Shiver

Detective Ruben Montoya ("Cold Blooded") is back, investigating the murder of a local shock jock and a female college student headed for a nunnery. Still grieving the loss of his lover Marta, the last thing he wants is to get involved with the prime suspect - the victim's wife Abby Chastain. ackson does a great job keeping the killer under wraps (so much so that we are not aware of him until the final act); throwing out numerous possible suspects. The killer's inspired MO is clever and ingenious. But the revelation of the culprit was a let down after such a gripping tale, marring what could have been a perfect story.

Shiver
3 Stars

Detective Reuben Montoya investigates a series of murders in which the victims' deaths are staged to look like murder/suicides. A tangential connection to the abandoned Old Lady of Virtues hospital soon emerges, and Montoya believes that Abby Chastain, whose ex-husband is a victim and whose mother died at the hospital, is the lynchpin to the entire case.

Unfortunately, this series is becoming repetitive. Not only is this the 3rd book with a serial killer, but once again, the motivation has religious undertones and a victim's wife is a suspect. Jackson really needs to diversify her plots.

Abby and Reuben's romance has potential but remains underdeveloped mainly due to the fact that Jackson spends an inordinate amount of time show more providing inconsequential descriptions and details. This inevitably slows the pacing and reduces tension and suspense as well as making it difficult for the reader to follow the convoluted clues to the killer's identity. Nevertheless, the last few chapters are exciting and the resolution is satisfying.

Overall, this book and the others in the series would be better if Jackson's writing were tighter and better edited. 500 pages is far too long for this type of romantic suspense novel. show less

I have a little collection of Lisa Jackson novels. However, I see that I have only read a handful of her novels. Lisa writes historical romance and comtemporary romance, but her bread and butter is romantic suspence. I easily pass up Lisa's books on my shelf in favor of something else because part of the time her books are really good, the other part of the time they are only fair. This one, however, was a really good one. The story got off to a quick start and then stayed on track.
Abby has a history in New Orleans. Her mother suffered from mental illness and was institutionalized. On her 35th birthday she fell/ jumped out of a window and died. Now, the institution is being torn down. Abby is divorced and ready to leave New Orleans. show more She puts her house of the market and makes plans to move on with her life. But, her philandering ex husband is murdered and Abby becomes suspect number one, then a potential victim. The Sexy cop investigating the murders, Montoya, believes there is a link between the old asylum and Abby, and the murders.
The mystery was good. There is nothing more creepy than an old asylum. The romance between Abby and Montoya ( who seemed to have so many first names, using his last name was easier on everyone), was rushed and didn't have all that much fire. But, this is not one of those books where half the book is sex and the other half plot. The romance wasn't the main focus. There will be more to come from the detective duo of Bentz and Montoya in the next book, which will tie up a few loose ends regarding Abby's mother.
Overall a B show less

I picked this up unaware it was part of a series, apparently being the third book in the series, however that being said reading the book out of order I didn't feel it was missing any elements that detracted from the reading experience. There's enough background of each character and their present circumstances for the book to stand on its own, although there are call backs to prior events that do make you aware something has gone before, but not to the detriment of the narrative.

Overall, it was a decent serial killer book, set around a mental hospital and events of the past. There's some romance/sex scenes there that seem targeted towards the female audience yet not to the point of derailing the story as you would find in some show more men-writing-women books.

Would recommend for readers who are fans of crime and serial killer novels. show less

I shouldn't have even bothered reading this one. After picking it up, I had to groan at reading yet another serial killer novel. You would think by the way they're portrayed by writers, that every fifth person in the world is a serial killer. With so many of these types of novels out there, the writer needs to do a strong job of distinguishing it from the pack. This novel not only fails to that, it doesn't work at all. The characters are weak. The plot is generic. The melodrama is constant. There is nothing remotely believable in the story. In other words, don't bother reading this. It is a waste of time.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity

I couldn't put this book down! Though it was almost 500 pages long, I read it in about a day and a half, because I was hooked.

Lisa Jackson tells a wonderfully suspenseful story complete with twists and turns, a tiny bit of romance mixed in for good measure.

And though many others who have read this book say that they figured out 'whodunnit' from early on, I didn't see it coming and it kept me guessing until the end.

I eagerly await the sequel, Absolute Fear, due out spring of 2007.

Not having read a thriller in a while, this kept me engaged throughout & I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I thought it a little overdramatic at times & the various characters talking to themselves under their breath was a bit annoying, but a good read overall.