The Killing Hands (Sophie Anderson Book 4) by PD Martin

Rating: 4 out of 5

ISBN 13: 9781405039024
ISBN 10: 1405039027
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 394
Dimensions: 234 x 153mm
Released: 26/07/2010

First Sentence: "He took another long drag of the cigarette and then flicked the butt, mesmerised by its perfect arc and fall"

This is the fourth book in the Sophie Anderson series. Sophie Anderson is an FBI profiler, she also has "visions". In this book Sophie is still in LA. This time her case is to do with the gangs of LA.

This time round the story focus is not serial killers but the gangs of LA. This makes for a different feel to the previous books that focused on serial killers. It also means there is a little more explanation in this book as Martin introduces all the different government branches that deal with crime (which there are a lot of if it is accurate, which I am sure it is).

The reader gets to learn more about Sophie's personal life in this book with her parents making an appearance. There is some development with Sophie's personal life. Which I think is a good thing because she was getting borderline crazy with all her exercising and keeping people at a distance.

The pacing is quite good considering this book has a lot of character development for Sophie. Martin has a good balance of information, story development, and action.

One thing I really like about PD Martins books are the topics she picks. She manages to deal with some really interesting ones that make her crime series just that little bit different. She also has clearly done a lot of research which also shines through in her writing.

One gripe I had which is not the authors fault was the character of Joe DeLuca. I actually work with a Joe Deluca and I found it hard not to super-impose the DeLuca I knew onto the DeLuca in the book. Unfortunately the DeLuca I know could never be an FBI agent, so this made it hard for me to find the character in the book convincing.

Another good book in the Sophie Anderson series. I will definitely be getting hold of the next book.

Fan Mail (Sophie Anderson Book 3) by PD Martin

Rating: 4 out of 5
Paperback
Publisher: Pan Australia (December 1, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0330424025
ISBN-13: 978-0330424028

First Sentence:"The voice is deep and smooth. 'Agent Sophie Anderson?'"

Sophie moves to LA and on her first day in town is called out to a murder scene. It is of the famous crime writer Loretta Black. At first it looks like a simple case of murder, but then another crime author turns up dead and Sophie is suddenly hot on the trail of a serial killer.

This review will have to be short as I do not want to give anything away.

Another great installment from PD Martin. The new setting means a whole new swag of characters to get to know. Sorrell seems to be a good crime fighting partner for Sophie and I hope he is back in later books. He is a little gruff and burly but otherwise a pretty decent guy. I really don't like Justin, didn't from book two. I personally would be suspicious of a guy like him. But that's just me :) For a love interest I prefer Darren for Sophie and hope that now they are closer geograpahically he gets to be in the picture more.

I enjoyed the idea of the serial killer targeting crime writing authors. It brings a refreshing twist to the crime writing books. Actually all the books so far in this series I felt were the same. They had fascinating themes in them in terms of the serial killers. Makes the books stand out from normal crime stories. Well that and the visions of course.

The ending was a surprise which is great. I definitely didn't see it coming which is good as normally I can guess what will happen.

A good installment in the series which I enjoyed reading. I look forward to reading the next book.

The Murderer's Club (Sophie Anderson Book 2) by PD Martin

Rating 5 out of 5

FBI Profiler Sophie Anderson is still recovering from the traumatic events in Body Count. The only good thing is that for six months she has had no visions. In need of a break Sophie heads to Arizona to visit her friend Darren. However soon after her arrival bodies with a mysterious love heart on their chests start appearing on the University grounds. Sophie offers her assistance to help catch a new serial killer and hopefully stop a killing spree. But Sophie soon learns that they are not hunting one killer but a group, The Murderers' Club.

About three months ago I read the first book in this series called Body Count. For a debut novel it was really good. It had a good mix of supernatural, crime mystery and good old fashioned thrills and action. I was really keen to get started on The Murderer’s Club as soon as possible.

The book is told in first person. But the reader gets both Sophies perspective and the killers. This happens in both books but in this book the killers perspective is told via a chat room. It is creepy reading the killers conversations about their victims, they discuss them like they would characters in a tv show.

The Murderers’ Club is a little slower paced then Body Count. There is not as much action, but the action that is there really packs a punch. Also there is less focus on Sophie’s visions, however this fits in with the story where she is grappling with her visions and their implications (I do not want to reveal to much so I will leave it there).

There is however a bigger focus (then in the previous book) on the actual process of profiling a serial killer which was just fascinating. While Body Count touched on this, I felt in Murderers’ Club we got to learn more about the profiling aspect of the job. I think it would be both a fascinating and terrifying field to work in.

"Finally I cast my eyes to the body. The vic lies on his back, his arms tucked underneath him. On his hair-less chest and extending down to the first two bulges of his six-pack is a bright red love heart, about four inches square."

If you are thinking this series is a supernatural crime novel you are essentially correct but it is so much more. Murderers’ Club can easily hold its self up against the more hard boiled crime novels. While Sophie does have visions and it is an element to the story it is just that an element. Sophie needs actual evidence to convict the serial killers so she goes through the process just like any other criminal profiler. I guess that is what I like most about this series so far is that balance which PD Martin has done well.

Sophie is mixed up in this book which is hardly surprising all things considered. However her issues and the way she deals with them felt believable, not forced to make the narrative flow a particular way. Sophie is dealing with the trauma inflicted on her in Body Count as well as her personal relationships with Darren and Josh. On top of that she is dealing with her visions, or more accurately not dealing with them.

I liked the additions of Gerard and Detective Stone who were good characters. I certainly hope they make more appearances in the series.

As for the ending of the book, well lets just say it was good.

This series has really grown on me and I am not a huge crime writing fan. Cosy's are more my speed. However this series is quirky, fascinating and a little terrifying. Definitely a recommended read.

Other Reviews
Books and Musings from Downunder

Body Count (Sophie Anderson Book 1) by PD Martin

Rating 4 out of 5 stars

“Body Count provides an insight into the life of a unique FBI profiler, Sophie Anderson. When a girl is found brutally murdered in DC, Australian FBI profiler Sophie Anderson suspects that the killing spree has just begun. With her fellow agents she delves into the mind of the killer, trying to predict his next move. When another victim turns up, Sophie knows that she’s ‘seen’ the girl before, raped and murdered – in her dreams. Struggling to separate fact from fiction, reality from nightmare, Sophie becomes more and more ensnared in the killer’s mind as the body count rises. Then the murders become personal and Sophie is caught up in a cat-and-mouse game that may cost her the man she loves – and her life”.

I found this to be a really interesting book. The only real thing I could fault it on was that I was stupid enough to read this during the work week when I had to put it down to go to work/sleep. Body Count is an easy fast paced read that was exciting and engaging. If you like your crime/mystery with lots of blood and gore or things going bang every five seconds this is not for you. While there are enough dollops of each this book is more about profiling the killers and investigation.

The psychic angle was interesting as Sophie was not yet comfortable in her skin as a psychic which most psychic Detectives are. The images for her are terrifying and hard to deal with. She is also learning how to control her ability but with little success. I like this element to the book. Another thing I really enjoyed was that I didn’t guess the killer at all!

I have seen criticism elsewhere that this was “to Australian”. I have to say I didn’t really notice any particular Australian sayings or words other then what would be in character. But perhaps as I am Australian I wouldn’t notice, it all seemed perfectly fine to me.

This is the first of what I believe are three books with a fourth on its way. I have the second book in my TBR pile which will skip to the top once i have finished my Library books pile which is slowly diminishing (then there are the TBRs that will be read first before the second book). So many books so little time.