Category: Book Reviews

This is where all of my Book Reviews are, Subcategories to follow.

Posted in Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Non-Fiction, Novels

REVIEW: Murder in the Bayou: Who Killed the Women Known as the Jeff Davis 8? by Ethan Brown

Posted on by elishasbookreview

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*No Spoilers*

An explosive, true-life southern gothic story, Murder in the Bayou chronicles the twists and turns of a high-stakes investigation into the murders of eight women in a troubled Louisiana parish.

Between 2005 and 2009, the bodies of eight women were discovered around the murky canals and crawfish ponds of Jennings, Louisiana, a bayou town of 10,000 in the heart of the Jefferson Davis parish. Local law enforcement officials were quick to pursue a serial killer theory, opening a floodgate of media coverage—from CNN to The New York Times. Collectively the victims became known as the “Jeff Davis 8,” and their lives, their deaths, and the ongoing investigation reveal a small southern community’s most closely guarded secrets.

This True Crime novel interested me because I have never heard of the Jeff Davis 8 before. I also thought it’d be an interesting read because it’s a case not discussed very often.

This book investigates the murder of eight women who were involved in drug and prostitution world of Lousiana. As Mr. Brown is delving into this mystery, you begin to realize it goes much deeper than just a drug deal gone horribly wrong.

The discussion on corruption by the police force as well as the racial tensions makes this mystery much more enticing. You never find out who the real culprit is or whether it was a group of people involved or if it was a serial killer.

I would highly recommend this novel if you are a true crime buff and if unsolved cases peak your interests.

Posted in Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Non-Fiction, Novels

REVIEW: I Will Find You: Solving Killer Cases from My Life Fighting Crime by Lt. Joe Kenda

Posted on by elishasbookreview

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*No Major Spoilers*

Detective Lt. Joe Kenda, star of Homicide Hunter, shares his deepest, darkest, and never before revealed case files from his 19 years as a homicide detective. 

Are you horrified yet fascinated by abhorrent murders? Do you crave to know the gory details of these crimes, and do you seek comfort in the solving of the most gruesome? In I WILL FIND YOU, the star of Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda shares his deepest, darkest, and never-before-revealed case files from his two decades as a homicide detective and reminds us that crimes like these are very real and can happen even in our own backyards.

Gruesome, macabre, and complex cases. Joe Kenda investigated 387 murder cases during his 23 years with the Colorado Springs Police Department and solved almost all of them. And he is ready to detail the cases that are too gruesome to air on television, cases that still haunt him, and the few cases where the killer got away. These cases are horrifyingly real, and the detail is so mesmerizing you won’t be able to look away. The tales in I WILL FIND YOU will shock you like the best horror stories-divulging insights into the actions, motivations, and proclivities of nature’s most dangerous species. Don’t mind the blood.

Let me start off by saying, Homicide Hunter is one of my favorite shows on Investigation Discovery. Lt. Kenda’s dry and morbid sense of humor makes me chuckle. His catchphrase: “Oh, my my” is how you know he found the bad guy!

This autobiography is Lt. Kenda’s retelling of some of his stories and cases that aren’t TV friendly. True Crime has never bothered me since I’ve been interested in the subject. I always joke that in a different life I could have been an F.B.I. agent.

If you are able to listen to the audiobook of this memoir, I would highly recommend the audiobook. Lt. Kenda narrates his memoir just as if he was talking on the TV. It’s an easy listening and just as enjoyable as reading the book itself.

Some of my favorite stories involved bar brawls that quickly got out of hand. Alcohol and pure rage can turn any man into an unstoppable monster. Just imagining bar patrons and the police fighting in one big mess humors me for some reason.

I would recommend this memoir for those that love true crime and the show Homicide Hunter. Also if you love a good policeman’s stories, this memoir is perfect for you!

Posted in Book Reviews, Novels

REVIEW: The Montauk Monster by Hunter Shea

Posted on by elishasbookreview

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*No Major Spoilers*

On a hot summer night in Montauk, the bodies of two local bar patrons are discovered in the dunes, torn to shreds, their identities unrecognizable. . .

In another part of town, a woman’s backyard is invaded by four terrifying creatures that defy any kind of description. What’s clear is that they’re hostile–and they’re ravenous. . .

With every sunset the terror rises again, infecting residents with a virus no one can cure. The CDC can’t help them; FEMA can’t save them. But each savage attack brings Suffolk County Police Officer Gray Dalton one step closer to the shocking source of these unholy creations. Hidden on nearby Plum Island, a U.S. research facility has been running top-secret experiments. What they created was never meant to see the light of day. Now, a vacation paradise is going straight to hell.

I am a fan of conspiracy theories and the occult. This book is based on the conspiracy theory that the government is bioengineering creatures to be a better weapon of war. This book feeds into this conspiracy and blows it out of the water!

There’s violence, blood and gore, and some sex. A perfect guilty pleasure monster movie read!

I enjoyed this novel even though it was a bit silly and ridiculous. It was over the top and an exciting read. This was a nice read after all of the more serious books I have been reading lately.

My only complaint is that there are too many characters. I understand that the author wanted to demonstrate just how chaotic the city of Montauk had become. I still couldn’t keep up with most of them except for the main characters.

If you are looking for a guilty pleasure read, I would highly recommend The Montauk Monster by Hunter Shea. It’s fast-paced action, and even when things seem to slow down, they won’t be for long.

Posted in Book Reviews, Novels

REVIEW: The Girl Who Disappeared Twice (Forensic Instincts #1) by Andrea Kane

Posted on by elishasbookreview

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*No Spoilers*

If she’d only turned her head, she would have seen the car containing her daughter, struggling to get out. Struggling to escape her kidnapper.

Despite all her years determining the fates of families, veteran family court judge Hope Willis couldn’t save her own. Now she’s frantically grasping at any hope for Krissy’s rescue. Her husband dead set against it, she calls Casey Woods and her team of renegade investigators, Forensic Instincts.

Forensic Instincts will dig through each tiny clue and eliminate the clutter. But time is running out, and even working around the clock, the authorities are bound by the legal system. Not so Casey’s team. For they know that the difference between Krissy coming back alive and disappearing forever could be as small as a suspect’s rapid breathing, or as deep as Hope’s dark family history.

“If that’s true, this won’t end as a quiet closed case,” Casey responded. “The offender will want notoriety, or recognition. Krissy will turn up.”

“In one form or another, yes.” Hutch’s tone was grim. “Our job is to find her before she ‘turns up’ and to find her alive.” – The Girl Who Disappeared Twice

I was looking through books I had bookmarked on my library account and found this series. I am a lover of mysteries, and this peaked my interest. I was not disappointed in the overall quality of this thrilling novel.

Casey’s team, Forensic Instincts, is a team made up of a computer wiz, a former Navy SEAL, and Casey herself is a behavioral psychologist. Along the way, the team grows throughout this novel.

This novel does bring an interesting scenario to the table. Is a missing child case from over three decades ago be connected to the current missing child?

Some of the characters in this novel reminded me of some of the characters from Criminal Minds. Maybe the author loosely based a couple of the characters off of the characters from the show. Whatever it is, it made this novel more enjoyable in my opinion.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, it did have a flaw for me. I predicted the ending (more or less). Don’t let this detour you from this book. It’s just something about mysteries and I’m like “The killer is…” and I turn out to be correct.

My favorite character was Hero, the bloodhound who helped Forensic Instincts solve the case and find the missing child; Krissy. I am a dog lover at heart, so seeing any law enforcement canine makes me happy.

I would recommend this book for lovers of mysteries, thrillers, and Criminal Minds. This book will have you on the edge of your seat until the very satisfying ending.