Serial Date (Leine Basso Series) [Kindle Edition]

D.V. Berkom (Author)

Book Description

Don't forget to pick up BAD TRAFFICK, the 2nd book in the bestselling Leine Basso Series!

A retired assassin. A serial killer with a social agenda.

Determined to leave her old life behind, retired assassin Leine Basso
accepts a job working security at one of television's most popular reality shows, Serial Date. When a contestant is found dead in the prop closet, it appears the killer is one of the 'bachelors' on the show- an ex-con billed as a serial killer- but the detective in charge of the case isn't so sure.

When Leine's estranged daughter is abducted by a man claiming to be the real killer, she's forced to rely on old skills to find her, and must come to terms with who she really is. She soon realizes the murderer may be a grisly remnant from her past and she'll need to use all of her cunning to stop him... and rescue her daughter.

"If you like fast-paced action, great lead characters, and don't mind a few F-bombs and the occasional gore, DV Berkom is the author for you." - Jen Blood, bestselling author of the Erin Solomon Mysteries

"Serial Date has everything a mystery/thriller needs to be successful, fast-paced and action packed, strong and memorable characters and a story that will grab you from beginning to end..." - Confessions of a Reader

"...Why should you read it? In a nutshell it's a fast-paced, non-linear story with some creepy elements mashed together with a splash of romance and dark humour. What's not to like?"-Indie eBooks

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I thoroughly enjoyed Serial Date. The author has a distinct style that is witty, smart, and darkly humorous. The prose is sharp and gritty. I love satires and this one was no exception. I especially enjoyed all the subtle, indirect criticism of television and reality shows. I kept chuckling as I read...

The story is told in multiple points of view separated by chapters, so there's no distracting head switching. The pace is pretty quick with a fair share of exciting twists and turns. To add more flavor, Santiago and Leine provide a sprinkle of romance...

In short, I highly recommend Serial Date to those who enjoy murder mysteries with a touch of satire." - Mayra Calvani, Blogcritics.org

Serial Date is a Night Owl Reviewer's Top Pick as well as Awesome Indies Approved.

From the Author

Serial Date is the result of a twisted dream I had one night that I couldn't get out of my head. When I sat down to finally write it, the words flowed effortlessly and I finished the book in record time. The best part of the process? Crafting the characters: Leine Basso--a woman who's trying to forget her sordid past as an assassin and forge a relationship with her estranged daughter; Detective Santiago Jensen, a man who, despite the threat of losing his rank and possibly his job as a robbery/homicide detective in the LAPD, still falls hard for Leine; Peter Bronkowski, sociopath, creator and producer of the hit reality show, Serial Date; Senator Buzz Runyon, a man who's only concern is keeping his unsavory sexual proclivities under wraps--at least until he's re-elected; not to mention several additional interesting and, as one reader put it, messed up, characters. And, don't get me started about Azazel...

I hope you enjoy reading Serial Date as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you do, then you might also want to pick up Bad Traffick, the next book in the Leine Basso series, now available.

All the best,
DV Berkom

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 410 KB
• Print Length: 278 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0076RXI1S
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,060 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars it definitely piqued my interest when the contestants started dropping like flies... March 22, 2012

By ditz68

Format:Kindle Edition

This book is a mix of intrigue, humour (Bountiful is a particular favourite), romance, and a great selection of dysfunctional relationships all of which result in an enjoyable but light reading experience. What I had the most difficulty accepting was the idea of the reality show 'Serial Date', perhaps this could have been explained more with a short scene (I'm thinking the director pitching the show to executives) but more likely it has something to do with my in-built dislike of reality shows... So, it definitely piqued my interest when the contestants started dropping like flies. ;)

Why should you read it? In a nutshell it's a fast-paced, non-linear story with some creepy elements mashed together with a splash of romance and dark humour. What's not to like?

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Berkom Delivers With First-Rate Action and Compelling Characters April 22, 2012

By Jen Blood

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you like fast-paced action, great lead characters, and don't mind a few F-bombs and the occasional gore, DV Berkom is the author for you. Berkom writes with a gritty flair that will appeal to any connoisseurs of the hard-boiled genre. In her latest novel, Serial Date, the author -- best known for her Amazon-bestselling Kate Jones series -- continues to demonstrate her knack for kick-ass heroines with complex back stories, with Madeleine "Leine" Basso, a retired assassin hoping to make a new start on the straight-and-narrow. That dream goes out the window when Leine is hired for security after a member of the cast of Serial Date -- a reality show in which women vie to win the hearts of ex-cons whom they believe are actually serial killers -- is found brutally murdered. Sparks fly when our heroine meets sexy police detective Santiago Jensen, and things only get more complicated from there, when Leine's estranged daughter is kidnapped by the killer, intent on drawing Leine into his twisted fantasies of revenge.

Berkom is an intelligent writer who understands the nuances of plot, the importance of pacing, and how to create complex, sympathetic characters. It's difficult to take the gaudy world of reality television seriously, so Berkom doesn't even try -- she stops just shy of caricature by creating convincingly self-serving villains with compelling back stories of their own. If she occasionally crosses that line -- as with Senator Buzz Runyon, a career politician with a long history of indiscretions with farm animals -- Berkom invariably does so with a wink and a nod to her readership. You won't find life lessons or profound statements on the nature of existence in Serial Date, which is one of the reasons I loved it: It's unapologetic camp of the best kind, sure to keep you glued to the page as you try to guess what comes next, who did what to whom, and whether or not the guy will get the girl in this particular outing. Leine and Jensen are characters with great chemistry, and I for one am very much looking forward to finding out what they have in store for their next adventure.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Reality show nightmare February 10, 2012

By A. Mosa

Format:Kindle Edition

When I first saw the premise for "Serial Date," I thought--could that happpen? A few minutes of channel surfing on my television, touching on the current reality shows, and knowing their popularity had me thinking--maybe.

"Serial Date," has a creepy killer, Azazel, who thinks his 'cause' just. To say his reaction to the show is extreme is an understatement. What makes DV Berkom's killer especially sinister is his game playing and cunning. He has an agenda for enforcing his beliefs.

He also has a vendetta against Leinie Basso, the protagonist. The way he executes step one of his vendetta is to kidnap her daughter. Leinie was once an accomplished assassin and had started a new life, away from danger and death. Azazel's taking of her daughter drags Leinie back to the world of her old profession.

To add another complication to the mix, the detective Leinie's been involved with, Santiago Jensen, begins to suspect something is wrong. Leinie refuses to tell him her situation, which makes Jensen more determined to find out the problem.

"Serial Date," is fast paced with an interesting cast of characters. I could imagine Ms. Berkom developing a series out of Leinie and Jensen.