Author: Leanne Kale Sparks
Narrator: Erin DeWard
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: February 2022
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible
Description: The past is never far behind, as a string of murders threatens to unleash long-buried secrets in this pulse-pounding thriller for fans of Melinda Leigh and T. R. Ragan.
The only survivor of Denver's notorious "Reaper" serial murders, FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck grapples with the ghosts of her past by seeking justice for victims of abuse. She's neck-deep in a particularly ugly case involving the disappearance of five-year-old Emily Williams--but her investigation is derailed when her best friend and roommate, Gwen Tavich, turns up dead floating in a nearby lake.
Devastated by the news of Gwen's death, Kendall teams up with Denver detective Adam Taylor to find the killer. Gwen's fiancé, Ty Butler, is being evasive about the last time he saw Gwen, and as the evidence mounts against him, he's arrested for the murder. With every new clue, Kendall questions how well she really knew her friend. And when Gwen's dark secrets begin spilling out one by one, she begins to understand the devastating magnitude of her murder. The Reaper has returned to Denver--and he's not stopping at just one victim.
As the trauma of Kendall's past comes roaring back, she and Adam have no time to spare before more bodies start piling up. And then Kendall makes a shocking discovery that reveals the horrifying truth behind Emily Williams's disappearance. Now, Kendall must confront her darkest fears as she and the Reaper face off one more time.
My Thoughts: With The Wrong Woman, new to me author Leanne Kale Sparks introduces us to FBI agent Kendall Beck in a new series. Years ago, Kendall was the only surviving victim of the Reaper who terrorized Denver by murdering young girls. While trying to help one of the victims, Kendall was shot and left for dead. While working on a missing child case, Kendall’s attention is blind sighted when her best friend, Gwen disappears and her body is found days later in a lake. Initially, I struggled to keep the numerous cases straight and how, if at all, they are connected.
Kendall partners up with Denver Detective Adam Taylor to assist with the investigation into Gwen’s death and the subsequent arrest of Gwen’s fiancé, Ty. I liked Adam and found him to be an interesting character and happy to see that he will continue in the next book. Adam and Kendall have great chemistry, but there was no hint of a blossoming romance here, which I actually liked. Let’s keep our eye on the ball, people, and not muddy up the waters even more with the romance nonsense.
Where Kendall has a temper that gets her in the hot seat, Adam is more methodical and purposeful in his process. I enjoyed how he works the clues that come up with focused intent, assuming everyone, including Kendall, is a potential suspect in Gwen’s murder.
Secondary characters made this story more interesting as I tried to figure out who the killer is. Of course, my vote was completely off the mark and when the killer’s identity was revealed, I initially felt it was too convenient. The final showdown, however, was nail-biting intense. Kudos to Ms. Sparks for drawing me to the edge of my seat, unable to press pause on my iPod. Major thumbs up also go to the narrator, Erin DeWard, for her stellar performance. Her ability to convey to the reader the feelings of the characters gave me more opportunity to empathize and care about what happens to them. Additionally, her performance also gave me a nervous anxiety in regard to the killer and his methodical stalking of Kendall and his victims. Please, people, don’t leave your vehicle unlocked while you are pumping gas!
My Final Verdict: You may or may not be surprised with the outcome of this story, but the journey getting there will leave you breathless. I highly recommend this book to fans of mysteries and thrillers as well as readers who like strong protagonists and creepy antagonists. Fans who enjoy seeing the villain get their comeuppance will root for Kendall and Adam all the way.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Wrong Woman from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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