Vigilante (DS Jessica Daniel #2) by Kerry Wilkinson

Someone is tracking and killing men -- but these dead weren't exactly angels. Although the serial killer vigilante story line is not new, this second book in the DS Jessica Daniel series was interesting and more complex as, for Jessica, the need to get this killer becomes intensely personal.

I am enjoying the further development of the secondary characters and find myself understanding Jessica more though she is still a bit of a hothead and is, as per usual, one who doesn't like following the orders of her superiors. Not much romance going on which suits me just fine.

Solving the murder cases is tedious as the one lead they have -- the perpetrator's DNA -- is sketchy since it belongs to a man already in prison for life. Since I read a lot of this genre I immediately knew where it was going, but the process was engaging and I like science!

Already have #3 ready to go!  Bought this one as well with Amazon promotional credit.

The Killer Inside (DS Jessica Daniel #1) by Kerry Wilkinson

A "locked room" (house) mystery with DS Jessica Daniel and her team trying to find the killer of four -- the victims don't seem to have anything in common and Jessica is stymied and frustrated by the lack of clues or motive. This is a fast-paced police procedural set in Manchester, England, and is not too gory or grisly.

I love finding a new series! And my favorite ones are those featuring female lead detectives who are investigating interesting murder cases. Jessica Daniel is a great character with a lot of potential for growth and dimension as she matures and grows more confident in her abilities on the job. She is a little reckless, outspoken, and driven -- but she, thank heavens, doesn't seem to be a psychological mess like many other women in other novels in this niche genre. She seems somewhat normal! I was especially glad that she did not fall immediately into a hot romance, but I can see one coming. I don't read this type of book for the romance so I would be happy if that stays a very small part of the development of her character as the series continues. I have the next 3 books queued up ready to read -- and that is my favorite way to read a series -- all in a row. I have already started #2.

Kindle book purchased with promotion credits from Amazon.

Razor Girl by Carl Hiaasen

Another wild and crazy tale that only Carl Hiaasen can write -- another to add to my long list of entertaining books I've read by this author. The stories he tells are so ridiculous that one wonders how close to reality they can be as truth is sometimes more improbable than fiction!  The characters in this one are straight from central casting -- oh yeah -- it's about a reality TV star who ends up kidnapped by a lunatic lookalike fan named Blister who wants to star alongside his idol, Buck, in a show that sounds an awful lot like DUCK DYNASTY. In addition, there's the scam artist Merry Mansfield who is an expert at the fake collision business, an ex detective, Yancy, who is working as a restaurant inspector while trying to get his badge back, and a host of other idiots ranging from entertainment agents to mafioso -- all true to stereotype.

The action is nonstop and much of it will leave the reader shaking her head or laughing out loud at the ludicrous situations and interaction between the characters. Fans won't want to miss reading about this band of misfits and their antics in the Florida Keys.

Thank you to Edelweiss for an e-book ARC for review.