Category Archives: Elizabeth Heiter

December 25, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: Stalked by Elizabeth Heiter

Title: Stalked by Elizabeth Heiter
The Profiler Series Book Four
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

If you’re reading this, I’m already dead…

That’s the note seventeen-year-old Haley Cooke leaves behind when she disappears from inside her high school. FBI profiler Evelyn Baine is called in to figure out who had reason to hurt her. On the surface, the popular cheerleader has no enemies, but as Evelyn digs deeper, she discovers that everyone close to Haley has something to hide. Everyone from estranged parents, to an older boyfriend with questionable connections, to a best friend who envies Haley’s life.

Secrets can be deadly…

One of those secrets may have gotten Haley killed. If she’s still alive, Evelyn knows that the more the investigation ramps up, the more pressure they could be putting on Haley’s kidnapper to make her disappear for good. It’s also possible the teenager isn’t in danger at all, but has skillfully manipulated everyone and staged her own disappearance. Only one thing is certain: uncovering Haley’s fate could be dangerous—even deadly—to Evelyn herself.

Review:

Stalked is a mesmerizing addition to Elizabeth Heiter’s The Profiler series starring FBI Agent Evelyn Baines.  Although this newest release is the fourth novel in the series, it can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the previous installments as well.

Seventeen year old Haley Cooke has been missing for a month when profiler Evelyn Baines is assigned to the case after the teenager’s mother, Linda Varner, finds a troubling note in her daughter’s room.  With Detective Sophia Lopez’s help, Evelyn re-interviews the key players in the case and although there is no new evidence, several of the people in Haley’s life appear to be less than forthcoming about the missing girl.  Evelyn cannot put her finger on anything specific but something about Haley’s stepfather Pete Varner seems a little off.  Haley’s college boyfriend Jordan Biltmore is obviously upset about her disappearance but his smug attitude grates on both Evelyn and Sophia.  Haley’s father, Bill, is clearly angry and bitter over the divorce and Evelyn cannot help but wonder why he is convinced Haley has run away from home.  Haley’s best friend Marissa Anderson reveals her suspicions that Haley was cheating on Jordan with his best friend Nate Stokes but both Evelyn and Sophia have doubts about her claim.

Evelyn’s boyfriend and fellow FBI Agent Kyle “Mac” McKenzie and his partner Jimmy Drescott are looking into a troubling attack on local college student Tonya Klein.  Their investigation of her claim she was forced into human trafficking reveals a few inconsistencies with other human trafficking cases they have worked on.  However, they have no reason to doubt her story and following her death, neither Jimmy nor Kyle are quite ready to give up looking into her case.  Surprisingly, their investigation intersects with some of the principals in Haley’s disappearance and raises questions about whether there is a connection between the two cases.

Evelyn and Sophia know that with every passing day Haley’s chance for survival drops so they are under intense pressure to find the one clue that will break the case wide open.  They feel certain that one of the people in Haley’s life is responsible for her disappearance but they are frustrated by their inability to uncover any new evidence.  Evelyn is also quite concerned that her objectivity might be comprised since she is struck by similarities between Haley’s life and her own childhood experiences.

Stalked by Elizabeth Heiter is a suspense-laden mystery that is full of unexpected twists and turns.  The investigation takes on a heightened sense of urgency after Kyle’s and Evelyn’s cases converge.  When it appears that someone will go to any lengths to stop them from discovering the truth about Haley’s whereabouts, Evelyn and Sophia know they are on the right track. Will Evelyn, Sophia, Kyle and Jimmy put the pieces of the puzzle together and rescue Haley before it is too late?

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Elizabeth Heiter, Harlequin, Mira, Mystery, Rated B+, Stalked, The Profiler Series

December 23, 2015 · 10:57 pm

Review: Seized by Elizabeth Heiter

seizedTitle: Seized by Elizabeth Heiter
The Profiler Series Book Three
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Danger is all around her… 

What should have been a routine investigation for FBI profiler Evelyn Baine turns ominous when she’s kidnapped by a dangerous cult of survivalists. As her worst nightmares become a reality, she begins to question what she’s seeing. Because the longer she’s inside their compound, the more she realizes this group is not what it seems to be.

The next terrorist threat is right beside her… 

As the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team closes in, Evelyn suspects she’s stumbled onto an emerging terrorist threat—and a cult leader who has a score to settle with the FBI. If Hostage Rescue breaches the compound, Evelyn’s dead for sure. If they don’t, the cult may unleash a surprise attack that could leave the whole country shattered.

Review:

In Seized, the third installment in Elizabeth Heiter’s The Profiler series, FBI agent Evelyn Baine is kidnapped and held hostage by a survivalist cult.

Now she has solved the kidnapping case that drove her to become a profiler, Evelyn is at a crossroads. She feels adrift and cannot decide whether she wants to continue her career in the FBI while at the same time, the thought of leaving fills her with panic. She is plagued with self-doubt and she cannot help but question her ability to accurately profile the cases she is reviewing. When fellow FBI agent Jen Martinez approaches her with her suspicions that a local cult is a terrorist threat, Evelyn is reluctant to become involved but Jen leaves her no choice but to agree. What should have been a quick assessment rapidly turns deadly when Jen is shot by cult leader Ward Butler and Evelyn is held hostage at the cult’s compound.

At first, Evelyn is just trying to survive the situation but once she realizes the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) has been called in, she pushes aside her alarm to try to give the team as much information as possible. She also tries to use her profiling skills to assess Butler and another cult member, Rolfe. She is conflicted by the men’s actions which in makes her very indecisive about her profile. Evelyn’s panic also makes her feel like she is missing vital clues that could help her nail down the profile but her fears for her safety make it impossible for her to impartially gauge the increasingly volatile situation.

Once Evelyn is rescued by HRT, she is officially assigned to the case but she still remains uncertain of her profile. Things move at a breakneck speed when another threat is uncovered and someone she cares for is injured in the line of duty. Evelyn is also in the unusual position of following a case through to the end and she feels pressured to commit to her assessment of the main suspect. At the same time, she is still trying to evade a confrontation with her boss about the future of her career.

Seized is a suspense-laden and intriguing thriller that has an unusual but compelling storyline. Evelyn still continues to be a multi-faceted character who has been shaped by her past but is trying to come to terms with the fact that this no longer defines her. Elizabeth Heiter does a wonderful job keeping the series fresh by focusing this latest installment on a terrorist cult instead of the usual murder and/or kidnapping storyline. Appealing characters, an unique but relevant plot and plenty of action make this newest addition to The Profiler series an aboslute must read for fans of the mystery/suspense genre.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Elizabeth Heiter, Harlequin, Mira, Mystery, Rated B+, Seized, Suspense, The Profiler Series

December 28, 2014 · 11:57 pm

Review: Vanished by Elizabeth Heiter

vanishedTitle: Vanished by Elizabeth Heiter
The Profiler Series Book Two
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

Sometimes, the past can haunt you… 

Eighteen years ago, FBI profiler Evelyn Baine’s best friend, Cassie Byers, disappeared, the third in a series of unsolved abductions. Only a macabre nursery rhyme was left at the scene, a nursery rhyme that claimed Evelyn was also an intended victim. Now, after all these years of silence, another girl has gone missing in South Carolina, and the Nursery Rhyme Killer is taking credit. But is Cassie’s abductor really back, or is there a copycat at work?

Sometimes, the past is best forgotten… 

Evelyn has waited eighteen years for a chance to investigate, but when she returns to Rose Bay, she finds a dark side to the seemingly idyllic town. As the place erupts in violence and the kidnapper strikes again, Evelyn knows this is her last chance. If she doesn’t figure out what happened to Cassie eighteen years ago, it may be Evelyn’s turn to vanish without a trace.

The Review:

In Vanished, the second installment in Elizabeth Heiter’s The Profiler series, Evelyn Baines returns to her home town hoping to solve the one case that not only haunts her, but also defines her. Eighteen years earlier, her best friend Cassie was the last of three victims abducted by the “Nursery Rhyme Killer”. When another twelve year old girl vanishes under eerily similar circumstances in the present, Evelyn returns to Rose Bay where she lets absolutely nothing stand in the way of discovering what happened to Cassie and the other missing girls.

Having just returned to work following her close brush with death, Evelyn is determined to find a better balance between work and her personal life. She is off to a good start when she receives a phone call from Cassie’s mom letting her know that the long dormant Nursery Rhyme Killer has possibly kidnapped another young girl. Despite her supervisor’s very strenuous objections, Evelyn rushes to Rose Bay where she immediately throws herself into compiling a profile of the abductor. With her objectivity seriously compromised, Evelyn cannot separate past from present and her impetus decisions threaten the investigation.

Evelyn is a top-notch profiler but her personal ties to the case are a huge hindrance. While her need to discover what happened to Cassie is understandable, she sometimes gets so caught up in her own pain that she has difficulty focusing on the present case. However, when she is able to concentrate on the current investigation, her assessments are quite insightful. Unfortunately, Evelyn acts without thinking and some of her actions seriously jeopardize the case.

Since the kidnapping case is a little different from the BAU’s typical crime, Evelyn works mainly with local law enforcement and an FBI team that specializes in child abductions. However, fellow FBI agent and love interest, Kyle, “Mac” McKenzie is in the area working on a different case. In his off duty hours, Mac helps Evelyn with the investigation and provides her with much needed moral support as well.

Vanished is a compelling and intriguing mystery that is incredibly fast paced. Elizabeth Heiter cleverly obscures the perpetrator’s identity with a series of ingenious misdirects, unexpected plot twists and a viable list of plausible suspects. An overall imaginative and mesmerizing addition to The Profiler series that mystery lovers are sure to enjoy.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Elizabeth Heiter, Harlequin, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Suspense, The Profiler Series, Vanished

December 30, 2013 · 11:58 pm

Review: Hunted by Elizabeth Heiter

Title: Hunted by Elizabeth Heiter
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Terror stalks a small Virginia town.

FBI rising star, criminal profiler Evelyn Baine, knows how to think like a serial killer. But she’s never chased anyone like the Bakersville Burier, who hunts young women and displays them, half-buried, deep in the woods. As the body count climbs, Evelyn’s relentless pursuit of the killer puts her career—and her life—at risk. And the evil lurking in the Burier’s mind may be more than even she can unravel.

Terror is closer than she thinks…

The Bakersville Burier knows he’s got an FBI profiler on his trail. He knows who she is and where to find her. And he’s biding his time, because he’s planned a special punishment for Evelyn. She may have tracked other killers, but he vows to make this her last chase. This time it’s her turn to be hunted!

The Review:

Elizabeth Heiter’s debut novel Hunted is an intriguing and fast paced mystery. Lead protagonist’s Evelyn Baine’s job as an FBI profiler is unique which makes it stand out from the typical police procedural.

Evelyn Baine is on the career fast track when she is assigned to profile a killer who brutally murders his victims and displays them in a grotesque fashion. She is dedicated to her job (to the point of obsession) and she has a remarkable ability to get inside the minds of the criminals she profiles. When the search for the “Bakersville Burier” becomes personal, Evelyn is in danger losing her objectivity, her career and ultimately, her life.

Evelyn is a strong but deeply flawed heroine. She is closed off from just about everyone around her, defensive and reluctant to accept anyone’s help. Socially awkward and unable to make small talk, Evelyn keeps to herself except for her monthly get-togethers with her two college friends. She is dedicated to the grandmother who essentially raised her and the vulnerability she hides from everyone becomes apparent during their visits. A traumatic incident from Evelyn’s childhood haunts her, guides her career decisions and motivates her to sharpen her investigative skills.

Among the vast cast of secondary characters, there are a few worth noting. Her trainer and partner Greg Ibsen is the perfect sounding board for Evelyn and as a profiler, he can read some of the things she tries to keep hidden. Greg is genuinely concerned for her safety and her career when she makes some iffy decisions. Greg’s cousin Gabe is not quite as serious as the other characters and he brings some levity to the story. Gabe’s friend Kyle “Mac” McKenzie brings the possibility of a future romance between him and Evelyn in future works.

The mystery aspect of Hunted is quite riveting and the profiling process is fascinating. The resistance Evelyn encounters from fellow law enforcement officials adds realism to the storyline. The investigation is well-plotted and for the most part, believable. There were a few events that stretched the bounds of credibility but overall, were easy to overlook. Multiple points of view provide insight into the various characters and the shifts in perspective were easy to follow. All in all, it is an exciting introduction to Elizabeth Heiter’s Profiler series and I am looking forward to the next installment.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Elizabeth Heiter, Harlequin, Hunted, Mira, Mystery, Rated B, Review, The Profiler Series