Helpful Score: 7
I was most definitely pleasantly surprised by this book. Even though Id heard good things about the author (or I wouldnt have been interested in reading a book by her) so many times new authors fall into the predictable pattern of a mystery where you know exactly whos done what and youre just waiting for the hero(ine)(s) to figure it out. This book proved different.
I still wasnt sure until the very end just who exactly was guilty. I kept vascilating between well it could be him... oh wait no with that it could really be him but I didnt think it was because of this. It was good to finally find a mystery book that kept me guessing. Not to mention that it was creepy and thrilling without needing to go into horrific descriptions of the blood and guts of murders. That was quite refreshing as well.
I still wasnt sure until the very end just who exactly was guilty. I kept vascilating between well it could be him... oh wait no with that it could really be him but I didnt think it was because of this. It was good to finally find a mystery book that kept me guessing. Not to mention that it was creepy and thrilling without needing to go into horrific descriptions of the blood and guts of murders. That was quite refreshing as well.
Helpful Score: 3
This is a debut book introducing FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell. Maggie is married to a lawyer, Greg, who wants her to quit doing field work. He doesn't like her jogging in the neighborhood either. What will they think of her, and him, seeing her all sweaty and mussed. He excercises at the club as is proper.
Maggie is sent to Nebraska to profile a serial killer. The sheriff is a lawyer who ran to fill his father's shoes when he retired. Not really qualified but it is easier than arguing with his father.
This is a well written book with fleshed out characters and a good story. I'm searching for more from this author.
Four stars.
Maggie is sent to Nebraska to profile a serial killer. The sheriff is a lawyer who ran to fill his father's shoes when he retired. Not really qualified but it is easier than arguing with his father.
This is a well written book with fleshed out characters and a good story. I'm searching for more from this author.
Four stars.
Helpful Score: 2
Great book! I love the Maggie O'Dell series! The killer was a shock to me, I kept going back and forth between two suspects and never even had it right! To me that's the best type of book! I totally recommend this book!
This was a great book! If your into stories that resemble true crime and the life of an FBI agent. A definite page turner. Hard to but down.
Helpful Score: 1
Very interesting characters with tons of plot twists and turns...
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful debut!! The protagonist was evil, a scary thought when you find out who it is!
Helpful Score: 1
Great book. I really enjoyed the characters and their interactions.
Helpful Score: 1
A very suspenseful read.
Helpful Score: 1
THIS IS A GOOD BOOK THAT I ENJOYED READING.
Helpful Score: 1
Maggie O'Dell, FBI criminal profiler, pinpoints the true nature of the evil behind the brutal murders of three young boys - a revelation made all the more horrific when Sheriff Nick Morelli's own nephew goes missing.
Helpful Score: 1
This is my first Kava book but it won't be my last. Someone is kidnapping young boys and than savagely killing them FBI agent Maggie O'Dell must find out who. Very good book hard to put down.
Helpful Score: 1
Maggie O'Dell is an FBI profiler and is sent to Nebraska because of the murders of 3 young boys. She realizes that the killer is enjoying himself amd making this case more personal by the hour.
Helpful Score: 1
Great Book!
Helpful Score: 1
mystery profiler good
I could not put it down!!!!
Helpful Score: 1
If you're looking for a good series to get into, this is the one! Months ago I requested this book because I couldn't find anything else to read. It took me awhile to get to read it but once I did I was hooked. The night that I finished this book, I ordered the rest of them and put the rest on my wish list!
Alex Kava knows how to write twists in her stories and how to keep each book fresh. Yes they are all thrilling but there is a completely different atmosphere to each book, not the same "theres another dead guy" book. I suggest investing in this series
Alex Kava knows how to write twists in her stories and how to keep each book fresh. Yes they are all thrilling but there is a completely different atmosphere to each book, not the same "theres another dead guy" book. I suggest investing in this series
Helpful Score: 1
Hard to put down book about a serial killer, unexpected turns in the plot.
This was a good murder mystery about a tough FBI agent, Maggie O'Dell, and her quest to find a child killer.
Great debut novel, can't wait to read more from this author.
Great book! Very human characters, good story.
The brutal murders of three young boys paralyze the citizens of Platte City, Nebraska. What's worse is the grim realization that the man recently executed for te crimes was a copycat.When Sheriff Nick Morrelli is called to the scene of another grisly murder, it becomes clear that the real predator is still at large, waiting to kill again.
First book in the Maggie O'Dell series. I couldn't put it down!
Excellent Book..... I love this author...
I love all of the Maggie O'dell books I have now read them all and they are suspensful and awesome
This is the first novel in the Maggie O'Dell Novels. Just finished it and am out here at 6 AM on a Saturday morning to see if I can order the 2nd one.
Great read
Excellent!!
Stephanie T. (dastephan6) -
a great book. a great start to what i hope will be a great series. maggie finds herself in a small town trying to profile a child murderer. what she finds is haunting. this is a real page turner and will keep you guessing till the end. and then the end!!!! it makes you want to hurry and start the next in the series.
Another great book by Alex Kava. Several options to think about for "who done it". No surprise in the end.
Great book!
The brutal murders of three young boys paralyze the citizens of Platte City, Nebraska. What's worse is the grim realization that the man recently executed for the crimes was a copycat.When Sheriff Nick Morrelli is called to the scene of another grisly murder, it becomes clear that the real predator is still at large. Exprienced FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell is called to pinpoint the true nature of the evil behind the killings.
The brutal murders of 3 young boys paralyze the citizens of Platte City, Nebraska. The killer is caught and executed but then there is another grisly murder and it is apparent that the real predator is still at large.
great book !
A real page-turner. Has a "sequel" that I haven't read. I suggest getting your hands on that one too, called "A Necessary Evil." Because this book kind of leaves you hanging at the end, which might frustrate some people.
Introduction to Nick Morelli, a possible love interest for Maggie O'Dell, boys trusting adults and being murdered, Nick's sister Christine who wants to be a journalist becoming conflicted once her own son is taken, and Father Keller who is a figure we will see again.
I loved this one! The plot is fabulous and kept me guessing.
Love this series. Strong story line. On my 3rd book of series and have truly gotten into the characters. Very good book.
Could not put this book down..I loved it!!
FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell has a profile-unfortunatley it matches one of a serial killer already executed!!!
It was a well thought out series of events but I just hate when books have to start a relationship between the main characters who of course are better looking then most individuals. It cheapened the over all good writing with trashy love situations.
Good book. A bit disappointing that things don't wrap up better but overall held my interest.
When a Death Row inmate awaiting execution confesses that he didn't kill two of the three boys he was convicted of murdering, Father Francis was not surprised. He had already heard the confession of the other killer.
A few months later, a young boy disappears. Sheriff Nick Morrelli knows he and his deputies are not prepared for the situation. When the boy's body is found and another child disappears, he contacts FBI Criminal Profiler Maggie O'Dell to put together a picture of the killer.
This was an interesting debut novel from Alex Kava. The story kept my attention. I thought the villain was obvious, though the author did throw in a couple of red herrings. I didn't care for the romance between Nick and Maggie. It felt like an afterthought to the story and probably could have been edited from the story without any difficulty. I've heard the stories improve with each book, so I'm looking forward to trying the next book in the series. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
A few months later, a young boy disappears. Sheriff Nick Morrelli knows he and his deputies are not prepared for the situation. When the boy's body is found and another child disappears, he contacts FBI Criminal Profiler Maggie O'Dell to put together a picture of the killer.
This was an interesting debut novel from Alex Kava. The story kept my attention. I thought the villain was obvious, though the author did throw in a couple of red herrings. I didn't care for the romance between Nick and Maggie. It felt like an afterthought to the story and probably could have been edited from the story without any difficulty. I've heard the stories improve with each book, so I'm looking forward to trying the next book in the series. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
The book was actually a good read regarding the crime itself, but where it went wrong was the budding "romance" between the elected "sheriff" (and I use that title lightly) and the FBI profiler, who is married; albeit a rocky marriage, but still married nonetheless. Seriously? What is the point of this? Why does the author feel it's necessary to muck up a good story line with something so irrelevant and unmoral?
On July 17, convicted serial killer Ronald Jeffreys was executed for three heinous murders. He went to his grave with a terrible truth no one would listen to. Three months later, another body is found killed in the same style as Jeffrey's victis. Is there a copycat killer on the loose? Or is this the real think??
I read this for a book meeting a few years back and remember finding it grueling but riveting.
On July17,convicted serial killer Ronald Jeffreys was executed for three hienous murders.He went to his grave with a terrible truth no one would listen to.Three months later,another body is found,killed in the same style as Jeffrey's victimes.Is there a copycat on the loose?Or is this the real thing.
A Perfect Evil and A Necessary Evil are superb reads. I couldn't get enough of the characters. These were my first two Maggie O'Dell books that I read. Love her.
Renee' B. (Daydreamsbeliever) reviewed A Perfect Evil (Maggie O'Dell, Bk 1) on + 194 more book reviews
From the back.....On July 17, convicted serial killer Ronald Jeffreys was executed for three murders. He went to his grave with a terrible truth no one would listen to. Three months later, another body is found, killed in the same style as Jeffrey's victoms. Is there a copycat on the loose? Or is it the real thing?" Great book!!!!
Maggie O'Dell, FBI criminal profiler comes to Nebraska to help a small-town sheriff on a case which involves a serial killer.
On July 17, convicted killer Ronald Jeffreys was executed for three heinous murders. He went to his grave with a terrible truth no one would listen to. Three months later,another body is found, killed in the same style as Jeffrey's victims.
Is there a copycat killer on the loose?
Sheriff Nick Morelli isn't equipped to deal with this case that is terrorizing the small, close-knot community of Platte /city, Nebraska. Knowing he needs help, he calls in one of the FBI's best criminal profilers, Maggie O'Dell. And with the help of the small town sheriff who is clearly out of his depths, Maggie starts to put together the gruesome picture of a killer. The picture of someone who has laready been executed for his crimes.
When another victim is found and a thrid kidnapped, Nick and Maggie realize they're running out of time. And the terrible truth starts to show itself. Was Jeffres convicted of a crime he never committed?
A great good read!
Is there a copycat killer on the loose?
Sheriff Nick Morelli isn't equipped to deal with this case that is terrorizing the small, close-knot community of Platte /city, Nebraska. Knowing he needs help, he calls in one of the FBI's best criminal profilers, Maggie O'Dell. And with the help of the small town sheriff who is clearly out of his depths, Maggie starts to put together the gruesome picture of a killer. The picture of someone who has laready been executed for his crimes.
When another victim is found and a thrid kidnapped, Nick and Maggie realize they're running out of time. And the terrible truth starts to show itself. Was Jeffres convicted of a crime he never committed?
A great good read!
First in the Maggie O'Dell (FBI Profiler) series
Subjects:
Detective Fiction - Women Sleuths
Federal Law Enforcement - Fiction
Thrillers - Stalkers & Serial Killers
Subjects:
Detective Fiction - Women Sleuths
Federal Law Enforcement - Fiction
Thrillers - Stalkers & Serial Killers
A serial killer eludes an FBI profiler and a smalltown Nebraska sheriff in Kava's engaging debut, which manages to remain entertaining despite a fairly conventional plot line. As the story opens, recently appointed Sheriff Nick Morelli is as relieved as the rest of the citizens of Platte City that his predecessor, who also happens to be his father, has captured the child killer who plagued the town. But after the killer is executed, another child is discovered dead, and Morelli realizes that the convicted man was in fact a copycat killer, leaving the original criminal still on the prowl. Morelli gets some much-needed help in the investigation from FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell, but the hunt gets complicated when Morelli's sister, a journalist, leaks info to the media. Things become even stickier when O'Dell unearths a couple of unlikely suspects who've been dismissed by the police, and the search takes on a new level of urgency when Morelli's nephew is abducted and appears to be the next victim. Kava keeps her prose simple, but she does a nice job of setting up the chemistry between O'Dell and Morelli while balancing the various family issues Morelli faces in the investigation.
My sister actually read this book for me because I don't like them too scary...and what they don't tell you on the back is it is about a priest...and other things...so I didn't read it. So as long as you can deal with that, I am sure it is a good read..just not for me.
On July 17, convicted serial killer Ronald Jeffreys was executed for three heinous murders. He went to his grave with a terrible truth no one would listen to.
Three months later, another body is found, killed in the same style as Jeffreys' victims.
Is there a copycat killer on the loose? Or is this the real thing?
Sheriff Nick Morrelli isn't equipped to deal with this case that is terrorizing the small, close-knit community of Platte City, Nebraska. Knowing he needs help, he calls in one of the FBI's best criminal profilers, Maggie O'Dell. And with the help of a small-town sheriff who is clearly out of his depths, Maggie starts to put together the gruesome picture of a killer. The picture of someone who has already been executed for his crimes.
When another victim is found and a third kidnapped, Nick and Maggie realize they're running out of time. And the terrible truth begins to become clear. Was Jeffreys convicted of crimes he didn't commit? Or has a cold-blooded killer been given the chance to perfect his crime?
Three months later, another body is found, killed in the same style as Jeffreys' victims.
Is there a copycat killer on the loose? Or is this the real thing?
Sheriff Nick Morrelli isn't equipped to deal with this case that is terrorizing the small, close-knit community of Platte City, Nebraska. Knowing he needs help, he calls in one of the FBI's best criminal profilers, Maggie O'Dell. And with the help of a small-town sheriff who is clearly out of his depths, Maggie starts to put together the gruesome picture of a killer. The picture of someone who has already been executed for his crimes.
When another victim is found and a third kidnapped, Nick and Maggie realize they're running out of time. And the terrible truth begins to become clear. Was Jeffreys convicted of crimes he didn't commit? Or has a cold-blooded killer been given the chance to perfect his crime?
