Head To Head

This is one of the best books I've read in a while. From the first chapter, the action holds the reader in a tight grip. As my first Linda Ladd book, this was a wonderful introduction to her writing skills. Trying to figure out who the murderer was and why they chose the victims was only part of the story. The heroine leaked clues into her mysterious past and how it fits with the whole story.

I have to say that I did not figure out who the killer was until it was too late. I had my guesses.....which were all wrong. Linda Ladd brilliantly keeps the reader actively thinking about the crimes as much as sympathising with the killer. Not easily done by authors. The action scenes were described in such a fluid style that I experienced it all show more with the characters. Absolutely wonderful!

Thank you Linda Ladd for keeping me awake longer than I should have and thinking about the story when my attention should have been elsewhere. show less

Detective Claire Morgan left her job at the LAPD for a quieter life working for the sheriff's department in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. But the excitement finds her when a rising starlet is heinously murdered at an exclusive resort on the lake. Claire immediately suspects the owner of the resort, a famous psychiatrist to the stars, Nick Black. But Dr. Black vehemently denies having anything to do with the murder. Claire wants to believe him but is that her attraction to the man talking or her detective's instincts? Time is ticking as the body count climbs higher and everyone has secrets to hide--including Claire herself.

First of all, this is a disturbingly violent book. I didn't have nightmares or anything but it is graphic. Horrific show more domestic abuse, very violent death, and a brief mention of rape. Sensitive readers should steer clear.

That out of the way, there's a lot of potential here. I really didn't know who did it. I always had my suspicions but then someone would be cleared and I'd be left scratching my head again. I wasn't completely shocked by the ending but I was surprised and that is refreshing.

I don't know if this was the author's debut novel but there was an indefinable something that made me think it was. There were just little things here and there that felt like they needed a bit more polish.

I liked sarcastic Claire a lot. She's tough and imperfect and doing the best she can. Nick Black has some surprising depth too but the other characters weren't very well developed. The lens of the story is very focused on Claire.

I'll continue with the series and recommend it to readers who can overlook graphic violence. show less

Terrible read. The author spends so much time having her main character break the fourth wall to give commentary on her attitude and life, I couldn't take this as a serious "thriller." There's a ton of telling not showing.

This story revolves around Claire Morgan, a detective in the Lake of the Ozarks, who has a past that we get hints of. She is called to investigate a murder that leads her, eventually, into dealing with her past - in a most frightening way.

It took me a while to get into the story, but once I did, I didn't want to put it down. Ms. Ladd does a very good job of entwining two plots without confusing the reader. She gave enough hints to make me think I was getting things figured out, yet not enough to give away the mystery.

I'd give this one a 3.75 - willing to read more in the series. Didn't figure out the bad guy in this one, and loved the Lake of the Ozarks setting.

But the romance seemed a little over-the-top unlikely which damaged the book imho.