Vigilante Dead. Alternative Title: Kate Gets Everyone Killed... Again!

The surprising thing about this DV Berkom novel is that there are some actual good elements, good parts of the story. Unfortunately they are all too brief, are quickly glossed over, and not any of the main story lines.

Kate Jones is an absolute disaster, and a horrible main character. Her friends are drug lords and serial killers with some peripheral acquaintances being the FBI / DEA / CIA and other law enforcement types that have no business dealing with her and for more unknown reason begrudgingly associate with her from time to time. As she is always, ongoingly engaging in unlawful activities that is partially understandable. But killing people left and right, and getting people killed left and right while she unhappily goes about her business makes about as much sense as you’d think it might.

But mostly it is the walking disaster part of Berkom's writing I struggle with; Kate tells us the same thing over and over because she never stops to think things through, and she is forever up inside her own head telling us what a screw-up she is. The story tells us the same thing. No one is better at blowing surveillance or getting themselves captured and killed like Kate Jones is. But Kate feels obligated to tell you the same thing over and over and over and over again regardless:

[Page 123] "I had to come back to myself, get grounded again. Otherwise I’d continue to make bad decisions, allowing emotion to dictate my life. Like I’d always done.

And here I thought I’d left that tendency behind me. [Nope, you haven’t changed a bit, and you never will.]

Memories came flooding back of the years spent running from my past, all the pain and the loss I’d experienced and caused...."

[Page 137] "My face warmed, and the self-recrimination started. How could I have been so stupid? [Well, Kate, that’s what you do 24/7/365. You know it, and we know it.] The sad excuse of being messed up because of Lisa’s condition rang hollow in my mind. [Because Lisa has nothing to do with you being a walking, talking disaster.]

Once again I’d put someone I loved in danger." [Well, yeah, that’s what you do 24/7/365. You know it, and we know it.]

[Page 141] "Why did I always screw things up? I was a walking disaster. People needed to stay far, far away from me. The bad spirits that guy told me about in Mexico a lifetime ago still hadn’t left me alone.

Um, you can’t blame bad spirits, Kate. That was too long ago." [Look in the mirror Kate, it was NEVER the spirits. Jeez.] ( )

Oh, Kate, Kate, Kate….what an inferno of…stubbornness, determination, passion and independence you are.

The seven Kate Jones novels preceding this have all been heart-in-your-mouth thrillers. I was slightly bemused by the fact that Kate’s finally able to stop running; she’s settled down with ex-cop-now-PI, Sam, she’s talking to her family again, and life is nearly norm—wait, wait, WAIT…this is Kates Jones! I nearly fell for the Kate-leads-a-normal-life line! Impossible…especially since someone she loves dearly is affected by some dodgy painkillers (from an equally dodgy source), and as a result, Kate’s on the warpath. And the route leads her into a head-on collision with irony, something which causes her to make some very rash decisions, blurring that very fine line between right and wrong.

This was the usual Kate Jones hold-on-to-your hat, roller-coaster ride…as you would expect…but there was an extra intriguing ingredient: the reader gets a little more intimate with Kate’s family…who up until now have been very much in the background. This adds another dimension to an adventure which nonetheless leaves you breathless right to the end.

Kate’s rounding up nearly all the bad spirits that have been derailing her life…what on earth is she going to do now, I wonder? Needless, to say, I was, as always, riveted by this book as will all Kate Jones/Berkom fans. ( )

If you are looking for a strong female protagonist and a high octane thriller, look no furthert!

Every time I think DV Berkom can’t make a Kate Jones Thriller even more thrilling, she puts out a story like Vigilante Dead.

Kate has been running from her past for a long time, but now she has settled down. She is a private investigator and has a gorgeous man, Sam, at her side. He is a super guy who gives her space and time when she needs it and some lovin’ when she needs that.

When her sister ODs, the hunt is on…

Drugs, murder, vengeance…

I love books that make me think of our life choices. We all march to our own drummer and who knows what will work if we don’t explore our options. BUT, sometimes we get off course and the road we walk takes us down a dark and dangerous path. So does Kate.

Kate grows more complex with each story told, but danger follows her through each and every one. This time, D took her somewhere that totally blew my mind. Sometimes the character demands that you go there, go where the bad guy goes to get your answers.

DV Berkom’s characters are strong and bold, and sometimes I think they need to have a little more fear. I worry for them. Every time Kate went creeping around, staking out places, I waited for the hammer to fall. I do love that she does things I only think about.

Kate fights the lows that wash over her when she thinks of all she has been through and lost by making mistakes in her youth. They left her with nightmares. Her rash actions and decisions can get her in difficult and dangerous situations.

Kate’s family pisses me off! and her wimpy dad is a huge disappointment to me. Am I being too harsh? You will need to decide.

And Angie, a badass assassin, you are a woman after my own heart, until…

You make a deal with the devil and you get burned.

I cannot quit reading, not for a second. I cannot wait to learn the ending of Vigilante Dead…thoughts are running through my mind, fed by the title. I am loving and hating what I am thinking.

The twists and turns DV Berkom has supplied in Vigilante Dead has ratcheted the suspense and my anticipation to a white knuckled, nail biting level. With all that is happening I am wondering where DV Berkom will leave Kate.

I am mentally yelling at her…DON’T DO IT!!!!!

Yet the little devil whispering on my shoulder says… ( )