Pretty Little Killers by Rita Herron is a 2018 Montlake publication.

The book follows Hatcher McGee, and FBI agent Korine Davenport, as they work together to solve a string of murders. The couple has a complicated history together, making their partnership an awkward one.

This book does fall into the romantic suspense category, but... It was more like a serial killer thriller with a few steamy sexual interludes on the side. My main complaint is the lack of romantic/emotional chemistry between Hatcher and Korine. Their personal relationship is mostly based on physical attraction and lust with little or no emotional development between them. To be honest, the sexual entanglement didn't add much to the story, overall, and the book would have been fine without it.

On the flip side, the book delivers on the suspense front, with a well-crafted plot that kept me engaged and guessing until the end. The author created a dark and tense atmosphere and explores the effects of guilt, trauma, and redemption.

Overall, If you are looking for a fast-paced, twisty, serial killer novel, this one might appeal- you'll just have to skip over the explicit sex scenes. Romantic suspense fans who enjoy a bit more emotion between the characters might be a little disappointed, but the criminal element makes up for it... Mostly.

The audio version of the book is well-narrated and enhances the listening experience.

3.5 stars

*Content warning: Besides very steamy sex scenes and fantasies and occasional course/vulgar, the story also describes child molestation. ( )

I'm glad the majority of readers have loved this book. I didn't. Honestly, I'm not sure what the appeal is, but clearly I'm in the minority so far.

Normally, I'd give you pros and cons. But I don't have any pros to offer, so I'll just tell you the stuff that really bugged me. And please know that I don't like bashing books and I don't mean this as a slam to the author. This is only my opinion about this specific book.

The characters: I didn't like them. They're not well developed. There are too many minor characters with unnecessary narrating parts.

The mood: Melodrama on top of angst on top guilt on top of lust.

The plot: It lacks focus. We spend way too much time with the two main characters either lusting after one another or obsessing about their personal demons, pasts, guilt, and attraction to one another. The plot tries for two different storylines that eventually intersect, but it's all over the place.

The romance factor: There isn't any. It's all, 100% lust. Not even erotica. Nothing sensual. Just two people who have porn-worthy fantasies about each other.

The twist at the end: Completely implausible.

And there you have it. Nothing redeemable for me. ( )

Pretty Little Killers is the first book in the new The Keepers series. I read and loved the Graveyard Falls series, which is why I wanted to read this and I am glad I did.Just like the other books, it is written well and intense. The characters are well developed and fit well in the story. There are sex offenders, serial killers, rapists and child molesters in the story. Never a dull moment in the book. You may not like every character, but they all play a role in the storyline. Great book! ( )

This is a police procedural type mystery told in multiple POV. I thought the added POVs of some of the minor characters were unnecessary and I could have done without the excerpts of the blog and its comments.

I was willing to overlook these things though and just enjoy this novel until the end. There was just enough action and mystery to keep my turning the pages. I couldn’t figure out for sure who the Keeper was and was excited for reveal. And then the author chose to have something happen that was so outside the realm of reality yet so pivotal to the plot that it ruined everything for me. So the unsub changes her name and is able to get into the FBI. She says she changed it because she wouldn’t have been able to get into the FBI otherwise (due to her past). But if you change your name the FBI could easily figure that out. After all, you go through a government agency to do that. And it doesn’t erase your past.

Unfortunately because of this the book as a whole bombed for me. ( )

Rcvd and ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) 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.. ( )