Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Angel's Tip, July 29, 2008
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Angel's Tip is the title of the second in Alafair Burke's Ellie Hatcher series. Dead Connection is the first in the series. I haven't read Dead Connection and I do not feel that it is necessary to understand or enjoy Angel's Tip. I do intend on reading it at a later date just for a fuller history of our heroine Ellie Hatcher. There is enough of Ellie's history given in this novel to satisfy most readers, but after finishing this one, I find myself yearning for more.
I fully expected Ellie to be a tough, good detective who was short on personality and charm. Yet I loved Ellie. She is soft, feminine, brave and smart. And she truly cares about people. There's a part where she talks to a victim's mother about her daughter that brought tears to my eyes. I found her to be someone I can respect.
The chemistry between Ellie and her brother Jess and Ellie and her new partner Rogan is wonderful and one of my favorite things about the book. Their interaction kept the novel from becoming too dark and too depressing.
I'd like to commend the author on making the victims human. So often victims in novels are one dimensional characters fabricated just for killing. Burke makes them fully fleshed and you find yourself hoping they make it. Here, it's the killer that is flat and uninteresting. There's no real reason ever given as to why the killer started killing or why he kills the way he does.
At first, it seemed to me that Ellie was jumping to conclusions when she suspected a few people of being the killer. She does get it right in the end, but at that point it seemed like another guess to me. In retrospect, I can see that there are clues leading to the true murderer's identity.
The pace of this book is fast, never dull and surprisingly funny. I finished it in a week - difficult to do as I only have snippets of time here and there. It was nothing for me to polish off 100 pages in a sitting. The story is about a serial killer and has the requisite violence for said story line. If you're a fan of Criminal Minds or any of the CSI's, this is light stuff. I'd highly recommend it to fans of a mystery. 5 stars. Can't wait for the next in the series.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Suspenseful!, August 18, 2008
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I don't normally read books in the mystery genre but I was glad when I selected this book. This is the first book of Alafair Burke's that I have read and it won't be my last! Just when I thought I knew who the killer might be, Burke introduced more clues to prove otherwise.
The book starts out with Chelsea Hart, a college student, on spring break celebrating in NYC. After partying all night long, Chelsea is found in a park, dead. NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher is determined to find Chelsea's killer. She thinks that the case is solved after arresting Jake Myers, young hedge fund manager. However, she has her doubts. Hatcher discovers that there are three previous cases that are similar to this case. In all cases, hair is taken as a souvenir.
Burke's criminal law background definitely enhances the book as well as add authenticity to the story. It helps to flush out the lawyers and cops in the book too.
I found it to be a fast paced book that I could not put down. I read it in one day since I needed to know who the murderer was in the story. I recommend this book to people who love to solve mysteries. This book has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Angel's Tip for an Outstanding Police Procedural, August 1, 2008
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
NYPD Det. Ellie Hatcher has a new partner, and a new confidence in her own ability. She hasn't been on the Homicide Squad for long, so some officers don't appreciate it when she's the first officer on the scene of a murder. Naturally, the case of a blond co-ed found dead after a night partying attracts the attention of the media. And, everyone is quite happy when Ellie and her partner, J.J. Rogan, quickly find a suspect. But, something about the case doesn't feel right to Ellie. Could it be the cold cases her late partner pulled, all dealing with blond girls found dead with their hair cut?
Alafair Burke's character, Ellie Hatcher, has grown into the complicated plots. She has a terrific new partner to support her in these complex police procedurals. This is an outstanding book, recommended for readers of crime fiction who enjoy character-driven novels with intriguing plots. Take an "Angel's Tip," and pick up this enjoyable crime novel.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
