Hidden

Lacey Campbell and her friend, Suzanne, were at a gymnastics event when they were attacked and Suzanne abducted by the Co-Ed Slayer. Her body was eleven years later when Lacey, a forensic odontologist, is called to a crime scene and recognizes both Suzanne's necklace and her removable bridge. Jack Harper is an ex-cop and also owner of the apartment complex where Suzanne's skeletal remains have been found. Having dated a former victim of the Slayer, he now becomes a suspect. Before long another murder victim is discovered, one with connections to the Co-Ed Slayer. It appears that someone is killing the witnesses who sent the Co-ed Slayer to prison a decade ago, but even though the evidence points to him as the murderer, he's dead.

This show more book a typical romantic suspense novel with the beautiful, independent, yet vulnerable heroine and the tall, dark, handsome and of course, rich, hero. It wasn't was well done as many books in the genre, and you can tell this is the author's first book based on some of the cringe-worth lines. I'm also not a fan of the gratuitous animal torture scenes that so many authors feel they need to include to demonstrate how awful the killer is.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints, including the killer, where we learn how he became the serial killer he now is. All in all, not a bad book but quite predictable. The author now has several more books in this series, all available to borrow for free on Kindle Unlimited. I might try another one in the future just to see if she improved some of her over-the-top dialogue. show less

Lacey Campbell and her friend, Suzanne, were at a gymnastics event when they were attacked and Suzanne abducted by the Co-Ed Slayer. Her body was eleven years later when Lacey, a forensic odontologist, is called to a crime scene and recognizes both Suzanne's necklace and her removable bridge. Jack Harper is an ex-cop and also owner of the apartment complex where Suzanne's skeletal remains have been found. Having dated a former victim of the Slayer, he now becomes a suspect. Before long another murder victim is discovered, one with connections to the Co-Ed Slayer. It appears that someone is killing the witnesses who sent the Co-ed Slayer to prison a decade ago, but even though the evidence points to him as the murderer, he's dead.

This show more book a typical romantic suspense novel with the beautiful, independent, yet vulnerable heroine and the tall, dark, handsome and of course, rich, hero. It wasn't was well done as many books in the genre, and you can tell this is the author's first book based on some of the cringe-worth lines. I'm also not a fan of the gratuitous animal torture scenes that so many authors feel they need to include to demonstrate how awful the killer is.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints, including the killer, where we learn how he became the serial killer he now is. All in all, not a bad book but quite predictable. The author now has several more books in this series, all available to borrow for free on Kindle Unlimited. I might try another one in the future just to see if she improved some of her over-the-top dialogue. show less

Hidden was an enjoyable read - although a bit too long and convoluted to rate higher. I liked Jack and Lacey well enough and the crime was interesting if not anything new to the genre. I liked Lacey's profession as a forensic odontologist - it was interesting and I would've liked to see more of it being used. It kind of fades into the background as the romantic suspense aspects take over. The romance was alright, pretty straightforward practically instalove. I'm not sure I care about any of the other characters enough to read the rest of the series, but never say never. Overall 3 stars, maybe 3.5.

Hang on to your hats - there is a new suspense sheriff in town. I can not express how much I loved this book. I am a huge fan of Karen Rose and when I saw her recommend this author I didn't even think twice just bought it and started reading.

From the opening scene until the last, the words just flowed. The author flawlessly takes us on a journey that spans the course of 11 years.

There are many cast of characters. The sole surviving victim of the Co-ed Slayer who had murdered nine female students 11 years before. Lacey Campbell barely escaped but her best friend was taken and never heard from again even after he was caught and sentenced to death based on her testimony. She is now a forensic odontologist examining teeth and bones for show more the state Medical Examiner and is shocked when called to a scene to help identify bones that were found under an apartment that they are the bones of her friend that was taken all those years ago.

Jack Harper is a ex-police officer who happens to own the property that the remains are found on. Before Lacey figures out that the bones are of her friend there are some sparks that fly between him and Lacey. Jack who used to date one of the murdered college women and was questioned as a suspect back then and comes under the scrutiny of the press again after the body was found on his property.

Michael an investigative reporter who is also Lacey ex-boyfriend and best friend doesn't like Jack and when he sees there's an attraction between Lacey and Jack he runs Jack through the ringer in the paper. But his first and only goal is keeping Lacey safe and that common tread eventually make Jack and Michael allies.

Mason Callahan and Ray Lusco are with the Oregon State Police Major crimes and play a big part through out the story.

Then we have our sick and twisted killer. Who could this killer be that is going after all the people that put the Co-ed Slayer away. It cant be him as he died in prison.

I live to read books like this. I love the suspense and getting into the mind of the killer and watching the quest to hunt the killer down from every person from the Hero to the police.

The second book in this series is coming out soon and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. show less

Hidden
3 Stars

The only survivor of the serial killer called the Co-Ed Slayer, Lacey Campbell found purpose in life by becoming a forensic odontologist. Now, eleven years later, the body of one of the victims is discovered in a building owned by former police officer, Jack Harper, and someone begins killing the witnesses that put the Slayer in prison. Can Lacey and Jack elude the killer before they become his next victims?

Not a bad debut attempt although the mystery is better than the romance.

While the writing starts out weak with too much telling rather than showing, it does improve as the story progresses. Some aspects of the plot lack foundation, and, in fact, numerous details seem to be added as an afterthought because the author show more needed to establish something and included the information when needed. Thus, insufficient foreshadowing makes it difficult for the reader to follow the clues.

The mystery is gripping and the chapters presented from the killer’s POV ratchet up the tension and suspense. The romance, however, is lackluster as the reason for the attraction between Lacey and Jack is never fully apparent.

The characterization is good overall, however, there are several issues that grate on the nerves, such as Lacey’s incongruent reactions to the numerous men in her life and Michael’s inappropriate possessiveness given the fact that he and Lacey are friends rather than lovers.

All in all, a pretty good thriller and my issues with the writing are minor enough not to detract from the reading experience. I’m also interested enough in the secondary characters to continue with the series. show less

Kendra Elliott is going to be one of my favorite authors. She has written a wonderful suspense and kept me guessing. Her writing style reminds me of Karen Rose, Karin Slaughter and Laura Griffin, with the added bonus of hot sex. The love scene between Lacey Campbell and Jack Harper was one of the sweetest, most sensual love scenes I have read in a long time. I look forward to reading more by Ms. Elliott who is a 5 star author!!

This is the first book in the Bone Secrets Series by Kendra Elliot. It is a total of a six book series.Lacey Campbell is a former gymnast and the survivor of the Co-ed Killer. Lacey's testimony was the one that put him away in jail. Now eleven years later she is a forensic odontologist, which means she looks at teether and bones. So in the beginning of this book, it is truly devastating when she is inspecting a set of teeth at a homicide and realizes that she knows whom they belong to while they are just sitting in the palm of her hand. They belong to her best friend Suzanne who went missing when they were both attacked by the Co-ed Killer.

Jack Harper is a former cop who now runs his families business. He is seen as a rich "playboy" but show more thankfully the book doesn't focus on this like a lot of other books where the millionaire playboy is the main love interest. Suzanne's body was discovered on one of his properties. What makes this even more puzzling is that he was one of the cops on the case all those eleven years ago.

This book has many perspectives and sometimes it jumps a little weird. The best way that I can explain it is that they needed to cut down on the size of the book and just cut whole paragraphs of descriptive scene changes. That is the ONLY reason why it is rated so low and that may just be my personal take on the writing and my comprehension of these scene changes. I hope that I am not judging this too harshly because of my personal comprehension issues, but that's just how I felt.

This is an amazing book if it wasn't for that but I couldn't get past that. The characters points of view are written great. It makes you think about who could be the killer many different times. Not only does it give you Jack and Lacey's view but it also shows you the killers perspective, one of the cops on the current case, and even Lacey's report ex-boyfriend/ best friend. I really enjoy mysteries that make you guess along while you read. It's the kind of thing that you have to take a break to really think, did they give me enough clues to figure it out for myself.

I borrowed this book for FREE using my Prime Reading, but you can also borrow a copy for free using Kindle Unlimited. Prime Reading is free if you already pay for Amazon Prime and it is like a lite version of what you can get with a Kindle Unlimited Subscription. Now that I am done with the #sellout mode, haha. show less