Casee‘s review of One Scream Away by Kate Brady.
Killer Chevy Bankes is a master of disguise, and just paroled, he’s coming after the woman who sent him to jail, the beautiful antiques expert Beth Denison. A set of antique dolls brings Beth into his sight, and inspire Chevy’s disturbing crimes as he draws closer to Beth and her young daughter. Chevy sends the dolls to Beth one-by-one and she soon realizes that these antiques carry the same marks as his victims, signaling that the final piece in his collection will be for her.
Neil Sheridan gave up his FBI shield five years ago, but his best friend Rick, a cop, pulls him in as a consultant on a case involving a serial killer who is eerily similar to a murderer Neil encountered in the past. The investigation leads Neil to Beth’s doorstep, and he is certain she isn’t telling him the truth. Neil is the only one who can get through Beth’s defenses and, as they grow closer,discover the secrets that Beth is hiding about her fateful night with Chevy.
I have to admit, I had a hard time getting into this book. I picked it up after reading the blurb at Wal-Mart. It sounded exactly like a romantic suspense that I would want to read. It wasn’t until halfway through the book that I really got into it.
Neil Sheridan is no longer with the FBI, yet he can’t turn away when his friend Rick comes to ask for his help. Years before, he went after a killer that ended up causing the loss of his family. The day that happened, Neil quit the FBI and hasn’t looked back. When Rick comes to him and tells him that the killer might not be the man he thought, Neil can’t stay away. Especially when he meets Beth Denison. He knows that she is hiding something, but he hasn’t been able to figure out what.
All Beth wants is to live a quiet life with her daughter. After the death of her husband, Beth went into relative obscurity only emerging when her job demanded it. When she starts receiving antique dolls, she doesn’t realize the significance of them. Dolls as old as these were bound to have wear and tear. When she realizes that she is being taunted by Chevy Banks, the only person she can turn to is Neil.
Chevy was exactly what I like in a villain. Believable. His craziness was very believable. It didn’t go over the top like the past few romantic suspense villains I’ve read about. He thought that Beth was responsible for him going to jail. Therefore, he’s going to get his revenge. When he sees how close Neil and Beth are getting, he knows his plan will be perfect.
By the end of the book, I was really into it. It was a really good stand alone RS.
3.75 out of 5.
This book is available from Grand Central Publishing. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
I LOVED this book! Chevy was probably the best villain I’ve read all year. And there was something about Sheridan that I just couldn’t get enough of.
What was surprising, or at least to me, was that this is the author’s debut! I want more…
Loved the review Casee! I’ve got this one on my TBR pile so it’s good to know it’s a good story.
There were definitely some things that gave me pause, but overall, I really enjoyed this one.