This was another entertaining read featuring former FBI agent from the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), Val Costa.

I won’t go over the basics or background, because I trust you to read the synopsis if you are interested in the book, and suspect you already have.

The good: the case is intricate and not straightforward, which kept me interested. Also the supporting cast is interesting and the history of the main character makes for an interesting side-drama.

The not so good: despite this not being an overly long book, I still felt like there was a lot of padding. The author repeats things over and over as though we can’t be trusted to remember things (for instance, that Val suspected someone from the very beginning and why). I just think it could’ve been tighter.

I will read the next book in the series, because now I’m invested.

This is a weird review as I was sure I wrote about book #1 and #2 in this series. I was going to write the review for book #3 and discovered that I didn't write anything for the entire series so this will be a common review for the entire series, including the third novel.
Val Costa is a great character: she's not wonder woman, she hasn't any huge chip on her shoulder nor a traumatic past, she's a clever and brave woman who works for FBI and collaborate with the local police.
She moved in a Californian county to be near her son after a meeting with a serial killer that left her branded and phisically hurt. She needs to recover and think about her future.
Red Rose county is not a huge and highly populated county, you have to suspend your belief because the number of violent death is highest than 58.4 dead for 100k person.
Statistics apart this is a hell of a series that improves with each installment and the third one is the best one so far. There's always suspense and emotions in these stories and I found the third one a gripping and heart wrenching page turner.
Val grew on me and I loved her evolution and cannot wait to read new stories as I wanted to visit Rose County and catch up with the characters.
I appreciated how the author developed the solid plots that surprised me and the good storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Favorite Quotes:

Maisie stroked her hair, and for a moment, I believed in saints, and that Maisie was one of them. She cared for all the vulnerable souls that came to her, protecting them as best she could.

Most people tended to think that serial killers or other violent criminals had green skin and wild hair, like monsters in a movie. It simply wasn’t true. Predators looked like everyone else.

Sometimes knowing was worse, but not knowing was a torture that lasted a lifetime.

My Review:

Despite the harrowing undercurrents of the various storylines, the writing was easy to follow and kept me engaged. The little pea in my brain scooped up the wily author’s carefully parsed breadcrumbs and devised and discarded several theories during perusal, most of them incorrect. The story was well scaffolded and told from multiple points of view, which I always enjoy.

Don't Make a Sound by H.K. Christie is the 2nd book in the excellent Val Costa series and what a gripping and very addictive crime thriller this is. This has been a series i have enjoyed reading from the very first book and I love Val Costa character, she was/is a FBI Special Agent Val Costa was living in DC until she was kidnapped by the serial killer known as "The Bear." She was hunting him but he hunted her and captured her! So, glad her team rescued her in time. But, there was something "The Bear" always does to all his victims was to carved his signature on their skin!
Now, he is still out there, somewhere and walking freely amongst people.
Val has retired from the FBI and has moved back in with her mom who lives in Red Rose County California as she has had a stroke, she is there to help her recover. Val has had it tough but always comes bouncing back.

When beloved local teacher and devoted mother, Claire Nelson, is discovered murdered in her kitchen, stab wounds covering her delicate pale skin, FBI Special Agent Val Costa is drawn out of retirement. Claire’s two children are in pieces, and Val won’t rest until they have the justice they deserve.

Now, Will she catch them before another precious life is taken?

WoW this book was excellent and I highly recommend it. I am looking forward reading book 3 within this series.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Right on the heels of the first book in the Detective Val Costa series, the second was also available. I couldn't NOT request it of course! After all, the main character has survived a serial killer. I needed to know what happened next.

In Don't Make a Sound, Val Costa is back, still living in her hometown and recuperating from her escape from The Bear. She has now retired from the FBI since her mother has had a stroke and decided to stay in California. However, retirement is in name only as the local police have brought her on as a consultant on various cases. In the latest, a mother is found stabbed to death in her home. While the husband looks like a suspect, DNA from the crime scene leads the team to discover that the suspect is female. Val is tasked with tracking down this person, before someone else is found dead.

I really enjoyed the second installment in the series, though it left me with even more questions regarding The Bear and Val's "admirer". Are they the same person? Is The Bear someone somehow in her life already? I have entirely too many questions and need to read the third book asap. I like seeing how Val is developing a new life outside of the FBI but still working in law enforcement. Like the first novel, Christie is masterful at twists and turns and building up the story behind the crime. Her writing keeps you guessing till the end.

This is the second book in the Val Costa series. Another series I have jumped in at number 2 and I wish I had read number 1 first. Aside from that this book was brilliant. Hoping to read number 1 soon and any others that may come out.

The second book in the Val Costa series picks up shortly after then end of the first. Val has remained in her home town, leaving her job in the FBI, to look after her mother after a stroke. Thee local police force takes advantage of her skills and take her on to help solve a recent murder of a seemingly well loved local teacher. I don't know how likely it is that someone would be taken on to help out with a murder in this way, but it worked well in the context of this story.
As with the first book, the more you read, the more you discover that there is much more to this than just murder. This was a gripping read that I didn't want to put down once I started. Val is clearly very experienced and she is very skilled in trying to solve the murder. I didn't manage to figure everything out this time, so Val was definitely ahead of me here.
There is still the question of the serial killer the Bear, who was Val's last case when part of the FBI and who is still at large since he held her hostage. Is the bear now behind the messages that Val has been receiving or has he moved away completely? No doubt well get more clues in later books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Another great book by HK Christie! This new series hooks you and doesn't let go. The writing is fantastic and emotional without being overly dramatic or too boring. Everything is balanced well and the characters you really get to know, like and side with. I cannot wait for the rest of this series!

This is book 2 in the series. I love crime procedurals, so I went back and read book 1 before starting this one. Book 1 was GREAT, but this one is FANTASTIC! It is not necessary to read book 1 to read this book, but I highly recommend it!

This book starts off with a bang, and packs the action up until the very end. I love the balance that he author creates between the characters' personal lives and careers. It helps to bring depth to the characters and made it easy to connect with them. The plot develops from 3 POVs which are all interesting. Val is smart and tough, and I love female detectives that are fierce. There is something BIG on the horizon with the Bear, and I am anxiously awaiting the next book to see exactly what. I couldn't put this one down! I am really excited about this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In Don’t Make a Sound, we see Val coming out of retirement to help Brady and his team figure out who murdered high school teacher, Claire. I love seeing how her mind works, seeing how she analyzes interviews and the way suspects act. Her and Brady make a great team. And I really like the relationships she’s beginning to form with Lucy and Sally. Val is really starting to feel like she belongs, in a completely different way than she did with the bureau.

I can't wait for more of this series.,

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.

Wonderful book! Wonderful author! One of my top reads for this year! Absolutely brilliant and unputdownable. Do read this one.

While I enjoyed this book, and found it easy to read, as I do with every H. K Christie title, I felt that the character of Val Costa wasn't developed quite as much as I had hoped. After the first book, I was looking forward to learning more about her and her backstory, but I still feel she is a bit of a surface level character. Perhaps as I have read all of the Selena/Martina books, it seems this way as it is still early compared to these series, so I will definitely be giving the next book a chance and hope to see more in depth development of Val. Having said that, I still enjoyed the actual story and the investigation, I would just like more please!

Book Two in the series and a second read for me.

This pretty much starts off from book one with Val having resigned from her FBI role to take care of her Mum after her recent stroke.

Ever the detective Val just can’t help but keep her hand in and joins forces with the local sheriff department after a local resident is murdered in her own home.

The main characters in this series are really coming to life and developing their personalities.

The writing is engaging, intense and flows easily through the pages.

A good solid mystery. No one is who they seem. This takes you through a seemly unsolvable crime with no motive and meanders to the darkest of horrifying places. This was an amazing read that kept me interested. The characters were perfect. The plot horrified me.
The pace was perfect. A great must read

This is book 2 in H.R. Christie’s new series, and it’s captivating. Her dramatic writing style kept me engaged, as all her books do. Amazing twists and turns, intrigue, and excellent writing that invites the reader to put their Jessica Fletcher hat on. It has a fast moving plot as key characters investigate a murder, taking you along for the ride. I love this new series, and look forward to the next book. I’m hooked. I received a complimentary ARC, but I am voluntarily offering my personal opinion.

Wow I thought book one was good but book two comes out of door swinging and doesn’t stop. This time Val has left the FBI and is asked to help with a local crime of a woman killed in her own home. Val is convinced that the husband is involved but no one believes her and as she investigates the wife’s life she can find no reason for her murder but as she keeps digging and seems to be being helped by an unknown fan the truth is darker than anyone could imagine. I won’t spoil this one but it’s great. Roll on book three I am ready for you!

Another great read from H.K. Christie. This is the second in the Val Costa book series. I flew through it was hooked from the beginning. It’s a fast paced easy read with lots of surprises along the way. Interesting storyline that I didn’t see coming. Val is definitely coming into her own as a character and I’m loving her. This book series has really well developed characters that are lovable in their own ways along with storylines that bring something different in their own ways. There is a current storyline running in the background of the first 2 books that I’m loving as it keeps the interest as it never quite gets there 😉. I love a book that doesn’t just tie up conveniently and everyone lives happily ever after.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to listen to and review #DontMakeASound

I am already anxiously awaiting book three having just finish the first two. The book is well written with some interesting twists and turns along the way. The author did a great job of handling a difficult subject with tact but without holding back on the subject matter. The characters are engaging. I can’t wait to see what case Val and Brady have to solve next!

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

Who Killed Claire?

Someone stabbed Claire to death in her own kitchen. Who could it be? Forensics pointed to a female killer, but the clues were baffling. Val would leave no stone unturned to find the killer, and experience taught her to trust her instincts.

What will Val’s investigation reveal? For the answer, you must read this riveting crime thriller. One thing is certain. Sometimes, the monsters lurk in plain sight.

This is an unputdownable crime thriller. I recommend it to those who enjoy stories that keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. I cannot wait for the next book.

I was gifted this ARC. Val is back to kicking butt and taking names in book 2! She is still waiting on her chance to kick the Bear’s booty. I am intrigued by this new admirer. Are they sinister or are they on our girls side? Also, team Val and Brady foreva! Just let it happen girl! I can’t wait until December when the 3rd book comes out.