I won this sequel as a Library Thing Giveaway, Black Rose Publishing, so did not read #1. I am not sure I want to read another.

On one hand, this police mystery was interesting. There were likeable, realistic law enforcement people, good investigation, a fascinating and creepy murderer and satisfying ending. I really liked the characters chemistry. However, I simply did not like the author's writing style. That saying about being "man-splained" instead was writer-splained

[author:Deanna King|19241704] had some irritating habits and made me just sigh. 1. while in dialogue a character would make a pun and then remark it was a pun. This was a constant irritation. The clever reader will pick up it was a pun because of context, and does not need such a blatant explanation. 2. there were too may cliche idioms and again, they were explained" 3. The idea a certain supervisor is disliked and mistrusted was obvious and did not need to be repeated ad nau·se·am. 4. Each crime investigator has a nickname and in the course of their first arrival, their Said nickname is explained - usually a play of their original name or physical appearance. That was clever and a bit fun. But, the nickname being "explained" repeatedly got irritating. The unorganized switching of Real Name and Nickname during dialogue got confusing. I personally would have gone with the Real name while speaking to Higher Ups and the public and Nicknames with one another.
5. The text size and possibly the font kept switching. Not sure if this was a format issue or my Kindle.

Thank you Black Rose Publishing

Great book. I love crime novels and this is a great one. I hope this book is the first in a series. I definitely recommend this book. ( )

A twisted tale of crime. I loved the book and had a good time trying to be one step ahead of Jack. ( )

Review of eBook

There’s a killer on the loose in Houston and homicide detective Jack West finds his case might be connected to one detectives Xi Chang and Jace Severson are working. It’s far from certain, though; so far, they’ve discovered no connection, no commonality, between the victims. Still . . . .

With the discovery of a third victim, killed in the same unique manner as the first two victims, it’s clear that there’s a serial killer in Houston. Will Jack and his team track down the killer before someone else becomes a victim?

Although this works as a stand-alone, it is the second book in the Jack West mystery series. The characters are well-developed, nuanced, and believable; the questions surrounding the victims and the killer are intriguing and keep the pages turning. The plot takes some unexpected twists and turns along the way to its surprising denouement.

Even though the story concludes with the major plot points resolved, some loose ends remain; the unanswered questions are likely to frustrate some readers. Additionally, character nicknames often seem forced and make little sense; after the third or fourth explanation of why someone has a particular nickname, it becomes an annoyance and detracts from the story being told.

While the story is intriguing, it desperately needs the services of a good editor. Sentences such as “It the right thing to do . . . .” or “As soon as my partner finishes with you husband . . . .” join far too many awkward or fragmented sentences, all pulling the reader out of the telling of the tale. In addition, the overuse of an offensive expletive demeans the officers, insults the reader, and lowers the rating for this book.

I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program ( )

It’s a twisted tale of murder that any mystery and suspense fan should surely love. The characters are absolutely wonderful...especially Detective Jack West. The author brings them to life with some humor, lots of suspense, and colorful personalities. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series...can’t wait for the next one.. Be sure to read Book 1... [Twist of Fate] ... as it will get you better acquainted with Detective Jack West and believe me, he is someone that you will diffidently want to become better acquainted with.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Black Rose Writing in exchange for an honest opinion. The views expressed by this reviewer are entirely my own. ( )