Purchased Amazon April 16, 2022

I enjoyed this murder mystery, certainly more than some of her others. I received this for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. I've given it a 4.5* rating. Because of the graphic violence and other, this is NOT for the under 18 readers. Even I, a 64 year old grandmother had some problems with this. I do say that this has a big cliff hanger at the end. Lots of snarky talk and plenty of action in this and it will keep pulling you into the story. Darn that cliffhander. ( )

I find myself joining all the other reviewers in saying, "I need more and I need it now!" The queen of leaving us hanging has done it again!

Detective Lilah Love is used the jokes about her name, she's used to the horrors of brutal crime scenes, and she's used to being alone. A pile of bodies all murdered in the same way call her back home to the Hamptons, a place she isn't used to being around people she isn't used to seeing. Determined to track down the killer she begins gathering data, only to find herself the target of eerie notes that relate to something she thought was in the past. The notes, the bodies, and those fighting to keep everything covered up reveal to her that maybe the tie in between all the murders is herself.

"He is the devil, but then, I am no angel. He made sure of that."

Oh my, Lisa Renee Jones has done it again, but this time from the perspective of a beautiful, complicated woman who doesn't have the time for romancing. It's different for LRJ and I really enjoyed Lilah Love and her crude mouth. She's a different sort of female character, very complex and strong in many ways, but also incredibly broken and weighed down by life. She covers things up with wit and sarcasm and she believes she protects others by keeping everything to herself. Her past is a difficult one and though it is fitting of the story, it's painful to watch a piece of her past haunt her in a very present and active way. Then there's the men, oh the men. The list goes on and on, from family members to exes to coworkers, Lilah is surrounded by a sea of men who don't really want her to uncover the truth, who don't really want her to be as strong as she is. They treat her delicately, like she's breakable and simply unable to handle the realities. The men ignore her role, her strength, and are simple unaware of the past that made her into the woman she is. She remains fierce, strong willed, and increasingly agitated by the assumptions of those around her.

"There's always a murder where you are, Lilah."

Which brings me to the meat of the story, the murders of four individuals that, for some reason, the men don't want her to work. Lilah Love is neck deep in the mystery, but Murder Notes is a thriller not a mystery and that is very apparent as it is revealed to readers that somehow Lilah is tied into all of this. In very lengthy, maybe too lengthy, detail LRJ tells us of Lilah's pasts, of the current crime scenes, of the lives of every individual possibly involved, and the history that surrounds the current murders. There's a stalker, an assassinator, a long simmering romance, political aspirations, friends, enemies, and two cartels that just can't seem to get along when left to their own devices. It's fairly complicated and quite a lot to remember, which was tedious at first, but in time I was attached to this story and just as addicted to solving the crime as Lilah. Unfortunately, Murder Notes is book one in a series and we are left with a cliffhanger that promises answers, and likely more questions, are to come.

"It bleeds because you bleed."

I'm not sure how long I can wait for answers in the Lilah Love series, the danger too great to ignore and the passionate lust between Lilah and another just promises there is more smut to come. There's secrets to uncover, lies to disprove, and a deadly killer and a stalker who must be found out. Murder Notes is an engaging, character-driven thriller from the incredible Lisa Renee Jones. It's a series you won't be able to walk away from and one you won't be able to guess the ending of.

ARC provided. ( )

Murder Notes opens with introducing the reader to the protagonist- Lilah Love. She's an excellent FBI profiler, loves profanity, seems to be all sharp edges, and carries with her a dark secret that seems to be weighing her down.

When a string of murders seem to have a connection to the Hamptons, she reluctantly makes her way back to what was once home. It soon becomes evident that she's at the centre of the case somehow, and so is her secret. Things are further complicated when she starts to find out that there's more to her past (and her present, even) that needs to be confronted. Nothing is as it seems, and Lilah finds she cannot trust anyone around her. Except for Kane Mendez- son to the mob boss, former lover, and keeper of her secret.

Murder Notes is a cross between a crime procedural and romantic suspense novel. Despite all of its twists and turns and general air of mystery, I fell the whole effect was a little flat. The novel attempts to layer mystery upon mystery, and it is evident early on that only the ending might reveal what's going on. A lot of the plot moves forward through Lilah's internal monologues, which leaves little space for the reader to contemplate, or for the reader to get to know other characters. The cliffhanger ending does no benefit either- it was rather abrupt.

Overall, I would file this under 'perfect for a train/flight'. It is also perfect for those readers who don't read a lot of mysteries/thrillers. There is little to no gore, and very little that might generate fear or worry. ( )

Murder Notes is the story of an FBI profiler with a dark, secret past. She is quite good at her job and has caught a case that is obviously connected to her past. She ends up back in her hometown facing demons and people she has tried to ignore.

Lilah isn't exactly a likable character. She is gruff, rude, and abrasive. The story is told entirely from her POV and you see how ill tempered she is! As the story goes on you start to understand her, but I still think she was a bit too abrasive for my taste.

The murders are very strange. As the reader, you are trying to figure out who the killer is, but also figure out what exactly happened to Lilah in the past. Lilah's narration provides pieces to the puzzle as you read but its still mysterious and unfinished. There are plenty of possible suspects throughout the story! There is family drama, a hidden past event that could ruin Lilah, political corruption, and a killer on the loose. Lilah has to navigate the local police, whose chief happens to be her brother, in order to get information. Officially, she can't just come in and take over. She also has to face her past sins because they seem connected to the cases she is working. That means facing her ex, Kane.

I wouldn't call Murder Notes a romance. There are sparks between Kane and Lilah, but that relationship is by no means the center of the story. The plot is very twisty and has so many connecting threads you have to pay close attention to keep up with it all. The secondary characters are numerous and you are never sure who is trustworthy. Also, the story is told entirely in Lilah's POV so your views of the characters are clouded by her thoughts of the characters. All the combines for a very compelling read! If you enjoy detective novels or books with twisty murder plots, Murder notes is a great pick!

 

• POV: 1st


• Tears: no


• Trope: FBI, serial killer, secret past


• Series/Standalone: Series


• Cliffhanger: YES

Hunting Grounds by Katee Robert, Into the Night by Cynthia Eden, Have you seen Her by Karen Rose...then you will probably like Murder Notes!

 


Murder Notes


 

See full review on The Book Disciple ( )