Max Allan Collins takes us on a great thrill ride in "What Doesn't Kill Her." I received this book early through Mr. Collins website. This was a real treat, thrill, and honor for me.

This book is a different from most books by Collins. As you may know most of his work is historical fiction and crime. This one is more of a thriller and it does not disappoint. It cracks and pops from start to finish. A very enjoyable read.

The book starts with a 16 year old Jordan Rivera upstairs in her bedroom dreaming about a boy when her world gets turned upside down by the gruesome murder of her family. She is spared murder but endures the pain of seeing her mother slain and then having the murderer rape her.

Jordan spends ten years in a medical facility having not said one word since the incident. One day she shes on the television that another family has been slain and she knows that it is the same person, Jordan finally breaks her silence. She is determined to get released and find the man that has caused all this pain.

Jordan teams up with a group of her therapy classes who believe all of their cases are connected and that it is the work of one man. One serial killer with no real MO except that he leaves one family member alive.

Mark Pryor, a high school classmate of Jordan's who has thought of her often and wished he asked her out when they were younger suspects that a serial killer is at work also. He teams up with Jordan to help track down the killer before he strikes again.

The book is filled with great characters. Jordan is a superb heroine who is a very strong willed woman. Her story is a breath of fresh air and shows just how strong women can be.

This is a great quick read. I think you will enjoy it like I have, ( )

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review. What a book! It starts out with the main character, Jordan's, family being killed while she was hiding. Then it quickly moves to 10 years later and we find out what Jordan has been up to. The police have no suspects and the case has gone cold (it's been 10 years after all). Jordan starts attending a victim support group and she meets some people there who end up trying to help her solve the case. It was a departure from traditional psych/thriller mysteries where it is usually one or two people attempting to solve the case and getting into trouble while doing so. I really enjoyed the book. I'd like to know if Collins is leaving the ending wiiiiiiiiiide open or if there will be a sequel. Either way, this is one that I will definitely recommend to people who enjoy this genre. ( )

As always Collins tells a fast paced action story. The support group, amateur sleuths, were believable as they stumbled on the wrong path. A rookie police detective fell into step with the group creating a suspenseful conclusion. I must admit I discovered the killer early on. Perhaps not up to Collin's lofty standards, but definitely worth reading. ( )