D K. Hood is an exciting new author for me and I hope plenty more books are going to be written in this series.
Detectives Alton and Kane have a tremendous working relationship and are becoming more dependent on each other off duty.
The clock is ticking as a serial killer stalks their town killing off young girls. Plenty of suspects but no clear evidence. The story has many twists, gruesome discoveries and enough details to keep you guessing who is the killer and how does he lure his victims.
Thrilling from start to finish a really enjoyable read..

Okay. First things first - housekeeping a confession. This is book two in the series so you may wish to read book one first. I would recommend it, after all that is the polite thing to do right ;) That said, I do believe this can be read as a stand alone but may contain mild spoilers as to what has gone on before. It will certainly give you a better grasp of the relationship between Kane and Alton, however this is still developing, so you can easily pick it up in Bring Me Flowers. So ... My confession. I haven't read book one yet, but that didn't prevent my enjoyment of this book one bit, and it was renewed my resolve to listen to the audio book which is patiently waiting on my iPod just as soon as possible.

Right - the story ... My, my, my. What a tale. The murder of a young girl in a beautiful patch of forest sparks a harrowing investigation for Jenna Alton, Dave Kane and new deputy Shane Wolfe. Just why was the victim chosen and was it a crime of passion or the start of something darker. The girl was only sixteen, the pool of suspects constantly growing, not helped by the arrival in town of the local Rodeo stars, the men that every woman and woman-to-be want to be with. As the situation escalates just how far will everybody be pushed and how far is the killer willing to go? Well... why not pick up a copy of the book and find out for yourself? You know you want to.

What I enjoyed about this book was the characterisation and the development of the police team. You have a mixture of characters in there but it is clear that with the addition of Shane Wolfe to the team, a man with a surprising past, Jenna Alton has a formidable team around her. And this is just as well as she is going to need it. The violence in this book is kept off the page, but there is no doubt left in the readers mind as to what has happened or the level or torment inflicted upon the victims. It is kind of toe curling if you stop to think about it properly and the sense of danger is never far away.

Jenna is an interesting character. She has a unique history, at least in terms of her law enforcement career and she has the strange mixture of both tenacity and vulnerability which actually makes her a very likeable character. Her relationship with Kane is great, somewhere between professional and romantic and it is obvious that if I read the first book I'll have a better understanding of just where this has come from. Kane is another great character, but one who finds himself in a little potential hot water later in the novel. I'll say no more about that but it's so hot it's practically scalding.

When you add in Wolfe to the pack, you are faced with three characters with very complex personal lives. There are all individually likeable, but as a team they are people with whom I am happy to spend quite a bit of time. And throughout the story, as the pacing ebbs and flows with the action, so too the tension, I really got a sense of the small town environment in which the books are set. In some respects its remoteness and the whole idea of being shrouded by woods, adds to the suspense and the creeping feeling which is never far from the readers mind. I have to say though, that if I lived out there I would probably consider moving as it doesn't seem they have much luck when it comes to serial killers. 

A really great book and I look forward to going back to read book one, and to see what is in store next for our three intrepid heroes.

“When someone tortures for enjoyment, it churns my guts”

So I’ve returned to Montana to visit Kane and Alton but it’s not as chilly as my last visit. Summer has arrived in Black Rock Falls and along with it, not only the rodeo but a sinister case for the sheriff and her team. Some slight warped individual has taken to brutally killing the town’s teenage girls and posing the nude dead bodies with flowers.

Now there is a new deputy in town after what happened in Don’t Tell A Soul and he is a welcome addition to the team. Deputy Wolfe has a background in forensics which adds a different dimension to the team but he’s got a daughter is extremely interested in following Daddy’s footsteps.

I really enjoyed the way the author switched perspectives between our two leads and then threw in the odd chapter from our evil culprit. Getting the insight to the murderer’s logic was illuminating….what a nutter!!! Getting off on stalking and then mutilating young women, it gave me the creeps.

Saying that I did get a couple of chuckles from this book but I have to say it is probably just me and my slightly warped sense of humour. As the rodeo is in town, there is a bit of boot scooting going on and what popped into my head when I read those words? Yes you’ve guessed it, Steps! I was a bit of a Steps fan back in the day so boot scooting immediately made me think of their debut hit 5,6,7,8 #hangsheadinshame 😂😂

On a more serious note, I was totally enthralled by Bring Me Flowers. For me, the author’s writing is reminiscent of Lisa Gardner’s writing; there is a brutality in the crimes and in contrast there is a vulnerability to the feisty female lead. I’ll definitely be reading more of D.K. Hood’s books (please say there is more to come for Kane and Alton!)

It isn't often that I read two books from a series in a row but that is what I did with Bring Me Flowers by D.K. Hood. I read it right after I finished reading part one, Don't Tell a Soul. As is usual with books in a series book one does a lot of scene setting and character introduction and generally having read book one helps you to understand what is going on it subsequent books. While I think that you could read Bring Me Flowers without having read Don't Tell A Soul it would definitely be helpful to start at the beginning. 

The main characters, Sherrif Alton and Deputy Kane both come with complex pasts which need to be fully understood to appreciate what great, multi-dimensional characters they are. 

I enjoyed Don't Tell A Soul but Bring Me Flowers is even better, somehow the storyline worked in a way that it hadn't quite in the first book and the more established characters worked well as a team. It was a great read, one of those that you think about when you aren't reading and go to bed early so that you have a bit of extra reading time. I like Alton and Kane more than I did in book one and, well let's just say that when I finished Bring Me Flowers I was disappointed that there wasn't book three waiting for me to read next. 

This is definitely a series that is going places and if you like reading books from the point of view of the police, which is how most of the book is told, although we do hear from the perpetrator, victims and some other characters too, then you will enjoy Bring Me Flowers. I am now waiting, not so patiently, for book three.

I received a copy of Bring Me Flowers by D.K. Hood from Bookouture, I was under no obligation to review and all thoughts are my own.

Oh just wow! Before I had got to the end of the first chapter I had already added this author to my must never miss list because I just knew that she would just hit the spot and I had struck gold! Boy could she set that electrically charged atmosphere, I was only a few pages in and I was so darn edgy.

D. K. Hood was hitting me where it hurt the most, the slaying of kids that were just on the brink, but not quite, of being an adult. All that bravado and strutting and feeling all grown up and misunderstood, secrets and pushing the limits with parents but still wanting to be a kid when it suited. Then it is gone, brutally and forcefully taken away before they know what it is like to be an adult.

A serial killer that was targeting young teenage girls at more regular intervals than my local bus. He was insatiable and developing more elaborate ways to display his victims at every kill. Bloody hell these kids had really suffered before they died. Although it doesn’t take you through the sordid details of the kills as they happen the result that you are left with are enough.

Absolutely loved the detectives that were dealing with the case, they each had their own very hidden back stories that could be deadly to them if they were discovered. The thing is it creates a bit of a wall between them to start with, but walls can be taken down. There is something very special that bonds them more than your usual books. It just makes the whole story one big continuous don’t anyone dare interupt me read, because I wasn’t stopping for anybody.

Now I began to feel really guilty because I didn’t want it to end. Was I actually wanting more girls to die? OMG I must of been but in my defence I loved this book. This is a very fast paced read, one that you just can’t find that lull to put the kettle on. A super read, just loved it!

I wish to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of this book which I have honestly reviewed.

Bring Me Flowers is the second book in the Detectives Kane and Alton series and while I don’t feel you’d be missing out on too much if you’ve not read the first one, I think you should pick it up anyway because it’s good. And this one, in my opinion, is even better!

It’s been a quiet few months in the town but that is about to change. It seems someone is targeting young girls, viciously murdering them and displaying their bodies in a pretty gruesome way for anyone to find. The town residents are afraid as it looks like anyone could be next. But who is after the girls? Why? And how do they always seem to know where to find them in the first place? Kane and Alton have very little to go on as the killer isn’t leaving them any clues to work with. As harsh as it sounds, it looks like they may have to wait for the killer to strike again and hope they make a mistake.

This is such a tense ride and a thrilling investigation that kept me guessing until the end. While the detectives at some point do have a list of suspects, including a bunch of hot and sweaty cowboys, I considered them all to be too obvious but couldn’t for the life of me figure out who the culprit was supposed to be and when they were finally revealed, I almost smacked my forehead in one of those “duh, should have seen that coming” moments. Cleverly done!

We are also introduced to a new member of the team. A widower trying to raise three young daughters while also working as the medical examiner and a computer expert in between. He’s a very busy man and I thoroughly enjoyed his arrival. I felt he fit into this small team perfectly and I look forward to getting to know him better as I’m pretty sure there’s more to his story and his sudden appearance in the town. I do still have a few niggles about Jenna as she’s a little wishy-washy for me at times, going from making sure everyone knows she’s the fierce sheriff in town to seemingly being this little girl lost waiting for her knight in shining armour. Then again, she does maybe suffer from PTSD due to events in the previous book and what do I know about that anyway? Nothing, in case you wondered. And my confusing feelings about Jenna have no effect whatsoever on my reading experience.

While I enjoyed the first book in this series, I must say I thought this one was far better and I really liked how it refers to modern technology and warns about the potential dangers. This is a well-paced and suspenseful crime fiction story that had me completely engrossed. A excellent addition to the series and I can’t wait to read the next book and see where this team goes next!

Aaaah the long awaited second book in the series surrounding Detective Alton and Kane, and by gawd its another stoater. I know a lot of you like to know if it can be read as a standalone, it could be but I think it would definitely be more beneficial to it read as part of the series.

After reading the first book I found that when transitioning over to Bring Me Flowers it was effortless even down to the introduction of new characters.

The discovery of a teenage girl posed upon rocks in a nearby beauty spot, no DNA present, nothing to identify the killer only a strange gesture of a bunch of wildflowers, what is the meaning behind them. Alton, Kane and the newest Deputy Wolfe are faced with the investigation into the death of Felicity Parker, before another death occurs, are they too late, is the trailing turning cold, are they prepared to wait for the killers next move.

D.K. Hood managed to incorporate the newest member of the sheriffs department easily into the team and I found it amazing the way they all gelled together without any sign of bitterness or rivalry over the reasons behind the relocation of all them to Black Rock Falls.

I couldn’t prevent myself from falling heavily into this book, the grim murders, the crime scenes, the killer, D.K. Hood had me captured and pinned in the plot, following the depraved mind of the killer, absorbing the evidence, try as I might to comprehend what was happening and why.

I would like to thank D.K. Hood, Bookouture and Noelle Holten for the opportunity to become part of the #BlogTour for Bring Me Flowers to read in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Bring Me Flowers", the second Kane and Alton novel. Sheriff Jenna Alton and her Deputy David Kane are joined by a new Deputy (who also doubles as Medical Examiner and Forensic specialist) who has a history with Kane - although they've never met - in this follow up to the gripping "Don't Tell A Soul".

There is a brutal serial killer stalking the teenaged girls of the town, and he's escalating! The rodeo is in town, and two of the suspects are cowboys; also, a teacher and techie are suspects. And it appears that the killer has left previous swathes of murders wherever he's been.

Alton, Kane and Wolfe have to work fast to solve these murders, before they lose anyone else, and to do so they have to delve into the world of online gaming and communication - as the killer is cyberstalking!

A worthy follow up to the first story, and I look forward to the next.

Bring Me Flowers by D.K. Hood is the 2nd in the Kane and Alton Detective Series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Synopsis:

When the brutalized body of a young girl is found laid out on a rock, just off a forest trail, Sheriff Jenna Alton and her team are horrified. When a second body is found the next day, they decide to keep a lid on it, and the parents are only too happy to comply. After discovering this could be the work of a serial killer, it is felt that keeping the details of the murders quiet may help them put this guy away. Whoever this killer is, he seems to be targeting certain young women in out-of-the-way locations, and leaving no clues behind. His number of kills is escalating, and fast. With the pool of suspects growing, they are going to have to find him fast.

Alton and Kane have a new member in their crew, and this one is definitely needed. A forensic scientist who can double as a deputy, and with military training. Shane Wolfe also has extensive computer expertise, and this will become an invaluable asset, as they try to track down this killer.


My Views:

I absolutely loved the plot, loved the writing, loved the twists, and loved Hood’s portrayal of the teenagers attitudes. I also really enjoyed the way the author explored social media and gamers, and the pitfalls that could befall teenagers if they are not careful. Overall I really enjoyed this book.

However, I still have a bit of a problem with the characters. Wolfe’s attitude vacillates between tolerant and arrogant. The author has Kane constantly saying that Alton is a great sheriff, and then Kane makes all the suggestions, and he does most of the work. Alton is supposedly a strong female lead, but she seems really weak. If Hood is trying to show Alton’s softer side, she missed the mark. The character whines and pouts that she should be tough as she sheds tears in front of her deputy, and ends up in bed with him – to cuddle (at least there was no sex). Unless she is in a relationship with her deputy, a strong woman would probably cry and feel sorry for herself in private. Then Hood has Jenna trying to correct her outbursts, but it’s too late. I had hoped the second book would show a stronger Jenna, but she still seems to be just another weak female – which seriously annoys me – and which is why this book has only a 3.5 star rating.

On another positive note, although I had guessed the identity of the killer early on, Hood inserted enough twists to keep you motivated to carry on. I guess I’ll stick around for book 3 in hopes that Jenna grows some.

EXCERPT: He imagined how she would look dead.

The fixed brown eyes, gaping mouth, and the cool feel of her young, bloodless skin against his flesh.

His would be the last face Felicity Parker would ever see.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: She didn’t know he was watching. Until it was too late.

She’d walked this path hundreds of times before, she knew every twist and turn. But today was different. She didn’t know someone was waiting for her, hidden away from view. She didn’t know this was the last time she’d walk this path.

Hidden deep in the forest, schoolgirl Felicity Parker is found carefully laid out on a rock with nothing but a freshly picked bunch of flowers next to her lifeless form. Detective Jenna Alton is called in to investigate the gruesome discovery.

With the body found just off a popular hiking route, Jenna believes the killer is a visitor to the town… until a second local girl is discovered.

Within days, Kate Bright, a school friend of Felicity’s, is found brutally murdered at the local swimming pool and once again, the killer has displayed his victim in a terrifying manner and left flowers at the scene.

The town is gripped with fear and Jenna and her deputy, David Kane, now know that the killer is living among them, and that he’s picking off school girls one by one. But they don’t know who is next on the list.

As the trail goes cold, Kane and Alton are forced to sit and wait for the killer to make his next move. But now he has a new victim in his sights, and he’s looking much closer to home …

MY THOUGHTS: Oh, where do I start? The plot showed much promise, but failed to deliver to the point where I actually struggled to finish this book.

I have to admit that I haven't read the first book in the series, Don't Tell A Soul, and am now unlikely to. Has this had any effect on my understanding of this, the second in the series? I think not, as I didn't struggle to understand the relationships between the characters, and their back stories are fully explained.

I did like the way Smartphone technology was used for the hunting down of the girls. It should serve as a warning, a reminder that while technology starts out being used for good purposes, it never takes long for someone to figure out how to use or adapt it for their own nefarious intent.

And so on to the problems - the dialogue between characters is stilted, wooden, many of the characters, particularly the suspects, are clichéd - the nerdy loner and the teacher newly moved to town are just two examples.

Policing procedure is haphazard and random. And that, I think, was where my biggest problem lay with Bring Me Flowers. The incompetence set my teeth on edge. I am unsure if this was intentional on the part of the author, or if she just hasn't done her research properly.

Black Rock Falls appears to be a small town. The local police force, which is small also, seem neither experienced nor competent. At the rate the bodies were turning up, I would have expected outside help to be summoned, if not FBI, then at least extra experienced manpower from the nearest main centre.

I found Bring Me Flowers to be a disappointment. I don't mind having to suspend belief in favor of a good, fast paced read but for me, this was neither. Neither the writing nor the plot flowed smoothly and I just couldn't wait to get to the end, which was also a disappointment. The motivation behind the deaths is alluded to by the killer early on in the book, but is never fully explained.

This is a series that I won't be following up on. But just because I found this to be an unsatisfying read doesn't mean that you won't love it. This is my personal opinion, my reaction to the book. Most reviews for this book are positive, so if you enjoyed the excerpt and like the summary of the plot, please go ahead and read Bring Me Flowers by D. K. Hood. You may be one of the many who enjoy this book.

Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Bring Me Flowers by D. K. Hood for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.

This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

Black Rock Falls over the last few years have acquired a new sheriff and several deputies and now once again they are needed. As it would seem that there is a serial killer in the town, and Sheriff Jenna Alton and the rest of the department need to find out who and how he is luring the young girls.
Always enjoy a serial killer story especially when I don't work out the killer, which is why this gets 4 stars. Though the dialogue didn't always seem to ring true, but it was still an enjoyable read.

I was really looking forward to reading this one after reading the first book in the series, which I thought was excellent. This one certainly didn't disappoint - I thought the story line for this one was great, it was set at just the right pace to hook you in and keep you engaged right to the end. Detectives Kane and Alton are a great pairing and I am loving this series - 5 stars from me!!

Bring Me Flowers by D.K. Hood is the second book in the Detectives Kane and Alton police procedural series. This book picks up six months after the end of the first book of the series and starts a whole new case for the detectives so it could be read as a standalone although there will be some character building left out that was learned from starting at the beginning.

This series is set in he small town of Black Rock Falls where Jenna Alton had been residing as the current head of police but was also a member of witness protection. In the first book she got a new hot shot detective in David Kane who also had his own history that had brought him to the sleepy little town. Of course the one thing we as readers know is that their little town would not remain sleepy for long.

Now picking up six months after their first big case together was solved the detectives get a phone call that a body had been found that may have been the victim of a bear attack. Of course in Kane and Alton’s world it quickly becomes know that what they have on their hands is the work of a possible serial killer.

As much as I enjoyed the first book of this series I think I liked book two even more. There has been another player added in the small town crime solving until bringing in a forensic expert to add to the mix and Jenna and David both were back at what they do best solving crimes. You can see the dynamic growing between the two leads which may some day become romantic but is slow moving for now as everyone is getting to know one another in the town.

The author did another great job building the story to throw in those red herrings and give plenty of suspects to keep readers on their toes with this one too. I will say though that this time I did manage to guess the correct suspect but I don’t think it was due to ease so I can see it being surprising to most. In the end I’d rate this second installment at 4.5 stars and will look forward to the next in the series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is a great series and gets better and better.
I love the relationship between Sheriff Alton and Deputy Kane and in this book, a new arrival makes the team even better. Deputy Wolfe knows about both Kane and Alton’s past and we get a little clue about there previous careers. This seems to bind the theee of them closer and makes for a great story.
The killer in this book is targeting teenage girls and the crime scenes are pretty gruesome.
There’s a few suspects in the small town but the final few chapters had me gripped in what was a real race against time.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series - I love it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Oh my flipping goodness!! Just to make you aware, 'Bring Me Flowers is the second book in the series and I do recommend that you read the books in order, otherwise some of the character personalities won't make much sense without a little bit more of background information.

DK Hood's latest book is another novel which I just want to shout 'OMG DID YOU READ THE PART WHERE....' or 'WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING WHEN THEY....'. But I can't as I really don't want to give anything away. Be prepared for some gruesome scenes though, that's for sure!

Now, I have read the first book in the series and I have to say, 'Bring Me Flowers' is even better than the first! I love Kane and Alton's relationship throughout the story, they really do work well together considering how things were when they first met. In this book, we get to find out a little more about each of them and why they're there. Not fully mind, but enough to fill the hole of curiosity for a little bit longer.

I think a lot of people forget that Detectives, paramedics, or anyone in the emergency services, are in fact real human beings with feelings. Until now, I perceived Alton as a hard-nosed, determined, fire cracker of a character and, whilst she still holds those traits, I was able to see a different side of her when it came to the murders in this book. What do I mean? Well, she actually came across human when the murders affected her in various ways. It probably sounds harsh to say, but her reaction actually surprised me! That said, I am glad that she let her guard down enough to show a different side to her personality.

'Bring Me Flowers' is such an addictive, fast paced and gruesome read which kept me guessing until the very last page. I was adamant I knew who the culprit was, but I was wrong. So very wrong! I am so impressed by how many red herrings the author managed to incorporate into her storyline without making them too obvious. It isn't until you've finished reading the book that the red herrings become blindly obvious because you know the truth. Whilst you are reading the book however, the author has written the storyline in such a way that if she were to tell you that the sky was pink with green polka dots, the chance of you believing her are incredibly high.

I cannot fault this book at all - if I could read it all over again for the very first time, I would jump at the chance!! In my opinion, 'Bring Me Flowers' is the best book of the series so far and I absolutely cannot WAIT to see what the detectives are up against next.

Hard hitting, addictive, and incredibly chilling, you will be begging someone to NOT 'Bring You Flowers' by the end of this book. A truly toe curling read - fantastic!

A follow up to Don't Tell A Soul but can be read as a stand alone. The body of a teenage girl is found in the woods and Jenna Alton is tasked with the investigation. When body number two is discovered, it becomes clear that a serial killer is on the loose in Black Rock Falls. There is more character development in this book between Jenna and David Kane as well as a new character in Shane Wolfe. I did work out who the killer was early on but it didn't stop my enjoyment of this book. Many thanks to Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads and Facebook, with Amazon to follow on publication day.

Book 2 in the Kane and Alton series. I enjoyed the first one even with all its flaws. This one improves on the first one and makes a more even and enjoyable read.

Young teen age girls are being targeted in the small town of Black Rock Falls. The first to go missing is Felicity Parker. Her young body is found naked laid out on a large rock in a forest near the river.
badly beaten and raped and then displayed for all to see, they know they have a psychopath on their hands.
when more girls disappear and meet the same fate, Alton and Kane know they have a serial killer on their hands. One that is escalating his activity as the killings become more and more frequent. The town is gripped with fear. can they stop the killer before he kills again? He seems like a local but who can it be? They have a large list of suspects and each could easily be the killer.

I enjoyed this read. despite the quite gruesome subject matter and graphic violence its quite an easy read. The story flows quite well and seems well thought out from the beginning. WE have the introduction of a new character to the team. Another undercover person to go along with Alton and Kane which does stretch the already credibility of the whole set up somewhat. It was one of the issues I had with the first book and here we have another addition but I went with it anyway.

There is quite a large list of suspects and all credible ones, although you only suspect two or three of them really. we do spend some chapters in the mind of the killer as he is killing and that does add another lair to the story.

The ending I found a little rushed and the reveal a little underwhelming. Also the whole premise of the story of our two main characters was always a hard one for me to swallow and now with the addition of a third it stretches it even further.

having said all that I didnt really enjoy this read. if you suspend belief and go with the flaky premise of the setup with this series then both books are enjoyable reads, this one more than the first. They are a bit of fun and I look forward to reading the third in the series whenever it is released.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and D.K. Hood for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hidden deep in the forest, schoolgirl Felecity Parker is found carefully laid on a rock with nothing but a freshly picked bunch of flowers next to her lifeless form. Detective Jenna Alton is called to investigate the gruesome discovery. The body is found just off a popular hiking route, Jenna believes the killer is from out of town......until a second local girl is discovered. Within days, Kate Bright, a school friend of Felicity's, is found brutally murdered at the local swimming pool. The town is gripped with fear and Jenna and her Deputy, David Kane, now know the killer is living among them .

In this book we are introduced to a new character and their family. Six months have passed since we first met Jenna Alton and Da I'd Kane in Don't Tell A Soul. The detectives have their work cut out trying to stop the serial killer before they strike again. There are plenty of suspects but no real clues to the person behind the gruesome murders as they leave no evidence. This is a well written series that the author manages to pull you quickly into. There is a few red herrings along the way. I'm looking forward to reading the third book in this series..

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author D. K. Hood for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm sorry to say I struggles to finish this. I just couldn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to.

Brilliant read. I loved the first book in the series and was not disappointed with this the second. The subplot continues to build with more interesting characters added to the mix and great development in both the characters and their relationships. Gripping main plot with a villain I never in a million years spotted.