Echo Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Date of Publication: 2009, Zebra Books Number of Pages: 460 ISBN: 9781420102772 Synopsis (from back cover): Detective Regan Pescoli has worked the "Star Crossed Killer" case for months, never imagining she's be captured by the madman she's been hunting. Regan knows exactly what he's capable of - an avoiding the same fate will take every drop of her courage and cunning. Regan Pescoli is unlike any woman Nate Santana has met before. But now she's missing, and Nate knows something is dangerously wrong. The only person who can help him find her is Detective Selena Alvarez, Regan's partner. As Nate and Selena dig deeper into the Star-Crossed Killer case and the body count rises, the truth about Regan's disappearance becomes chillingly clear. In the desolate Montana woods, evil is lurking. And with time running out, the only way to save Regan will be to get inside a killer's twisted mind and unravel a shocking message that is being revealed, one body at a time... Review: The story starts out with a bang...literally. As Regan Pescoli is crossing the Bitterroot Mountains, heading toward her ex-husband's house, her tires are skillfully shot out and she careens off the road. What follows is a frightening imprisonment in the lair of the Star-Crossed Killer. Regan's disappearance completely takes the sheriff's department by surprise, and those close to her - her lover, Nate, and her partner, Selena - struggle to unravel the cryptic messages left by the killer with each of his victims. There was a lot I liked about this book. The pace of the action is excellent, and the small-town characters are vivid and entertaining. Lisa Jackson is able to tell her story not only through action and dialogue, but also through images. The starkness of the Montana winter is expertly described, and even though it's currently the middle of summer, I found myself growing colder and colder as I read. I could picture each and every scene in my mind with ease, making it seem like I was watching a movie. However, I did have a few issues with this book. Some of the characters who seem like they're going to be a significant part of the story are never alluded to again. One example is Grace Perchant, a reclusive woman who talks to spirits. She comes to the police with her psychic intuitions about the killer, never to be mentioned again. The amount of attention that Jackson gives her early on in the story made me expect that Grace would become a central character. However, she's barely mentioned again. Also, this is apparently the second book in the Star-Crossed Killer series, and some of the characters from the first book (Left to Die), show up again...but for readers, like me, who had not read the first book will remain confused as to their place in the story. In the end, though, this book is a terrific thriller with plenty of action. The suspense is maintained extremely well, with no slow sections. I did find myself impatient for the conclusion, but that is just more proof of how well Lisa Jackson is able to draw her readers in. I'm definitely going to be reading more of Jackson's books! Rating: 8/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catwoman Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Date of Publication: 2009, Zebra Books Number of Pages: 460 ISBN: 9781420102772 Synopsis (from back cover): Detective Regan Pescoli has worked the "Star Crossed Killer" case for months, never imagining she's be captured by the madman she's been hunting. Regan knows exactly what he's capable of - an avoiding the same fate will take every drop of her courage and cunning. Regan Pescoli is unlike any woman Nate Santana has met before. But now she's missing, and Nate knows something is dangerously wrong. The only person who can help him find her is Detective Selena Alvarez, Regan's partner. As Nate and Selena dig deeper into the Star-Crossed Killer case and the body count rises, the truth about Regan's disappearance becomes chillingly clear. In the desolate Montana woods, evil is lurking. And with time running out, the only way to save Regan will be to get inside a killer's twisted mind and unravel a shocking message that is being revealed, one body at a time... Review: The story starts out with a bang...literally. As Regan Pescoli is crossing the Bitterroot Mountains, heading toward her ex-husband's house, her tires are skillfully shot out and she careens off the road. What follows is a frightening imprisonment in the lair of the Star-Crossed Killer. Regan's disappearance completely takes the sheriff's department by surprise, and those close to her - her lover, Nate, and her partner, Selena - struggle to unravel the cryptic messages left by the killer with each of his victims. There was a lot I liked about this book. The pace of the action is excellent, and the small-town characters are vivid and entertaining. Lisa Jackson is able to tell her story not only through action and dialogue, but also through images. The starkness of the Montana winter is expertly described, and even though it's currently the middle of summer, I found myself growing colder and colder as I read. I could picture each and every scene in my mind with ease, making it seem like I was watching a movie. However, I did have a few issues with this book. Some of the characters who seem like they're going to be a significant part of the story are never alluded to again. One example is Grace Perchant, a reclusive woman who talks to spirits. She comes to the police with her psychic intuitions about the killer, never to be mentioned again. The amount of attention that Jackson gives her early on in the story made me expect that Grace would become a central character. However, she's barely mentioned again. Also, this is apparently the second book in the Star-Crossed Killer series, and some of the characters from the first book (Left to Die), show up again...but for readers, like me, who had not read the first book will remain confused as to their place in the story. In the end, though, this book is a terrific thriller with plenty of action. The suspense is maintained extremely well, with no slow sections. I did find myself impatient for the conclusion, but that is just more proof of how well Lisa Jackson is able to draw her readers in. I'm definitely going to be reading more of Jackson's books! Rating: 8/10 Great review Echo. I just tried to reserve at my local library and they don't have it or the first one in the series. I have put it in my little wishlist book so hopefully I will find it on my travels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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