This is the middle book in a trilogy, but fortunately for me, could be read as a standalone. Having said that, I will go back and read/listen to the first one in this serial killer trilogy. Serial killer Brenda Nevins, escapes from prison, with the help of Warden Janie Thomas. Detective Kendall Stark and Forensic Pathologist, Birdy Waterman are assumed to be targets. As this is going on, Stark is assigned to help a reality television show featuring a psychic and disgraced cop solve a local cold case. Kendall is overwhelmed with work and with her deteriorating circumstances at home. Frustrated on both fronts, Kendall uses her dogged determination to try to solve the cases and right the wrongs.

This book has a fast paced plot, good side story and great characters. Kendall Stark and Native American Birdy Waterman are a great team. They are supreme problem solvers. There was a line in the book that describes Birdy very accurately. When Birdy has a body on the table she "prays for them and promises to find out what happened." Kendall is just as determined to solve the case. I enjoyed the unmasking of the reality show and the characters involved in that, it gave credence to that storyline for me. I had some issues with parts of this story though. I did not like how Kendall fell apart when dealing with Brenda (the serial killer). She provoked her, whether on purpose of unintentionally and that was a bit disconcerting. I also dislike abrupt and cliffhanger type endings. I know I will have to read the next book to find out what happens, but will read book 1 first. ( )

I feel a bit like time disappears when I pick up Gregg Olsen's thrillers--especially these from the Waterman & Stark series. There are times when I wish they went a tiny bit slower, so that I could have more depth of character (because, admittedly, it's generally character-driven works that I love most), but the twists in his plots and the way he weaves separate stories together keep me enthralled, just the same. This one especially felt like a sort of puzzle being put together in front of my eyes, and I adored the reading experience. Would I like a tiny bit more depth in character and a slower pace sometimes? Absolutely. Will I keep reading these books regardless and love every minute? Again, absolutely.

Recommended to thriller readers--but do go in order with this series, unlike me! ( )

Now That She's Gone (Waterman and Stark #2), by Gregg Olsen looked really interesting from the book's blurb. This is the 2nd book in the Waterman & Stark series, having read the first book, I was really excited when I was approved for a copy from NetGalley.

Unfortunately I found the book to be a very bland & mediocre mystery. It just felt like so much was missing ( like depth of the story, more suspense, mystery, more descriptive murders, more connection between the murders and there place in the plot, better connections between characters) There‘s a real soap operaish feel to all of the drama in the book, and no shortage of characters to carry it out.

I found I really didn’t like many of the characters, and I had a hard time believing in the role that Kendall was in, she just wasn’t convincing for me. The relationships between characters in the book were so thin, I wanted more connection, they just felt flat and one dimensional. I wanted Brenda to be a creepier villain; I wanted her acts to be so despicable that I knew why I was hating her. In fact just as the Brenda Nevins storyline picks up and there’s a possibility that the book might improve the book abruptly ends in a truck stop the reader is left with a surprise! I guess I just wanted / expected more than the author was able to give me.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of Kensington Books/Pinnacle for an honest review.

The expected publication date is Nov 24, 2015

For me this was a 2.75 star read which I’ll round up to three stars
( )

It has been a really long time since I have read anything by Mr. Olsen. So when I had the chance to read this book I jumped instantly on the chance without a second thought. The Prologue hooked me right away. Then after that the story was fine. Just I kept reading. It was not until I was about twenty two chapters in that I was wondering when the story was going to start. What I mean by this is that Brenda was the only person of any real interest. Everyone else including Birdy and Kendall bored me and unimpressed me. Plus all of the other secondary characters got on my nerves. After a while longer of reading this book, I jumped to the ending, which was so, so.

I am saddened by this book. Not the author's best showing. Luckily I have read other books by this author and so I know just how good of an writer Mr. Olsen is. ( )