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Victim
She has nothing left to loseLike all clichs, this one is true at its core. Racked with grief over her son Danny's brutal death, Sarah Patterson steels herself to take revenge on his murderer. When detective Mac Donovan stops her from shooting Samuel Tate on the courthouse steps, he risks his career--and the case against Tate--to protect her.With a serial child-killer walking free, New Orleans is taut with anticipation of his next savage crime and the police and FBI are helpless. But Tate has developed a sick fascination with Sarah Patterson--and he'll kill to keep her attention. With Mac's help, Sarah positions herself at the center of a dangerous operation designed to stop Tate for good.Nothing can bring Danny back...but Sarah is hell-bent on ensuring no mother suffers as she has at the hands of Samuel Tate.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
7 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Gayle Wilson
150 books87 followersGayle Wilson is a two-time RITA® Award winner, taking home the RITA® Award for Best Romantic Suspense Novel in 2000 and for Best Romantic Novella in 2004. In addition to twice winning the prestigious RITA® Award, Gayle’s books have garnered more than 50 other awards and nominations, including most recently the Daphne du Maurier Award for the Best Single Title Romantic Suspense of 2008, awarded to Victim, her latest novel from MIRA.
Gayle holds a master’s degree in secondary education, with additional certification in the education of the gifted. Although her specialty was teaching honors and gifted students, as a former high school history and English teacher, she taught everything from remedial reading to Shakespeare—and loved every minute she spent in the classroom.
Gayle was on the board of directors of Romance Writers of America for four years. In 2006 she served as the president of RWA, the largest genre-writers’ organization in the world.
Gayle has written 41 novels and four novellas for Harlequin Enterprises, including works for Harlequin Historicals, Harlequin Intrigue, Special Releases, HQN Books, MIRA, and Mills & Boon.
Gayle holds a master’s degree in secondary education, with additional certification in the education of the gifted. Although her specialty was teaching honors and gifted students, as a former high school history and English teacher, she taught everything from remedial reading to Shakespeare—and loved every minute she spent in the classroom.
Gayle was on the board of directors of Romance Writers of America for four years. In 2006 she served as the president of RWA, the largest genre-writers’ organization in the world.
Gayle has written 41 novels and four novellas for Harlequin Enterprises, including works for Harlequin Historicals, Harlequin Intrigue, Special Releases, HQN Books, MIRA, and Mills & Boon.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 12, 2019
2.5 Stars
And the irony is that I liked it. I can't rate it higher than this, though.
My God.
Did the author read it before its release as a complete book? Surely you can't miss so many typos and errors. I mean, I'm not a native speaker of English and I found dozens and dozens of errors. I usually don't care but when it alters the meaning, it can be distracting as hell.
The mystery is the strongest aspects of this book, although I wouldn't call it strong. It did have holes and implausible moments. I simply can't believe law enforcement can be so incompetent and disinterested in solving a case.
The characters are okay but something is missing, not sure what. Something that would make them more likeable to the reader, I guess. I did relate to them, they just didn't grew on me.
The romantic aspect, however, was meh. I didn't buy into their connection and love for each other.
The weakest aspect is definitely the writing. It needs a lot of polishing. Although the author did manage to evoke emotions in me and create an atmosphere of angst and intensity, the execution was lacking. It felt like a solid debut, although it's not the author's first work.
And the irony is that I liked it. I can't rate it higher than this, though.
My God.
Did the author read it before its release as a complete book? Surely you can't miss so many typos and errors. I mean, I'm not a native speaker of English and I found dozens and dozens of errors. I usually don't care but when it alters the meaning, it can be distracting as hell.
The mystery is the strongest aspects of this book, although I wouldn't call it strong. It did have holes and implausible moments. I simply can't believe law enforcement can be so incompetent and disinterested in solving a case.
The characters are okay but something is missing, not sure what. Something that would make them more likeable to the reader, I guess. I did relate to them, they just didn't grew on me.
The romantic aspect, however, was meh. I didn't buy into their connection and love for each other.
The weakest aspect is definitely the writing. It needs a lot of polishing. Although the author did manage to evoke emotions in me and create an atmosphere of angst and intensity, the execution was lacking. It felt like a solid debut, although it's not the author's first work.
August 30, 2018
Gayle Wilson is not one of the very well-known authors and this book is also not popular which is a pity since she is a really good writer and this is a very entertaining book. Much better than I expected.
The main character is unusual - Sarah is a mother of a boy who was tortured and killed by a serial killer, Samuel Tate. Tate was caught by the police but due to procedural errors the court dismissed him. When hearing of this, Sarah decides to kill Tate, but she is prevented by police officer Mac Donovan. However, her action catches Tate's interest who otherwise disappears.
This could be a really dark story but despite its serious motives (serial killer torturing and killing kids) it is not. It is really well written and the action is fast. The characters are likeable and Sarah's moves are quite reasonable, she rarely does something really stupid.
This is definitely not the last of my Gayle Wilson books. I'm even thinking about rising my note up to 4 starts. Now it is 3.5
The main character is unusual - Sarah is a mother of a boy who was tortured and killed by a serial killer, Samuel Tate. Tate was caught by the police but due to procedural errors the court dismissed him. When hearing of this, Sarah decides to kill Tate, but she is prevented by police officer Mac Donovan. However, her action catches Tate's interest who otherwise disappears.
This could be a really dark story but despite its serious motives (serial killer torturing and killing kids) it is not. It is really well written and the action is fast. The characters are likeable and Sarah's moves are quite reasonable, she rarely does something really stupid.
This is definitely not the last of my Gayle Wilson books. I'm even thinking about rising my note up to 4 starts. Now it is 3.5
July 16, 2020
There were no surprises here since you already know who the killer is. The subject matter may not appeal to some either. However, overall, I enjoyed the main character and could understand her need to make sure a killer didn't walk free.
August 30, 2013
I quite liked the book, despite its dark theme. It did feel a bit anti-climactic at the end (no, I won't reveal anything here) after the long journey it took to have a conclusion. It's too easy, at least for me...
August 6, 2016
Very intense and gripping. The subject matter was a little hard for me. But the story was written in a style that really kept me glued to the pages til the end.
December 4, 2021
2.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book, it helped me come out of my reading dip. However I cannot rate it any higher because of the following reasons:
- i am disappointed that Tate and Sarah did not have a conversation at the end. I was fine that Tate played a more of a background role, i think that is fine however I found his death anticlimatic. (Because although he is more of a background character, he is important for the story)
- romance aspect, I did not care for the romance it would have worked fine if they remained friends.
- the writing is not anything special, I read a translated version so perhaps that is why, I did not think it was bad, but also not special.
I really enjoyed this book, it helped me come out of my reading dip. However I cannot rate it any higher because of the following reasons:
- i am disappointed that Tate and Sarah did not have a conversation at the end. I was fine that Tate played a more of a background role, i think that is fine however I found his death anticlimatic. (Because although he is more of a background character, he is important for the story)
- romance aspect, I did not care for the romance it would have worked fine if they remained friends.
- the writing is not anything special, I read a translated version so perhaps that is why, I did not think it was bad, but also not special.
July 18, 2019
I'm actually being kind, I found it to be more of a 2.5 star read.
January 17, 2020
Väga südamlik raamat traagilisest sündmusteahelast.
Kättemaks, valu, piin, armastus segunevad ja tulemuseks on see raamat.
Kättemaks, valu, piin, armastus segunevad ja tulemuseks on see raamat.
November 12, 2009
I've never read Gayle Wilson, and it was good enough that I'll look into reading some more from her. I felt the story was a little typical, though. Someone mentioned on a review on Amazon.com that it reminded her of Tami Hoag's A Thin Dark Line. I know some things were similar, but not enough to compare the two.
Short version: Tate, a murderer of young boys, is set free on a technicality. Sarah knew it would happened, and stood at the bottom of the courthouse steps that day, ready to take the law into her own hands, with a gun. But she was stopped before she could pull the trigger by Detective Mac Donovan, who ends up protecting her by destroying evidence caught on tape of her attempted murder of Tate.
Mac ends up on suspension for the damaged camera, tape gone missing, and when he hears that Sarah had a threatening message on her answering machine, decides that Sarah could use some protection as well. Meanwhile, her ex-husband ends up dead in her apartment, another young boy is murdered, and another young boy from her apartment building is left alive with a message from Tate, hoping she appreciated 'what he did for her'. But to Sarah, Mac, the N.O.P.D. and the FBI, it's still inexcusable, and a plan is formed to trap Tate, using Sarah as bait.
I liked Sarah and could only imagine what it's like for a mother to lose her son in such a horrible fashion, then losing her ex-husband. Mac was a great detective, but I found him to be typical, just like other detectives I've read. And out of the entire novel, other than the message left on Sarah's answering machine, not once do you hear him speak, in his mind or out loud. Still not sure what to think about that.
Pretty typical and intense ending. I liked it, but not enough for a 5-star rating.
Short version: Tate, a murderer of young boys, is set free on a technicality. Sarah knew it would happened, and stood at the bottom of the courthouse steps that day, ready to take the law into her own hands, with a gun. But she was stopped before she could pull the trigger by Detective Mac Donovan, who ends up protecting her by destroying evidence caught on tape of her attempted murder of Tate.
Mac ends up on suspension for the damaged camera, tape gone missing, and when he hears that Sarah had a threatening message on her answering machine, decides that Sarah could use some protection as well. Meanwhile, her ex-husband ends up dead in her apartment, another young boy is murdered, and another young boy from her apartment building is left alive with a message from Tate, hoping she appreciated 'what he did for her'. But to Sarah, Mac, the N.O.P.D. and the FBI, it's still inexcusable, and a plan is formed to trap Tate, using Sarah as bait.
I liked Sarah and could only imagine what it's like for a mother to lose her son in such a horrible fashion, then losing her ex-husband. Mac was a great detective, but I found him to be typical, just like other detectives I've read. And out of the entire novel, other than the message left on Sarah's answering machine, not once do you hear him speak, in his mind or out loud. Still not sure what to think about that.
Pretty typical and intense ending. I liked it, but not enough for a 5-star rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2024
Although this was a difficult book to read, since the villain is a serial killer of children, most of the deaths are in the past and the focus is on the mother of one of the victims and how she deals with the loss of her son and the fact that the court system lets the murderer go on a technicality. Gayle Wilson is a terrific writer who gets the reader thinking beyond the scope of her writing. Is the law enough or should judges be encouraged to pursue what is right, even when the law is clearly preventing what is right from occurring? If Sarah Patterson had succeeded in killing the man who had tortured and killed her son, should she have been prosecuted? Even though she did not succeed, should she have been arrested for attempted murder? The questions go on and on, well after the book is read.
September 4, 2015
An okay read but her previous books were slightly better. While the mystery suspense plot line was upto her usual amazing style, the romance was a not quite as strong. I found it hard to like the heroine. I can't explain why without giving away too much but I think she could have spent less time planning revenge and blaming the ex-hubby and instead focus on improving her situation...
July 22, 2012
An interesting mystery involving American Indian folklore that could or could not be authentic. It was not fast moving. However did a lot of research into the background of oral teaching by tribe leaders.Fun to read.
July 29, 2014
This is the second book that I have read by Gayle Wilson. Both were enjoyable reads that I couldn't put down. Just the right amount of mystery, suspense, and romance. The story never really answers though why Tate changed his behavior and obsessed over Sarah.
February 2, 2014
Great book!
July 21, 2010
Awesome. Grabs you and doesnt let you go.
August 12, 2013
When my schedule would allow for the sit down time I remained engaged. What it lost in predictability it made up for in subject matter. A well written story about horrific events.
September 22, 2014
La confrontation est un peu molle, mais l'histoire est prenante.
May 13, 2015
A pretty good suspense book
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews