Member Reviews
The Murder Club by Sam Baron the second book in the FBI Agent Susan Parker series due to be published April 22nd 2024 by storm publishing.
I have not read the first book but I will be going back to do so as soon as I can. I just love a good FBI series. FBI Agent Susan Parker's fun afternoon go-karting with her daughter is interrupted when she's called to the crime scene of a wealthy local man murdered in his home. As she delves into his life, she discovers the man belonged to an exclusive yet sinister Murder Club obsessed with the mysterious Clothesline killer. The previous victims were all single mothers being investigated for suspected neglect who bore the same chilling hallmark - each was strangled in her bed at night by a masked figure. I was a bit worried after reading a few of the reviews but I brushed them off and dove right in and I absolutely loved this book and I cannot wait to read more into this series!
Sadly, this book wasn't for me.
I did like the very investigative vibe the book had and the way it dealt with all of the police and FBI politics, but the case itself wasn't as gripping as I had hoped going into the book. Also, the main character wasn't that relatable or likeable, which didn't help because I didn't find myself rooting for her at all, and the way she handled things as a cop had me scratching my head at times to figure out why she would think that was a smart idea.
What I will say, is that Natalie and Lata were some of the most likeable characters in the book, and if the book had focused on them a bit more I would've liked the book much more.
All in all, I probably won't recommend this book to my friends and audience, but I don't regret reading this book either.
This is book 2 in a series. I enjoyed book one but book two fell a little flat. This series follows FBI agent Susan Parker. She is still reeling from the death of her husband in this book. Since his death is still unsolved I was hoping this book would solve it. The storyline in this book was fast paced. Even though this is book two it could be read as a standalone.
Fun, well as fun as murder can be, and quite an adventure to go on. I enjoyed every minute of it and would recommend anyone branching out from the mainstay names try this author out.
I did not read the first book in this series so the characters were all new to me. Based on this read, it probably would have helped to read the first book in the series.
The Murder Club is a fast-paced crime thriller. A serial killer is on the loose, and FBI agent Susan Parker leads a cast of diverse agents to try and find the suspect known as the “clothesline killer.” This killer is known for brutally strangling single mothers in their own home while their children sleep. What adds to this disgusting criminal is a set of billionaires that for their own sick purpose are tracking and watching live video of the killer committing the murders.
The plot is decent but tends to drag. You also must suspend realism regarding procedures for crime investigations. It was tiring to read umpteen descriptions of Parker as a person of color. Turns out it didn’t matter what her ethnic background was as it had no bearing on the story.
It was engaging, especially the climactic ending. Another sequel is in the works but I’ll pass. I give it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
My thanks to NetGalley. The author and publisher for the opportunity to review an advanced digital copy of this book. I attest this review is my own original work.
Once I turned a couple of pages couldn’t put it down.
Susan Parker is down to earth FBI but with a high profile history which follows her around. Finding a millionaire strangled is one thing, but finding eight cases of strangled single mothers, ignored by the local detectives is another. Finding similarities and weaving the strands together brings Susan closer to uncovering the killer and exposing herself and her little family to an audacious killer.
The modus operandi of the killer was slick and meticulously planned. Susan was up against a rich cartel of businessman who didn’t want their hobby of watching and tracking a serial killer do his job, go public. They threw everything at Susan to get her to stop investigating The Millionaires Club, intimidating her and even throwing her into jail. Nothing could stop her.
This was a murder/thriller of the highest quality. The writing was inviting, but matter of fact.
She walked through the cabin, across the gleaming hardwood floor, past the beautiful fireplace and luxury kitchen. The view overlooking the lake was breathtaking until she stepped outside and saw the lifeless body in the chair – a silk scarf wrapped tightly around his throat, his gray eyes wide open.
FBI Agent Susan Parker’s fun afternoon go-karting with her daughter is interrupted when she’s called to the crime scene of a wealthy local man murdered in his home.
As she delves into his life, she discovers the man belonged to an exclusive yet sinister Murder Club obsessed with the mysterious ‘Clothesline killer.’ The previous victims were all single mothers being investigated for suspected neglect who bore the same chilling hallmark – each was strangled in her bed at night by a masked figure.
But the Murder Club aren’t the only ones who have been tracking his every move…
A local pizza delivery girl has been closely following the cases and building her own investigative report. Though dismissed as isolated crimes before, Susan unravels a shocking trail of clues from the girl’s scrapbook that lead to the forgotten women and orphaned children left in the killer’s wake.
Then another member of the club is found dead in his ranch house.
Determined to silence those who get in his way, and with his sights now set on Susan, can she stop him before she and her family fall prey to this elusive killer?
This is a fast-paced story with some good twists and a good plot. The characters were likable and the author had a great writing style. The captivating story was hard to put down until the very end of the book and the bad guy finally got the punishment that he deserved. If you like mysteries about FBI agents, then you will love this book.
Wow! What an amazing rollercoaster of a read this was! Thrilling. Gripping. Transporting. SO deserving of all the superlatives! Just wonderful. Very highly recommend this stunning book and this wonderful author to everyone!
This was a new author & new series for me. The premise was so interesting, but the execution was not good. The main female character was supposed to be the special agent in charge, but she comes off as immature and impulsive. She's very unlikeable. The other characters feel like stereotypes, even down to the way their dialogue was written. In fact, some of that bordered on offensive.
Despite all of the major flaws, I did think the story was intriguing. Hopefully this author finds their voice, or at least gets a better editor, and has more success in the future.
2.5 stars rounded to 3.0 stars
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This book and the FMC were insufferable.
Every other sentence from Sam, the FMC, was about inclusivity and hating men. She also did some dumb things I don’t think real life detectives would do. The story was twisty and violent, which I didn’t mind but really it was the FMC that I didn’t enjoy.
Even better than the first, this one hooks you from the beginning. Susan is a great character. The entire cast of characters are interesting. The mystery is full of suspense. I didn't see the end coming. And it left me wanting the next book. Always a sign of a great series!
Many thanks to the author, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
I really wanted to like this book, but some of the content put me off. The main character, Susan Parker, focused too much on being a "marginalized woman of color". She focused too much on hating her Caucasian boss than focusing on her case. A plot should focus on solving crimes, not on hating men or playing the victim. or even being inclusive.
There are many five star reviews, so please read them if you are interested in this book. Not every book is a good match for everyone.
4.5 Stars!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I also was unaware that it’s a series and I will definitely be reading the others. This story was fast paced and always kept my attention. I’m not one to read mystery/thriller too often, but I do add them to my list occasionally and I’m so happy The Murder Club crossed my path! This was also my first mystery/thriller told from the perspective of an FBI agent. As someone who loves Criminal Minds and related shows, I loved the FBI aspect. This book had me on the edge of my seat, especially at the end. I tried making my own assumptions as the story went on but I definitely did not predict that ending. The pacing was great, the characters were well rounded, and the overall story was very well done! I cannot wait to read the next book!
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this eCopy to review
The Murder Club is the 2nd book FBI Agent Susan Parker series and is just as explosive as the 1st. More family secrets about Susan's husband's death are revealed which is a good side story.
The main plot follows Sam investigating a serial killer that the FBI is alerted to once a group of billionaires starts being killed. They have been following him for years as he kills poor mothers. Can Susan find and stop him before he kills anyone else? Is her family safe?
I would have liked Detective Naved to feature more, but we do learn much more about Susan's team this time round
Be warned it ends on another massive cliff hanger! I cannot wait for book 3, Susan is a great character and very inspirational about what you can achieve
Loved it! Agent Susan Parker has to be one of my favorite characters. This one was just as good as The Therapy Room and immediately left me wanting to read more from Sam. Fingers crossed in the next book we find out more about Susan's family.
The Murder Club is book 2 in the FBI Agent Susan Parker series by Sam Baron.
This was an intriguing police procedural story.
The amazing suspense, intrigue, action, murder and mystery made this book so hard to put away.
The storyline was so very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle.
I will be keeping my eye open for more from this series.
Thank You NetGalley and Storm Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
Susan Parker has another case to solve in this intense thriller. Her and her team get the first call to a billionaires home. Actually, Susan has been
hand picked for the lead FBI agent in charger. The case is found to be the son of a billionaire who thinks she knows who is responsible for the death of her son. The man in charge of a club that they started called The Murder Club. By they I am speaking of the other billionaires in the group. This group has been following and trying to solve murders that they believe have been committed by a serial killer in their area. I want to say that I do not want to give anything away in this amazing story so I want you to most defiantly get it and read it!
The book is another rave review from me to all of you! Sam Baron is an amazing story teller and you will be riveted to your seat! Loved the book and love that we get to follow Susan Parker"s story and life!!!
I missed the first book in the series but it was really unnecessary to have read it in order to follow this story. I have to say it was an interesting idea-rich people being targeted by a serial killer because they were trying to target him. The FBI crew that gets called in is an unusual team of the best agents. Susan was an easy to like main character. She has a quick temper but she is bright and driven.
BOOK: THE MURDER CLUB
AUTHOR: SAM BARON
PUB DATE: 22 MARCH 2024
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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My favorite part of this book was the diverse characters. I've never read a thriller with so many POC as cops and it was new and refreshing. I liked it.
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The book started with two unseemingly connected murders. I liked discovering their connection and I liked the crime solving. It was engaging and kept me guessing till the last page. I liked that the perp got the punishment he rightly deserved.
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I liked our FMC, Susan Parker, she was alright. I liked reading about her personal life and her deaf daughter, Natalie. Although I didn't read the previous books in the series, I had an idea of what happened, and I'm really curious about what happened with Amit, Susan's dead husband. I also liked Susan's team they had a wonderful synergy and they were all very good at their jobs.
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All in all, this book was good with wonderful characters and setting. You should definitely read it.
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The authors writing style was really good and appealed to me in that way that it’s an easy read. I really appreciated that. However I just could not connect to or with the characters as much. It’s probably me and where I’m at in my headspace lol but certainly would appeal to other readers for sure. If you like a good murder mystery + FBI drama, I recommend this for you. Thank you so much for allowing me to read this for my honest review.