aidan McConnell. Will Aidan put his disgust of reporters aside and help the feisty, beautiful Lexie find Vonnie and help her figure out what kind of evil is permeating the town of Granville?
Cold Sight was a very well-written romantic suspense. Lexie and Aidan had chemistry and had some verbal sparring going on at first, and Lexie was able to charm and impress Aidan enough to agree to help her. When the case took a more personal turn for Lexie, Aidan called in his friends and former co-workers from Savannah for help, and the reader gets to meet a handful of fellow psychic investigators (each with their own unique skills) who will surely have their own stories told in the future. As Lexie and Aidan get closer, and when Lexie's life is on the line, they agree that their feelings are beyond friendship--and their relationship does turn physical. The one love scene in the book was well-done and certainly hot enough, but it left me wishing for more between Aidan and Lexie. After the case was solved and they had time to explore the relationship, I was hoping for more 'spelled-out' romance scenes, but that was not to be. It was a case of tell-but-don't-show, which left me a wee bit disappointed. Still, a very good first effort in a new series. It did keep me guessing about who the villain was, and it did serve up a sad shocker that I didn't see coming. I liked the H/h well enough, and the fellow psychics all seem like they'd have some interesting stories to tell. I wish there was a bit more romance in the book, but that's the way it is with RS--sometimes an RS is heavier on the suspense. If it's as well-done as "Cold Sight", then you live with it. I'll definitely be checking out the second in the series, Cold Touch, and be hoping for a bit more romance. 4 stars
November 12, 2020
Wow! Amazing story! The characters, the story line, and the writing is amazing!
review to follow
review to follow
August 24, 2015
Cold Sight
4 Stars
Girls are disappearing in the seemingly quiet town of Granville, Georgia, but the only one interested is reporter Lexie Nolan. After another girl is abducted, Lexie turns to disgraced psychic, Aidan McConnell for help and the two soon find themselves embroiled in a web of deceit that is about to hit a little too close to home…
Well-written characters, a solid romance and an intense suspense plot.
Lexie and Aidan's push/pull vibe is very appealing and their interactions are believable despite the relatively short timeline. They have both suffered set backs in their pasts, but Lexie is just the direct, no-nonsense type that Aidan needs to force him to take that much needed step toward trusting another person.
The other XI members, each with their own unique ability, are intriguing. Unfortunately, it seems that there is only one more book in the series, which is disappointing as the characters are compelling enough for them to have their own stories.
The serial killer plot is gripping from the outset with clever use of multiple POVs to heighten the tension and suspense. While the paranormal elements are quite subtle, they are put to good use in the story, especially the connection between Aidan’s abilities and his sense of smell, which is original, visceral and immersing. That said, the descriptions of the crimes are dark and gritty so the book may not appeal to all readers.
All in all, an entertaining read for those who enjoy a little paranormal with their mystery and romance.
4 Stars
Girls are disappearing in the seemingly quiet town of Granville, Georgia, but the only one interested is reporter Lexie Nolan. After another girl is abducted, Lexie turns to disgraced psychic, Aidan McConnell for help and the two soon find themselves embroiled in a web of deceit that is about to hit a little too close to home…
Well-written characters, a solid romance and an intense suspense plot.
Lexie and Aidan's push/pull vibe is very appealing and their interactions are believable despite the relatively short timeline. They have both suffered set backs in their pasts, but Lexie is just the direct, no-nonsense type that Aidan needs to force him to take that much needed step toward trusting another person.
The other XI members, each with their own unique ability, are intriguing. Unfortunately, it seems that there is only one more book in the series, which is disappointing as the characters are compelling enough for them to have their own stories.
The serial killer plot is gripping from the outset with clever use of multiple POVs to heighten the tension and suspense. While the paranormal elements are quite subtle, they are put to good use in the story, especially the connection between Aidan’s abilities and his sense of smell, which is original, visceral and immersing. That said, the descriptions of the crimes are dark and gritty so the book may not appeal to all readers.
All in all, an entertaining read for those who enjoy a little paranormal with their mystery and romance.
May 29, 2017
Awesome read...a murder mystery/thriller suspense novel but also a romantic suspense and the the whole thing worked fabulously. The writing was excellent the story kept moving and didn't drag at all the secondary characters were fully fleshed out and you cared about them. The mystery/who dun it aspect was amazing, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Totally recommend for those who love mystery thrillers and a suspense romance...was excellent!
Totally recommend for those who love mystery thrillers and a suspense romance...was excellent!
August 23, 2010
Yet another highly enjoyable romantic suspense read by Leslie Parrish (aka Leslie Kelly). I really loved her Black CATs trilogy and was looking forward to the first book in this new series. Parrish didn't disappoint. This book was almost a 5-star read.
Series Note:
First book in Parrish's new light paranormal romantic suspense series (Extrasensory Agents) about investigators that possess various 6th sense abilities.
Summary:
Lexie Nolan is a reporter in a small Georgia town who starts investigating the disappearances of many "wrong side of the tracks" teenage girls. The cops and prominent townsfolk believe they are just runaways, but Lexie believes something sinister is going on in town. Her story incites mass panic...until the police chief manages to make her look like an idiot and discredit her. She's forced to drop the issue...but she never forgets.
The another girl disappears and this time people aren't so willing to look the other way. Lexie's back on the case and she turns to local recluse Aidan McConnell. Aidan is a psychic whose last case went terribly. He moved to Granville and has kept to himself, determined to never put himself out there again. Then Lexie shows up on his turn, pleading for his help. Reluctantly, he agrees. Soon the two are realizing that some very bad stuff is happening in Granville. And along the way, the two realize that perhaps they're made for each other.
Review:
This was a fantastically creepy story, a la Karen Rose and Beverly Barton. Parrish had me hooked in right from the very start. I was sucked into the mystery and wanting to know more. That's a great way for a romantic suspense book to start. And it kept up throughout the book. It's a creepy, dark tale that keeps you guessing and keeps you reading. The bad guy isn't obvious at all and I was kept in suspense throughout the story, wondering what was going on, who was doing what, and how it would all work out. I just wanted to keep reading to see where the story would go. So top marks on that aspect of the story.
The romance was solid as well. I really liked both Aidan and Lexie. Both are strong yet vulnerable characters that find something in each other that they need. They have a great connection and I didn't feel the romance aspect was lacking at all. And there's just enough spice to the sex to make it yummy ;)
I also loved the supporting cast and the setup for the rest of the series. There's a great cast of characters here with a lot of potential for the future stories. Parrish has me hooked on wanting to know more about them and what will happen in their stories.
There's also a brutally sad part of the book near the end. I so wasn't expecting what happened there. It had me in tears a time or too. Just so sad. Even though I kinda hated that it happened, Parrish wrote it very well. And I'd love to see a return of Taylor someday in a future book. She'd make a fantastic tragic heroine, I think.
There were a couple of areas that I thought the book could have been better. Two minor issues that didn't really affect my enjoyment of the story. First, though the romance was good, it was a bit too in-the-moment, too built on what was going on in the story. I would have liked a little more connection between the characters with them getting to know more about each other. It was a minor thing, but something I noticed. Second, there were a few times that the suspense aspect dragged now and again. Like I was waiting a little too long for the action to pick up. Again, a minor thing that was noticeable, but not critical.
Really, the only major criticism I have was the plot resolution at the end, and a related detail. I felt like there was a little too much left hanging. Or maybe not left hanging because everything was resolved, but rather that I was left wondering about related issues. Like what happened to all the members of the Club? You know they were caught, but what then? And I wanted to know more about the main bad guy, more about his past...how many other girls had he killed? What did he do with the bodies? How long had he been killing? Etc. I wanted to know these things to make the resolution more solid.
And there was also this thing at the end where Aidan finds an answer to a past case that had caused the personal crisis that led him to seclude himself. I suspected what that answer was from the beginning, but when it comes out at the end, it's left handing. With Aidan and Lexie just saying they'll do whatever it takes to get justice. I wanted more than that. That case is so huge to who Aidan is now and I wanted a big resolution to that issue. And okay, I realize that it wouldn't fit in the book, but at the same time, it left me frustrated at the end not to get that big resolution. Honestly, I think it would make a great story for a second book featuring Lexie and Aidan. There's a lot of potential in that story. I'd love to read it.
So really, the wrap-up at the end was the only thing that for me needed some improvement. Otherwise, it was a really great romantic suspense read. I read through it in a snap because I just wanted to keep reading. I'm really looking forward to more in this series.
WARNING, this story contains: dark themes of teenage abduction and abuse, murder, references to molestation of children and teenagers. So don't read if you can't handle story themes like that.
Series Note:
First book in Parrish's new light paranormal romantic suspense series (Extrasensory Agents) about investigators that possess various 6th sense abilities.
Summary:
Lexie Nolan is a reporter in a small Georgia town who starts investigating the disappearances of many "wrong side of the tracks" teenage girls. The cops and prominent townsfolk believe they are just runaways, but Lexie believes something sinister is going on in town. Her story incites mass panic...until the police chief manages to make her look like an idiot and discredit her. She's forced to drop the issue...but she never forgets.
The another girl disappears and this time people aren't so willing to look the other way. Lexie's back on the case and she turns to local recluse Aidan McConnell. Aidan is a psychic whose last case went terribly. He moved to Granville and has kept to himself, determined to never put himself out there again. Then Lexie shows up on his turn, pleading for his help. Reluctantly, he agrees. Soon the two are realizing that some very bad stuff is happening in Granville. And along the way, the two realize that perhaps they're made for each other.
Review:
This was a fantastically creepy story, a la Karen Rose and Beverly Barton. Parrish had me hooked in right from the very start. I was sucked into the mystery and wanting to know more. That's a great way for a romantic suspense book to start. And it kept up throughout the book. It's a creepy, dark tale that keeps you guessing and keeps you reading. The bad guy isn't obvious at all and I was kept in suspense throughout the story, wondering what was going on, who was doing what, and how it would all work out. I just wanted to keep reading to see where the story would go. So top marks on that aspect of the story.
The romance was solid as well. I really liked both Aidan and Lexie. Both are strong yet vulnerable characters that find something in each other that they need. They have a great connection and I didn't feel the romance aspect was lacking at all. And there's just enough spice to the sex to make it yummy ;)
I also loved the supporting cast and the setup for the rest of the series. There's a great cast of characters here with a lot of potential for the future stories. Parrish has me hooked on wanting to know more about them and what will happen in their stories.
There's also a brutally sad part of the book near the end. I so wasn't expecting what happened there. It had me in tears a time or too. Just so sad. Even though I kinda hated that it happened, Parrish wrote it very well. And I'd love to see a return of Taylor someday in a future book. She'd make a fantastic tragic heroine, I think.
There were a couple of areas that I thought the book could have been better. Two minor issues that didn't really affect my enjoyment of the story. First, though the romance was good, it was a bit too in-the-moment, too built on what was going on in the story. I would have liked a little more connection between the characters with them getting to know more about each other. It was a minor thing, but something I noticed. Second, there were a few times that the suspense aspect dragged now and again. Like I was waiting a little too long for the action to pick up. Again, a minor thing that was noticeable, but not critical.
Really, the only major criticism I have was the plot resolution at the end, and a related detail. I felt like there was a little too much left hanging. Or maybe not left hanging because everything was resolved, but rather that I was left wondering about related issues. Like what happened to all the members of the Club? You know they were caught, but what then? And I wanted to know more about the main bad guy, more about his past...how many other girls had he killed? What did he do with the bodies? How long had he been killing? Etc. I wanted to know these things to make the resolution more solid.
And there was also this thing at the end where Aidan finds an answer to a past case that had caused the personal crisis that led him to seclude himself. I suspected what that answer was from the beginning, but when it comes out at the end, it's left handing. With Aidan and Lexie just saying they'll do whatever it takes to get justice. I wanted more than that. That case is so huge to who Aidan is now and I wanted a big resolution to that issue. And okay, I realize that it wouldn't fit in the book, but at the same time, it left me frustrated at the end not to get that big resolution. Honestly, I think it would make a great story for a second book featuring Lexie and Aidan. There's a lot of potential in that story. I'd love to read it.
So really, the wrap-up at the end was the only thing that for me needed some improvement. Otherwise, it was a really great romantic suspense read. I read through it in a snap because I just wanted to keep reading. I'm really looking forward to more in this series.
WARNING, this story contains: dark themes of teenage abduction and abuse, murder, references to molestation of children and teenagers. So don't read if you can't handle story themes like that.
September 3, 2010
In a nutshell: The thriller aspect of the book was a rush. Romantic aspect, OK. I'm glad the RRRC group picked this; I probably wouldn't have found it otherwise.
Allow me to begin by saying that if one were to ask me whether I'd recommend this book, I'd suggest reading this book more for the suspense aspect than the romance.
Now that that's out of the way. :o) This book follows multiple perspectives of the residents in the sleepy town of Granville Georgia: chiefly those of clairvoyant Aiden McConnall and reporter Lexie Nolan. Aiden has been hiding from the public eye ever since he botched a missing-person case that ended in a child's death. He was ripped to shreds by sensationalist journalists, left with nothing but nightmares and a load of guilt. Lexie Nolan is unsurprisingly an unwelcome (and unexpected) addition to his life. She too has been disgraced in a way, having had her most recent expose declared false and misleading. But Lexie is convinced she's right about a string of abductions of local, poor young women.
Now, as the reader, we are not in doubt that Lexie's right about her suspicions; the book begins with a chilling look into the mind of the latest abductee. I'll put an emphasis on "chilling," because this book is at it's most jarring when we're following the victim, or even the killer. The tension is near constant, with a big emphasis on time: the exact hour is noted at the beginning of each section or chapter, and many situations occur simultaneously. The author is good at pulling the rug from under you, leaving you feeling that "no one is safe" and that the evil might win some battles, regardless of how they'll fare in the greater "war." I really felt the suffering and anguish of the victims, as well as the sickness and desperation of the perp. I actually had a nervous pit in my tummy as I read the final act!
There were a few instances of what I thought were character contradictions. I'd prefer to keep this review spoiler free, so I'll simply say that some characters' behaviors--granted, in only a few cases--had me like "but…that don't make no sense, though!" ^__^ (Read the book, I'd love to discuss!)
As I mentioned at the start of this review, my own classification of this book is as a mystery/thriller with a layer of romance and sprinkle of sensuality. Though I felt connection with the hero and heroine, and though theirs was a sweet romance, it wasn't that compelling an element.
The supporting characters from the eXtreme Investigations group--who are brought into the proceedings by Aiden--are all interesting. Each one saddled with an amazing but double-edged ability, they'll most certainly make for some great material in future books. I most certainly look forward to it.
Allow me to begin by saying that if one were to ask me whether I'd recommend this book, I'd suggest reading this book more for the suspense aspect than the romance.
Now that that's out of the way. :o) This book follows multiple perspectives of the residents in the sleepy town of Granville Georgia: chiefly those of clairvoyant Aiden McConnall and reporter Lexie Nolan. Aiden has been hiding from the public eye ever since he botched a missing-person case that ended in a child's death. He was ripped to shreds by sensationalist journalists, left with nothing but nightmares and a load of guilt. Lexie Nolan is unsurprisingly an unwelcome (and unexpected) addition to his life. She too has been disgraced in a way, having had her most recent expose declared false and misleading. But Lexie is convinced she's right about a string of abductions of local, poor young women.
Now, as the reader, we are not in doubt that Lexie's right about her suspicions; the book begins with a chilling look into the mind of the latest abductee. I'll put an emphasis on "chilling," because this book is at it's most jarring when we're following the victim, or even the killer. The tension is near constant, with a big emphasis on time: the exact hour is noted at the beginning of each section or chapter, and many situations occur simultaneously. The author is good at pulling the rug from under you, leaving you feeling that "no one is safe" and that the evil might win some battles, regardless of how they'll fare in the greater "war." I really felt the suffering and anguish of the victims, as well as the sickness and desperation of the perp. I actually had a nervous pit in my tummy as I read the final act!
There were a few instances of what I thought were character contradictions. I'd prefer to keep this review spoiler free, so I'll simply say that some characters' behaviors--granted, in only a few cases--had me like "but…that don't make no sense, though!" ^__^ (Read the book, I'd love to discuss!)
As I mentioned at the start of this review, my own classification of this book is as a mystery/thriller with a layer of romance and sprinkle of sensuality. Though I felt connection with the hero and heroine, and though theirs was a sweet romance, it wasn't that compelling an element.
The supporting characters from the eXtreme Investigations group--who are brought into the proceedings by Aiden--are all interesting. Each one saddled with an amazing but double-edged ability, they'll most certainly make for some great material in future books. I most certainly look forward to it.
September 22, 2014
Great way to start a series. This was really well written. Had me hooked from page one. Love the mystery aspect and man I was so wrong on who the baddie was. Darn it! lol Actually I am glad I was wrong cause I kinda liked this person. This book had truly sick people in it. Talk about passing down your sickness to your children. It was disturbing. That was just part of the mystery. There was also the serial killer aspect as well. One leads into the other . The H/h were so great together. Loved that there was the instant attraction but not instant love. I was really saddened by one event that had happened. Wow I was really hoping that it wouldn't turn out that way but, it did and it was so sad. That scene where they don't even know who she is?? That was so freaking sad. It brought tears to my eyes. I can just see it playing out in my head.
Overall loved it and cant wait to get my hands on the next one.
Overall loved it and cant wait to get my hands on the next one.
February 15, 2017
Granville, Georgia is plagued by a serial killer...Or is it? When reporter Lexie Nolan ran the story of several teenage girl gone missing, she was shut down, and almost lost her job, while the chief of police and all the prominent citizens claimed the missing teens were just runaways. Especially since they were from the “bad part of town”.
Well, the Ghoul, as some have dubbed the presumed serial killer, has struck again. This time kidnapping a girl from the bad part of town going to school in the good part of town. The police and the public can no longer hide from the truth...Or can they? Just to be sure, Lexie enlists the help of Aidan McConnell, a psychic investigator ran out of Savannah after a case gone bad, resulting in the death of a child. It’s tough getting him on board, but once he’s hooked, there’s no chance he won’t see this through.
But someone doesn’t want Lexie and Aidan poking around. Because something is obviously wrong in this quaint little town, something that just might put the serial killer to shame with its darkness and longevity. Because Granville reeks of dark secrets, and the serial killer just might expose them all.
Though this is categorized as romantic suspense, I’d say this is more along the lines of a thriller with some (rather strong) romantic undertones. It was dark, compelling, chilling, edgy, intriguing, a little sick (especially in that basement and clubhouse), and a lot twisted. I thought Ms. Parrish’s Black CATs trilogy was dark, but it has nothing on this book. Also, the Black CATs stories were sort of 50-50 on romance and suspense, while here the percentage was highly in favor of the suspense.
The driving force, at least for me, wasn’t the “less-exposed” romance, though it played a major role, bringing Lexie and Aidan together, binding them, creating a powerful team, it wasn’t the aforementioned two leads, it wasn’t even the twisted killer or the sick and dark “little town secret”, it was the strong, determined, unbreakable personality of the Ghoul’s latest victim, Yvonne “Vonnie” Jackson. Though a secondary character, relegated into the role of the victim, she was the glue that brought everything together, she was the catalyst for this story, and its true heart.
The reader gets to know the killer, observe her prison through her eyes, experiences everything as she experiences it, and has no choice but admire the strength of her character, her determination to get free no matter what, her stubborn refusal to let the villain win. And it is also her slight connection to Aidan that pulls him into the investigation, gets him to trust Lexie, makes him forget all his misgivings and self-doubt, and dive into the case head-on. Yes, the killer started it all by kidnapping her, but it was Vonnie that drove the story forward.
Ms. Kelly did an amazing job in creating such a realistic character and giving her the opportunity to (almost) outshine the leads. Despite everything, to me, this was more Vonnie’s story than anything else.
Not that I didn’t love the romance subplot. Far from it. The sparks between Lexie and Aidan flew from the get-go, the tension and attraction was almost palpable and it was just a matter of time before they both gave in. Their “psychic” connection gave their story a little otherworldly feel (and a little "explanation" to the rushed-in feeling, but still it retained an elusive believability. Marvelously done.
The same goes for the main suspense arc. The killer was deliciously twisted, a complete psycho with a sadistic streak a mile wide, but it was still a true pleasure to read, and the villain’s identity remained a secret until Ms. Kelly decided to reveal it, which was a nice respite from the usual suspense fare where the bad guy is obvious from the first chapter.
The “Hellfire Club” sub-sub-plot was sick and twisted as well, though the resolution was rather lacking, but maybe we haven’t seen the end of the Club just yet. Here’s hoping.
And now to the whole series stuff. Unlike many first-book-in-a-series books, this one wasn’t rife with world building and introductions of characters, but instead provided mere tidbits of the characters’ pasts and abilities, but that was enough to get to know them and whet the reader’s appetite for more. I’m already itching to read more about the EA investigative team and their abilities.
Lastly, despite the “darkness”, I don’t think this is a “mood book”, having to read it when the mood is just right. You can pick it up at any time, it’ll pull you in from the first page and won’t spit you out until the very end. Even when a scene was a bit too much to take and I wanted to put it down, I simply couldn’t. Something compelled me to keep reading, although the pacing was a bit slower on the re-read.
I also liked the short story in the end, about Aidan's first meeting Julia and getting “invited” into the Extrasensory Agents team.
Well, the Ghoul, as some have dubbed the presumed serial killer, has struck again. This time kidnapping a girl from the bad part of town going to school in the good part of town. The police and the public can no longer hide from the truth...Or can they? Just to be sure, Lexie enlists the help of Aidan McConnell, a psychic investigator ran out of Savannah after a case gone bad, resulting in the death of a child. It’s tough getting him on board, but once he’s hooked, there’s no chance he won’t see this through.
But someone doesn’t want Lexie and Aidan poking around. Because something is obviously wrong in this quaint little town, something that just might put the serial killer to shame with its darkness and longevity. Because Granville reeks of dark secrets, and the serial killer just might expose them all.
Though this is categorized as romantic suspense, I’d say this is more along the lines of a thriller with some (rather strong) romantic undertones. It was dark, compelling, chilling, edgy, intriguing, a little sick (especially in that basement and clubhouse), and a lot twisted. I thought Ms. Parrish’s Black CATs trilogy was dark, but it has nothing on this book. Also, the Black CATs stories were sort of 50-50 on romance and suspense, while here the percentage was highly in favor of the suspense.
The driving force, at least for me, wasn’t the “less-exposed” romance, though it played a major role, bringing Lexie and Aidan together, binding them, creating a powerful team, it wasn’t the aforementioned two leads, it wasn’t even the twisted killer or the sick and dark “little town secret”, it was the strong, determined, unbreakable personality of the Ghoul’s latest victim, Yvonne “Vonnie” Jackson. Though a secondary character, relegated into the role of the victim, she was the glue that brought everything together, she was the catalyst for this story, and its true heart.
The reader gets to know the killer, observe her prison through her eyes, experiences everything as she experiences it, and has no choice but admire the strength of her character, her determination to get free no matter what, her stubborn refusal to let the villain win. And it is also her slight connection to Aidan that pulls him into the investigation, gets him to trust Lexie, makes him forget all his misgivings and self-doubt, and dive into the case head-on. Yes, the killer started it all by kidnapping her, but it was Vonnie that drove the story forward.
Ms. Kelly did an amazing job in creating such a realistic character and giving her the opportunity to (almost) outshine the leads. Despite everything, to me, this was more Vonnie’s story than anything else.
Not that I didn’t love the romance subplot. Far from it. The sparks between Lexie and Aidan flew from the get-go, the tension and attraction was almost palpable and it was just a matter of time before they both gave in. Their “psychic” connection gave their story a little otherworldly feel (and a little "explanation" to the rushed-in feeling, but still it retained an elusive believability. Marvelously done.
The same goes for the main suspense arc. The killer was deliciously twisted, a complete psycho with a sadistic streak a mile wide, but it was still a true pleasure to read, and the villain’s identity remained a secret until Ms. Kelly decided to reveal it, which was a nice respite from the usual suspense fare where the bad guy is obvious from the first chapter.
The “Hellfire Club” sub-sub-plot was sick and twisted as well, though the resolution was rather lacking, but maybe we haven’t seen the end of the Club just yet. Here’s hoping.
And now to the whole series stuff. Unlike many first-book-in-a-series books, this one wasn’t rife with world building and introductions of characters, but instead provided mere tidbits of the characters’ pasts and abilities, but that was enough to get to know them and whet the reader’s appetite for more. I’m already itching to read more about the EA investigative team and their abilities.
Lastly, despite the “darkness”, I don’t think this is a “mood book”, having to read it when the mood is just right. You can pick it up at any time, it’ll pull you in from the first page and won’t spit you out until the very end. Even when a scene was a bit too much to take and I wanted to put it down, I simply couldn’t. Something compelled me to keep reading, although the pacing was a bit slower on the re-read.
I also liked the short story in the end, about Aidan's first meeting Julia and getting “invited” into the Extrasensory Agents team.
July 8, 2010
Granville, Georgia is plagued by a serial killer…Or is it? When reporter Lexie Nolan ran the story of several teenage girl gone missing, she was shut down, and almost lost her job, while the chief of police and all the prominent citizens claimed the missing teens were just runaways. Especially since they were from the “bad part of town”.
Well, the Ghoul, as some have dubbed the presumed serial killer has struck again. This time kidnapping a girl from the bad part of town going to school in the good part of town. The police and the public can no longer hide from the truth…Or can they? Just to be sure, Lexie enlists the help of Aidan McConnell, a psychic investigator ran out of Savannah by a case gone bad, resulting in the death of a child. It’s tough getting him on board, but once he’s hooked, there’s no chance he won’t see this through.
But someone doesn’t want Lexie and Aidan poking around. Because something is obviously wrong in this quaint little town, something that just might put the serial killer to shame with its darkness and longevity. Because Granville reeks of dark secrets, and the serial killer just might expose them all.
Though this is categorized as romantic suspense, I’d say this is more along the lines of a thriller with some (rather strong) romantic undertones. It was dark, compelling, chilling, edgy, intriguing, a little sick (especially in that basement and clubhouse), and a lot twisted. I thought Ms. Parrish’s Black CATs trilogy was dark, but it has nothing on this book. Also, the Black CATs stories were sort of 50-50 on romance and suspense, while here the percentage was highly in favor of the suspense.
The driving force, at least for me, wasn’t the “less-exposed” romance, though it played a major role, bringing Lexie and Aidan together, binding them, creating a powerful team, it wasn’t the aforementioned two leads, it wasn’t even the twisted killer or the sick and dark “little town secret”, it was the strong, determined, unbreakable personality of the Ghoul’s latest victim, Yvonne “Vonnie” Jackson. Though a secondary character, relegated into the role of the victim, she was the glue that brought everything together, she was the catalyst for this story, and its true heart.
The reader gets to know the killer, observe her prison through her eyes, experiences everything as she experiences it, and has no choice but admire the strength of her character, her determination to get free no matter what, her stubborn refusal to let the villain win. And it is also her slight connection to Aidan that pulls him into the investigation, gets him to trust Lexie, makes him forget all his misgivings and self-doubt, and dive into the case head-on. Yes, the killer started it all by kidnapping her, but it was Vonnie that drove the story forward.
Ms. Parrish did an amazing job in creating such a realistic character and giving her the opportunity to (almost) outshine the leads. Despite everything, to me, this was more Vonnie’s story than anything else.
Not that I didn’t love the romance subplot. Far from it. The sparks between Lexie and Aidan flew from the get-go, the tension and attraction was almost palpable and it was just a matter of time before they both gave in. Their “psychic” connection gave their story a little otherworldly feel, but still retained that elusive believability and realism. Marvelously done.
The same goes for the main suspense arc. The killer was deliciously twisted, a complete psycho with a sadistic streak a mile wide, but it was still a true pleasure to read, and the villain’s identity remained a secret until Ms. Parrish decided to reveal it, which was a nice respite from the usual suspense fare where the bad guy is obvious from the first chapter.
The “Hellfire Club” sub-sub-plot was sick and twisted as well, though the resolution was rather lacking, but maybe we haven’t seen the end of the Club just yet. Here’s hoping.
And now to the whole series stuff. Unlike many first-book-in-a-series books, this one wasn’t rife with world building and introductions of characters, but instead provided mere tidbits of the characters’ pasts and abilities, but that was enough to get to know them and whet the reader’s appetite for more. I’m already itching to read more about the XI investigative team and their abilities. April and Olivia’s story is too far away for my taste.
Lastly, despite the “darkness”, I don’t think this is a “mood book”, having to read it when the mood is just right. You can pick it up at any time, it’ll pull you in from the first page and won’t spit you out until the very end. Even when a scene was a bit too much to take and I wanted to put it down, I simply couldn’t. Something compelled me to keep reading. A true page turner. Can’t wait for more.
Well, the Ghoul, as some have dubbed the presumed serial killer has struck again. This time kidnapping a girl from the bad part of town going to school in the good part of town. The police and the public can no longer hide from the truth…Or can they? Just to be sure, Lexie enlists the help of Aidan McConnell, a psychic investigator ran out of Savannah by a case gone bad, resulting in the death of a child. It’s tough getting him on board, but once he’s hooked, there’s no chance he won’t see this through.
But someone doesn’t want Lexie and Aidan poking around. Because something is obviously wrong in this quaint little town, something that just might put the serial killer to shame with its darkness and longevity. Because Granville reeks of dark secrets, and the serial killer just might expose them all.
Though this is categorized as romantic suspense, I’d say this is more along the lines of a thriller with some (rather strong) romantic undertones. It was dark, compelling, chilling, edgy, intriguing, a little sick (especially in that basement and clubhouse), and a lot twisted. I thought Ms. Parrish’s Black CATs trilogy was dark, but it has nothing on this book. Also, the Black CATs stories were sort of 50-50 on romance and suspense, while here the percentage was highly in favor of the suspense.
The driving force, at least for me, wasn’t the “less-exposed” romance, though it played a major role, bringing Lexie and Aidan together, binding them, creating a powerful team, it wasn’t the aforementioned two leads, it wasn’t even the twisted killer or the sick and dark “little town secret”, it was the strong, determined, unbreakable personality of the Ghoul’s latest victim, Yvonne “Vonnie” Jackson. Though a secondary character, relegated into the role of the victim, she was the glue that brought everything together, she was the catalyst for this story, and its true heart.
The reader gets to know the killer, observe her prison through her eyes, experiences everything as she experiences it, and has no choice but admire the strength of her character, her determination to get free no matter what, her stubborn refusal to let the villain win. And it is also her slight connection to Aidan that pulls him into the investigation, gets him to trust Lexie, makes him forget all his misgivings and self-doubt, and dive into the case head-on. Yes, the killer started it all by kidnapping her, but it was Vonnie that drove the story forward.
Ms. Parrish did an amazing job in creating such a realistic character and giving her the opportunity to (almost) outshine the leads. Despite everything, to me, this was more Vonnie’s story than anything else.
Not that I didn’t love the romance subplot. Far from it. The sparks between Lexie and Aidan flew from the get-go, the tension and attraction was almost palpable and it was just a matter of time before they both gave in. Their “psychic” connection gave their story a little otherworldly feel, but still retained that elusive believability and realism. Marvelously done.
The same goes for the main suspense arc. The killer was deliciously twisted, a complete psycho with a sadistic streak a mile wide, but it was still a true pleasure to read, and the villain’s identity remained a secret until Ms. Parrish decided to reveal it, which was a nice respite from the usual suspense fare where the bad guy is obvious from the first chapter.
The “Hellfire Club” sub-sub-plot was sick and twisted as well, though the resolution was rather lacking, but maybe we haven’t seen the end of the Club just yet. Here’s hoping.
And now to the whole series stuff. Unlike many first-book-in-a-series books, this one wasn’t rife with world building and introductions of characters, but instead provided mere tidbits of the characters’ pasts and abilities, but that was enough to get to know them and whet the reader’s appetite for more. I’m already itching to read more about the XI investigative team and their abilities. April and Olivia’s story is too far away for my taste.
Lastly, despite the “darkness”, I don’t think this is a “mood book”, having to read it when the mood is just right. You can pick it up at any time, it’ll pull you in from the first page and won’t spit you out until the very end. Even when a scene was a bit too much to take and I wanted to put it down, I simply couldn’t. Something compelled me to keep reading. A true page turner. Can’t wait for more.
December 24, 2015
When Reporter Lexie Nolan did a story on a series of missing teenage girls, the Chief of Police accused her of inventing a serial killer to explain a bunch of runaways. But Lexie isn't about to give up, especially when teenager Vonnie Jackson disappears after an Honors Society meeting at the school. The police want to chalk it up as an other runaway, but Lexie knows there is evil in their midst. Since the cops won't help, Lexie approaches Psychic Detective Aidan McConnell, a handsome recluse who once worked for a paranormal detective agency. Aidan has been living quietly after a botched investigation ended in the death of a young boy. He doesn't want to get involved. But when Lexie shows him the evidence she has pulled together, Aidan agrees to help find Vonnie and the other missing girls.
I liked the story and the characters. Aidan and Lexie strikes sparks off of each other from the moment they meet. With the help of some of Aidan's friends, they find clues to what exactly happened to the missing girls. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series. My rating: 4 Stars.
I liked the story and the characters. Aidan and Lexie strikes sparks off of each other from the moment they meet. With the help of some of Aidan's friends, they find clues to what exactly happened to the missing girls. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series. My rating: 4 Stars.
July 16, 2010
This was an awesome kick off to the series. I thought that Aidian and Lexi were hot together. Aidian used to find missing people and got burned badly and a child was lost. So he became a recluse. Lexi is an upfront and honorable reporter determined to tell the truth and got burned. Now they have to come together on common ground before more young girls are lost. I love these types of paranormal books, with no werewolves, vampires or changelings. Not that I don't like those as well. I also liked that we got a glimpse of the people coming up in the next book. The writing was more mature and more intense than in the Black Cat trilogy. I liked that series, but this one even better, IMO. I am trying to be selective about handing out my 5 stars. Ms. Parrish you earned them from me on this one.
June 23, 2010
This is my first read by Leslie Parrish. Though her previous trilogy got a lot of buzz, I wasn't in the mood for RS at that time, so I skipped them. If they're half as good as this one was, I'm truly sorry for it now.
I had major reservations going in because the heroine is a reporter and we all know I have major reporter issues. But it was almost like Parrish heard all mybitching complaints and customized her reporter to my tastes. She wasn't TSTL, or more interested in advancing her career than anything else. It was very refreshing.
There was a really good balance between mystery and romance. They weren't making out when the bad guy was knocking down the door, but I truly believed the development of their romance.
I had major reservations going in because the heroine is a reporter and we all know I have major reporter issues. But it was almost like Parrish heard all my
There was a really good balance between mystery and romance. They weren't making out when the bad guy was knocking down the door, but I truly believed the development of their romance.
August 6, 2011
Very good romantic suspense with a touch of paranormal
The suspense/mystery was well done. I would have liked a little more focus on the romance, but overall it was an entertaining read. I liked the main characters and was especially impressed by the brave teenager who was kidnapped. What she went through was difficult to read about.
I like the cover design and how they actually picked a guy that looks like the hero in the book. But their marketing department must have a total 'cheesemiester' working for them to write the sad tagline "It's a hot time for a cold crime." LOL
The suspense/mystery was well done. I would have liked a little more focus on the romance, but overall it was an entertaining read. I liked the main characters and was especially impressed by the brave teenager who was kidnapped. What she went through was difficult to read about.
I like the cover design and how they actually picked a guy that looks like the hero in the book. But their marketing department must have a total 'cheesemiester' working for them to write the sad tagline "It's a hot time for a cold crime." LOL
December 11, 2017
From start to finish, the suspense had me turning pages as I tried to figure out who committed the crime. I was on the edge of my seat until the reveal and still didn’t suspect the villain! There is a smidge of romance between Lexie and Aidan that I wish had more development, however the mystery and suspense kept me plenty occupied that the romance was more a cursory afterthought.
April 12, 2018
First book by this author and first time reading a story like this one. I loved it!!
July 6, 2010
Don't you hate it when an author has a great storyline to work with but just doesn't quite tap in to make it amazing? That's how I feel about Cold Sight, the new release by Leslie Parrish. And while this book held great potential with plot and characters, it quite frankly bombed for me after the prologue.
In the prologue, the serial killer is telling bedtime stories, Wes Craven style, to his latest teen victim who he has chained to a bed in a dark, dirty basement. This sets up the latest abduction in the small town of Granville, GA, where reporter Lexie Nolan enters the story. She has known for some time that there is a killer on the loose and after researching for months and writing an article for the Granville Daily Sun about a madman kidnapping local teen girls, she is proved wrong and shot down by the police department and the community at large. Lexie is then demoted from hard-news reporter to covering the local entertainment of the town. She has not accepted that she is wrong about the kidnappings and neither has her boss, Walter Kirby. When the latest teen goes missing, Walter gives Lexie the name of missing persons investigator, Aidan McConnell, to contact for help. Aidan is a psychic investigator who used to work unsolved cold cases with a group known as Extrasensory Agents. He moved to Granville to become a hermit after a botched investigation in Savannah, GA, which lead to the death of a child, for which he is blamed. Aidan can't stand reporters which leads to a heated introduction when Lexie lands on his doorstep, but she holds her own and convinces him to review the case. Both Aidan and Lexie have a connection to the most recent victim and that in turn allows them to form a truce in working together.
Let's start with the positive. The author presented a fairly strong character development for the overall time line (the entire story took place in all of a week). So, the interaction between characters was well established and believable. It was also interesting to see how each agent in the group had a unique and different psychic ability they used in working cases. What didn't grab me was the unseasoned dialogue between the characters and the overall lack of suspense. It lacked a great deal of meatiness which I have come to expect with raw, serial killer, suspense novels. How Lexie and Aidan form a romantic relationship while working the investigation is quite cheesy and the smexy scenes were less than stellar. By the time I got there I was like "whatever, lets get on with catching the killer!" And by the time you got to catching the killer, I was like "whatever, this is just dull." I'm sorry but I have to have more to go on besides a serial killer hiding behind a clown mask to establish motivation and keep me shaking in my boots! We finally learn what is driving him toward the end of the story but by that point, it wraps so quickly it's over and done before you know it. And those are my sentiments with Cold Sight - it's over and done and I'm moving on.
2.5/5 Stars
In the prologue, the serial killer is telling bedtime stories, Wes Craven style, to his latest teen victim who he has chained to a bed in a dark, dirty basement. This sets up the latest abduction in the small town of Granville, GA, where reporter Lexie Nolan enters the story. She has known for some time that there is a killer on the loose and after researching for months and writing an article for the Granville Daily Sun about a madman kidnapping local teen girls, she is proved wrong and shot down by the police department and the community at large. Lexie is then demoted from hard-news reporter to covering the local entertainment of the town. She has not accepted that she is wrong about the kidnappings and neither has her boss, Walter Kirby. When the latest teen goes missing, Walter gives Lexie the name of missing persons investigator, Aidan McConnell, to contact for help. Aidan is a psychic investigator who used to work unsolved cold cases with a group known as Extrasensory Agents. He moved to Granville to become a hermit after a botched investigation in Savannah, GA, which lead to the death of a child, for which he is blamed. Aidan can't stand reporters which leads to a heated introduction when Lexie lands on his doorstep, but she holds her own and convinces him to review the case. Both Aidan and Lexie have a connection to the most recent victim and that in turn allows them to form a truce in working together.
Let's start with the positive. The author presented a fairly strong character development for the overall time line (the entire story took place in all of a week). So, the interaction between characters was well established and believable. It was also interesting to see how each agent in the group had a unique and different psychic ability they used in working cases. What didn't grab me was the unseasoned dialogue between the characters and the overall lack of suspense. It lacked a great deal of meatiness which I have come to expect with raw, serial killer, suspense novels. How Lexie and Aidan form a romantic relationship while working the investigation is quite cheesy and the smexy scenes were less than stellar. By the time I got there I was like "whatever, lets get on with catching the killer!" And by the time you got to catching the killer, I was like "whatever, this is just dull." I'm sorry but I have to have more to go on besides a serial killer hiding behind a clown mask to establish motivation and keep me shaking in my boots! We finally learn what is driving him toward the end of the story but by that point, it wraps so quickly it's over and done before you know it. And those are my sentiments with Cold Sight - it's over and done and I'm moving on.
2.5/5 Stars
August 11, 2011
As much as former psychic investigator Aidan hates reporters - having been 'tried' in the Press for a mistake in his last case - when his small town exile is invaded by local reporter Lexie - who has suffered her own disgrace at the hands of her fellow journalists - Aidan finds himself unable to resist Lexie's plea for help finding a missing girl - and they soon find themselves on the trail of a serial killer who has been behind the disappearances of a suspiciously larger number of 'runaways'.
Okay, I blew it. I saw someone recommend the second book in this series and not realizing that I had both books in the TBR-pile-that-ate-the-world I read story that follows this one first.
The starring pair Lexie and Aidan and the suspense story line in this book are just as good as the leads and the cold case in the second book, Cold Touch, and both stories are written in a way that made me believe in love (and not just lust) at first sight - well maybe not just sight, but that instant connection that goes past the physical. One thing that I noticed in both book is - and remember this is romance with serial killer suspense in the background - that in both stories when the killer takes a victim, it is not done in the moment with gratuous violence but is instead exposed to the reader in the aftermath of the crime in such a way that it is very emotional - both books put tears in my eyes.
I enjoyed Cold Sight as much as I did Cold Touch, and I actually I think that by inadvertantly reading the two books in the wrong order, I probably ended up enjoying Cold Sight more would have if I had read it first. The supporting cast is much better fleshed out in the next book than in this first foray into Parrish's world, so having already gotten to see ghost Morgan interacting with Julia, the demonstration of Mick's talent, and of course witnessing Olivia's gruesome gift up close and personal, and thereby having a good handle on the continuing cast, made this story that much more enjoyable - since we never get to 'see' what they can do first hand in this story. And as far as I can remember there is no downside, Lexie and Aidan are off screen in the next book and I don't believe that anything is mentioned that would be a spoiler for this story.
Despite the fact that I am not a huge suspense fan, I am so impressed with Parrish that I will be on the look out for more in this series - and I will likely be checking out her other series which is straight (no woo woo factor) romantic suspense as well.
Okay, I blew it. I saw someone recommend the second book in this series and not realizing that I had both books in the TBR-pile-that-ate-the-world I read story that follows this one first.
The starring pair Lexie and Aidan and the suspense story line in this book are just as good as the leads and the cold case in the second book, Cold Touch, and both stories are written in a way that made me believe in love (and not just lust) at first sight - well maybe not just sight, but that instant connection that goes past the physical. One thing that I noticed in both book is - and remember this is romance with serial killer suspense in the background - that in both stories when the killer takes a victim, it is not done in the moment with gratuous violence but is instead exposed to the reader in the aftermath of the crime in such a way that it is very emotional - both books put tears in my eyes.
I enjoyed Cold Sight as much as I did Cold Touch, and I actually I think that by inadvertantly reading the two books in the wrong order, I probably ended up enjoying Cold Sight more would have if I had read it first. The supporting cast is much better fleshed out in the next book than in this first foray into Parrish's world, so having already gotten to see ghost Morgan interacting with Julia, the demonstration of Mick's talent, and of course witnessing Olivia's gruesome gift up close and personal, and thereby having a good handle on the continuing cast, made this story that much more enjoyable - since we never get to 'see' what they can do first hand in this story. And as far as I can remember there is no downside, Lexie and Aidan are off screen in the next book and I don't believe that anything is mentioned that would be a spoiler for this story.
Despite the fact that I am not a huge suspense fan, I am so impressed with Parrish that I will be on the look out for more in this series - and I will likely be checking out her other series which is straight (no woo woo factor) romantic suspense as well.
July 2, 2010
Cold Sight : Extrasensory Agents by Leslie Parrish
Paranormal Romance – July 6, 2010
5 Stars
Aidan McConnell, a physic detective, left Savannah for Granville after a botched investigation that left his reputation and conscience in tatters. Unfortunately, his wish of living a peaceful life was not to be. Alexa Nolan, a small time reporter in Granville, believes that there’s a serial killer at large, abducting and killing girls from the poor side of town. When another girl goes missing, Alexa has to race against time to find the killer and save the girl. She seeks out the help of the reclusive and reluctant Aidan and his friends - the extrasensory agents.
Parrish does an amazing job in this novel with her characters that have a witty banter between our hero, Aidan, and the plucky heroine, Alexa. Despite their rocky start, these two characters chemistry is very well-written and fleshed out. Parrish is not a gratuitous writer. The attraction between the two main characters is carefully maintained and lovingly crafted so that it builds up over time. The camaraderie between the Guy and the Girl is so vivid and fun to read that you root for those two to get together in the end, and not just in bed.
Parrish is an amazing writer who has created a very intense thriller and some parts of the book can be quite gruesome. The author is not afraid to push the boundaries and has no qualms about killing off one of the character. The story starts with a bang; from the very first page, she drops you right in the middle of the action and as the reader, you have no choice but to hang on tight and keep reading...or be left wondering. I definitely could not put it down. Parrish’s novel is so compact and tightly written that the plot flows and is so organic. Unlike a lot of poorly written romance thrillers, Parrish does not just focus on sex and uses the plot as a background. You can’t separate the romance from the plot or vice-versa. There are also other relationships going on in the book, from friendships to sisterly love that are equally poignant and well written. Simply put, this is one of those books where you have to read it because it is so good. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment of the Extrasensory Agents series.
Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Paranormal Romance – July 6, 2010
5 Stars
Aidan McConnell, a physic detective, left Savannah for Granville after a botched investigation that left his reputation and conscience in tatters. Unfortunately, his wish of living a peaceful life was not to be. Alexa Nolan, a small time reporter in Granville, believes that there’s a serial killer at large, abducting and killing girls from the poor side of town. When another girl goes missing, Alexa has to race against time to find the killer and save the girl. She seeks out the help of the reclusive and reluctant Aidan and his friends - the extrasensory agents.
Parrish does an amazing job in this novel with her characters that have a witty banter between our hero, Aidan, and the plucky heroine, Alexa. Despite their rocky start, these two characters chemistry is very well-written and fleshed out. Parrish is not a gratuitous writer. The attraction between the two main characters is carefully maintained and lovingly crafted so that it builds up over time. The camaraderie between the Guy and the Girl is so vivid and fun to read that you root for those two to get together in the end, and not just in bed.
Parrish is an amazing writer who has created a very intense thriller and some parts of the book can be quite gruesome. The author is not afraid to push the boundaries and has no qualms about killing off one of the character. The story starts with a bang; from the very first page, she drops you right in the middle of the action and as the reader, you have no choice but to hang on tight and keep reading...or be left wondering. I definitely could not put it down. Parrish’s novel is so compact and tightly written that the plot flows and is so organic. Unlike a lot of poorly written romance thrillers, Parrish does not just focus on sex and uses the plot as a background. You can’t separate the romance from the plot or vice-versa. There are also other relationships going on in the book, from friendships to sisterly love that are equally poignant and well written. Simply put, this is one of those books where you have to read it because it is so good. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment of the Extrasensory Agents series.
Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
August 12, 2011
In the last week I have read a few clunkers. I've been seeing Leslie Parish's Extrasensory Agents series popping up on my Goodreads friend's feed and decided to give it a shot.
Book one is Cold Sight. It is based around Aiden McConnell, a psychic who can connect with people he has had contact with to see, hear, or smell through their senses. It is not always in real time, or real at all. He can also connect to them through their dreams.
Aiden has some issues letting go of guilt from problems with a previous case he worked on with his agency of various psychic talents, and has become somewhat gun shy about pretty much everything. He moved to a small somewhat rural town, and pretty much never left the house for the next year. Then Lexi, a reporter shows up on his doorstep with a new case she is desperate for help on.
In reviews I read that the romance takes a back seat in this book, leaving the crime in the forefront. That is very true. From the first time they have met there was a building tension, and while it grows it is really never a huge part of the story. I think if you removed it all together the book would still work just the same. It would be a horrible mistake to do that though. The relationship between them is very realistic as it moves along, and that makes them both incredible endearing.
The crime and crime solving part of this book is somewhat similar to something I would expect from a cable version of SVU meets CSI. It is pretty gritty and does not hold back. There are more than a few scenes and descriptions that made me cringe. Those were the same ones that made me read the entire book in one day and not be able to put it down until I was done.
The writing was so good. Even though we were dealing with a team of people with various powers everything was so incredibly believable. The characters weren't dancing around singing to everyone about their powers. Everyone was guarded and in some cases even reluctant to use them. The powers didn't make everything easy for them, it just helped them move along. Refreshing to see in a book that involves any sort of powers.
I am going to be jumping right into the second book in this series tonight!
Book one is Cold Sight. It is based around Aiden McConnell, a psychic who can connect with people he has had contact with to see, hear, or smell through their senses. It is not always in real time, or real at all. He can also connect to them through their dreams.
Aiden has some issues letting go of guilt from problems with a previous case he worked on with his agency of various psychic talents, and has become somewhat gun shy about pretty much everything. He moved to a small somewhat rural town, and pretty much never left the house for the next year. Then Lexi, a reporter shows up on his doorstep with a new case she is desperate for help on.
In reviews I read that the romance takes a back seat in this book, leaving the crime in the forefront. That is very true. From the first time they have met there was a building tension, and while it grows it is really never a huge part of the story. I think if you removed it all together the book would still work just the same. It would be a horrible mistake to do that though. The relationship between them is very realistic as it moves along, and that makes them both incredible endearing.
The crime and crime solving part of this book is somewhat similar to something I would expect from a cable version of SVU meets CSI. It is pretty gritty and does not hold back. There are more than a few scenes and descriptions that made me cringe. Those were the same ones that made me read the entire book in one day and not be able to put it down until I was done.
The writing was so good. Even though we were dealing with a team of people with various powers everything was so incredibly believable. The characters weren't dancing around singing to everyone about their powers. Everyone was guarded and in some cases even reluctant to use them. The powers didn't make everything easy for them, it just helped them move along. Refreshing to see in a book that involves any sort of powers.
I am going to be jumping right into the second book in this series tonight!
November 9, 2019
Liked it; was a good read with likable couple.
December 31, 2021
The mystery was pretty intriguing, the romance was meh, the author sure isn’t afraid to hold out on the emotional punches.
A quick engrossing read, perfect for an afternoon curled up on the couch.
A quick engrossing read, perfect for an afternoon curled up on the couch.
November 28, 2020
Cold Sight opens with a psychopath reading bedtime stories to his victim, a teenage girl (Vonnie) chained up in a dingy basement. That’s when I was hooked and needed to finish this ASAP to know what happens to Vonnie. 😨
Aiden is a psychic investigator who used to work with an agency of other Extrasensory Agents with psychic powers in Savannah. After an investigation gone (apparently) wrong, he’s vilified by the press and decides to move to the small town of Granville to stay off the radar.
Lexie is a reporter for the paper in Granville and has been covering the killings of teenage girls from the wrong side of the tracks by a serial killer named the Ghoul. No one seems to care or believe her and she’s forced to retract the story after the Chief of Police forces her to. Her boss, Walter, is on her side though and when Vonnie goes missing, he gives her Aiden’s card to get his help with the case.
After a tense and hostile first meeting because of Aiden’s hatred for the press, they decide to work together after Aiden has a vision of Vonnie.
What follows is a great suspense storyline, frankly a bit scary at times because I could feel the terror and helplessness of the victims. It was heartbreaking to read how the actions of the Ghoul destroyed families. One specific victim of the Ghoul just made me so sad!! The addition of the Hellfire Club to the mix just upped the freaky element and this book made for a very compelling read.
Apart from the main storyline, Aiden and Lexie’s relationship also made me happy! They were so mature in their handling of things, not taking unnecessary risks and going solo. They asked for backup when required, respected each other’s expertise and supported each other. Perfect couple. Also, their chemistry was out of the world!
The only thing I’d want changed is that the book is too short. There are many elements that I wish were explored more. I was hungry for more info on lots of things - like how the Hellfire Club started and what ended up happening to all of them, how the Ghoul started killing, etc.
The other Extrasensory Agents have me curious and I have the next book downloaded and ready to read! 😁
Aiden is a psychic investigator who used to work with an agency of other Extrasensory Agents with psychic powers in Savannah. After an investigation gone (apparently) wrong, he’s vilified by the press and decides to move to the small town of Granville to stay off the radar.
Lexie is a reporter for the paper in Granville and has been covering the killings of teenage girls from the wrong side of the tracks by a serial killer named the Ghoul. No one seems to care or believe her and she’s forced to retract the story after the Chief of Police forces her to. Her boss, Walter, is on her side though and when Vonnie goes missing, he gives her Aiden’s card to get his help with the case.
After a tense and hostile first meeting because of Aiden’s hatred for the press, they decide to work together after Aiden has a vision of Vonnie.
What follows is a great suspense storyline, frankly a bit scary at times because I could feel the terror and helplessness of the victims. It was heartbreaking to read how the actions of the Ghoul destroyed families. One specific victim of the Ghoul just made me so sad!! The addition of the Hellfire Club to the mix just upped the freaky element and this book made for a very compelling read.
Apart from the main storyline, Aiden and Lexie’s relationship also made me happy! They were so mature in their handling of things, not taking unnecessary risks and going solo. They asked for backup when required, respected each other’s expertise and supported each other. Perfect couple. Also, their chemistry was out of the world!
The only thing I’d want changed is that the book is too short. There are many elements that I wish were explored more. I was hungry for more info on lots of things - like how the Hellfire Club started and what ended up happening to all of them, how the Ghoul started killing, etc.
The other Extrasensory Agents have me curious and I have the next book downloaded and ready to read! 😁
May 28, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I believe it is the first book I have read by this author and I have just finished book 3 of this series (review coming). The suspense is well-written as is the romance, but the romance takes a little bit of a back seat to the suspense story, which I am fine with. The suspense tale was very interesting and the romance is more "tell than show", which can be quite refreshing instead of intimate scenes every few pages (although I don't mind those either)! LOL
Another thing I really enjoyed was the interaction between the ESP detectives. They are very supportive of each other and their abilities and I look forward to sharing my thoughts on those books as well.
Another thing I really enjoyed was the interaction between the ESP detectives. They are very supportive of each other and their abilities and I look forward to sharing my thoughts on those books as well.
April 22, 2018
WOW
This clever mystery kept me hanging on from the prologue to the epilogue. The writing captured my attention with the author’s witty writing and the story kept me involved with the plot and characters. Gonna go read book 2.
This clever mystery kept me hanging on from the prologue to the epilogue. The writing captured my attention with the author’s witty writing and the story kept me involved with the plot and characters. Gonna go read book 2.
April 19, 2017
Good story, it kept me guessing who the Vulture was! Gritty storyline as to why these girls were chosen for kidnapping! Many times, I'd just put the book down get away from it.
March 14, 2017
Just how identical are identical twins? I know their fingerprints aren't, but considering their ages it's not farfetched those may not be on file, but what about their dental records? Are those identical?
December 17, 2017
Really enjoyed this. It was recommended by another of my favorite authors, Nalini Singh, and I am looking forward to the next!
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