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Stacy Killian #4
Watch Me Die
In Spindler's thrilling new psychological drama, one woman's journey to recovery becomes her worst nightmare!
Before Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, stained-glass restoration artist Mira Gallier had it all: a thriving business doing work she loved and an idyllic marriage to the perfect man. But the devastating storm stole her beloved husband - his body swept away by floodwaters, never to be found.
Now, after years of pain and turmoil, it looks as if Mira is finally on the verge of peace and emotional stability. But her life, like the magnificent windows blown to bits by Hurricane Katrina, is about to be shattered once again. And this time, it's not a killer storm she faces, but a psychopath who will stop at nothing until he possesses her, body and soul.
First, church windows that she restored are vandalized, and the priest who looked over them brutally murdered. Spray-painted across the glass are the words: He Will Come to Judge the Living and the Dead. Then, New Orleans is rocked by a terrifying chain of murders that all seem to be linked to Mira. The police, led by homicide detective Spencer Malone, are following a string of clues left by the killer on each victim - and beginning to wonder if the murderer isn't Mira Gallier herself.
As Mira begins to unravel under pressure from all sides - and fear for her life - it's unclear whom she can trust. And when a man from her past appears out of nowhere, sparking something long forgotten in her heart, he quickly becomes the police's new prime suspect. One by one, the people in Mira's life are targeted, until it's clear that the killer has been saving her for last . . . and that there's nowhere left to run.
Before Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, stained-glass restoration artist Mira Gallier had it all: a thriving business doing work she loved and an idyllic marriage to the perfect man. But the devastating storm stole her beloved husband - his body swept away by floodwaters, never to be found.
Now, after years of pain and turmoil, it looks as if Mira is finally on the verge of peace and emotional stability. But her life, like the magnificent windows blown to bits by Hurricane Katrina, is about to be shattered once again. And this time, it's not a killer storm she faces, but a psychopath who will stop at nothing until he possesses her, body and soul.
First, church windows that she restored are vandalized, and the priest who looked over them brutally murdered. Spray-painted across the glass are the words: He Will Come to Judge the Living and the Dead. Then, New Orleans is rocked by a terrifying chain of murders that all seem to be linked to Mira. The police, led by homicide detective Spencer Malone, are following a string of clues left by the killer on each victim - and beginning to wonder if the murderer isn't Mira Gallier herself.
As Mira begins to unravel under pressure from all sides - and fear for her life - it's unclear whom she can trust. And when a man from her past appears out of nowhere, sparking something long forgotten in her heart, he quickly becomes the police's new prime suspect. One by one, the people in Mira's life are targeted, until it's clear that the killer has been saving her for last . . . and that there's nowhere left to run.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 21, 2011
76 people are currently reading
1679 people want to read
About the author
Erica Spindler
99 books2,544 followersA New York Times and International bestselling author, Erica Spindler's skill for crafting engrossing plots and compelling characters has earned both critical praise and legions of fans. Her stories have been lauded as “thrill-packed page turners, white- knuckle rides and edge-of-your-seat whodunits.”
Erica loves meeting and interacting with her fans, both in person and online. She has a wicked sense of humor, an optimistic spirit and loves coffee, chocolate and red wine, not necessarily in that order.
In 2002 her novel Bone Cold won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence. A Romance Writers of America Honor Roll member, she received a Kiss of Death Award for her novels Forbidden Fruit and Dead Run and was a four-time RITA® Award finalist. In 1999 Publishers Weekly awarded the audio version of her novel Shocking Pink a Listen Up Award, naming it one of the best audio mystery books of 1998.
Erica lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband and two sons.
Erica loves meeting and interacting with her fans, both in person and online. She has a wicked sense of humor, an optimistic spirit and loves coffee, chocolate and red wine, not necessarily in that order.
In 2002 her novel Bone Cold won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence. A Romance Writers of America Honor Roll member, she received a Kiss of Death Award for her novels Forbidden Fruit and Dead Run and was a four-time RITA® Award finalist. In 1999 Publishers Weekly awarded the audio version of her novel Shocking Pink a Listen Up Award, naming it one of the best audio mystery books of 1998.
Erica lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
June 12, 2014
Despite the fact that I was suprised to discover after beginning it that this book was not the first part of a series--the dust jacket says nothing about the previous books--I was able to enjoy it as a stand-alone novel. There were details about the main characters that I'm sure I missed because I haven't read the other books, but it didn't impact my reading enjoyment.
The story is fast-paced and the suspense builds with each turn of the page. Ms. Spindler kept me guessing right to the very end.
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good thriller and I look forward to reading the other parts of the series.
The story is fast-paced and the suspense builds with each turn of the page. Ms. Spindler kept me guessing right to the very end.
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good thriller and I look forward to reading the other parts of the series.
March 3, 2017
Widow Mira Gallier lost her husband in Hurricane Katrina when he was swept away by floodwaters. It has taken years for her to get her life back on track. Her work with stained glass has helped in her recovery. When a priest is murdered and the church windows vandalized, Mira decides to help restore the windows. But as more murders take place, they seem to be linked to Mira. The police suspect her or someone close to her of being involved. Mira begins to wonder if she will be the next dead body.
This is the fourth book in the Stacy Killian series. Although Stacy only plays a minor role in this book, there are several other characters we've known from previous books. This book is a good psychological thriller. It has a handful of suspects that I had to sort through. As I read it, I came up with several different scenarios for who the killer could be. Surprisingly one of them was correct. I enjoyed the book until the last 100 pages. The heroine suffered from TSTL (Too Stupid to Live) syndrome and did the opposite of what the police told her. Also, I just didn't like how the whole story was tied up. After reading some reviews of the book, I know I'm in the minority, but I thought there were just too many loose threads. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
This is the fourth book in the Stacy Killian series. Although Stacy only plays a minor role in this book, there are several other characters we've known from previous books. This book is a good psychological thriller. It has a handful of suspects that I had to sort through. As I read it, I came up with several different scenarios for who the killer could be. Surprisingly one of them was correct. I enjoyed the book until the last 100 pages. The heroine suffered from TSTL (Too Stupid to Live) syndrome and did the opposite of what the police told her. Also, I just didn't like how the whole story was tied up. After reading some reviews of the book, I know I'm in the minority, but I thought there were just too many loose threads. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
July 17, 2017
I'm reading these out of order which works OK, but I much prefer to read in order.
This was another good story by Ms. Spindler. I like her writing style and I was really pulled into the character's lives and the plot of the story. I did wish for a little bit more of an epilogue, but...
This was another good story by Ms. Spindler. I like her writing style and I was really pulled into the character's lives and the plot of the story. I did wish for a little bit more of an epilogue, but...
June 9, 2015
I love it. Keeps me interested from the beginning right to the end. I enjoy the way she tell a story and keeps you wanting more. She has become my favorite author as of now.
May 7, 2018
4.0*
August 15, 2016
Nečekala jsem absolutně nic... podle komentářů a ohlasů jsem čekala velice předvídatelný a ''odflánkutý'' děj. Dostalo se mi opaku.
Kniha mě vzala už od prvních stran a neustále si mě držela. Stránky mi mizely pod rukama rychlostí světla a moje tipy na vraha? Měnily se pomalu každou druhou větou...
Autorka si dokonale pohraje s Vaší psychikou a nakonec knihu zavíráte s otevřenou pusou a říkáte si: ,,Kurňa! Já jsem to věděla'' Možná, že jste to tušili, možná že i věděli, ale neměli jste v tom jistotu a to je na knize to nejhorší/ nejlepší.
Při čtení nemůžete mít jistotu absolutně v ničem :3
Kniha mě vzala už od prvních stran a neustále si mě držela. Stránky mi mizely pod rukama rychlostí světla a moje tipy na vraha? Měnily se pomalu každou druhou větou...
Autorka si dokonale pohraje s Vaší psychikou a nakonec knihu zavíráte s otevřenou pusou a říkáte si: ,,Kurňa! Já jsem to věděla'' Možná, že jste to tušili, možná že i věděli, ale neměli jste v tom jistotu a to je na knize to nejhorší/ nejlepší.
Při čtení nemůžete mít jistotu absolutně v ničem :3
January 12, 2016
Kurzbeschreibung:
Eine Mordserie erschüttert New Orleans und lässt eine Frau in ihrer persönlichen Hölle landen – ein schockierender Psycho-Thriller von Erica Spindler! An einem einzigen Tag verliert die Künstlerin Mira Gallier alles: Hurrikan Katrina entreißt ihr den Mann, und ihre gläsernen Kunstwerke werden in tausend Scherben zerschlagen. Kaum hat sie sich davon erholt, da öffnen sich die Tore zu Miras persönlicher Hölle erneut: Ein Priester wird ermordet, die Kirchenfenster aus ihrer Werkstatt sind mit düsteren Worten beschmiert: „Er wird kommen, zu richten die Lebenden und Toten.“ Es ist der Auftakt zu einer blutigen Mordserie in New Orleans, bei der die Spuren in Miras Richtung weisen. So eindeutig, dass der ermittelnde Detective Spencer Malone sie für die Täterin hält …
Autor:
Die packenden Storys der New York Times-Bestsellerautorin erscheinen in über 20 Ländern. Wer ihre Geschichten liest, merkt, dass besonders Psychologie und gesellschaftliche Entwicklungen sie faszinieren. Diese Faszination, gepaart mit einem scharfen Blick für das Zwischenmenschliche, machen ihre Romane zu einem spannenden, emotionalen Leseerlebnis.
Meine Meinung:
Vielen Dank an bloggdeinbuch.de die mir dieses Buch zum rezensieren gesandt haben.
Bisher habe ich von Erica Spindler noch kein Buch gelesen, aber es stehen bereits 2 andere von ihr im Regal. Daher war ich gespannt auf dieses Buch.
In zu richten die Lebenden geht es um Mira Gallier. Wie aus der Kurzbeschreibung zu entnehmen hat sie bei dem Hurrikan Katrina und der darauffolgenden Überschwemmung alles verloren. Ihre geliebte Werkstatt und ihren Ehemann. 6 Jahre später trauert sie immer noch um ihn, hat sich aber ihre Werkstatt an einen anderen Ort neu aufgebaut.
In einer Kirche wird ein Priester ermordet. Die Buntglasfenster sind mit einem Bibelspruch beschmiert. Mira Gallier ist die Künstlerin dieser Fenster und möchte diese so schnell wie möglich reinigen. Daher nimmt sie Kontakt zu Spencer Malone auf. Am folgenden Tag als Mira mit ihrer Mitarbeiterin und Freundin sowie deren Freund abends unterwegs ist, trifft sie auf einen Obdachlosen dem sie etwas Geld gibt. Einen Tag später wird sie von genau diesem überfallen und stiehlt ihr dabei ihre heißgeliebte Kette. Dieser Obdachlose hat in ihrem Dasein Bibelsprüche rezitiert. Als der Obdachlose wenig später tot aufgefunden wird, gerät Mira in Verdacht und rückt so in den Fokus der Ermittlungen der Malone Brüder. Es ist der Anfang einer Mordserie die alle in Verbindung zu Mira stehen.
Mehr sag ich an dieser Stelle nicht mehr zum Inhalt. Den Rest müsst ihr dann wie immer selbst lesen.
Im Internet habe ich heraus gefunden das es um die Malone Brüder noch weitere Bücher gibt, man diese aber nicht unbedingt zuvor gelesen haben muss. Wenn sie euch auch interessieren dann sucht nach „Tote Stille“ und „Spiel mit dem Tod“.
Am Anfang steht man dem Buch noch ein wenig ratlos gegenüber, doch im weiteren Verlauf klärt sich der Anfangstext. Man versucht mit jedem weiteren Mord zu rätseln wer der Mörder ist. Doch die Antwort bekommt man nicht so schnell, das ganze klärt sich wirklich erst zum Ende auf.
Das Buch ließ sich auf jeden Fall gut lesen und man war auch relativ schnell drin im Geschehen. Die Charaktere sind gut ausgearbeitet. Selbst über den verstorbenen Ehemann von Mira hat man noch einiges erfahren.
Das Cover ist passend zum Buch gestaltet. Man sieht hier ein gebrochenes Glas, und gleichzeitig eine Bibelfigur. Die Blutstropfen weisen auch schon auf einen Thriller hin. Ich fand das Cover ansprechend.
Ich kann hier eine Leseempfehlung für Thrillerfans aussprechen.
Eine Mordserie erschüttert New Orleans und lässt eine Frau in ihrer persönlichen Hölle landen – ein schockierender Psycho-Thriller von Erica Spindler! An einem einzigen Tag verliert die Künstlerin Mira Gallier alles: Hurrikan Katrina entreißt ihr den Mann, und ihre gläsernen Kunstwerke werden in tausend Scherben zerschlagen. Kaum hat sie sich davon erholt, da öffnen sich die Tore zu Miras persönlicher Hölle erneut: Ein Priester wird ermordet, die Kirchenfenster aus ihrer Werkstatt sind mit düsteren Worten beschmiert: „Er wird kommen, zu richten die Lebenden und Toten.“ Es ist der Auftakt zu einer blutigen Mordserie in New Orleans, bei der die Spuren in Miras Richtung weisen. So eindeutig, dass der ermittelnde Detective Spencer Malone sie für die Täterin hält …
Autor:
Die packenden Storys der New York Times-Bestsellerautorin erscheinen in über 20 Ländern. Wer ihre Geschichten liest, merkt, dass besonders Psychologie und gesellschaftliche Entwicklungen sie faszinieren. Diese Faszination, gepaart mit einem scharfen Blick für das Zwischenmenschliche, machen ihre Romane zu einem spannenden, emotionalen Leseerlebnis.
Meine Meinung:
Vielen Dank an bloggdeinbuch.de die mir dieses Buch zum rezensieren gesandt haben.
Bisher habe ich von Erica Spindler noch kein Buch gelesen, aber es stehen bereits 2 andere von ihr im Regal. Daher war ich gespannt auf dieses Buch.
In zu richten die Lebenden geht es um Mira Gallier. Wie aus der Kurzbeschreibung zu entnehmen hat sie bei dem Hurrikan Katrina und der darauffolgenden Überschwemmung alles verloren. Ihre geliebte Werkstatt und ihren Ehemann. 6 Jahre später trauert sie immer noch um ihn, hat sich aber ihre Werkstatt an einen anderen Ort neu aufgebaut.
In einer Kirche wird ein Priester ermordet. Die Buntglasfenster sind mit einem Bibelspruch beschmiert. Mira Gallier ist die Künstlerin dieser Fenster und möchte diese so schnell wie möglich reinigen. Daher nimmt sie Kontakt zu Spencer Malone auf. Am folgenden Tag als Mira mit ihrer Mitarbeiterin und Freundin sowie deren Freund abends unterwegs ist, trifft sie auf einen Obdachlosen dem sie etwas Geld gibt. Einen Tag später wird sie von genau diesem überfallen und stiehlt ihr dabei ihre heißgeliebte Kette. Dieser Obdachlose hat in ihrem Dasein Bibelsprüche rezitiert. Als der Obdachlose wenig später tot aufgefunden wird, gerät Mira in Verdacht und rückt so in den Fokus der Ermittlungen der Malone Brüder. Es ist der Anfang einer Mordserie die alle in Verbindung zu Mira stehen.
Mehr sag ich an dieser Stelle nicht mehr zum Inhalt. Den Rest müsst ihr dann wie immer selbst lesen.
Im Internet habe ich heraus gefunden das es um die Malone Brüder noch weitere Bücher gibt, man diese aber nicht unbedingt zuvor gelesen haben muss. Wenn sie euch auch interessieren dann sucht nach „Tote Stille“ und „Spiel mit dem Tod“.
Am Anfang steht man dem Buch noch ein wenig ratlos gegenüber, doch im weiteren Verlauf klärt sich der Anfangstext. Man versucht mit jedem weiteren Mord zu rätseln wer der Mörder ist. Doch die Antwort bekommt man nicht so schnell, das ganze klärt sich wirklich erst zum Ende auf.
Das Buch ließ sich auf jeden Fall gut lesen und man war auch relativ schnell drin im Geschehen. Die Charaktere sind gut ausgearbeitet. Selbst über den verstorbenen Ehemann von Mira hat man noch einiges erfahren.
Das Cover ist passend zum Buch gestaltet. Man sieht hier ein gebrochenes Glas, und gleichzeitig eine Bibelfigur. Die Blutstropfen weisen auch schon auf einen Thriller hin. Ich fand das Cover ansprechend.
Ich kann hier eine Leseempfehlung für Thrillerfans aussprechen.
May 2, 2016
Watch Me Die is a well written fast-paced and suspenseful thriller. It is set in post Katrina New Orleans surrounding Mira Gallier, an artist who restores stained glass windows. A murder is committed at the site of one of her restored windows and the window is vandalized with the message: "He Will Come to Judge the Living and the Dead". Mira's becomes the prime suspect in the string of murders that follow. The murders have a religious twist to them and scripture is referenced many times. It's actually spooky.
Mira sets out to find the truth while the world around her spirals out of control. Shocking secrets are revealed that left my chin on the floor and another very unlikely suspect emerges that jolts the detectives working the case. (Lots of twists and turns)
The narrator, Christina Delaine, perfectly captures the southern accent without going over the top by making it sappy and unreal. Delaine captures the vulnerability of Mira perfectly, as well as, the weakness of handyman Chris and the immaturity of Mira's assistant Denny. She also captures the pain of Conner who loves Mira and fears her rejection. Of course the voices of the police both male and female are deeper and stronger. Delaine picks up all the terrifying emotion in the final scenes while maintaining the characters distinct voices. It kept me riveted
Mira sets out to find the truth while the world around her spirals out of control. Shocking secrets are revealed that left my chin on the floor and another very unlikely suspect emerges that jolts the detectives working the case. (Lots of twists and turns)
The narrator, Christina Delaine, perfectly captures the southern accent without going over the top by making it sappy and unreal. Delaine captures the vulnerability of Mira perfectly, as well as, the weakness of handyman Chris and the immaturity of Mira's assistant Denny. She also captures the pain of Conner who loves Mira and fears her rejection. Of course the voices of the police both male and female are deeper and stronger. Delaine picks up all the terrifying emotion in the final scenes while maintaining the characters distinct voices. It kept me riveted
June 27, 2011
The latest from Erica Spindler is a must read for this summer... and it's on sale now! Mira Gallier, a widow who restores colored glass windows, is living a hard life. During Hurricane Katrina, her husband Jeff is presumed dead from the hurricane, and her in-laws are out for blood. But someone else is after her, targeting people near her, leaving cryptic Biblical messages on the scene, and perhaps making her crazy. When NOPD Spencer Malone and his new partner, Karin Bayle is on the scene, they question everyone, including Mira, and her close friend, Connor Scott. One by one, someone's killing people who has a connection to her. And before she knew, things unravel at the scene, as the deaths pile up. Malone's suspicious of his new partner's behavior, and Mira doesn't know who to trust anymore. When it dawns to her, it's too late, before the killer is close to her, someone she knows, after all thsis time. What a rush!
June 10, 2011
Erica Spindler has long been one of my favorite authors and she reminds me why with her newest release. Set in New Orleans, Spindler captures both the destruction and the spirit of the location. The characters are well-developed and made me care what happened to them. As the plot builds, so does the suspense. And just when you think you know something, a twist takes you in a whole new direction.
Some of the characters in this one carry on from earlier novels. But this is easily read as a stand-alone.
Some of the characters in this one carry on from earlier novels. But this is easily read as a stand-alone.
October 4, 2014
I thought this was a great read. Gripping and powerful. I enjoyed the combination of historical information regarding New Orleans and its culture, with the depth of characters and tangly webs embedded in various story lines (which did not overpower one another). A little bit of steamy romance, scandal, and crime all in one! Job well done. This was my first Erica Spindler book but I am totally planning for more.
January 28, 2013
I started this book yesterday and finished it last night! Spindler's writing has a nice flow and is easy to follow, and she does a great job making you invest in her characters. The mystery in this one demanded to be solved, and I couldn't go to bed until I finished. Would definitely rec to mystery and suspense lovers.
April 1, 2015
A tale of recovery and ghosts and memories after Hurricane Katrina. Speaking from personal experience with the loss of a loved one, it is often hard to let go of the past and move on with the future. Being hunted down and terrorized at the same time is unimaginable. This was a good read that kept suspicion moving from one character to the next.
August 8, 2014
This author is new to me however the synopsis intrigued me, the book turned out to be very interesting the characters story lines were written well. You think the book is all about a wife losing her husband but it's way more than than that, murder, mystery and love....
December 23, 2014
I really have forgotten how much I love Erica Spindler's books. Especially some of her characters. I can't wait for her next book to come out in February.
June 22, 2015
Love my Erica Spindler!!! Mystery, suspense, fast paced, intricate characters & plot twists & turns that keep you guessing til the very end!!!
Read
August 20, 2015Let me take #4's review to say I LOVE the Stacy Killian series. It was amazing, I zoomed through it and couldn't stop reading.
June 11, 2015
Excellent!
November 4, 2017
Ok I will say I listened to this on auto book so that may have jaded my view as I hated the main character’s voice. It was Louisiana awful!!! I’m not from there but have been there and find the accent pleasant. However the narrator was too fake and whinny so there you have it! So about content- very interesting but not joined together very well. I will say I did not see the bAd guy or girls until the end however I think there was simply too much going on in different directions. Worth my time but not a great read.
December 17, 2011
A Twisted, Taunting Thriller
Six years ago Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and raged over New Orleans like a furiously spurned lover. The levees that held at bay the water surrounding The Crescent City could only withstand her onslaught for so long before giving way and spewing forth its deadly flood waters. What started as a natural disaster ended up a national catastrophe of biblical proportion. It left ragged scars across the landscape of the south and soul-deep wounds in the hearts and minds of all it touched.
Some of those wounds have stayed fresh; sharp shards of grief, loss, and guilt persistent in their inexorable ravaging.
Mira Gallier's wounds led her down a path of misery and self-destruction after flood waters swept her husband away. In the six years since, the loss of her idyllic life and the love that lit it are still a solid wall of grief in her heart. Progress has been slow and heavily-laden with therapy, but it's really her work that has kept her sane. Restoring stained glass is what she does, and her cause was newsworthy after Katrina had her way with the historic city. It gives her purpose still, though she's not quite quit of her demons.
Then a priest is killed, a good man who had become a friend to Mira during the restoration of his church's stained glass windows. Windows which were defaced during the crime.
A street preacher who had allegedly accosted Mira in her shop is victim two.
By the third victim, the pattern is clear and Mira is at its center. What the police don't know, what Mira herself starts to question, is whether she is the cause of the vicious crimes spreading like a bloody stain across the city...or the intended target.
~*~
Spindler's newest psychological thriller is my first experience with the author, and I liked what I read. I've got a soft spot for books like this, books that can stand alone but have overlapping secondary characters in a same-world/same-city, loosely connected web. There is a fine line between making a reader feel excluded if they haven't read previous books and drawing them in but letting them know these characters, this world, have existed for a while. Being able to tread that line and stay on the inclusive side of it often sets writers and their series apart for me. Spindler did a good job of it here.
It's also one of the better suspense novels I've read lately that contain a strong thread of police procedural winding through it. Too often those threads can seem dry or clinical, but the vividness of Malone, his cop family, their various partners, significant others, and bosses as characters kept that aspect of the story fresh and intriguing. In fact, the secondary characters in the book were some of the brightest stars, so instead of becoming a bit boring, or slowing the narrative flow, the police procedural threads added layers of complexity and suspense in their own right. I thoroughly enjoyed that.
I have to admit, I wasn't crazy about Mira as a character. I fancy protagonists with flaws and damage, but tend to get annoyed by those who let their flaws and damage make them weak, and I think Mira tread too close to that line throughout the book, and more than once flagrantly crossed it. Too, I wasn't thrilled with the resolution of an ancillary story line featuring Malone's new partner, Bayle. For similar reasons, actually, and to be more specific would force me to include spoilers I'm loathe to include. Suffice it to say, six years is a long time.
I wish Connor had more of a presence in the book and the thread between him and Mira had been beefed up a bit - but I freely admit that's for purely selfish reasons. I liked him.
The main suspense plotline was hearty and nicely fleshed out, with enough twists and turns to hold my interest and cast suspicion over a wide range of motives and suspects. There was even a twist or two that caught me a little by surprise. The identity of the perpetrator wasn't one of them, but that's okay. Whether or not I'm able to suss out the whodunit prior to the Big Reveal is not the basis for my appreciation of thrillers. How the reveal happens and how all the pieces fit together is a far better indicator.
In that regard, what comes most to mind about Watch Me Die is that it is...solid, if not flashy, steady if not wildly pulse-pounding, and entertaining, if not shockingly thrilling. It has some great points, but the characters didn't all work for me and the ending wasn't all that much of a surprise. One or two of the bits and pieces during the conclusion seemed a bit clichéd. Overall though, it provided a nice few hours of reading enjoyment and, not to be left unsaid, it served as a necessary reminder of the indomitable spirit of a city and its inhabitants after a tragedy that took so many lives and robbed so many of their homes, their jobs, their loved ones, and their humanity.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book through the Amazon Vine program at Amazon.com. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Six years ago Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and raged over New Orleans like a furiously spurned lover. The levees that held at bay the water surrounding The Crescent City could only withstand her onslaught for so long before giving way and spewing forth its deadly flood waters. What started as a natural disaster ended up a national catastrophe of biblical proportion. It left ragged scars across the landscape of the south and soul-deep wounds in the hearts and minds of all it touched.
Some of those wounds have stayed fresh; sharp shards of grief, loss, and guilt persistent in their inexorable ravaging.
Mira Gallier's wounds led her down a path of misery and self-destruction after flood waters swept her husband away. In the six years since, the loss of her idyllic life and the love that lit it are still a solid wall of grief in her heart. Progress has been slow and heavily-laden with therapy, but it's really her work that has kept her sane. Restoring stained glass is what she does, and her cause was newsworthy after Katrina had her way with the historic city. It gives her purpose still, though she's not quite quit of her demons.
Then a priest is killed, a good man who had become a friend to Mira during the restoration of his church's stained glass windows. Windows which were defaced during the crime.
A street preacher who had allegedly accosted Mira in her shop is victim two.
By the third victim, the pattern is clear and Mira is at its center. What the police don't know, what Mira herself starts to question, is whether she is the cause of the vicious crimes spreading like a bloody stain across the city...or the intended target.
~*~
Spindler's newest psychological thriller is my first experience with the author, and I liked what I read. I've got a soft spot for books like this, books that can stand alone but have overlapping secondary characters in a same-world/same-city, loosely connected web. There is a fine line between making a reader feel excluded if they haven't read previous books and drawing them in but letting them know these characters, this world, have existed for a while. Being able to tread that line and stay on the inclusive side of it often sets writers and their series apart for me. Spindler did a good job of it here.
It's also one of the better suspense novels I've read lately that contain a strong thread of police procedural winding through it. Too often those threads can seem dry or clinical, but the vividness of Malone, his cop family, their various partners, significant others, and bosses as characters kept that aspect of the story fresh and intriguing. In fact, the secondary characters in the book were some of the brightest stars, so instead of becoming a bit boring, or slowing the narrative flow, the police procedural threads added layers of complexity and suspense in their own right. I thoroughly enjoyed that.
I have to admit, I wasn't crazy about Mira as a character. I fancy protagonists with flaws and damage, but tend to get annoyed by those who let their flaws and damage make them weak, and I think Mira tread too close to that line throughout the book, and more than once flagrantly crossed it. Too, I wasn't thrilled with the resolution of an ancillary story line featuring Malone's new partner, Bayle. For similar reasons, actually, and to be more specific would force me to include spoilers I'm loathe to include. Suffice it to say, six years is a long time.
I wish Connor had more of a presence in the book and the thread between him and Mira had been beefed up a bit - but I freely admit that's for purely selfish reasons. I liked him.
The main suspense plotline was hearty and nicely fleshed out, with enough twists and turns to hold my interest and cast suspicion over a wide range of motives and suspects. There was even a twist or two that caught me a little by surprise. The identity of the perpetrator wasn't one of them, but that's okay. Whether or not I'm able to suss out the whodunit prior to the Big Reveal is not the basis for my appreciation of thrillers. How the reveal happens and how all the pieces fit together is a far better indicator.
In that regard, what comes most to mind about Watch Me Die is that it is...solid, if not flashy, steady if not wildly pulse-pounding, and entertaining, if not shockingly thrilling. It has some great points, but the characters didn't all work for me and the ending wasn't all that much of a surprise. One or two of the bits and pieces during the conclusion seemed a bit clichéd. Overall though, it provided a nice few hours of reading enjoyment and, not to be left unsaid, it served as a necessary reminder of the indomitable spirit of a city and its inhabitants after a tragedy that took so many lives and robbed so many of their homes, their jobs, their loved ones, and their humanity.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book through the Amazon Vine program at Amazon.com. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
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Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
August 6, 2017
Was a quick read, really enjoyed it. Only thing I'm questioning is who Dani actually saw with Mira's doctor in the car..... that bit was a tad confusing. But apart from that was a great read.
June 27, 2019
So good, so good, so good. I loved this book. Everything I want in a read and more. This was my 2nd Erica Spindler book, so impressed. Definitely looking forward to more...a must read.
November 18, 2024
Very well read on audio book which made this story sound better than it actually is.
It’s an interesting time and setting, New Orleans post Katrina, and there is a strong beginning with great characters and setting up the story, but sadly it quickly runs out of steam and becomes repetitive and waffling. We are reduced to endless navel gazing and going over and over the same ground. I skipped most of the middle and it made no difference at all. I played the end to get whodunnit and was underwhelmed.
Shame.
It’s an interesting time and setting, New Orleans post Katrina, and there is a strong beginning with great characters and setting up the story, but sadly it quickly runs out of steam and becomes repetitive and waffling. We are reduced to endless navel gazing and going over and over the same ground. I skipped most of the middle and it made no difference at all. I played the end to get whodunnit and was underwhelmed.
Shame.
July 3, 2011
Mira Gallier is a stained glass artist making beautiful stained glass windows and panels. She knows how to mix colours well and produces the most brilliant or serene coloured pieces depending on what her client requests. One of her most beautiful pieces of work was the twelve glass panels that measured twelve feet by five feet that depicted a scene from the life of Christ on each panel. These were installed at Sisters of Mercy Catholic church.
Mira’s husband, Jeff, was killed during hurricane Katrina in New Orleans where they lived. It had been six years since Jeff’s death but Mira still had a hard time coping and was fighting a drug addiction to Xanax that helped her mask the pain of losing the love of her life.
Father Girod was near seventy-years-old and had been the long-time Priest of Sisters of Mercy Catholic church but sadly, he was found lying dead, his head bashed in, at the front of the church. Who would have done such a thing? Along with a dead Priest, the police found the twelve stained glass panels desecrated with graffiti. Mira was almost sick when she heard the news about Father Girod and the damaged panels. As soon as the crime scene was reopened, Mira and her assistants, Deni and Chris, were allowed in to clean the panels. It was a gruelling task but a successful one after thirty-six hours of hard work.
After finishing up at the church, Mira and her assistants decided to stop at their favourite watering hole, The Corner Bar, for one drink before heading home for the night. On their way out of the bar, Mira noticed a man huddled on the sidewalk, one of the city’s many homeless. Mira felt sorry for him and gave him twenty dollars. The man began reciting bible verses telling statements at Mira: “The Lord protects his Lambs.” Mira agreed with him and made him promise he’d get something to eat with the money she’d given him.
The following day Mira was in her studio getting ready to work on some stained glass pieces for a client when she heard someone moving through the retail area. Of course, she immediately thought it was her assistant Deni and called out to her. It wasn’t Deni, but the homeless man from the night before. He took a step toward her and she saw what looked like a knife and he was spewing terrible things about the bible. As she began to move away from him she realized he wasn’t holding a knife but instead a long thin shard of glass. Suddenly, from outside, they could hear voices, it was Deni and Chris. The homeless man heard them too and in the next instant he lunged at her going for her throat. Mira screamed and his fingers, slippery with blood, clawed at her neck. She fell backwards into the worktable, while the man was running toward the fire escape to get away. Mira was shaking when Deni and Chris reached her. Once on her feet she realized all the blood on her shirt and neck weren’t hers but that of the man’s. He had cut his hands with the shard of glass. But Mira did notice one thing, he had ripped from her neck the cloisonné cross necklace that Jeff had bought for her on their honeymoon in Portugal.
After thinking about the Priest being killed, the damaged stained glass panels and now the attack on Mira, she thought it perhaps might be the same person, namely, the homeless man. Mira immediately called the Detectives in charge of the Priest’s death.
It continues, one by one, the people in Mira’s life are targeted, until it’s clear that the killer has been saving her for last…and that there’s nowhere left to run.
This is one unbelievable story! Get ready to stay up all night with this heart-pounder. You won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough!!
Mira’s husband, Jeff, was killed during hurricane Katrina in New Orleans where they lived. It had been six years since Jeff’s death but Mira still had a hard time coping and was fighting a drug addiction to Xanax that helped her mask the pain of losing the love of her life.
Father Girod was near seventy-years-old and had been the long-time Priest of Sisters of Mercy Catholic church but sadly, he was found lying dead, his head bashed in, at the front of the church. Who would have done such a thing? Along with a dead Priest, the police found the twelve stained glass panels desecrated with graffiti. Mira was almost sick when she heard the news about Father Girod and the damaged panels. As soon as the crime scene was reopened, Mira and her assistants, Deni and Chris, were allowed in to clean the panels. It was a gruelling task but a successful one after thirty-six hours of hard work.
After finishing up at the church, Mira and her assistants decided to stop at their favourite watering hole, The Corner Bar, for one drink before heading home for the night. On their way out of the bar, Mira noticed a man huddled on the sidewalk, one of the city’s many homeless. Mira felt sorry for him and gave him twenty dollars. The man began reciting bible verses telling statements at Mira: “The Lord protects his Lambs.” Mira agreed with him and made him promise he’d get something to eat with the money she’d given him.
The following day Mira was in her studio getting ready to work on some stained glass pieces for a client when she heard someone moving through the retail area. Of course, she immediately thought it was her assistant Deni and called out to her. It wasn’t Deni, but the homeless man from the night before. He took a step toward her and she saw what looked like a knife and he was spewing terrible things about the bible. As she began to move away from him she realized he wasn’t holding a knife but instead a long thin shard of glass. Suddenly, from outside, they could hear voices, it was Deni and Chris. The homeless man heard them too and in the next instant he lunged at her going for her throat. Mira screamed and his fingers, slippery with blood, clawed at her neck. She fell backwards into the worktable, while the man was running toward the fire escape to get away. Mira was shaking when Deni and Chris reached her. Once on her feet she realized all the blood on her shirt and neck weren’t hers but that of the man’s. He had cut his hands with the shard of glass. But Mira did notice one thing, he had ripped from her neck the cloisonné cross necklace that Jeff had bought for her on their honeymoon in Portugal.
After thinking about the Priest being killed, the damaged stained glass panels and now the attack on Mira, she thought it perhaps might be the same person, namely, the homeless man. Mira immediately called the Detectives in charge of the Priest’s death.
It continues, one by one, the people in Mira’s life are targeted, until it’s clear that the killer has been saving her for last…and that there’s nowhere left to run.
This is one unbelievable story! Get ready to stay up all night with this heart-pounder. You won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough!!
March 3, 2012
Watch Me Die by Erica Spindler is one of those books you’ll pick up and struggle to put down, I certainly did. I enjoyed every minute, well nearly every minute, more on that later but finishing the book at 2am is testament – sorry couldn’t resist the pun - to the author’s talents and incontrovertible hold she had on me! I’ve been meaning to read a book set in New Orleans and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina for some time now and when the opportunity came in the shape of Watch Me Die I jumped at the chance. Although it only fleetingly touches on the devastation caused by the 2005 Hurricane Spindler does just enough to make the reader feel part of the rebuilding process and give a sense of hope for the locals caught up in the hurricane.
The multi layered plot is both intelligent and well crafted; Spindler certainly knows how to weave her psychological suspense web with an enthralling whodunit that works on so many levels. I’ve seen the book labelled a romance suspense thriller but apart from a couple of scenes I wouldn’t class it as such, more gripping and psychological with a littlemore than a hint of police procedural for me. The whodunit aspect is interesting to say the least, although I had a rough idea who was responsible - for the deaths that is - it wasn’t confirmed until I only had a handful of pages left to read. It certainly keeps you honest right up to the closing moments.
Relationships form a big part of this book but the great thing I took from it was that apart from one relationship - that of the Stacy and Malone – you really were clueless as to which partnership would stand the course, that in itself was entertaining. There’s a lot of negativity, distrust and downright backstabbing that goes on which gives the book an edgy feel throughout not to mention the odd psycho tendencies on display!
Characterisation was incredibly interesting to say the least. Well developed in the most part I found one character intensely infuriating and really didn’t enjoy reading about her. I was quite surprised how she affected me so much, Spindler certainly worked me over on that score. The character in question is Malone’s new colleague Bayle, a woman who appears to know what she wants and unfortunately doesn’t care who she treads on to get it. She is the most unlikeable character in the book but kudos to the author for making her so, no point having all characters one dimensional. Her role in the book works in promoting opposite views to Malone, it leads to a range of interesting confrontations.
Although I’ve touched on the psychological aspect earlier I really enjoyed watching how a couple of characters appeared to become unhinged as the storyline developed. I won’t say who, I’ll let you find that out yourselves, but the development was certainly interesting and cleverly thought out. It was quite bleak in parts.
The narrative is well paced and flows unhindered because of it. In fact I’d go as far to say it appears to have a mind of its own and before you know where you are you’ve read another 50 pages. Weighing in at close to 500 pages it shouldn’t take you long to read at all, there’s always something waiting to hook you in at the turn of a page.
Full of twists and turns, slick narrative and engaging characters Watch Me Die is a terrific thriller. Welcome to N’Orleans – the weather’s as hot as the Cajun cooking you’re sure to find!
The multi layered plot is both intelligent and well crafted; Spindler certainly knows how to weave her psychological suspense web with an enthralling whodunit that works on so many levels. I’ve seen the book labelled a romance suspense thriller but apart from a couple of scenes I wouldn’t class it as such, more gripping and psychological with a littlemore than a hint of police procedural for me. The whodunit aspect is interesting to say the least, although I had a rough idea who was responsible - for the deaths that is - it wasn’t confirmed until I only had a handful of pages left to read. It certainly keeps you honest right up to the closing moments.
Relationships form a big part of this book but the great thing I took from it was that apart from one relationship - that of the Stacy and Malone – you really were clueless as to which partnership would stand the course, that in itself was entertaining. There’s a lot of negativity, distrust and downright backstabbing that goes on which gives the book an edgy feel throughout not to mention the odd psycho tendencies on display!
Characterisation was incredibly interesting to say the least. Well developed in the most part I found one character intensely infuriating and really didn’t enjoy reading about her. I was quite surprised how she affected me so much, Spindler certainly worked me over on that score. The character in question is Malone’s new colleague Bayle, a woman who appears to know what she wants and unfortunately doesn’t care who she treads on to get it. She is the most unlikeable character in the book but kudos to the author for making her so, no point having all characters one dimensional. Her role in the book works in promoting opposite views to Malone, it leads to a range of interesting confrontations.
Although I’ve touched on the psychological aspect earlier I really enjoyed watching how a couple of characters appeared to become unhinged as the storyline developed. I won’t say who, I’ll let you find that out yourselves, but the development was certainly interesting and cleverly thought out. It was quite bleak in parts.
The narrative is well paced and flows unhindered because of it. In fact I’d go as far to say it appears to have a mind of its own and before you know where you are you’ve read another 50 pages. Weighing in at close to 500 pages it shouldn’t take you long to read at all, there’s always something waiting to hook you in at the turn of a page.
Full of twists and turns, slick narrative and engaging characters Watch Me Die is a terrific thriller. Welcome to N’Orleans – the weather’s as hot as the Cajun cooking you’re sure to find!
October 8, 2011
Set against the backdrop of post-Katrina New Orleans, this page-turning psychological suspense novel had me biting my nails throughout.
Protagonist Mira Gallier, whose husband Jeff died during Katrina, restores stained glass windows—in churches and in homes—and had just finished restoring the windows at Sisters of Mercy. Now detectives Spencer Malone and Tony Sciame are at the scene of the brutal slaying of Father Girod, surrounded by the destruction of those stained glass windows—by Graffiti.
Next begins a horrific series of events, all seemingly connected in some way to Mira Gallier, and the killer seems hell-bent on squashing demons only he can see. As the body count increases, the methods used by the killer differ just enough to make it hard to zero in on the murderer.
Because of strange happenings at Mira's home and art studio, the detectives even suspect her for awhile. The search broadens, but it will take many pages and many events before the reader will know who it is.
What, if anything, does Mira's deceased husband Jeff have to do with any of these events? Is his friend Connor, who is in love with Mira, somehow connected? And what about Mira's therapist, whose name she got from someone she now believes to be her enemy?
There are many characters that fall under suspicion, including one of the detectives on the case. We look here, and then there, misdirected by events as they unfold in a twisted and convoluted way. Will the killer be the last person one would expect?
I liked Mira and Detective Malone a lot...and really didn't like one of the detectives. I had my suspicions about almost everyone at one point or another, which was a good device for the author to use. As the threads of the story come together, we see that parts of it had nothing to do with the murders, but more to do with the psychological after-effects of Katrina.
Five stars for "Watch Me Die"!
Protagonist Mira Gallier, whose husband Jeff died during Katrina, restores stained glass windows—in churches and in homes—and had just finished restoring the windows at Sisters of Mercy. Now detectives Spencer Malone and Tony Sciame are at the scene of the brutal slaying of Father Girod, surrounded by the destruction of those stained glass windows—by Graffiti.
Next begins a horrific series of events, all seemingly connected in some way to Mira Gallier, and the killer seems hell-bent on squashing demons only he can see. As the body count increases, the methods used by the killer differ just enough to make it hard to zero in on the murderer.
Because of strange happenings at Mira's home and art studio, the detectives even suspect her for awhile. The search broadens, but it will take many pages and many events before the reader will know who it is.
What, if anything, does Mira's deceased husband Jeff have to do with any of these events? Is his friend Connor, who is in love with Mira, somehow connected? And what about Mira's therapist, whose name she got from someone she now believes to be her enemy?
There are many characters that fall under suspicion, including one of the detectives on the case. We look here, and then there, misdirected by events as they unfold in a twisted and convoluted way. Will the killer be the last person one would expect?
I liked Mira and Detective Malone a lot...and really didn't like one of the detectives. I had my suspicions about almost everyone at one point or another, which was a good device for the author to use. As the threads of the story come together, we see that parts of it had nothing to do with the murders, but more to do with the psychological after-effects of Katrina.
Five stars for "Watch Me Die"!
March 9, 2014
A good summer read that is both a good whodunit and good thriller. The focus of this book is Mira Gallier, who restores stained glass windows that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the same storm the claimed the life of the husband she idolized. As it turns out, one of her restorations is in a church where the head-Priest is murdered and a religious saying is spray-painted across the stained glass windows Mira has restored. Soon, others who know or who have recent encounters with Mira are murdered and she soon becomes a suspect. Bizarre things begin to happen that sets Mira on a path of mania, from encountering an old friend who deserted her years ago, to smelling her husband's after shave lotion in her house. While Mira's character is well-thought out, others seem to be intended to be mere background pieces including a second focus of the book Detective Spencer Malone. As murders pile up and Mira's psyche unravels, the real killer continues to focus on killing all those who have "invaded" Mira's life. The book has two main climaxes, one that is very unexpected and the other that is pure formula driven. I was going to give this book three stars, because I figured out whodunit about half way through the book. But the startling plot twist at the end garnered it an extra star. A ripping good read for mystery-thriller lovers and a reason for me to further explore Erica Spindler's other works.
June 6, 2011
Quick Summary…
Mira Gallier is a stained glass artist. She has tried to rebuild her life after losing her beloved husband Jeff during Hurricane Katrina. It has been six years of hard work and therapy and she is almost there. Then rather suddenly her world begins to crumble. Evil seems to be everywhere…especially on her doorstep. An old friend returns and Mira finds out that her life was not what she believed it to be. People are being killed…one by one…and biblical sayings are attached to them. Tricks surround Mira and her life and no one is certain as to whether Mira is the cause of the evil or a true victim.
My Thoughts…
Loved this book…the New Orleans background was interesting and real. In spite of all the death and destruction I still wanted po’boys and shrimp and grits and good strong New Orleans coffee. The twists and turns within this story were exciting and suspenseful. I could not bear to not finish it with a day or two. With each murder a new suspect was brought to the forefront…each murder brought a new suspect and all of my guesses were very wrong.
Again…a great thriller…an exciting concept…lots of characters to ponder over…in this extremely fast paced novel.
December 21, 2015
Kolejny rewelacyjny kryminał Spindler!
Cały czas coś się dzieje, nie ma momentu w książce, w którym zaczęłabym się nudzić, ciągłe zwroty akcji, nowe tropy, świetnie ułożona i przemyślana fabuła oraz mój ulubiony detektyw Malone w roli głównej!
Pani Erica znowu stworzyła ciekawe postaci, a z nimi także historię, która miała na swojej drodze wiele zakrętów i ślepych uliczek. Bardzo podobała mi się przemiana Miry Gailler, która obudziła się z "głębokiego snu" podczas wielu traumatycznych wydarzeń, a także tajemniczy Connor, który ujął moje serce (w sensie bardzo podobała mi się jego postać, nie była oczywista).
Co do fabuły - jestem pod wrażeniem, chociaż tym razem trafnie i dosyć szybko zgadłam mordercę, pomimo to do końca nie mogłam być pewna, bo autorka wprowadzała wiele błędnych tropów.
Jeśli chodzi o Bayle - tego najmniej się spodziewałam w całej książce i byłam totalnie zaskoczona tym przebiegiem wydarzeń, chociaż miałam co do niej podejrzenia takie jak Spencer.
W każdym bądź razie kryminał mnie niezwykle urzekł, dlatego też GORĄCO GO POLECAM! :)
Cały czas coś się dzieje, nie ma momentu w książce, w którym zaczęłabym się nudzić, ciągłe zwroty akcji, nowe tropy, świetnie ułożona i przemyślana fabuła oraz mój ulubiony detektyw Malone w roli głównej!
Pani Erica znowu stworzyła ciekawe postaci, a z nimi także historię, która miała na swojej drodze wiele zakrętów i ślepych uliczek. Bardzo podobała mi się przemiana Miry Gailler, która obudziła się z "głębokiego snu" podczas wielu traumatycznych wydarzeń, a także tajemniczy Connor, który ujął moje serce (w sensie bardzo podobała mi się jego postać, nie była oczywista).
Co do fabuły - jestem pod wrażeniem, chociaż tym razem trafnie i dosyć szybko zgadłam mordercę, pomimo to do końca nie mogłam być pewna, bo autorka wprowadzała wiele błędnych tropów.
Jeśli chodzi o Bayle - tego najmniej się spodziewałam w całej książce i byłam totalnie zaskoczona tym przebiegiem wydarzeń, chociaż miałam co do niej podejrzenia takie jak Spencer.
W każdym bądź razie kryminał mnie niezwykle urzekł, dlatego też GORĄCO GO POLECAM! :)
June 9, 2011
WATCH ME DIE was the most intense book I have read in a long time. Erica Spindler definitely knows how to create frightening and twisted tales of suspense, while allowing me to discover deep heroic characters that leave me begging for a sequel. I read a lot and rarely find a book that keeps me from being able to function in other areas of my life. This was one of those books that once started, could not be put down and trumped other necessities such as eating and sleeping. It was literally a nail biter until the very end. No part of this book was predictable in any way, and she crafted a believable story in a way that I have never seen done before. The pieces of the puzzle fit together almost magically with all of the ingredients that make a fabulous read-- excitement, intrigue, fear, suspense, rich characters and culture, and the perfect amount of romance. I will definitely buy everything else Ms. Spindler produces in the future. She never disappoints.
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