C.M. Owens (–2021)

This series hooked me from page one. A serial killer heroine you root for? A sweet FBI agent falling for her without knowing she’s the one he’s hunting? Absolute chaos — and I loved every second.

Lana is such a powerful, complex character. Her trauma is heartbreaking, but her revenge? So satisfying. Logan surprised me too — supportive, conflicted, and way more ride-or-die than expected.

The pacing is fast, the twists keep coming, and somehow there’s still room for real emotion and show more healing. It’s violent, it’s heavy, but it’s also weirdly romantic?

Only reason it’s not a full 5 stars: a few rushed moments and some suspension of disbelief needed. But honestly? Totally worth it.

If you're into dark romance and morally gray characters, this one’s a must-read. show less

I never have felt compelled to write a book review, but after finishing this incredible series I actually cried because I knew the next book I read will not live up to this masterpiece. Not only is the female serial killer trope something which guarantees a good read but the detail that went into this story is next to none. Lana Myers is a character who I will never forget and to me she is as real as the rest of us as the deep details of her character have created a tangible persona which show more seems to live on beyond the end of the books. As if these books couldn’t get any better the similarities to Criminal Minds just makes me love it even more, even thought the story is nothing like the cases in the show the parallels between some of the characters makes them all the more loveable and three dimensional.

My favourite parts which I feel need to be mentioned just for my own sake, should I also mention that I read the series in 5 days so a quick obsession has taken over me :)

- I love that jake’s dad was the original killer and that this was incorporated into the storyline as if the tragedy of the Evans family could get any worse. But it does.

- The fate of delaney grove did not disappoint in terms of dramatics and the vivid descriptions had me wishing for a movie just so I could further the imagery but I fear a movie wouldn’t do justice to the pictures in the mind

- I like that everything was tied up and explained for the most part but not in a drawn out monologue which negates the mystery in the first place. clues as to what happened and their plan for revenge were slowly revealed which leads the reader to a sense of success when they feel they are putting the pieces together themselves

- LANA MYERS I mean she is just the most likeable female character I have ever read, her flaws are realistic and she doesn’t fit into tropes or norms. She is not overly sexualised in a way which would negate her character’s personality. Her reasoning for killing lends her empathy but she doesn’t seek this out, she is mostly selfless in her revenge and the depth of her personality is what makes her intriguing. like logan hints throughout the book you never know her next move, you can still predict where certain parts of the book will go enough so you don’t feel the story to be too unrealistic, but her actions are never predictable and always true to her character.

- although lana falls in love her revenge still takes priority which is the most realistic thing, it’s always disappointing when a female character who was wronged by so many men meets one who magically fixes her. Logan kept her grounded in reality but she still needed the revenge to rebuild her soul and avenge her brother. It was never suggested he ‘fixed’ her and this is furthered by the last chapter which I absolutely love

- she didn’t have a baby! this is my least favourite ending to most books where the female protagonist has dealt with trauma and they just stick her with a child so they can play happy family and all of a sudden everything is okay and a child fixes all. It’s an unrealistic trope which unless done in a tasteful way leans back into misogynistic societal norms of what the perfect woman is and I love that this book didn’t stoop down to that her personality and character remains in tact, lana myers wouldn’t have had a child in my opinion so I’m glad she didn’t

Finally i highly recommended you listen to a playlist when reading this book as it just helps the whole world in your head come together

https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/mindfuck/pl.u-XkD0YVJiDW30Nl8 show less

"Love is supposed to be beautiful. It's supposed to be a raw, gritty struggle that forces you to face the most vulnerable parts of yourself, so that when the good times come, you can savor and enjoy them, fully appreciate what they're worth. Otherwise, you take it all for granted."
Hush, little baby, don't say a word... Will Logan choose them? Or will we watch them burn together? It's time to fuck with their minds. It's time to finish it all. It's time to paint it all red... Monsters don't show more usually wish for happily-ever-afters.
So this one was the conclusion to the Mindf*ck series and it did not disappoint in the slightest. Lana is finally moving into the endgame of her revenge plan and nothing is going to stand in her way. However, along the way some obstacles must first be overcome in the romance department of the story, though they are some pretty serious issues. We learn that maybe there is more behind the original killings than was originally explored. I honestly have to admit I didn't think there was anything else left to explore, but I was wrong. This book had me on the edge of my seat because there was just so much happening.
I must admit that Lana's plan to punish the whole town is genius and beautiful and intense, but my level of anxiety was ramped up by whether or not Logan would choose her and how their relationship would go... which I'm not going to tell you. Figure it out for yourself! I will say this one had some insane moments that had me sobbing because I just didn't believe it could happen. It had some surprise twists and moments that I never actually saw coming as well. I think it was the perfect resolution to this series and if you haven't read it yet, you really should. show less

"Sometimes people don't find justice. Sometimes they have to take it."

They took too much. Left too little. I had nothing to lose...until him. Lana: I didn't expect him. I didn't want to fall in love. But I can't let him go. Logan Bennett makes the world a safer place. He's brilliant. He's a hero. He locks away the sick and depraved. But while he's saving lives, I'm taking them. Collecting the debts that are owed to me. Ten years ago, they took from me. They left me for dead. Now I'm taking show more from them. One name at a time. I've trained for too long. I've been patient. I can't stop now. Revenge is best served cold... They never see me coming, until I paint their walls red. Logan doesn't know how they hurt me. He doesn't know about the screams they ignored. He doesn't know how twisted that town really is. He just knows people are dying. He doesn't know he's in love with their killer. No one suspects a dead girl. And Logan doesn't suspect the girl in his bed. They're looking for a monster. Not a girl who loves red. Not a girl in love. I'm a faceless nightmare. At least until I tell them the story they've pretended never happened. But in the end, will Logan choose them? Or will we watch them burn together?
So I went into this series with no idea what it was about simply because someone recommended it. I will admit it took a minute to adjust myself, because even though we don't have all the details, it's immediately clear that Lana was the victim of a terrible sexual assault. One that was supposed to have killed her, but she survived and now she's become the hunter. One by one she is getting revenge on those who wronged her. I adore morally gray female main characters because they always have such an intense strength buried inside them. And Lana does not disappoint. She is able to channel her anger and rage to get her revenge, but still also able to fall in love... even if that love presents a lot of complications for her task.
Lana is ferocious and reads people so well. She isn't afraid to let Logan and other's underestimate her. It helps to keep her secret hidden. And she cannot stop her task until it's complete, even if being with Logan gives her a sense of hope for the future. I have to say for this book to be so short... I felt so much anxiety and tension reading it just waiting for Lana to be found out by Logan. It is like an interesting mix between Dexter and Criminal Minds. And even though underlying the story is an intense trauma that I'm sure is going to break me when I read it... I have to continue the series... It's written so well that you can't stop because they author leaves you wanting more. She gives you just enough information that it's easy to side with Lana with like zero hesitation. The end is a cliffhanger... which made me want to immediately start book 2. Basically this series even from book one is addictive. I mean an adorable romance and a serial killer, whose getting justice for a terrible wrong... What's not to love. show less