Member Reviews
I am going to be in the minority and you know what I don't care..I had a couple of issues with this book. First and foremost was that the hero (who wasn't one) and heroine had a one night stand while he was still married, yes he was separated but Korine didn't know that..They don't see each other again for a while, then they get put in job together, and it is supposed to be love that they have for each other but all it is is lust pure and simple. I don't know how Korrine could even entertain a relationship with him, but oh well..also this deals with a heavy subject..
Pretty Little Killers is the first book in The Keepers series by Rita Herron. This is the first book I have read by this author and it certainly will not be the last. Even though this story was really quite light on the romance side of things until closer to the end, it was jam packed with murder, suspense and lots of drama. A very engaging story with some very unexpected twists and turns.
The only draw back I found was that at first I felt like I had jumped in on Book Two. I kept getting this nagging feeling throughout that there was a prior story somewhere that would have shared more of the backstory involving the murder of Hatcher's wife along with his history with Korine.
Overall though, I found this story intriguing and look forward to what the author has in store for us next.
Rita Herron has become one of my favorite Romantic Suspense writers. She has the ability to draw the reader in from the start and there is not a chance to put the book down. Pretty Little Killers did just that. I was so invested in the story that I didn't notice how the day got by and I still sat glued to the book. I highly recommend this book, fast paced, steamy and so good. Read it, I promise, you'll love it! I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Romance!
Secondly, there is Rita Herron’s Pretty Little Killers, a romantic suspense, the first book in the Keepers series. Hatcher McGee is an FBI special agent who is having a difficult time overcoming his guilt about his wife’s death and alcoholism. Although he and his wife were separated, Hatcher was in bed with Korine Davenport when his wife was viciously murdered. Back on the job, Hatcher is paired with Korine who is now a rookie agent to investigate a series of grisly murders. Korine has her own issues after having witnessed her father’s murder when she was a young child - a murder than has never been solved.
This suspense plot is intense and gruesome, but highly captivating as well. I would caution that this romance can be difficult to read at times because the victims are serial killers and sexual predators (and sexual abuse is a major theme). But the mystery is well thought out and intricately plotted. I honestly could not put the book down because I couldn’t wait to find out how the suspense plot would be resolved. My issue with the story is that the romance is not nearly as strong as the suspense. Most of the romance depends upon Hatcher and Korine’s previous relationship. Otherwise, things between them move very slowly. But overall, Pretty Little Killers satisfied. I quite look forward to seeing where this series heads next. (Book Disclosure: An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley)
**2.5-3 stars**
As a big fan of the romantic suspense genre, I am always in search of the next big mystery and the romance that goes with. Pretty Little Killers was my first Rita Herron novel and I was so drawn in by the blurb. One thing that can make or break a story in this genre is an ill-fitting romance. Hatcher and Korine had zero chemistry, and their connection never got off the ground. It was more lustful and shallow instead of a deep and gratifying connection that built along with the suspense--and especially with how they last connected, there should have been immense tension swirling between them, but that never came across on the page. Hatcher was not a book hero to admire or fall for; he was very...cold and not charming. I expected him to warm up and have some complexity, but his revenge-filled mantra and carelessness for anything other than her looks never helped me to like him or to want her to like him. The first chapter (prologue) was so engrossing, it pulled me in and set up a great hook into the plot, but the rest of the book didn't feel like that nor follow in the same vein. And while the suspense storyline was decently constructed, I felt like these characters understood things too quickly and it felt convenient. There was far too much telling and not enough showing on both aspects of the story, and I had a difficult time keeping my attention on it. Mysteries should keep me invested with ease, give me clues and twists and turns and throw the characters off randomly, and unfortunately it didn't do that for me. I'm hopeful this is just a one-off and that I can try another Herron novel and fall into it; I certainly would be willing to try it - I think there will be readers who really enjoy this story, I just wasn't one of them.
This was an interesting book. I liked the storyline, and it definitely had you wondering who the killer was and what was going to happen next. But there were some sections that I did get a little confused on what was happening and who the person was in relation to the story.
This was a great book that kept me guessing till the end. The characters had some depth to them.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Pretty Little Killers by Rita Herron that I read and reviewed.
Where to start? I am usually really easy going with books that seem to be off of other series but this book was very confusing because I kept getting the feeling I should have read a book before this one to know a lot of the back story and I was so confused I had no idea what was going on with the main characters and it got to the point where I just wanted the book to end because I did not care anymore. I had read most of the recent books by Herron so I was totally lost about where this storyline about the Skull even came from .
I had to give this book two out of five stars because it was just way to confusing to be the first book in a new series.
I always know I’m in for a treat with a new release from Rita Herron. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, I eagerly agreed to read and review her newest romantic thriller.
As with all of Ms. Herron’s books, the characters are real and flawed, the plot is intriguing and there’s plenty of emotions running high. One of the things I enjoy most about her books is the suspenseful scenes. She has a way of keeping me on the edge of my seat from the first page until the last.
Korine’s character is engaging, and I quickly became vested by her backstory. Her determination to not let fear rule her life is admirable. She is a strong female character and compassionate as well.
Hatcher’s character is dream-worthy. He has plenty of demons from his past, but he doesn’t allow them to stop in in his relentless determination to find the killer. There is good depth to his character that explains his actions.
While the romance is secondary in Pretty Little Killers, it’s still strong and adds a lot to the story. The suspense in this book builds as the tale of mystery and intrigue unfolds. Ms. Herron does a fantastic job of keeping the true villain under the radar until the climax. I never suspected a thing. There is a huge surprise involving Korine at the end that totally blew me away.
If you enjoy a novel with plenty of high suspense with a great “who-done-it plot,” then you will absolutely love Pretty Little Killers. This is a stand-alone novel. Happy reading!
Pretty Little Killers was a fast-paced suspenseful read with a compelling plot and enjoyable characters.
FBI special agent Hatcher McGee has spent the past few months trying to recover from his wife’s murder and his killing the man responsible. His first case back on the job, he is paired with rookie agent Korine Davenport, a woman he had a one-night stand with while separated from his wife prior to her death. However, Hatcher and Korine don’t have time to deal with their history as the killer they’re after is showing no mercy going after the predators of Savannah. With one body showing up after another, Hatcher and Korine will risk everything to catch a killer seeking revenge which is a motive they both understand all too well.
At five years old Korine witnessed her father’s murder when he was shot and killed while dancing with Korine in his arms. Korine became obsessed with finding out who killed her father and joined law enforcement in the hopes of one day finding his killer. Before joining the FBI, Korine worked as a police officer in the sex crimes unit. Korine relates with victims easily and understands their driving need for justice. Outside of her work, Korine is usually dealing with her family’s issues that developed after her father’s death. Her mother suffers from severe depression and is nearly catatonic whereas her brother has substance abuse problems.
After his wife’s murder, Hatcher took time away from work and spent most of his days drowning his guilt with alcohol. Prior to the start of the book, Hatcher was considered a bit of a legend in the bureau and had a reputation for being able to solve difficult cases. He feels immense guilt over the fact he wasn’t able to get to his wife in time to save her and feels no guilt over killing the man who murdered her. He also feels guilty that he was with Korine when his wife was taken despite the fact they were separated and he’d asked for a divorce. Hatcher now sees his wife’s ghost everywhere he looks and feels she is haunting him for not saving her.
Hatcher and Korine were both immediately attracted to one another but after their one-night stand the two had no contact as Korine was angry after finding out Hatcher wasn’t single as he claimed and Hatcher was dealing with his wife’s murder. After being partnered, both Hatcher and Korine struggle with the attraction they still have for each other. Outside of that, the two work well together on the case and both bring a lot to the table. Despite Korine being a rookie, Hatcher comes to admire her quick thinking and ability to come up with new ideas. Their romance takes a bit of a backseat throughout the case but eventually they give in to their attraction and it’s quite enjoyable to read with some very sexy scenes.
The case of a vigilante killer going after predators was an intriguing one and the author does a great job getting you to sympathize with the killer as the men killed are monsters and it’s easy to see where the killer is coming from. One aspect of the case that I liked was how the author chose to tie the manner of death to each victims’ crimes. I ended up being completely surprised by who the killer turned out to be and my guess was totally wrong. The revelations regarding Korine’s father’s death were quite interesting and definitely came as a surprise.
Pretty Little Killers ended up being a fantastic start to The Keepers series and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
My review will be published at www.readingobsession.com on 2/20/2018.
In a nutshell, the intense storytelling makes this interesting to read. The slight flaws detract from the story somewhat, but not enough to detract from my pleasure in reading the book. You’ll enjoy the book but it may not be one you want to read obsessively.
What are the flaws? Coincidence, too many inter-related elements, and not enough chemistry between the two character. I don’t want to say more because truly these were not things that made the book less engaging. There are a lot of good things happening inside the story and it kept me guessing until the big reveal by the author. By the way, I guessed wrong.
Pretty Little Killers by Rita Herron is the first book in the new romantic suspense The Keepers series. Before getting too much into my review on this one I’d warn it may be a tough read for some as a good portion deals with child molestation.
The story starts with introducing Korine Davenport who is a rookie that went into law enforcement due to witnessing her own father’s murder when she was a child. Korine finds herself paired with FBI special agent Hatcher McGee with whom she’d once had a one night stand.
Korine and Hatcher need to learn to work together quickly despite their brief encounter in the past as the pair are tasked with solving the murder of a corrupt judge. It appears that they just may have a vigilante killer on the loose that they need to track down before the body count rises.
I have to say that maybe it would be best to think of this as more of a police procedural with a bit of naughtiness thrown into the mix as when I think of romantic suspense I’d hope to have a bit of actual “romance” to the relationship. My only complaint in this one leading me to lower my rating to 3.5 stars was it seemed more a want to hop into bed than any believability to a relationship with Korine and Hatcher.
The suspense side of the story however is what really shined in the book and even with the tough subject matter it was really engaging, although I will admit to wondering if I actually wanted the killer caught. In the end the twists and turns made up for the lack of any real romance to me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Murder, suspense and corruption, the first book in The Keepers series packs a punch and had me engrossed from the opening page. I look forward to reading what comes next and recommend you take a look for yourself if you dare.
I do not congratulate myself for being the first one star rating but I can't in good conscience even rattle up a second star. I did not like this book. My first issue was that every single darn character had a grudge and was going to get revenge for something. Korine became an FBI agent because she was going to track down her father's killer. Hatcher killed the man who killed his wife but now needs to seek revenge for the man who almost killed his partner. The Keepers themselves were out to right wrongs. Etc, etc. The lack of character diversity was overkill. Second, the story was supposed to be suspense and while there was some, the jarring interruptions caused by a forced infusion of "romance" ruined the book for me. I quickly got tired of reading happily along only to be interrupted by Hatcher looking at Korine and having his "c0ck twitch." And this happened at the very most inappropriate moments as though there was a page count timer that said it was time to get back to offensive sex talk. I do realize that the publisher focuses on romance but: 1) this wasn't romance. this was gross grunty lust. nothing romantic or loving about it, 2) I have read other books from this publisher that were successful in their attempts to produce a quality suspense book with the inclusion romance. Regarding point 1), this is a short quote: "He struggled to rein in his lust as she jogged down her stairs to meet him.......Except for dark smudges beneath her eyes, she looked fresh and young and...sexy." Okay, she was running down the stairs because they were chasing a killer, not going out on a hot date. And her dark smudges were because she had gotten no sleep for the past several nights. I truly have a difficult time viewing this as being sexy (young or fresh). Needless to say, I won't be reading future books in the series. In fact, I skipped the sex scenes in this book because by then I knew this wasn't love but just plain ol' lust. And that isn't what romance is about.
What an intense read, filled with serial killers, sex offenders, corrupt officials and more! This story had me on the edge of my seat and turning pages through out the night! I can't wait to see what Ms. Heron has in store for us next!
Pretty Little Killers is the first book in The Keepers series . Rita Herron never disappoints !! This book centers around FBI agents Korine Davenport who's father was murdered in front of her when she was five years old , and Hatcher McGee . Hatcher's wife was murdered by the serial killer The Skull . A dark , deeply disturbing , heart pounding thriller with a well constructed plot and realistic and believable characters that will keep you perched and terrified at the edge of your seat until the very last page ! I loved this book and can't wait for the next in the series . Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake Romance for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review ! #Netgalley #Montlake Romance #PrettyLittleKillers
Rita, Rita, Rita...oh the games you play with my mind!!!
Another get series with awesome (some twisted) characters, twists and turns, murder, mayhem, and dark real-life issues.
I loved every minute of it!!!! I will say I really thought I had it figured and than BAM Rita proved me wrong - I so LOVE when that happens!!!!
I can not wait for the next book (hopefully Wyatt) in this series.
#PrettyLittleKillers #NetGalley
Rita Herron takes a dark topic sexual abuse of adults and children and create a riveting story that will have readers wanting more.
Each and every character in the story has a purpose that propels the story forward moving leaving in it wake a desire to help those who have been forgotten by the system.
The two main leads McGee and Davenport are both troubled by their past of violence that keeps them fighting for the truth even when it isn't close to what they hope for.
The author creates a thought that will linger with the reader long after they put down the story. What would you do if it was someone you loved? Would you find them and kill them or allow the courts determine there fate?
The story talks about rape, child molesters and serial killers who do not seem themselves as a killer but an angel of mercy.
The romance between the two lead characters is why the story isn't 5 stars. It felt forced, didn't flow with the story and at points would stop the story in its tracks. While I understood the reason for the romance I felt it could have done without the sex scenes. A quick they woke up would have been better with this story line.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher Montlake Romance for the advance copy
#RitaHerron. #PrettyLittleKillers #NetGalley
I’m not going to rehash the plot, because you can read the blurb. What I will do is tell you that Rita Herron provided an enjoyable suspense read with Pretty Little Killers. From the start you’re given back story on Korine, which is a mystery in itself. and then we dive right into the story, which is the second mystery. Throughout we are given the POV of Korine, Hatcher, and some others as well. This makes it so you’re not quite sure if you’re getting the killers POV, or just more layers to the story. I think that Herron constructs this story very well, and the way she does it keeps you guessing until the very end. I want to know who killed Korine’s dad, who the vigilante is, and WHY are they really killing these people. Toward the end I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen. Honestly... the killer was not who I expected. If you’re looking for a book where you can solve the mystery from the clues... this probably isn’t it. If you’re looking to be told a good suspenseful story, with a satisfying ending, then one click the book as soon as it is live. As for the love story aspect, it’s more of a list story. While I think it definitely helps to break up some of the sad and emotional bits in this book, if you’re looked for full fledged romantic suspense this isn’t it. More of a suspense with some naughty bits sprinkled in.
All in all a great read. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys suspense or tv crime procedural type shows. It definitely reads that way in my opinion!
Also... I hope there’s more to come with The Keepers series. Maybe from a certain agoraphobia sufferer, and healing detective?
Do you love a book that keeps you captivated from the first chapter? Do you love a book with great lead characters and lots of suspense? While this book is for you.! Who is seeking justice ..one person.? two ? many?? So much suspense and there is a lot of different story lines going on and I loved it! I love a book that has me guessing.. Definitely recommend if your looking for a different book that will keep you reading into the night!