Book: Jigsaw Man by Elena Forbes

★★★/★★★★★

“What matters is that people are going missing. They leave home one day and don't come back. Loved ones are left waiting, hoping... Hoping that the ring of a phone or the sound of a key in the lock is the person they're desperately missing. But they're not coming back, are they? There's a nutter on the loose and he needs to be stopped. How many more victims do you think are going to be taken off the streets, killed and set on fire? How many?”

I decided to read this book even though I was aware that it was already the fourth in the Mark Tartaglia series and well, it was a book I got on sale last month. The title intrigued me so much when I first saw it and the blurb surely is interesting. I haven't read a lot of police procedural books but I love watching them! I enjoy it more when I watch people solve mysteries and they go around asking this and that, trying to make sense of what's happening. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy this book, I did, I'm just saying that I feel like I'll enjoy it more if it's a tv show or something. But that's just me!

I've also read that you can read this book even if you haven't read the previous ones since this can be a standalone but of course there were mentions of past incidents from the previous books and after all it's a series. And I might've enjoyed it a little more if I've read the first three books since I've probably made connection with the characters already but I have to be fine by meeting the characters for the first time in the fourth book. 

Jigsaw Man has great characters, I liked DI Mark Tartaglia right away and almost everyone else. I was a bit unsure about Sam Donovan at first, maybe because I don't know her story yet since I haven't read the first three books, but I came to understand her character towards the end. The flow of the story was smooth and I was excited all throughout to find out why the victims were killed, how they were connected and especially who the killer was. Like everyone else, I tried guessing every time but ended up just reading on and waiting until it was revealed. And to make things more interesting, we have two different cases in this book which means two different killers. 

It was just a little disappointing to find out that there was no real significance in sewing together of the bodies. I mean, it wasn't explained why the killer did that and I really thought the two cases were connected. With Mark being in the same hotel and all, I really thought it meant something. Anyway, it's still a good book if you give it a chance. Hope you enjoy!

Book: The Girl in the Ice ( Detective Erika Foster) by Robert Bryndza

★★★¹⁄₂/★★★★★

“The secret of blending in, is don’t try to. Everyone is so fucking self-obsessed.”

The Girl in the Ice is the first in the Detective Erika Foster series, a thriller by Robert Bryndza. I'd heard a lot of good things about this book from my blog friends and I can say I was pretty excited when I finally picked it up. But despite the excitement I felt, it took me a while to finish it. The first few chapters were a bit slow for me but I'm glad I stuck to it until the end. I haven't read a lot of thrillers but this one is a good one.

The book centers on DCI Erika Foster when she is called down to South London to investigate a murder case involving a body of a woman found under a thick sheet of ice. Erika has been off the police force for the past months due to the death of her husband and we see how she's still struggling because of it. She tries to do her best to solve the case but when she starts to find some leads with the help of her new colleagues, the victim's wealthy father and the higher ups start to meddle. At some point she is kicked off the case because her boss wants her to play by some rules but Erika only wants to do her job properly and not to be dictated what to or not to do. 

I think Erika Foster is a strong character, a smart and determined woman. She has some ups and downs but they don't stop her from doing what's right. We also see some backstory of what happened to her husband which I think helped on understanding her more. I also actually like Moss and Peterson! The three of them make a great team and I would like to see more of them working together. 

What I love most when reading mystery/thriller is when the author keeps on making me guess what will happen next or who the real culprit is. In this book, I kept guessing until the middle part where I finally figured out who the killer was! And man, did I get that right! But still, the turn of events are unexpected and there are a lot of suspects until finally the last few pages reveal who it really is.

Overall The Girl in the Ice is a good debut thriller novel. The pacing is just right (though for me the first few chapters were a bit slow), it has great story line, impressive writing, has some twists and turns and intriguing characters. I'm planning on reading the second book in the series some time soon.

Book: Game (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga

 ★★★★/★★★★★

“This is Billy. I think once the game ends, that's when the real trouble begins.”

First of all I want to say that I loved I Hunt Killers! That book gave me all the chills for how gruesome and disturbing it was. I loved Jasper Dent then and more in the sequel. Game was darker and more gruesome and disturbing t but it was brilliantly written.

The book picks up months after The Impressionist was caught and Billy Dent has escaped prison. Now Jazz, together with Howie and Connie, tries to figure out what's the connection between Billy, The Impressionist and the new serial killer that's terrifying the people of New York.

What I loved most in the series is the suspense and thrill that will keep you on edge. Lyga managed to put twists and turns impressively that it was unpredictable. There were times I was sure I got things all figured out but then BAM! And there were also times I got frustrated for not knowing the answers to the questions! It's also interesting and fascinating how he was able to write a series like this because we're talking about the psychology of serial killers here and there he was brilliantly writing about it. Just, wow!

The sequel also gives us more about the other characters and not just Jazz. Here we see Connie's, Howie's and Billy's close involvement and we get to see more of their side. Connie was still that smart, headstrong girlfriend and Howie was still that sometimes-stupid-soometimes-just-witty bestfriend. And I honestly found it unbelievable that Howie was still involved after what happened in the first book (almost dying) and considering that he's hemophiliac and everything his parents should've been more protective over him. Connie's parents, on the other hand, them I understand. If I were them I would do everything to get Connie as far away as possible from a killer's son. Of course I will put my daughter's safety first! But then they don't know Jazz and they don't love and trust him the way Connie loves and trusts him. And I think Connie is just the typical teenager who's smart but do foolish things for love. And I also think that she believes she can conquer everything in the name of love. Even serial killers.

Now, now, let's get to the father and son. Billy actually scared the hell out of me! He was a psychopath, a monster, a coldblooded killer! I don't know how his mind works and sure in heavens I wouldn't want to know. But I do want to know the reason why he started a career in killing. There must be a definite one because damn, he was so good at killing people. And Jazz! He still struggled to find himself as he chased everything or anything that could lead him to his father. Or was he really his father? It compromised his relationship with Connie because until now he was still worried that any second he could snap and he could hurt her. And of course it has something to do with sex because he was afraid that if they do it then it would trigger something inside him that would lead to his worst nightmare.

Jazz must've felt like he was the unluckiest person in the world! He was the son of Billy Dent -the notorious serial killer- and there was a possibility that he could be like him. But what I liked most about Jazz was he was fighting to prove everyone wrong. He wanted to show that he could be different from his father and that he could be someone better if not worse.

 “What was lurking back there in the cold, dark recesses of his memory? What secrets were hidden in his past? Jazz felt as though his own life was a minefield, one he'd lost the map for. One wrong step and he'd lose a foot or a leg. Or his mind.”

 There was so much going on inside Jazz's mind but his goal was clear. He needed to find Billy and he wanted him dead. So when a chance presented itself, though he had seconds thoughts, he grabbed it. Next thing he knew, he was working with the big guys (FBI) to bring down his Dead Old Dad. But, but, but! I was a little skeptical with regards to Jazz's skill in pointing out things that the FBI failed to see. I mean, yeah, he was the son of the infamous serial killer and he'd seen it all but still. Anyway, it didn't make me like him less. If anything, it made me love him even more because, really? Jazz was smart and witty and a sweet little manipulator! He can get away with anything but it didn't mean it didn't bother him. 

The book ended with a cliffhanger, err, so we're yet to see what happens next. How will Jazz survive in that storage building with a wounded leg? Was Jazz's mother really alive? Will Connie survive Billy? and things like those. 

So, yeah, the book was gory, disturbing, creepy and you name it! But nonetheless, a work of art. It was actually a long read for me but it was entertaining and gripping. And I. Loved. Jazz.

“You think you're gonna find your soul. Ever since I've known you, you've been thinkin' that someday you're gonna crack and end up like your daddy. And you've been looking for a proof that you won't. What you don't realize is this: The looking is the proof. Trust me when I tell you that Billy Dent never had a moment's doubt in his life about what he was and what he was doing. Your doubt is your soul, kid.”