Customer Reviews

Killing Me Softly

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Nightcap Strangler has finally died in prison so everyone sighs with relief. Then rookie cop Bryan Kendall wakes up next to his dead girlfriend. She has been killed in the same manner as the Strangler used to kill his victims. Bryan is then suspected of killing her.

Dawn Jones gets word that her first love has been accused of the crime and returns to Shadow Falls to help Bryan solve the mystery of who has started killing girls again like the Nightcap Strangler 16 years earlier.

Actions cause Bryan and Dawn to go on the run and being so close together, they start questioning why they ever broke up. However, they have to put their feelings aside and figure out who killed Bryan's girlfriend before someone else gets killed and Bryan gets accused of the murder.

This book was a page-turner. The author has a way of making you want more and more and more until you realize it is 2am in the morning. This is the first book I read by this author and I would highly recommend it. I enjoyed the depth of her characters and the story line. The romance part of the book was not over the top too much which made it seem even more real. Just two people trying to figure each other out but also trying to figure out who is killing before they are killed?

STORY BRIEF:
Dawn's father was psychic. Somehow when he died five years ago his gifts were passed to Dawn. She began seeing and talking to ghosts, and she couldn't make it stop. So she ran away from Vermont and made a new life for herself in California. She left her teenage sweetheart Bryan. Since then she has been taking tranquilizers and alcohol to stop the ghosts. Bryan became a cop. Nick, another cop, became famous 15 years ago when he caught the nightcap strangler, a serial killer. Bryan has been asked to prepare a presentation about Nick for an awards ceremony. It's a secret, and no one is to know that Nick will be honored. So Bryan secretly takes the serial killer police files to study them for his presentation. The serial killer is still out there. An innocent man went to jail. The killer is aware of Bryan taking the files and is worried that he might be caught. So the killer kills Bryan's friend Bette and frames Bryan. Dawn hears about this and comes back to town. She hopes to use her psychic gift to help find the killer.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
This book was labeled romantic suspense, but it's mostly mystery suspense. There's just enough romance to put it within the genre, but I would have liked more relationship development. We don't see that because the relationship developed years ago when they were teens. Now they are separated, and it's mostly about working together to solve the mystery.

I would have liked more explanation about the psychic gift being transferred to Dawn at her father's death. I expected to see more happen with this gift, but it hardly came into play at all. That's ok with me, it's just why pay so much attention to it at the beginning of the book if you're not going to use it? I also wanted to know more about Sara's baby. It was mentioned several times but never answered. Again, that's ok, but it would have been nice to get an answer.

Regarding the story, it didn't grab me emotionally. I didn't get the feeling of "oh, this is good." It felt more like slowly uncovering clues about a serial killer. It was a little unbelievable that Bryan and Dawn could go around interviewing people without being captured. The police were hunting for Bryan to arrest him. But again, I accept it for the sake of the story. It was an ok story. No serious problems, but nothing special enough to set it apart from others. There was an interesting collection of characters in a cabin at one point. I was intrigued with their interactions as they suspected each other. The ending was well done with suspense and action.

OTHER REVIEWERS:
I noticed some other reviewers say they "knew who the killer was" early in the book which was a problem for them. My reaction was different. First, I had a suspicion, but I didn't "know" for sure. Second, I don't think it's a problem to know who the bad guy is. I've read a number of good stories where I know the villain early on. It can be good to be in the minds of both the good guys and the bad guys and watch their interactions. It's just a different type of story. I wouldn't fault the author over that. In fact I was pleased with myself that I suspected someone. I felt smart. I don't often figure those things out.

DATA:
Story length: 370 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: one, five pages long. Setting: current day Vermont. Copyright: 2010. Genre: mystery suspense with some romance.

Rookie cop Bryan Kendall is in charge of presenting an award to his mentor, Nick who made a name for himself when he caught the nightcap strangler, who wreaked havoc on their small Vermont town 15 years earlier. The "strangler" died recently in prison, and Bryan starts reviewing the case files for the presenation, taking the files home so as not to alert anyone to the award Nick will receive, which puts him in the crosshairs of the real killer, awakening one morning to find his companion murdered in the same fashion, and he as the primary suspect. His old flame Dawn arrives in time to go on the lam with him and conduct their own investigation, using her psychic abilities. Will this be a second chance for the two?

Labeled a romantic suspense, the novel actually has a minor sub plot of romance tossed in. But I found the writing and the pacing engaging. Normally when I come upon psychic abilities, I roll my eyes and toss the book aside, however this one managed to hold my attention. It did fall a bit on the predictable side, but overall the story is very entertaining. This is the first novel I have read by this author, and I plan to seek out more titles by her (provided they don't have second sight or any other paranormal sub-plots - once is enough for me).

The nightcap strangler has returned--or so it seems. Some think the wrong man went to prison and the strangler never left. Has he returned or is there a copy-cat strangler on the loose? Has the young police officer, Bryan Kendall, been set up or is he really the strangler?

Maggie Shayne did a first rate job on character development, but fell down a little on plot. Her ability to bring you along and keep you turning the pages is fair to medium, mainly because she moves you through the same scenario over and over before she gives you any new material to work with. Although at times I was ready to throw the book across the room, I kept reading because I knew who the real strangler was from the beginning and wanted to see how Ms. Shayne got around to exposing him.

Not the greatest who-done-it, but a fairly good read.

Maggie Shayne truly captures the dark heart of villainy. Killing Me Softly is a skillfully woven story of mystery and pure danger, expertly blending a passionate love story into the novel.

Shadow Falls, Vermont is a community terrorized by a serial killer, reminiscent of The Nightcap Strangler, a man who was executed weeks ago. Or was he? When Bryan Kendall's lover is murdered in his bed, he is immediately suspected, though the scene has all the intricacies of the Nightcap Strangler. Is there a copycat or was the true Nightcap Strangler executed? With the help of his mentor, Nick, the man who brought the Nightcap Strangler to justice, he recognizes the similarities between the murders and they believe it is the work of a copycat. The cops don't think so; they think Bryan is the killer and won't rest until he is made to pay for his crimes. When an old flame of Bryan's returns to help prove his innocence, he is terrified; Dawn Jones bears a strong resemblance to the killer's other victims.

Dawn Jones returns to Shadow Falls, knowing she is the only one who can save Bryan from being prosecuted for murder. She knows there is a risk to renewing their relationship but she will do all she can to save the man she loves, including going on the lam with him. She has never forgotten the love they shared, though she left him when their love proved too dangerous to them both. Believing he is innocent and that a madman with a grudge is trying to frame him, they focus on the woman found dead in his bed, for she may be the clue to finding the killer.

Killing Me Softly has just the right amounts of mystery, romance and passion. So much more than a love story, Maggie Shayne pens another predator and prey story with real flesh and blood characters that compelled me from the instant I opened the book. With realistic characters and dialogue, I fell under the spell of this dark thriller. I felt such an affinity with Bryan and Dawn and their intense need to prove Bryan's innocence. I truly felt like a part of the investigation as each clue was uncovered. I recommend Killing Me Softly and eagerly await Shayne's nest novel; she truly is a master at her craft.

I had no idea that this was another book in the Mordecai Young series when I bought it, so I was so excited when I recognized the characters after reading a few pages. Shayne is a fantastic author and I truly enjoyed exploring Dawn and Bryan's lives as adults. The story was fast-paced and exciting, although I did figure out "who-dun-it" a little too quickly. I'm a sucker for a series-I love to revisit characters and see them grow and change. Can't wait for the next one

I was so glad that she started this series again and it was awesome! I can't get enough gonna have to buy the 3rd book now.

"This was an excellent fast paced read that kept me turning the pages. My 1st book by this author did not dissapoint. Can't wait for the 2nd book and it's Kill Me Again & 3rd is Kiss Me Kill Me in this trilogy also called Shadow Falls. I highly recommend this book. :o)

From the Back Cover:

The Nightcap Strangler, who terrorized the town of Shadow Falls sixteen years ago, has finally been executed. Case Closed. Until Bryan Kendall's lover is murdered in the notorious killer's unique style and the rookie cop stand accused. Has someone committed the perfect copycat crime...or was the wrong man put to death?

A continent away, Dawn Jones hears that her first love has been accused of murder and knows that only she can help him. But to do so, she'll have to face the very fears that drove them apart.

Together they'll work to uncover secrets someone's willing to kill to keep,andrenew a love as dangerous as it is inevitable. And their best lead is the girl found dead in Bryan's bed, reeking of whiskey poured down her throat before the killer squeezed it shut. A killer who things that Dawn, too, could use on last drink......"

I count on Maggie Shayne to give me a thriller with hot sex scenes thrown in. Some of the book was a bit cliched, and I still enjoyed reading it.

Dawn is a specialty mechanic in California. Bryan is her former high school sweetheart back home in Vermont.

Off-duty cop Bryan finds a dead body in his bed - apparently killed by a copycat of the Shadow Falls Strangler, said Strangler having recently died in prison.

Dawn's mom, now married to Bryan's dad, calls Dawn to come home for moral support. She hems and she haws, but eventually she returns home, as we know she must, because Bryan is a primary suspect.

Bryan and Dawn's reunion is by turns tense and easy, as they fall into the old habits of friendship. Over the course of the murder investigation, Bryan and Dawn remember why they were in love, confront relationship ghosts and go on the lam together when the Strangler strikes again.

They run their own investigation while they're on the run, thanks to the original police reports on the Strangler, which Bryan happened to have in his garage before the copycat struck.

And so, thrilling action ensues and some romance is to be had, old friends are rediscovered and new friends are found in unlikely places.

What I didn't like: I met the killer in the first few pages of the book, and I knew who he was the minute he stepped onstage. When I turned out to be right, I was deeply disappointed, because this sort of foreshadowing, for lack of a better word, falls short of Shayne's best. I knew what the "witness" twist was very shortly after said witness was first discussed when reading a police report. The sex scenes were tame in comparison to what I know Ms. Shayne can write.

What I did like: The friendship of Dawn and Bryan was fairly realistic. It moved tensely from the first re-meeting, when both parties remembered their mutual attraction, to the culmination of their story, with a supercorny but appropriate to the relationship resolution. Shayne avoided the too-easy love at second sight immediate rebonding that some storytellers insist on using.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read. It wasn't the best of Maggie Shayne's books, and it definitely was not even close to being among the worst books I've read.

This book is another in the Mordecai Young series, one that I am unfamiliar with. Not having any of the back story, I worried that I would not be able to enjoy this story as much. I didn't need to worry. This book grabs you quickly and moves you through the story, easily recapping the back-story without bogging you down in it.

This story weaves mystery, romance and action together in a fun and surprising romp, a wonderful weekend read. The characters have depth and jump off of the page. The story is entertaining and intricate.

Enjoy this on a lazy winter weekend.