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Alexandria Novels #1
Senseless
Every Serial Killer Knows. . .
The vicious burns scarring the victims' flesh reveal the agony of their last moments. Each woman was branded with a star, then stabbed through the heart. With every death, a vengeful killer finds a brief, blissful moment of calm. But soon it's time for the bloodshed to start again. . .
The Perfect Time. . .
Ten years ago, Eva Rayburn and her sorority sisters were celebrating the end of the school year. That party turned into a nightmare Eva can't forget. Now she's trying to start over in her Virginia hometown, but a new nightmare has begun. Every victim is linked to her. And Detective Deacon Garrison isn't sure whether this mysterious woman needs investigating--or protecting. . .
To Make His Mark
Only Eva's death will bring peace. Only her tortured screams will silence the rage that has been building for ten long years. Because what started that night at the sorority can never be stopped--not until the last victim has been marked for death. . .
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
962 people are currently reading
2084 people want to read
About the author
Mary Burton
68 books4,111 followersMary Burton, whose latest novel is THE LIES I TOLD, loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.
Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense, thriller and mystery. Upon publication, her novels, including NEVER LOOK BACK and BURN YOU TWICE, consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List. Her novels CUT AND RUN and YOU'RE NOT SAFE were nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Romantic Suspense.
A Richmond native, Mary is the author of forty-five published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and as Mary Ellen Taylor.
A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters and/or place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
January 27, 2016
This is a re-read for me. If you're looking for a Romantic Suspense which is well-written, this is the author to follow. I actually bought this boo when it came out in 2011. I read it again about once a year.
Eva Rayburn has just been released from prison. She was sentenced to 10 years behind bars (when she was just 17) for the murder of a young man. This young man raped her and branded her, and because his father was rich and powerful, Eva was served justice that shouldn't have been. On top of that, she doesn't remember killing him.
Three of her 'friends' from college lied on the stand during her trial. Now, one by one, those now-women are being abducted, branded, then stabbed to death.
Enter Detective Deacon Garrison ... who feels in his bones that all these killings are related... and Eva seems to be the catalyst.
So is Eva getting a little of her own back .... or is there a killer running loose who also has revenge on the mind?
The suspense builds and builds .... the characters are beautifully written. Eva is tough as nails and refuses help from anyone ... until danger gets perilously close to her and the people she loves. Deacon starts out as a bit arrogant, but he becomes very protective of Eva. The attraction between them starts out slowly .. there are trust issues on both sides. The intimate scenes which come closer to the end of the book are very nicely done ... a little spice which adds, rather than detracts, from the story.
I am now reading MERCILESS, which is a sequel and is the story of Angie (Eva's sister) and Malcom Kier (Deacon's partner).
I recommend this book with no reservations to anyone who likes a good mystery/thriller and/or a very well done romantic suspense.
Eva Rayburn has just been released from prison. She was sentenced to 10 years behind bars (when she was just 17) for the murder of a young man. This young man raped her and branded her, and because his father was rich and powerful, Eva was served justice that shouldn't have been. On top of that, she doesn't remember killing him.
Three of her 'friends' from college lied on the stand during her trial. Now, one by one, those now-women are being abducted, branded, then stabbed to death.
Enter Detective Deacon Garrison ... who feels in his bones that all these killings are related... and Eva seems to be the catalyst.
So is Eva getting a little of her own back .... or is there a killer running loose who also has revenge on the mind?
The suspense builds and builds .... the characters are beautifully written. Eva is tough as nails and refuses help from anyone ... until danger gets perilously close to her and the people she loves. Deacon starts out as a bit arrogant, but he becomes very protective of Eva. The attraction between them starts out slowly .. there are trust issues on both sides. The intimate scenes which come closer to the end of the book are very nicely done ... a little spice which adds, rather than detracts, from the story.
I am now reading MERCILESS, which is a sequel and is the story of Angie (Eva's sister) and Malcom Kier (Deacon's partner).
I recommend this book with no reservations to anyone who likes a good mystery/thriller and/or a very well done romantic suspense.
March 28, 2011
I almost returned this book (and the next one, Merciless) to the library without even reading them - just so many books and only so much time.... so glad I found the time to read these! I will say the book would have been a 5 star if the romance would have been stronger and if the ending didn't seem so rushed. All of the books by Mary Burton do not seem to be strong in the romance department - so if you like a lot of romance in your romantic suspense novels - this one might not do it for you. I will say the story was very intriguing and kept me glued to the pages to see what would happen next. That part of the book was fantastic - it just needed more in the relationship part of the book, at least I wanted more from that angle. Definitely a great start to a new series!!
July 8, 2018
I enjoyed this complex romance with multiple threads covering lots of characters all building the intrigue. It had a good plot and plenty of action, however, the romance was weak. I liked the giving people a second chance theme and I never guessed the 'who done it.' Detective Deacon is investigating a murder case and clues lead him to Eva and the nightmare she endured ten years ago.
August 12, 2017
Spannend bis zur letzten Seite!
no-dull-mwh-dmh-tstl-unsafe
January 17, 2019Read a couple chapters, but the H comes across as a manho and one of his exes is part of the plot. The h has been in prison for a while so she’s probably super inexperienced. I’m passing.
November 6, 2012
Really good book! I love her writing style. This is a thriller more than a romance, but the story is very good. The hero and the heroine are very real and their feelings are described in a very realistic manner. Excellent!
August 22, 2020
Binge reading Mary Burton has resulted in me noticing a lot of things about her writing style. She's got several formulas for writing that she cycles through depending on her end goal for the book. This book hits almost all of her tricks that drive me nuts. Also, the editing on this one was awful.
PLOT SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
So, what was a few issues I have with this book? Aside from the horrid portrayal of police and professionals all being corrupt and purposely putting an innocent victim in jail for being sexually assaulted and passing out after the perp burns her? Well I'll tell you.
Let's start with Deacon Garrison. Deacon at first equates Eva to a teenager. Then magically he starts thinking of her as a desirable woman only a chapter or two after. Next, Detective Garrison LIKES how his presence in the bar makes Eva so nervous that she no longer feels comfortable enough in her workplace to walk or act normally. HE LIKES THAT HE IS MAKING AN INNOCENT WOMAN FEEL THREATENED WITH HIS PRESENCE!!! To make it worse, he takes her to a room where they can be alone so he can question her and GETS OFF ON THE FACT HE SCARES THE SHIT OUT OF HER. What the f*ck is that??? It's disgusting!!!
Fast forward and you have Detective Garrison having sex WITH A MURDER SUSPECT!!!! Seriously? You are in the middle of a murder investigation and you are getting it on with a murder suspect in her sister's house??? Breach of ethics anyone???
Eva. At first I was all in on team Eva...and then she has a multiple personality crisis for the purpose of being a b*tch to a former friend who testified against her in court, when all she was supposed to do was try to get some answers for herself and then warn Karen (think that was her name) that she should be careful because someone is murdering all the girls related to the trial. Also, she magically stops looking at Garrison as the threat she has been screaming he (and all other cops are) and gets some major lusting for him going on. For the guy who scared her and threatened her...okay. One nice deed does not excuse the assholeness of his previous actions. (In this way this book reminds me a lot of her other book with the Texas Ranger.)
Huge editing issues. Okay so the BIGGEST ONE is when King steps out with a knife in hand, then a few pages later is acting like he was holding a baseball bat. Really noticeable mistake that should have been caught during editing. (I think I had an early edition of this book so I am praying it got fix somehow in later editions) Poor sentence structure and grating sentences were another issue that I noticed rather frequently.
I noticed in this book that Burton occasionally lapses into short, ridiculous sentences that belong in a second grade classroom, if you exclude the overall meaning when it comes to the content of the story. My number one example that had me chuckling for all the wrong reason takes place when Eva and Garrison (Deacon) were getting busy. A few short sentences led up to this humdinger:
She was wet.
Seriously??? Ugh...
Finally, the killer...I did NOT like how the author justifies who the killer is. It was nothing short of lazy writing so you never even have a chance to guess who the killer is.
In Conclusion
All in all this one was the most disappointing book from Mary Burton I have yet to read.
PLOT SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
So, what was a few issues I have with this book? Aside from the horrid portrayal of police and professionals all being corrupt and purposely putting an innocent victim in jail for being sexually assaulted and passing out after the perp burns her? Well I'll tell you.
Let's start with Deacon Garrison. Deacon at first equates Eva to a teenager. Then magically he starts thinking of her as a desirable woman only a chapter or two after. Next, Detective Garrison LIKES how his presence in the bar makes Eva so nervous that she no longer feels comfortable enough in her workplace to walk or act normally. HE LIKES THAT HE IS MAKING AN INNOCENT WOMAN FEEL THREATENED WITH HIS PRESENCE!!! To make it worse, he takes her to a room where they can be alone so he can question her and GETS OFF ON THE FACT HE SCARES THE SHIT OUT OF HER. What the f*ck is that??? It's disgusting!!!
Fast forward and you have Detective Garrison having sex WITH A MURDER SUSPECT!!!! Seriously? You are in the middle of a murder investigation and you are getting it on with a murder suspect in her sister's house??? Breach of ethics anyone???
Eva. At first I was all in on team Eva...and then she has a multiple personality crisis for the purpose of being a b*tch to a former friend who testified against her in court, when all she was supposed to do was try to get some answers for herself and then warn Karen (think that was her name) that she should be careful because someone is murdering all the girls related to the trial. Also, she magically stops looking at Garrison as the threat she has been screaming he (and all other cops are) and gets some major lusting for him going on. For the guy who scared her and threatened her...okay. One nice deed does not excuse the assholeness of his previous actions. (In this way this book reminds me a lot of her other book with the Texas Ranger.)
Huge editing issues. Okay so the BIGGEST ONE is when King steps out with a knife in hand, then a few pages later is acting like he was holding a baseball bat. Really noticeable mistake that should have been caught during editing. (I think I had an early edition of this book so I am praying it got fix somehow in later editions) Poor sentence structure and grating sentences were another issue that I noticed rather frequently.
I noticed in this book that Burton occasionally lapses into short, ridiculous sentences that belong in a second grade classroom, if you exclude the overall meaning when it comes to the content of the story. My number one example that had me chuckling for all the wrong reason takes place when Eva and Garrison (Deacon) were getting busy. A few short sentences led up to this humdinger:
She was wet.
Seriously??? Ugh...
Finally, the killer...I did NOT like how the author justifies who the killer is. It was nothing short of lazy writing so you never even have a chance to guess who the killer is.
In Conclusion
All in all this one was the most disappointing book from Mary Burton I have yet to read.
August 1, 2017
This was published back in 2011, but I just read this series in 7/2017. I think this is one of those books that will age well.
The story and the characters were really well done and believable. I really like how Ms. Burton weaves current crimes to historical crimes as she has done in this book.
I'm going to cheat and say I really liked Linda Strong's review (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and wished I had written it.
I have also read book #2, Merciless and a follow up book to the series Before She Dies and enjoyed them as well. I would recommend this set of books to those who like romantic suspense or crime/suspense with a little romance thrown in.
The story and the characters were really well done and believable. I really like how Ms. Burton weaves current crimes to historical crimes as she has done in this book.
I'm going to cheat and say I really liked Linda Strong's review (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and wished I had written it.
I have also read book #2, Merciless and a follow up book to the series Before She Dies and enjoyed them as well. I would recommend this set of books to those who like romantic suspense or crime/suspense with a little romance thrown in.
Read
November 1, 2020Há um serial killer a assassinar mulheres, apunhalando-as no coração após lhes marcar a quente formas de estrelas na pele. Este facto revela a agonia a que foram submetidas nos momentos finais das suas vidas.
Dez anos antes Eva Rayburn e as colegas de universidade estavam a celebrar o final do ano escolar quando a festa se transformou num pesadelo. Eva viu, assim, a sua vida mudar para sempre. Actualmente a jovem está de regresso à sua terra natal e a tentar recomeçar a sua vida.
Uma vez que as vítimas estão relacionadas com ela, o Detective Deacon Garrison fica na dúvida se Eva precisa de ser investigada ou se, pelo contrário, precisa de protecção...
Gostei bastante de conhecer Eva, uma mulher muito inteligente, perseverante e determinada e de ficar a par do seu passado. Gostei de conhecer Deacon e testemunhar o seu sentido de justiça.
Considerei o enredo bem construído e, apesar de ter adivinhado alguns aspectos desde muito cedo, admito que acabei por ser bastante surpreendida por outros, o que muito me agradou. Gostei da forma como a acção se desenrolou, como os personagens nos foram dados a conhecer e como o passado foi gradualmente desvendado.
"Senseless" é a primeira parte de uma Duologia. "Descobri" este livro numa pesquisa de "livros semelhantes" aos da Karen Rose (Realmente há uma referência na capa). Nos últimos tempos tenho lido muitos livros da autora por serem "um lugar seguro" (muito útil para fases em que estou com dificuldade em me concentrar ou muito cansada) e achei interessante/uma mais valia conhecer mais autoras de livros do género.
Gostei da premissa deste livro e estou com curiosidade para ler a sequela ("Merciless) para conhecer a história de outros personagens e "atar algumas pontas soltas".
O único aspecto que não me satisfez por completo foi a parte do romance, pois gostava que tivesse sido um pouco mais desenvolvida e explorada (tenho noção que há que ter em consideração que este livro não é um Romance). Tirando esse pequeno pormenor, considero que a escrita de Mary Burton tem potencial para se tornar numa autora de policiais a seguir. "Senseless" foi uma estreia muito interessante e promissora e estou com muita curiosidade para ler mais livros da autora!
26-30/10/20
Dez anos antes Eva Rayburn e as colegas de universidade estavam a celebrar o final do ano escolar quando a festa se transformou num pesadelo. Eva viu, assim, a sua vida mudar para sempre. Actualmente a jovem está de regresso à sua terra natal e a tentar recomeçar a sua vida.
Uma vez que as vítimas estão relacionadas com ela, o Detective Deacon Garrison fica na dúvida se Eva precisa de ser investigada ou se, pelo contrário, precisa de protecção...
Gostei bastante de conhecer Eva, uma mulher muito inteligente, perseverante e determinada e de ficar a par do seu passado. Gostei de conhecer Deacon e testemunhar o seu sentido de justiça.
Considerei o enredo bem construído e, apesar de ter adivinhado alguns aspectos desde muito cedo, admito que acabei por ser bastante surpreendida por outros, o que muito me agradou. Gostei da forma como a acção se desenrolou, como os personagens nos foram dados a conhecer e como o passado foi gradualmente desvendado.
"Senseless" é a primeira parte de uma Duologia. "Descobri" este livro numa pesquisa de "livros semelhantes" aos da Karen Rose (Realmente há uma referência na capa). Nos últimos tempos tenho lido muitos livros da autora por serem "um lugar seguro" (muito útil para fases em que estou com dificuldade em me concentrar ou muito cansada) e achei interessante/uma mais valia conhecer mais autoras de livros do género.
Gostei da premissa deste livro e estou com curiosidade para ler a sequela ("Merciless) para conhecer a história de outros personagens e "atar algumas pontas soltas".
O único aspecto que não me satisfez por completo foi a parte do romance, pois gostava que tivesse sido um pouco mais desenvolvida e explorada (tenho noção que há que ter em consideração que este livro não é um Romance). Tirando esse pequeno pormenor, considero que a escrita de Mary Burton tem potencial para se tornar numa autora de policiais a seguir. "Senseless" foi uma estreia muito interessante e promissora e estou com muita curiosidade para ler mais livros da autora!
26-30/10/20
October 18, 2021
With hard-edged, imperfect but memorable characters, a complex plot and no-nonsense dialog, this excellent novel will appeal to fans of Lisa Gardner and Lisa Jackson.” —Library Journal
I have not read a book yet by Gardner or Jackson but....this book was absolutely everything I wanted in a book.
Nothing was missed.
Every character fit, every character had a story. Every character blended in so well. Burton out did herself. I am a huge fan already but this is by far MY FAVORITE and THAT speaks volumes.
I am telling you, the suspense was top notch. The mystery/investigation was top notch. The storyline was so well written.
There was nothing boring.
It was so well written, it gripped my by the first chapter and read this in one day! Its 8pm and I just finished.
I highly recommend you to read this. I promise you will not regret this.
I have not read a book yet by Gardner or Jackson but....this book was absolutely everything I wanted in a book.
Nothing was missed.
Every character fit, every character had a story. Every character blended in so well. Burton out did herself. I am a huge fan already but this is by far MY FAVORITE and THAT speaks volumes.
I am telling you, the suspense was top notch. The mystery/investigation was top notch. The storyline was so well written.
There was nothing boring.
It was so well written, it gripped my by the first chapter and read this in one day! Its 8pm and I just finished.
I highly recommend you to read this. I promise you will not regret this.
October 21, 2018
Definitely an interesting crime thriller worth reading. I do think that there were some plot points that went unresolved and I did guess the twists, but apart from that it was a really enjoyable book. The way that the story developed and unravelled was careful and well done so I appreciated that, even if some characters made some very dumb decisions. Mostly, though, I found that I didn't want to put the book down.
September 29, 2025
I had no clue from the start who the unsub was. I had an idea, but it was wrong... This is a gripping serial killer investigation, featuring twists and turns, with a hint of romance near the very end and I read it in two sittings. It's part of a series, but is a standalone re the story. (The other books involve side characters from this book.)
May 14, 2018
I really enjoy reading MB's books. This one had twists and turns, plots within plots, and left me befuddled until the end.
December 28, 2021
Revenge for a crime committed years ago at a Sorority house. Interesting story …
November 6, 2023
Easy read and kept me hanging on to find out who the killer was
Read
May 29, 2021Wow!
What a great read. Excellent story with great pacing. Despite the fact that I figured out who the murderer was I really enjoyed this book.
What a great read. Excellent story with great pacing. Despite the fact that I figured out who the murderer was I really enjoyed this book.
February 19, 2016
I feel bad because I judged the author before I read her. Burton, to me, is known as the mystery author whose mass market paperbacks you can buy at the grocery store, which is what I did on a weekend away. It ended up that I didn't have time to read the book and it sat on my shelf forever. I needed her book for a challenge, and I was completely shocked that it was so good. The characters were well developed and I had no idea who the "bad guy" was until the he was revealed by the author. The only thing I don't like in these kinds of books is the falling in love with the detective garbage and then having sex. Hey, I'm not against sex in books. I read erotica and just got into the Calendar Girls series from Amazon. But this kind of throwaway sex was really what knocked it down from a 5 star to a 4 star for me. The girl was strong enough without the big bad detective to protect her. Anyway...great plot with a group of sorority sisters who were involved in a murder and arson during college and pinned it on the main character, who was jailed for murdering the man who raped her, Josiah Cross, who was known for his temper and "bad family". Eva, the MC, simply cannot remember the minutes after she was raped when Josiah died because he had branded her with a star pendant and she had passed out. All she remembers is waking up with him dead and the house on fire. Her supposed friends then testified against her and she was jailed for 10 years. Eva was railroaded and she knows it.
Now Eva is out of prison and back in town. However, suddenly murdered women start dropping like flies and they are related to Eva and her murder case from 10 years ago. The clues are pointing to Eva as each murdered woman is branded with the same star she was branded with so many years ago. Is Eva back for revenge or is someone else looking for revenge against the sorority girls? Detective Deacon Garrison at first doesn't know what to believe but as he gets to know Eva and reads her trial notes, he believes too that she was railroaded by her friends....but why? What secrets are they holding? Garrison knows he must find the killer before he gets to his ultimate target, Eva.
This was a very good read and I have learned not to judge an author by where her books are sold. This is a duo series. I will definitely be reading the other book in the duo. I recommend this books to others who like mysteries and romantic suspense. And don't make the same mistake I did and just give the authors a chance whose books you can buy en masse at grocery stores and pharmacies. It doesn't mean they aren't good. 4 stars!
Now Eva is out of prison and back in town. However, suddenly murdered women start dropping like flies and they are related to Eva and her murder case from 10 years ago. The clues are pointing to Eva as each murdered woman is branded with the same star she was branded with so many years ago. Is Eva back for revenge or is someone else looking for revenge against the sorority girls? Detective Deacon Garrison at first doesn't know what to believe but as he gets to know Eva and reads her trial notes, he believes too that she was railroaded by her friends....but why? What secrets are they holding? Garrison knows he must find the killer before he gets to his ultimate target, Eva.
This was a very good read and I have learned not to judge an author by where her books are sold. This is a duo series. I will definitely be reading the other book in the duo. I recommend this books to others who like mysteries and romantic suspense. And don't make the same mistake I did and just give the authors a chance whose books you can buy en masse at grocery stores and pharmacies. It doesn't mean they aren't good. 4 stars!
July 13, 2011
One would think that a victim stabbed through the heart received a quick death, but the truth was, the agony the victims of this serial killer endured before the death stab was horrendous. Each woman suffered agony when they were branded several times with a four pointed burning star, only then did the killer put them out of their misery.
Ten years previously Eva Rayburn and her sorority sisters were celebrating the end of the school year. That party turned into a nightmare Eva had had to live through, not only the vicious rape and an agonizing burn to her shoulder of a four pointed star, but then being accused by her sorority sisters that she killed her attacker (a memory she couldn’t remember) and then burning down the sorority house. Now, having served her time, Eva had come back to start her life over in her Virginia hometown but new nightmares just beginning once again, with the victims being branded with that same four pointed star.
*** SENSELESS was a debut read for me by this author and I was thrilled with the depth she imbued in her characters. Each person in this complex mystery was given motivation and purpose, yet the ending was a twist I didn’t see coming. Ms. Burton played her cards extremely close to her vest and I didn’t have a clue. Yet, the ending made perfect sense and was tied up nicely!
I loved the fact that this was had more suspense than romance (although it was wonderful to watch Burton build on the romantic aspect along the way – which, in my opinion was very well done). Detective Deacon Garrison, initially had his doubts about Eve but the more she let him in, the more he began to believe in her where she could finally allow herself to relax in the presence of a cop!
I also enjoyed the supporting cast of characters, like King, a big softie who went out of his way to give Eva (an ex-con) a chance at a new job. King himself held secrets but who couldn’t love him when kindness seemed to overflow from his gestures in not only giving Eva a new beginning but also when he took in a foster kid (Bobby) and showed him the trust and kindness that had been missing from Bobby’s life for a long time.
Bottom line: SENSELESS was a great read and I am looking forward to reading more from this author who knows how to put together a complex and totally engrossing romantic suspense story! This was ACES!!!
Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com
Ten years previously Eva Rayburn and her sorority sisters were celebrating the end of the school year. That party turned into a nightmare Eva had had to live through, not only the vicious rape and an agonizing burn to her shoulder of a four pointed star, but then being accused by her sorority sisters that she killed her attacker (a memory she couldn’t remember) and then burning down the sorority house. Now, having served her time, Eva had come back to start her life over in her Virginia hometown but new nightmares just beginning once again, with the victims being branded with that same four pointed star.
*** SENSELESS was a debut read for me by this author and I was thrilled with the depth she imbued in her characters. Each person in this complex mystery was given motivation and purpose, yet the ending was a twist I didn’t see coming. Ms. Burton played her cards extremely close to her vest and I didn’t have a clue. Yet, the ending made perfect sense and was tied up nicely!
I loved the fact that this was had more suspense than romance (although it was wonderful to watch Burton build on the romantic aspect along the way – which, in my opinion was very well done). Detective Deacon Garrison, initially had his doubts about Eve but the more she let him in, the more he began to believe in her where she could finally allow herself to relax in the presence of a cop!
I also enjoyed the supporting cast of characters, like King, a big softie who went out of his way to give Eva (an ex-con) a chance at a new job. King himself held secrets but who couldn’t love him when kindness seemed to overflow from his gestures in not only giving Eva a new beginning but also when he took in a foster kid (Bobby) and showed him the trust and kindness that had been missing from Bobby’s life for a long time.
Bottom line: SENSELESS was a great read and I am looking forward to reading more from this author who knows how to put together a complex and totally engrossing romantic suspense story! This was ACES!!!
Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com
June 18, 2013
Ten years ago Eva Rayburn was brutally raped, burned with a star pendant and then blacked out. When she came to, she was being taken from the sorority house that was on fire, and her would be attacker, dead. Accused of killing Josiah Cross by her three friends, Eva is convicted and spends ten years of her life in prison. Now released, Eva carries the burden of ex-con on her shoulders. She is still tormented about the time she blacked out ten years ago. She feels in her bones she did not kill Josiah, but she can't remember. She lives above King's Bar and works for him as a bartender. She keeps to herself and is saving up every penny she can so she can return to college.
Deacon Garrison is a homicide detective who is having a difficult time linking the viscous murders that keep happening in his jurisdiction. The women have been branded four times with four pointed stars, and then viciously stabbed to death. His investigation leads him to Eva Rayburn, an intriguing ex-con. The women who have been identified are two of the women who testified against Eva.
Since her return, Eva had neglected to contact her sister Angela. Detective Garrison lets Angela know her sister has returned, so Eva is trying to form a tentative bond with her. During her trial, Josiah's father, a wealthy and powerful man, had threatened Angela's life is Eva tried to fight against her charges. Eva told Angela to leave and never return, even though it broke her heart.
Now, Eva is determined to fight against the suspicions about her seeking revenge on her sorority sisters and killing them. She tries to remember the memories she lost and help Detective Garrison find the killer before he finds her. She knows it won't be long until the killer is after her, but will they be too late?
SENSELESS is a edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you up long in the night. The characters of Eva and Detective Garrison are edgy, realistic, and very likable. The plot twists and turns that it is hard to guess who the killer is until Ms. Burton leads us directly to whom it may be. Absolutely fantastic! Also, don't miss MERCILESS, coming out in February. Eva's sister, Angela, is the heroine, and it promises to be just as thrilling.
Deacon Garrison is a homicide detective who is having a difficult time linking the viscous murders that keep happening in his jurisdiction. The women have been branded four times with four pointed stars, and then viciously stabbed to death. His investigation leads him to Eva Rayburn, an intriguing ex-con. The women who have been identified are two of the women who testified against Eva.
Since her return, Eva had neglected to contact her sister Angela. Detective Garrison lets Angela know her sister has returned, so Eva is trying to form a tentative bond with her. During her trial, Josiah's father, a wealthy and powerful man, had threatened Angela's life is Eva tried to fight against her charges. Eva told Angela to leave and never return, even though it broke her heart.
Now, Eva is determined to fight against the suspicions about her seeking revenge on her sorority sisters and killing them. She tries to remember the memories she lost and help Detective Garrison find the killer before he finds her. She knows it won't be long until the killer is after her, but will they be too late?
SENSELESS is a edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you up long in the night. The characters of Eva and Detective Garrison are edgy, realistic, and very likable. The plot twists and turns that it is hard to guess who the killer is until Ms. Burton leads us directly to whom it may be. Absolutely fantastic! Also, don't miss MERCILESS, coming out in February. Eva's sister, Angela, is the heroine, and it promises to be just as thrilling.
March 24, 2018
I’m reading a Kindle edition; the printed book may be different.
Too many cases of useless repetition. i.e. “The four girls sat in a circle around the stone fireplace. A hearty fire crackled and popped in the hearth, warming the room and chasing away the chill of the spring night. [paragraph] “Now as the flames flickered and cast shadows against the stone hearth, the girls sat in a circle, each a little tipsy from wine.”
In addition, there were several sentences I had to read several times trying to understand them because they seemed to say the opposite of what the surrounding content appeared to imply.
When Eva was attacked in the alley “King burst through the back alley door, a meat cleaver in his hand.” Then just a bit later “King clenched his bat. “I’m grateful you were here, Detective. I can swing a bat if need be, but I don’t move so fast.””
Aside from needing a final editing/proofreading, I felt the major characters were well developed and likeable. The story started out a bit slow, it wasn’t until the last several chapters that real suspense built. I had no clue who the killer was (the story didn’t really provide clues to let the reader try to solve the case; either that or I missed them). Overall, I liked the story and will read more from this author.
Too many cases of useless repetition. i.e. “The four girls sat in a circle around the stone fireplace. A hearty fire crackled and popped in the hearth, warming the room and chasing away the chill of the spring night. [paragraph] “Now as the flames flickered and cast shadows against the stone hearth, the girls sat in a circle, each a little tipsy from wine.”
In addition, there were several sentences I had to read several times trying to understand them because they seemed to say the opposite of what the surrounding content appeared to imply.
When Eva was attacked in the alley “King burst through the back alley door, a meat cleaver in his hand.” Then just a bit later “King clenched his bat. “I’m grateful you were here, Detective. I can swing a bat if need be, but I don’t move so fast.””
Aside from needing a final editing/proofreading, I felt the major characters were well developed and likeable. The story started out a bit slow, it wasn’t until the last several chapters that real suspense built. I had no clue who the killer was (the story didn’t really provide clues to let the reader try to solve the case; either that or I missed them). Overall, I liked the story and will read more from this author.
November 5, 2024
Ok, seriously, I never would’ve guessed that books with ‘ROMANTIC SUSPENSE’ on the spine could be so damn good?! This is the second, no, third, book I’ve read so far this year in this genre and boy have I come to learn that if that’s the genre of the book I’m holding in my hands then that means I’m going to enjoy a story with a tangled web of mystery with an ending that I won’t ever see coming! The antagonist reveal, the surprises in the last hundred pages that freaking FLEW by, the pacing and likable characters make these types of books thoroughly enjoyable and this one was a knockout!! Mary Burton, I’m terribly sorry it took me this long to pick this book from my stacks of unread books!! I honestly can’t remember where I found it and picked it up from but I’m glad I did!!
I’ll admit I did like that the romance aspect was more on the back burner with this story. Typically there’s more of a lingering tension between two characters with a genre like this that culminates into one or two love scenes around the end of act two or start of act three. Here, the mystery and unknowing took more of the front seat and that made the story way stronger, in my opinion!
Eva Rayburn is back in her hometown of Alexandria, Virginia after having been in jail for the past ten years. She was locked up after having committed murder the night of the sorority house fire, a case far more well known as the sorority house murder, in which she was charged with killing her boyfriend and setting the house ablaze. As the story progresses this moment in time from the past resurfaces often as Eva attempts to face the past that she’s been content with avoiding and forgetting in order to remember the moments that are blank in her mind and memory. Is that truly how everything played out, based on multiple eye witness accounts, or was Eva set up?
The motivation behind this newfound attempt to remember comes when a woman is found murdered with four stab wounds to the heart and four burns on her stomach, the burns being four pointed stars. Eva herself has been branded with a burn of a four pointed star on the back of her shoulder by a man born from evil named Josiah. Before we enter Eva’s POV in chapter one we get a quick flashback to ten years ago, showing us the moment when she got burned.
After serving a subpoena to a man as part of one of her jobs, she makes her way to the halfway house where she’s scheduled to work as the night attendant due to another employee having the night off. She arrives to find the place on fire. The sight of the police leads her to putting her guard up. She locks eyes with one of them as she goes to leave, and that’s when we’re introduced to the police side of the story.
Homicide Detective Deacon Garrison only gets a quick glimpse of Eva Rayburn in the crowd of onlookers at the halfway house fire but is instantly drawn in and has a feeling she knows something. A woman is found behind the halfway house who has clearly been murdered in a way that does not have to do with the fire, and it isn’t long before Eva is brought into the fold and she faces the realization that her past is going to be the key to unraveling this incredible mystery.
The supporting characters are fantastic in the story. I loved Eva Rayburn, our main character, and the way she interacted with everyone else is what made the story. We have King, the owner of King’s bar, who offered Eva a job six months ago and offered her a place to stay, which is a room over the bar. We have Bobby, King’s ten year old foster kid, and the relationship that grows between Eva and Bobby is so freaking great. Angie Carlson, a defense attorney, gets dragged into a lot of this mess thanks to someone she represented a while back named Lenny Danvers, a man who really found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Alongside Deacon Garrison is his partner, Malcolm Kier, and apparently he’s going to be the main detective, main character, in book two of this series!?
On that note, I’m thrilled to know that there’s two more books in this series and that each one looks to involve familiar characters. Focusing on different detectives we are introduced to here in book one, Senseless, and other supporting characters coming into the fray. At least based on the descriptions! If those two books have stories as riveting as Senseless’s then I know I’m going to be in for a treat!! This was a damn good read and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. I devoured the last hundred pages to get to the big reveal. Each chapter brought surprise after surprise and every time I found myself in awe of how well this story was crafted! The layers weaved throughout the story that melded with the characters and their motivations all connected in ways that were crazy! This was an immensely satisfying read and I have to give a big round of applause to Mary Burton!! Thank you!!
One little thing I found myself wondering about at the end. Bit of a spoiler so I’m putting it further down to where one would have to scroll to reach it.
* * * * * * * * * SPOILER BELOW - HEADS UP * * * * * * * * *
I’m still very curious about Kristen Hall and the baby she had to give up!! I have a feeling it’s just one of those things we, the reader, will never know about because we were never meant to know for this story. But maybe it will come into play in book two or three? Time will tell I suppose when I make my way to them!!!
I’ll admit I did like that the romance aspect was more on the back burner with this story. Typically there’s more of a lingering tension between two characters with a genre like this that culminates into one or two love scenes around the end of act two or start of act three. Here, the mystery and unknowing took more of the front seat and that made the story way stronger, in my opinion!
Eva Rayburn is back in her hometown of Alexandria, Virginia after having been in jail for the past ten years. She was locked up after having committed murder the night of the sorority house fire, a case far more well known as the sorority house murder, in which she was charged with killing her boyfriend and setting the house ablaze. As the story progresses this moment in time from the past resurfaces often as Eva attempts to face the past that she’s been content with avoiding and forgetting in order to remember the moments that are blank in her mind and memory. Is that truly how everything played out, based on multiple eye witness accounts, or was Eva set up?
The motivation behind this newfound attempt to remember comes when a woman is found murdered with four stab wounds to the heart and four burns on her stomach, the burns being four pointed stars. Eva herself has been branded with a burn of a four pointed star on the back of her shoulder by a man born from evil named Josiah. Before we enter Eva’s POV in chapter one we get a quick flashback to ten years ago, showing us the moment when she got burned.
After serving a subpoena to a man as part of one of her jobs, she makes her way to the halfway house where she’s scheduled to work as the night attendant due to another employee having the night off. She arrives to find the place on fire. The sight of the police leads her to putting her guard up. She locks eyes with one of them as she goes to leave, and that’s when we’re introduced to the police side of the story.
Homicide Detective Deacon Garrison only gets a quick glimpse of Eva Rayburn in the crowd of onlookers at the halfway house fire but is instantly drawn in and has a feeling she knows something. A woman is found behind the halfway house who has clearly been murdered in a way that does not have to do with the fire, and it isn’t long before Eva is brought into the fold and she faces the realization that her past is going to be the key to unraveling this incredible mystery.
The supporting characters are fantastic in the story. I loved Eva Rayburn, our main character, and the way she interacted with everyone else is what made the story. We have King, the owner of King’s bar, who offered Eva a job six months ago and offered her a place to stay, which is a room over the bar. We have Bobby, King’s ten year old foster kid, and the relationship that grows between Eva and Bobby is so freaking great. Angie Carlson, a defense attorney, gets dragged into a lot of this mess thanks to someone she represented a while back named Lenny Danvers, a man who really found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Alongside Deacon Garrison is his partner, Malcolm Kier, and apparently he’s going to be the main detective, main character, in book two of this series!?
On that note, I’m thrilled to know that there’s two more books in this series and that each one looks to involve familiar characters. Focusing on different detectives we are introduced to here in book one, Senseless, and other supporting characters coming into the fray. At least based on the descriptions! If those two books have stories as riveting as Senseless’s then I know I’m going to be in for a treat!! This was a damn good read and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. I devoured the last hundred pages to get to the big reveal. Each chapter brought surprise after surprise and every time I found myself in awe of how well this story was crafted! The layers weaved throughout the story that melded with the characters and their motivations all connected in ways that were crazy! This was an immensely satisfying read and I have to give a big round of applause to Mary Burton!! Thank you!!
One little thing I found myself wondering about at the end. Bit of a spoiler so I’m putting it further down to where one would have to scroll to reach it.
* * * * * * * * * SPOILER BELOW - HEADS UP * * * * * * * * *
I’m still very curious about Kristen Hall and the baby she had to give up!! I have a feeling it’s just one of those things we, the reader, will never know about because we were never meant to know for this story. But maybe it will come into play in book two or three? Time will tell I suppose when I make my way to them!!!
May 30, 2017
To know a true Lifetime novel, truly know you are in it's grasp, every two or three chapters you must get the Perp POV. Which means, you will inevitably read a chapter that has all he heavy breathing, the dedication to the murder, the fear of the victim, the sensations that accompany the murder of a beautiful girl. Blood sings. Erections happen. Murrrrderrr most horrid occurs. Oh, the horror.
And then you meet the beautiful protagonist and the hunky cop/doctor/emt/firefighter/business titan that will both be dangerous and erotic.
This novel is no exception. Suspenseful. Page turner. HEA eventually. Just what you'd expect.
And then you meet the beautiful protagonist and the hunky cop/doctor/emt/firefighter/business titan that will both be dangerous and erotic.
This novel is no exception. Suspenseful. Page turner. HEA eventually. Just what you'd expect.
February 28, 2018
I read this out of order which did spoil it, a little. However, it was still a good read.
Eva was convicted of killing Josiah Cross and served ten years in prison. Now released, she has returned to her home town. She is working at a pub, King’s, and living in a loft room over the premises. She hasn’t told her sister, Angie, that she is back in town.
Then, the bodies start turning up. The girl’s have been branded, just like the brand on Eva’s shoulder. She is linked to the victims.
Once again, editing is a concern. King comes out of the pub armed with an axe then has a bat in his hand! Get on this people!
Eva was convicted of killing Josiah Cross and served ten years in prison. Now released, she has returned to her home town. She is working at a pub, King’s, and living in a loft room over the premises. She hasn’t told her sister, Angie, that she is back in town.
Then, the bodies start turning up. The girl’s have been branded, just like the brand on Eva’s shoulder. She is linked to the victims.
Once again, editing is a concern. King comes out of the pub armed with an axe then has a bat in his hand! Get on this people!
February 14, 2022
I liked the story even though it was very predictable and there were a few discrepancies and redundant sentences. I read the Kindle version so I don't know about the physical copy but there were quite a few typos and such. My pet peeve about this author is her lack of descriptive creativity. In every book I've read by her, she uses the same descriptions: "full breasts," "moist center," flat belly, and everybody is constantly picking lint or loose string off of their clothes. I'd estimate over half of her characters have black hair, too. I enjoy her stories but her repetitions have become quite annoying
February 26, 2012
This is my first Mary Burton book and won't be my last. I really enjoyed this book, the characters and twists and connections kept me from putting it down. Maybe it was just me, but I never figured out who was doing all the killing until I was smacked in the face with it and the keeping me guessing made me enjoy this even more.
I pick Merciless up from the library tomorrow and can't wait to see what happens next with these characters. If you haven't read Mary Burton, I highly suggest you start!
I pick Merciless up from the library tomorrow and can't wait to see what happens next with these characters. If you haven't read Mary Burton, I highly suggest you start!
Read
June 17, 2011The fourth of Mary Burton's books I've read, this is among her best. As always, the characters pulled me right alongside the subplot and the tense opening scenes. DISCLOSURE: I'm fortunate to work with Mary on some of her titles and so I'm possibly a bit biased. BUT I do know how much I enjoyed SENSELESS and the soon to be published MERCILESS and I hope other fans of romantic suspense and crime fiction will as well.
May 1, 2014
This is the third book I've read by this author, I like her style of writing and the mystery was great. I know these books are labeled as Romantic Suspense, the romance is very light, in fact this one had the most romance in it of the other books I've read. The characters were interesting and likeable. I will be reading the next book in this series. Very enjoyable suspense with light romance.
January 4, 2011
Review to follow. Good start to a new series for Burton.
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