Helpful Score: 1
In this second novel starring Ellie Hatcher our heroine just finished her jump into the homicide bureau, two month after the incidents of Dead Connection, clearly feeling the disapproval of her colleagues and boss who feel like she made a career jump she didn't deserve after just five years as a cop.
Still having her brother as a roomer they take on a running routine in the morning when they stumble over a fresh corpse propped against a pile of pipes, with strangulation marks around the neck, the hair hacked off and deep stabwounds on body and face, resembling the outlines of a tic-tac-toe game.
Together with her new partner, J. J. Rogan, Ellie soon finds out who the victim is, where she was and with whom. The case seems to be solved when evidence nails a Jake Myers as the last person seen with her in public.
Ellie asks herself if solving the case wasn't too easy when she answers a call from a man who's daughter has been killed years ago. The case around Chelsea Hart reminded him so much of his own daughter that he felt he had to tell this to the investigating detectives. He tells Ellie that detective Flynn McIlroy, who died in Dead Connection mentioned a few years ago that he found cases similar to his daughters case and asked him questions.
With the seed planted Ellie begins to investigate what McIlroy investigated years ago and finds cases strangely similar to the current Chelsea Hart case. Her suspect in custody is way to young to be the possible killer of these old cases.
Someone killed three girls years ago and now was triggered to do the same again and soon in becomes very clear that Ellie is the addressee and the ultimate victim for a psychopath just awaken from hibernation.
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What I liked in Dead Connection got lost a bit in this second novel: the character development of Ellie Hatcher. She still is ambitious and smart but ultimately we didn't learn much more of her or her life but that's probably because of the short timeframe which has just passed since Ellie lost McIlroy in the first book.
The idea of the young, smart detective getting into the killer's focus isn't exactly knew to the mystery reader and the plot development is similar to the first book.
Who the killer actually is caught me of guard for the second time but that won't happen the next time. So Mrs. Burke definitely has to come up with something new in her next book otherwise it gets really boring.
However, overall the book was entertaining and finely written.
Still having her brother as a roomer they take on a running routine in the morning when they stumble over a fresh corpse propped against a pile of pipes, with strangulation marks around the neck, the hair hacked off and deep stabwounds on body and face, resembling the outlines of a tic-tac-toe game.
Together with her new partner, J. J. Rogan, Ellie soon finds out who the victim is, where she was and with whom. The case seems to be solved when evidence nails a Jake Myers as the last person seen with her in public.
Ellie asks herself if solving the case wasn't too easy when she answers a call from a man who's daughter has been killed years ago. The case around Chelsea Hart reminded him so much of his own daughter that he felt he had to tell this to the investigating detectives. He tells Ellie that detective Flynn McIlroy, who died in Dead Connection mentioned a few years ago that he found cases similar to his daughters case and asked him questions.
With the seed planted Ellie begins to investigate what McIlroy investigated years ago and finds cases strangely similar to the current Chelsea Hart case. Her suspect in custody is way to young to be the possible killer of these old cases.
Someone killed three girls years ago and now was triggered to do the same again and soon in becomes very clear that Ellie is the addressee and the ultimate victim for a psychopath just awaken from hibernation.
-
What I liked in Dead Connection got lost a bit in this second novel: the character development of Ellie Hatcher. She still is ambitious and smart but ultimately we didn't learn much more of her or her life but that's probably because of the short timeframe which has just passed since Ellie lost McIlroy in the first book.
The idea of the young, smart detective getting into the killer's focus isn't exactly knew to the mystery reader and the plot development is similar to the first book.
Who the killer actually is caught me of guard for the second time but that won't happen the next time. So Mrs. Burke definitely has to come up with something new in her next book otherwise it gets really boring.
However, overall the book was entertaining and finely written.
Helpful Score: 1
Indiana college student Chelsea Hart is so excited to spend the final hours of her spring break in the VIP room of an elite Manhattan club that she remains behind when her girlfriends call it a night. The next morning, Chelsea's body is found by joggers in East River Park, her blond hair brutally hacked off.
Great mystery, love the main character. My only problem with this book is that I did not read the first Ellie Hatcher book and I feel that Angel's Tip revealed a lot of what went on in the first installment. Otherwise, I would have gone back and read the first book, but feel I know everything that happened already. Of course, I could be wrong. :)
This was an okay follow-up to the debut novel "Dead Connection", The storyline and writing were very good, but I didn't see much character development with Ellie from the first book. Makes me wonder if she"ll be a target in every book and change boyfriends in every book, too. I'm starting her most recent in this series, "212", today and am bracing myself for possible disappointment.
Great series. I like Ellie, and how the author gets the reader inside of Ellie's thoughts. The new partner is a good addition, too. I have to admit, I was surprised when the murderer was revealed. Great mystery story!!
I really enjoyed this book! Lots of twists and turns that were more than exciting enough to hold my interest and keep me reading very late into the night! Will make sure to read more of her books!!!
I usually prefer my mysteries and thrillers on audio. For me, the tension, suspense, anxiety and, yes, sometimes fear are more heightened through the audible performance of the narrator. If done correctly, it makes the story more enjoyable for me. Unfortunately, not every audiobook has provided the nail-biting edge of my seat anticipation. When this happens, I find it a struggle to continue the book. Depending on the storys subject matter, I may give up on the book entirely or start over with a print edition. I decided to start over with Angels Tip. This is the second book in the Ellie Hatcher series and she is a character that intrigued me in the first book, Dead Connection.
This book picks up not long where the first one ended, so I recommend you read this series in order to maintain character and storyline continuity. Ellie has new challenges in this story as well. She still has to prove herself in a Unit where she is the least experienced and where her boss appears to hate her and everything about her. She is given a new partner and she and J.J. Rogan have to learn to work together as a team while getting to know one another. She is also trying to process where her relationship with Peter is going and she still lives with her brother, Jess. A pretty average and typical day in the life of an NYPD Homicide Detective.
As with the last book, I think Ellie is a fantastic character. She maintains her composure when she is face to face with people who are openly hostile, like her boss or with people whose motives I certainly question, like her boyfriend. I enjoy the teamwork and budding friendship between Ellie and Rogan and the domestic relationship between her and her brother. Ms. Burke does an amazing job of creating characters with depth and personalities that are a joy to get to know and understand.
Ellie and Rogans first case involves the murder of a college student from Indiana who is visiting Manhattan on her spring break. She has been strangled and stabbed repeatedly and her hair has been chopped off. Ellie and Rogan quickly identify a suspect and the Department is satisfied that the case has been solved. The more Ellie looks at the case, however, the more she doubts that they have the right suspect. She begins following up on similar cases that her last partner was working on that happened decades ago. With the assistance of her partner and ADA Max Donovan, Ellie is trying to race the clock to put the pieces together before this psychopath claims another victim.
This story was very complex and it was impossible for me to figure out who the killer was. When Ellie figures it out, my reaction was Huh? Where did she come up with that? I had not even come up with a near guess, but thats really OK. I dont want to be the one to have to figure it out. It takes all of the enjoyment of the story away from me. I enjoy not knowing and being surprised and even shocked when it is revealed. Even better, the adrenaline doesnt stop with the big reveal. The story kicks into high gear as the stakes have gone up once Ellie knows. I give Ms. Burke a double high five for ripping the rug out from under me.
Overall, this was a very good story that I am glad I stuck with. This book will appeal to fans of J.D. Robbs Eve Dallas series or James Pattersons Womens Murder Club series. If you enjoy strong female protagonists who are not afraid to get their hands dirty and have guts and courage, I recommend this series. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see what Ellie gets into next and who she gets into it with.
This book picks up not long where the first one ended, so I recommend you read this series in order to maintain character and storyline continuity. Ellie has new challenges in this story as well. She still has to prove herself in a Unit where she is the least experienced and where her boss appears to hate her and everything about her. She is given a new partner and she and J.J. Rogan have to learn to work together as a team while getting to know one another. She is also trying to process where her relationship with Peter is going and she still lives with her brother, Jess. A pretty average and typical day in the life of an NYPD Homicide Detective.
As with the last book, I think Ellie is a fantastic character. She maintains her composure when she is face to face with people who are openly hostile, like her boss or with people whose motives I certainly question, like her boyfriend. I enjoy the teamwork and budding friendship between Ellie and Rogan and the domestic relationship between her and her brother. Ms. Burke does an amazing job of creating characters with depth and personalities that are a joy to get to know and understand.
Ellie and Rogans first case involves the murder of a college student from Indiana who is visiting Manhattan on her spring break. She has been strangled and stabbed repeatedly and her hair has been chopped off. Ellie and Rogan quickly identify a suspect and the Department is satisfied that the case has been solved. The more Ellie looks at the case, however, the more she doubts that they have the right suspect. She begins following up on similar cases that her last partner was working on that happened decades ago. With the assistance of her partner and ADA Max Donovan, Ellie is trying to race the clock to put the pieces together before this psychopath claims another victim.
This story was very complex and it was impossible for me to figure out who the killer was. When Ellie figures it out, my reaction was Huh? Where did she come up with that? I had not even come up with a near guess, but thats really OK. I dont want to be the one to have to figure it out. It takes all of the enjoyment of the story away from me. I enjoy not knowing and being surprised and even shocked when it is revealed. Even better, the adrenaline doesnt stop with the big reveal. The story kicks into high gear as the stakes have gone up once Ellie knows. I give Ms. Burke a double high five for ripping the rug out from under me.
Overall, this was a very good story that I am glad I stuck with. This book will appeal to fans of J.D. Robbs Eve Dallas series or James Pattersons Womens Murder Club series. If you enjoy strong female protagonists who are not afraid to get their hands dirty and have guts and courage, I recommend this series. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see what Ellie gets into next and who she gets into it with.
NYPD detective Ellie Hatcher is out to solve the murder of a college student. The case is similar to murders in the past and Ellie goes against department wishes as the crime seems to be solved too easily. You will keep guessing until the end. I will read other Ellie Hatcher mysteries.
