Helpful Score: 2
An FBI computer programmer with no law enforcement training leads her own wildcat search for a serial murderer, stumbling across a secret government plot in the process, in this outlandish thriller by an author capable of much better. While still settling in to her new job at the FBI, computer jockey and aspiring agent Quinn Barry discovers what appears to be a serial killer case that nobody's investigating. When she brings it to the attention of her boss, Barry is not only ignored but demoted. As a result, the quick-tempered, impulsive 26-year-old decides to investigate on her own. Her first move: venturing alone at night to the remote home of sinister Eric Twain, a suspect in one of the killings. Barry, still suspicious of Twain, nonetheless teams up with him to track down the killer, who tortures young women who fit a certain physical profile not surprisingly, Barry matches it before raping and killing them. Along the way, Barry becomes adept at all sorts of investigative techniques. She cuts glass to get into homes, theorizes about the psychology of mass murder and fights off several attackers before discovering that the case may be rooted in a highly classified government nuclear defense program. Mills has written several smart, classically conceived thrillers (Rising Phoenix; Free Fall) starring the always fascinating Mark Beamon, a disgraced FBI agent trying to fight his way back into the bureau's good graces. With his latest, Mills has created a main character who strains credibility from the start and a brittle plot that eventually drifts into a tedious chronicle of sexual sadism. (Apr.)Forecast: One misstep won't derail Mills's promising career, particularly since HarperCollins is backing this book with a five-city author tour, national advertising and lavish promotion plans, plus simultaneous abridged and unabridged audio versions, as well as a large-print edition. But expect a loss of momentum once early readers report back on this disappointing effort.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW
Helpful Score: 1
Good story with interesting characters. Read it until late last night.
Helpful Score: 1
I am a big Kyle Mills fan but this book was disturbing. Twisted, evil, psychopath apply in much detail. Although I was drawn in by the original premise (computers and mystery), and I couldn't not finish, my mood has been dark for a few days. I guess that's just the nature of this genre . . .
Helpful Score: 1
Once you get into this book the plot thickens and you will find it hard to put down.
Bright, young and ambitious, Quinn Barry desperately wants to be an FBI agent, even as she programs databases in the basement of the J.Edgar Hoover Building. But Quinn's career, and her life, are about
to change wildly. Testing a new program...Quinn's computer savvy turns up a mysterious DNA link among five gruesome murders. A link that the old FBI system had been carefully programmed to miss. Alink that nearly cossts Quinn her job, and soon, her life.
Pitted against a conspiracy of unimaginable proportions, Quinn will match wits against powerful government forcess that will use any means necessary to keep their dirty secrets hidden...secrets that will land her in the clutches of a sadistic, brilliant madman who holds the key to it all.
to change wildly. Testing a new program...Quinn's computer savvy turns up a mysterious DNA link among five gruesome murders. A link that the old FBI system had been carefully programmed to miss. Alink that nearly cossts Quinn her job, and soon, her life.
Pitted against a conspiracy of unimaginable proportions, Quinn will match wits against powerful government forcess that will use any means necessary to keep their dirty secrets hidden...secrets that will land her in the clutches of a sadistic, brilliant madman who holds the key to it all.
I just wasn't impressed. It definitely had its good moments, but overall I was slightly disappointed.
This is the first book written by Kyle Mills that I have read. I loved it and read it in two days. Apparently readers who have read previous novels of Kyle Mills didn't like it, but I thought it was a great read and I found it hard to put down.
Good and very interesting book, worth a shot.
Quick no-brainer, with way more romance than I expected
Kyle Mills is a master writer with action/adventure. I couldn't put this book down!
Bright, young, and ambitious, Quinn Barry desparately wants to be an FBI agent, even as she programs databases into the basement of the J.Edgar Hoover Building. But Quinn's career and her life, are about to change wildly. Testing a new program, Quinn's computer saavy turns up a mysterious DNA link among five gruesome murders. A link that the old FBI system had been carefully programmed to miss. A link that nearly costs Quinn her job, and soon, her life..Pitted against a conspiracy of unimaginable proportions, Quinn will match wits against powerful government forces that will use any means necessary to keep their dirty secrets hidden-secrets that will land her in the clutches of a sadistic, brilliant madman who holds the key to it all....
"Mills absolutely knows how to move a plot to warp speed. The tension is almost unbearable" Booklist.
"Bright, young, and ambitious, Quinn Barry desperately wants to be an FBI agent, even as she programs databases in the basement of the J. Edgar Hoover Building. But Quinn's career-and her life-are about to change wildly. Testing a new program, Quinn's computer savvy turns up a mysterious DNA link among five gruesome murders. A link that the old FBI system had been carefully programmed to miss. A link that nearly costs Quinn her job, and soon, her life...Pitted against a conspiracy of unimaginable proportions, Quinn will match wits against powerful government forces that will use any means necessary to keep their dirty secrets hidden-secrets that will land her in the clutches of a sadistic, brilliant madman who holds the to it all."
"Bright, young, and ambitious, Quinn Barry desperately wants to be an FBI agent, even as she programs databases in the basement of the J. Edgar Hoover Building. But Quinn's career-and her life-are about to change wildly. Testing a new program, Quinn's computer savvy turns up a mysterious DNA link among five gruesome murders. A link that the old FBI system had been carefully programmed to miss. A link that nearly costs Quinn her job, and soon, her life...Pitted against a conspiracy of unimaginable proportions, Quinn will match wits against powerful government forces that will use any means necessary to keep their dirty secrets hidden-secrets that will land her in the clutches of a sadistic, brilliant madman who holds the to it all."
Excellent! This is a new author for me and I will definitely be looking for more of his books.
Keeps you guessing. Not necessarily about who the "bad guy" is, but how or if the "good guys" are going to win.
Keeps you guessing. Not necessarily about who the "bad guy" is, but how or if the "good guys" are going to win.
It starts ok with a computer based mystery thriller involving mysterious high tech companies in bed with big military and government but it devolves into a chase after a poorly drawn and tedious combination Hannibal Lechter and the other psychopaths the FBI uses Hannibal to find. You even have the FBI woman (but a computer programmer, not an agent) for whom the villain holds a sinister admiration. After the first third, not much cyber to this cyber-thriller and after two thirds, not much thriller either.
But I hope you select it so I can get another book ;-)
But I hope you select it so I can get another book ;-)
A pretty good thriller. You know what's coming but it's well written and enjoyable.
I was so eager to get my hands on another Kyle Mills book I grabbed this one without realizing I'd already read it--so I read it again!
Unabridged.
This is a fabulous book. I have tried to collect all Kyle Mills' books, but on this one, got a second copy by mistake.
it was a "can't put it down" book. The story had some good twists, a lot of action, and the characters were believable.
