Customer Reviews

The Rhyme Killers

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The kindest words I can find for this book are mundane and pedestrian. The unkindest would be to point out that if you've read Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series (at least, up until Cornwell seemed to go off the trolley) through "Black Notice," you've READ this book already (and far better written; but I shan't say which book specifically, so as not to spoil the plotline for anyone who does wish to buy this book), down to the smallest detail and through the big "reveal" at the end, which in this instance, wasn't particularly unexpected. At 286 pages of quite large print, I literally knew on page 120 precisely what the "twist" was going to be at the end. I suspect that the only reason Cornwell hasn't pursued this (as "close" to her plotline[s] as it is) is because this book was Vanity Press published (in other words, self-published), and I doubt that Cornwell is particularly worried about these authors stealing her thunder.

Moreover, the characters aren't particularly engaging and aren't consistently drawn; the heroine's new male partner ("Avis Rent" - I'm not kidding) constantly refers to himself as "a brother" in the first chapter ("a brother does this, a brother doesn't do that," and so on), and then never mentions it again; it's also pretty stereotypical. He then basically disappears in the entire second half of the book, for no apparent reason. There's a honking big non sequitur in the latter part of the book, disclosing a past for a tertiary character which serves no purpose whatsoever other than to use up print. (In the film biz, you would call it a "film stretcher.") The heroine has the ubiquitous character traits; allegedly driven, lonely, workaholic, etc. etc. etc. There's just NOTHING about this character that is particularly new or interesting; nothing unique other than a bit of flawed behavior that shows up repeatedly...but the authors don't really do anything with it.

In summary, this book reads like a Lifetime Made-For-TV Movie, as they were in the 90's, starring an older Jaclyn Smith, with little plot, less characterization, and no big surprises, no stunning plot twists, nothing unexpected and nothing untoward. The "heroine-in-jeopardy" theme has ALSO been done innumerable times, and far better, than it was done in this book...and again, that's not even taking into account the "Big Borrow" from Cornwell's Scarpetta series.

You can find far better to read.

Detective Sergeant Katharine Knight is on the trail of a fiend, a serial killer who likes to torture his victims psychologically as well as physically. Worse, this serial killer is highly intelligent, perhaps more intelligent than the police trying to capture the serial killer. Yet, Katie Knight's passion for stopping this killer may well be the edge the police need to catch the murderer the press have dubbed "The Pied Piper" because of a rhyme found with each body.

This thriller is far more than another mystery novel about a serial killer. Flashbacks throughout the story gave me clues as to how the serial killings started. You also quickly learn that there is a complex relationship associated with the serial killings, though the authors take their time in revealing the details of the relationship.

This book is literally a page-turner, with surprises from beginning to end. The writing is taut and the authors tell the story well. A story as complex as "The Rhyme Killers" is ripe for plot holes, but I was unable to detect but one thing that required a bit of forgiveness on my part. Unfortunately, I am unable to go into detail because I do not wish to provide a plot spoiler. However, I suspect others reading the story will pick up on the portion that stretches plausibility to the limit.

I was also surprised that a couple of ladies who look like they could be someone's grandmothers or favorite aunts wrote such a graphic story. The violence and description of the bodies is quite detailed and horrific. The serial killer is truly evil, and events surrounding him are vividly gory.

I enjoy novels that surprise me. "The Rhyme Killers" surprised me and kept me turning pages, a testament to the craft of Judy Gooden and Naomi Helterbran. Fans of mysteries featuring serial killers and graphic detail will find "The Rhyme Killers" is a winner.

Enjoy!

Note: The authors provided me with a review copy of their book.

A killer with a bizarre signature style and a bizarre pattern never seen before. "The Rhyme Killers" tells of Philadelphia's top homicide detective in Katie Knight with her partner Avis Rent quest to hunt down this strange murderer with his unforeseeable tactics, she also must deal with a misogynistic old police chief who wants to return the department back to an all-male force like it used to be. With an ending no one will see coming, "The Rhyme Killers" is a deftly written mystery and sure to appeal to mystery fans everywhere.

While the murders are gruesome and there is a major hole in the plot, this book held my interest throughout. Katie Knight is a homicide detective in Philadelphia and she is simultaneously engaged in two separate battles. The main one is with a pair of serial killers who abduct young blonde women, sexually molest them, kill them, cut off body parts as souvenirs and then dump the bodies. One of the pair suffers from Klinefelter's syndrome, so he is misshapen and of low intellectual capacity, although very street smart. The other is a true brute, possessing no feelings, killing with a basic lust that will never be satisfied. The other battle is with the political wing of the Philadelphia P.D., dinosaur is the politest term that can be used to describe her opponents.
The authors are also very descriptive of the crime scenes and the events in the morgue as the bodies are examined for clues. There is a great deal of vomiting and the morgue people get thrills from grossing out the officers who enter their domain.
While the killers are brutal, some sympathetic feelings are generated for the one with Klinefelter's. He is not fundamentally an evil man, he grew up in an orphanage and has been mistreated all of his life. The other killer is truly evil, yet what was done to him when he was young was so brutal and destructive that one can understand why he became a monster. It is the mark of a good writer some measure of sympathy can be generated for even the most evil and frightening of characters.
The major hole in the plot is where an impersonation takes place. In ways that are not really explained, one of the killers is able to impersonate a high-ranking law enforcement officer and literally become part of the investigation. Law enforcement officers are now very highly trained, anyone lacking that training would be very easy to identify, even when given the benefit of the doubt.
However, this is a story that captured and kept my attention throughout, if you can stomach the gruesomeness of the details, you will enjoy it as well.

A great read! I felt like I was right there hunting down the killers with Detective Knight and Avis Rent. Full of suspense. I just couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Can't wait for the sequel.

Definitely a great book! It grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I couldn't wait to see what happened! Very unpredictable and I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a suspenseful thriller!!

I picked up the Rhyme Killers and couldn't put it down. I read through the night and finished the book the next day. I'd recommend this book for those people who have trouble getting into a book...this one starts with a bang and forces you to continue turing the pages. Give yourself a bit of time before you start The Rhyme Killers.

Judith Gooden and Naomi Helterbran have nailed it! They do a terrific job of characterization and the end of The Rhyme Killers leaves you wanting more. It's a great story, good pacing and this reader wants a sequel.

What a good first book! Judith Gooden and Naomi Helterbran have written an excellent story. Both the story and the characters are interesting and believable. I stayed up all night to finish the book, it's that good.

THIS BOOK WAS TERRIFIC. I READ A LOT OF THRILLERS. RHYME KILLERS WAS RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE BEST. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. LOVED THE SURPRISE ENDING. YOU WILL TOO.

One of my favorite things about these authors is the names they give their characters (Avis Rent, Rushmore Miles, Rollo Daggett, LOL!) The attention to detail, setting and characterization is excellent. You'll laugh in the most unexpected places...and you'll shiver in all the right places. Example: "As he died, the wild-haired man may have seen the truth in Daggett's eyes, but the image died with him. A droplet of drool came to rest on the dead man's chest as Daggett lay listening to the heart as it stopped." (From page 35)