**** ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ****

Warning: I am not a robot! I have feelings, thoughts, likes and dislikes and this review is based on that. You should read the book to form your own opinion/thoughts. Read on!

Rating: 4.75 Rose Stars!

The cover, I love it, I know is just a simple background with a rose, but it represents everything of the book.

”Guilt doesn’t have to make sense; it just is.”

The story, it is no secret that I loved The Butterfly Garden, it was just amazing and when I saw that there was a sequel I didn’t even think about it before I was clicking “Read Now”. This is a 2 story book that connects through the characters.

It’s been four months since all the butterflies were released and are now “flying”. Every butterfly is trying to live and understand the outside world, some can’t. Inara is still strong but she is not trusting the justice system, everybody loves The Gardener, they don’t believe he will do something like that, he is rich, powerful and has a lot of contacts. He could get away with everything. Desmond still confuses me, he tries to reach out to Inara, and he thinks he loves her. We have a lot of going on with that story, I love how this author shows you that even though they found the kidnapper, the survivors do not get to live happily ever after, is a long process that affects everyone involved. She kept me riveted.

Priya is a survivor too, not of being in the hands of a serial killer/kidnapper, she lost her sister to a madman, she found her sister and because of it she doesn’t make friends, is angry at the world and tries to be invisible. The killer that took her sister is preparing to take another, he only takes one a year, so when Priya starts receiving flower bouquets in the same order of all the victims including her sister the FBI thinks the killer knows her and has been watching, and they think this is the time to get him. Priya and her mom want this to be over, they see how The Gardener is not getting what he deserves, so they decide to get justice of their own.

It was riveting, kept me on edge, and took me a while to figure out who was the killer. Every character in this book was important for the story and they made it even richer, even the ones that made me want to yell at them. I am becoming a fan of this author and she will now be on my “no questions asked, just read it” list.

The romance, there is no romance. I think Vic told it perfectly, ”Some people stay broken, others put themselves back together with all the sharp bits showing”

Characters, i loved everyone, even the ones that I hated.

Overall, did I like the book? Yes, I did. I want to see more of these characters. Would I recommend the book? Definitely, if you enjoy great writing and suspense, you will love this book. Though you should read “The Butterfly Garden” first, otherwise you will feel that you don’t understand a lot of things.

Excellent story, fast paced. Strong characters. I like how they tied book 1 into book 2 BUT can be read alone.

I really loved the butterfly garden and was very excited about the roses of may.I thought it was well written,but it didn't get me hooked like the butterfly garden.I wasn't as interested in Priya and it didn't have the suspense element.I didn't dislike it and would read the next one of Dot Hutchinson's books,but would prefer a bit more of the excitement that was in the butterfly garden..

I haven't read the first book of the series. So I was a little lost in the beginning of this book. It is a gripping, captivating story, and now I want to read the first one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book.

“How do you put yourself back together when the pieces permanently lost are the only reasons anyone’s looking at you?”

3.5/5 STARS

I honestly feel like I have drowned in the River of Disappointment. I fell right in and just kept on sinking to the point where there was no hope for life and I ended up just dying.

Yeah, thats pretty much how this book made me feel. AND NO, not dying in a good way.

This is just such a let down, and it doesn’t even begin to compare to its amazing predecessor, The Butterfly Garden. I didn’t know that the author was writing another book to the series and when I saw it on Netgalley, I was beyond stoked. BUT this book doesn’t feature the same cast as The Butterfly Garden, so yeah that was a disappointment right off the bat. It doesn’t follow the same characters or the same plot line, so it felt like a random book. And also, the killer in this novel was so plainly obvious. And did I mention I was let down? No, okay well I was.

Now The Butterfly Garden is by far, one of the most memorable and creepiest books i’ve ever read. It isn’t for the faint of heart or weak of stomach because MAN, THAT ONE IS DISTURBING. It made me not want to ever step foot outside again because it was that TERRIFYING. SO I came into this expecting something just as terrifying and umm yeah no I didn’t get that. BUT I also do think that Ms. Hutchison was kind of pressured into writing this one because of how popular Butterfly Garden got. This one whole series is supposed to be a trilogy, and if Book 3 doesn’t feature the Butterflies getting revenge on their captor then I’ll be sorely disappointed. BUT anyways, on with this very short review.


Plot:
Now with Roses of May, we do have the same trio of detectives from the FBI. And they do still keep in contact with Inara and Bliss from The Butterfly Garden, but none of them are what this novel is about. We meet a new girl named Priya, who has been friends with Eddison and Victor since her sister was murdered a few years back. Now, her sisters killer is back in full swing, since he only murders once a year in springtime. So pretty much the whole setup for this novel is finding out who killed Priya’s sister. 300 pages of finding the killer who is honestly right in front your face the whole time. There isn’t much to say about the plot besides the killer. This book is split between three perspectives: the detectives, Priya, and the Killer. AND the killer’s perspective is the BEST. It’s written in second person and it takes you through everyone that he’s killed. It’s kind of sick and twisted being in his head but it’s also really enjoyable! But for some reason, the Killer thinks it’s his mandate from God to kill all the “unpure” girls, or girls who are in danger of being “unpure.” He’s weird okay, just weird. AND when he kills them, he leaves them naked and adorned with a crown of flowers. So that set-up was interesting with him, but otherwise I was just bored 96.8% of the time.

Writing:
Now Ms. Hutchison’s writing has improved 10000% person. She has such an amazing way of describing some scenes, and has a kind of twisted way of describing the murder scenes. I think the shining point in this novel would have to be the fact that her writing improved tenfold. Her writing was quite honestly, the only reason I continued with the book because it pulls you in and makes you read. But seriously, ask anyone and they’ll you that I was super ready to quit this like as soon as I started it AHAHA

A Couple of Good Quotes:

“There’s more comfort in realizing we want to stay, that this is a good thing we’re allowed to have. That we’re allowed to be happy. I’m still working on that, but in the meantime? We’re allowed to be broken. We don’t have to feel ashamed of that.”

“Some people stay broken, others put themselves back together with all the sharp bits showing.”

“We love her; that means that it isn’t possible for us to leave her behind.”

How hard it must be to write a novel after the first one is so special , but congratulations I couldn't put this one down either ! Loved 're visiting the original characters and the storyline was gripping from the start !

I loved The Butterfly Garden so much that I was worried this second installment wouldn't be as good as the first. After finishing Roses of May I've fallen even more in love with Dot Hutchison's writing.

This one does have overlap with characters from The Butterfly Garden, but it mostly focuses on Priya. When she was 12, Priya's sister was murdered by a serial killer who continues to kill a teenage girl every spring. Priya is such a beautifully crafted character. I absolutely hate when characters are too perfect or too flawed, Priya is so balanced with her strengths and weaknesses.

I must say, I was a bit confused in the beginning with the shifting POVs, but I caught on fairly quickly. The italics detail the serial killer's reasoning for killing previous victims, the first person POV is Priya's account of what's currently happening, and the second person POV is what's currently happening with the FBI agents. Once I caught on, it actually made the book more enjoyable to be able to see everything through different perspectives.

This book can't be read as a stand-alone.
The Butterfly Garden was amazing and even though the writing style was a bit complex, the story flowed perfectly.
The Roses of May starts with so many characters and names that confuse or makes it hard to follow the thread. As you make your way to about 30% it becomes predictable.
I think this could have been great if there is no mention of the butterflies and focus on the serial killer attacking in this book.
Also, the term collector is not suitable in this case since there is just a pattern and a theme (flowers), he doesn't take a anything from the victims.

The Butterfly Garden was a book that stuck with me. It was dark, it was disturbing, it is the kind of book you just don't simply forget about. Though I remembered the plot well and most of the characters, I re-read it before this one. Not only to refresh my memory, but because I just knew I'd genuinely enjoy it again. I'm glad I did, and would really recommend you start with the first book before this one. Though it adds new main characters, several we met in the first feature as well.

This one is slower to get started than it's predecessor, and it took me awhile to get into it. The new characters are intensely likeable and the story is interesting. Don't go into it expecting another Butterfly Garden. This one also focuses on a serial killer who forms strange attachments to the young girls he kills and has several strong and inspiring female characters, but that's where the similarities end. While the first book focuses on imprisonment and escape, this one focuses mostly on a young girl named Priya dealing with the tragic death of her older sister. The murderer has never been caught, and the investigation is ongoing. He strikes the same time every year, and that time is approaching...

The book also focuses on the "Butterflies" we met in the first... the women who escaped the madman that stole them from their lives and kept them practically in a gilded cage for his own pleasure. They've been free for a few months but the media attention still swirls around them and they're all having difficulty adjusting to the outside world.

The same agents from the first book are still working on the case of the Butterflies, and now bracing for another victim from the murderer who has left the bodies of girls in churches around the county. They have a special affection for Priya, having met her after she found her sister. They'd protect her at any cost, and now that May is creeping closer, they may have to.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

This book, The Roses of May, is the second in The Collector Trilogy by Dot Hutchison. The first one, The Butterfly Garden, was excellent and had me hooked. This one, while not specifically a sequel, is also a very good mystery/thriller. The writing is just as good as the first one and the characters are well developed and believable. I found this book so hard to put down, as I wanted to know what was coming up. This book also deals with a serial killer, but different from The Butterfly Garden. Don't expect this to be a continuation of The Butterfly Garden. It isn't. While it does intertwine a bit, but it is a separate story of it's own. And it is a good book, one I highly recommend.

After reading (and obsessing over) The Butterfly Garden earlier this year, I was elated to find out that this book would be a part of a “collector” trilogy. The Roses of May, by Dot Hutchison, is the second novel in this trilogy. Not knowing whether or not this one would start where the first novel left off or if it would focus on a new set of “collections”, I was eager to find out.

The novel did have some reoccurrences of original characters from The Butterfly Garden but also has a whole new serial killer and new female lead.

The novel opens and dives right into the story. Taking place a few months where the first novel left off but in an unconventional way. The Butterflies are awaiting the trial of the Gardener and a few of the girls, unable to handle the trauma of the garden, have completed suicide. The police officers from the original case are dealing with this and also find themselves being pulled back into a different investigation involving a serial killer who murders girls and adorns them with flowers. When a sister (Priya) of one of the victims’ finds herself a target, the investigators must use their knowledge of the past and what they learned from the garden to find the perpetrator before he collects around victim.

My favourite part of The Butterfly Garden was the narrative style and the creepy events that took place in the garden; I found that this one read more like a police procedural. Instead of being character driven, this one focused more on the police investigation and the officer’s relationships to the victims.

Initially, I was slightly confused by what was going on and there were moments throughout the plot where I found myself not fully understanding some of the plot’s importance or struggling to understand the relationships between some of the characters. I feel like someone who hasn’t read The Butterfly Garden would feel completely out to lunch. Although it is not a direct sequel, it still relies heavily on the basic knowledge of characters and plot points from the first novel to drive the story.

Although I appreciated The Roses of May for what it was, it was completely not what I was expecting. I will absolutely continue to read other books in the series, but I absolutely found this one less addicting than the first.

At first, I was very confused with this novel. I was under the impression that this book would be a sequel to the first book, and I wrongly assumed that the serial killer mentioned in this novel was somehow connected to the Butterfly Garden. However, that was not true; these 2 novels, while sharing the same themes, are not really connected in terms of plot. Once I realized this, the novel began to make more sense. The author still made mention of the Butterflies, but it was more in passing than anything significant.

I quite enjoyed the story here, with its similar yet unique plot. Once again, we read about a madman who hunts women, but the reasons behind his behaviour are different from the madman in the first book in the series. The novel has excerpts from his perspective, but is mostly told through the voice of Priya and FBI agent Eddison, both likable characters. I had a vested interest in Priya and could understand why Eddison and the other FBI agents wanted to protect her so much.

The plot itself wasn't as dramatic or as dark as The Butterfly Garden. In fact, this book resembled more of the usual thrillers that you see. It was still very well written and highly engaging, which is why I couldn't stop flipping the pages. However, it lacked some of that dark maturity that I associated with the first book, and I missed that. There were also some recurring themes that were a bit overdone; literally every page was filled with something related to the theme and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at times. The other flaw in this novel is the completely unrealistic relationship between Priya and her mother. It just ... didn't make sense. I understand that the author wanted Priya's mother to be more like a friend; my own mother and I are very close, and we bicker and fight like best friends/sisters. However, a mother is still a mother and there are certain behaviours and actions that a mother would never approve of or do. While the relationship between Priya and the FBI agents was also quite unbelievable, I didn't mind it as much because it worked.

Overall, this novel was a compelling read that was fast-paced and thrilling. However, it wasn't as dark or mature as its predecessor and had certain characteristics that were a tad bit far-fetched. I would give this a 4/5 stars and would recommend it to anyone looking for a dark thriller on serial killers!

Right off the bat I'm going to give my trigger warnings for this book, although it isn't necessarily a comprehensive list. I will not be discussing these triggers in my review. Content warning for The Roses of May for: eating disorders, stalking, and sexual assault.

I was STOKED when I saw this on NetGalley. I had just read The Butterfly Garden a month or two beforehand and couldn't believe my luck in stumbling across an ARC of the sequel. I gave The Butterfly Garden five stars and was really looking forward to what Dot Hutchinson was up to next.

Let me just start off by saying that even though I hyped this book up in my mind, it completely lived up to it. I didn't even read the plot summary because I was so sure that Dot would pull out another wonderful work. It was kind of nice to go in cold and without much in the way of expectations as far as plot goes, but I will briefly cover the story.

The Roses of May is definitely a sequel to The Butterfly Garden. I think I've seen a few folks say it could work as a standalone piece, but I really disagree. I mean, it's certainly possible to read it without any context, but I just don't think it'll hold up as well. A lot of the characters carry over and their stories are so closely tied that I don't think it would do the story justice not to have that background.

The Roses of May focuses on a young woman named Priya whose story is largely unrelated to The Butterfly Garden, save for the fact that the same group of FBI agents had worked a case close to her. Dot Hutchinson uses this connection to weave Priya's story in with that of the Butterflies'. This book follows Priya's life five years after the murder of her older sister. Naturally, the killer returns and the agents are on the case. It sounds a little cheesy, but it's really well done in my opinion.

Dot Hutchinson's writing is fantastic, per usual. I remembered being struck by her writing in The Butterfly Garden and was glad to experience it again so soon! The story was immersive, the characters were wonderful, and it was almost impossible for me to put down. It was also wonderful to read a book with women of color as the main characters! There are also two notable lgbt women, which I was super excited about! There are so many complex women in Dot Hutchinson's books, I love it. It was also great to see a really nice mom-daughter relationship, which I feel like we don't see enough of.

Overall, The Roses of May was a fantastic read that I would highly recommend to anyone interested, but would probably be best for lovers of thriller and crime. I can see why it wouldn't work for some people, but I loved it!

3.5 stars

Roses of May is a psychological thriller about a young girl seeking closure for her sister’s murder.

Priya Sravasti’ is being targeted by a serial killer; the same killer that murdered her sister several years ago. The majority of the narrative is told through Priya’s POV. She is struggling to cope with her sister’s death, her father’s abandonment, and her desire for revenge.

At the same time, Priya is being protected by the Quantic0 3, a group of FBI agents on the hunt for the serial killer.

The reader also gets glimpse into the killer’s mind, as some of his previous murders are detailed.

The Roses of May is the follow up to The Butterfly Garden, which I did not read, so I might have a different perspective than other readers. I found it to be slow moving and I felt like I was just waiting to get the end for the inevitable to play out. Also, there some things that happen that are totally unbelievable and just didn’t work for me--I won’t name them because I don’t want to include any spoilers. However, Priya was an interesting enough character to keep me invested.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is book two of what I believe is a trilogy. Even if I am wrong and it is a series, you really do need to read The Butterfly Garden first or quite a bit of this book won't flow properly. There is a bit of a catch-up in this book but in my opinion, it is more meant to be a reminder than anything else so I would strongly advise you read book one first as we catch up with the investigators and the survivors of the incidents described therein. As well as catching up with them, we do have a whole new investigation going on. Someone is killing teenage girls. Spanning several years, always in the spring, in nasty ways and in churches, and leaving them dressed with flowers. We meet Priya, the sister of one of the victims, who is still being looked after by our three intrepid FBI agents; Eddison, Hanovarian and Ramirez. She, along with her mother, have tried to move several times in an attempt to start again, leave the hurt behind, but with the perpetrator still at large, their attempts have proved futile. Now it appears that they are being targeted themselves, strange presents keep turning up on their doorstep, is it the killer himself, or just a copycat, either way, they feel threatened. As things escalate, can the FBI protect them and/or catch the baddie before Priya herself falls victim.
Oh my goodness, this book was brilliant from start to finish. I absolutely loved The Butterfly Garden and this follow up book started where that left off and at the same very high standard. It was lovely to catch up with the Butterflies and see what had happened to them now they are free. Obviously with what they went through, it wasn't all roses in their lives but they are trying to start again. As for our new killer, he was just as creepy and nasty as those depicted in book one so, again, not for the faint hearted. As the book goes on, we "meet" each of his victims and learn the whys and wherefores as the information is drip fed in short chapters throughout the book.
Characterisation was again excellent. I absolutely loved Priya and her chess-men! Priya herself came across as quite hard on the outside, probably due to circumstance, but her softer, vulnerable side crept in every so often. He mother, well, feisty is a bit of an understatement; wouldn't like to cross her, no way! The FBI agents were also well described, especially the things they did to both get the job done and survive the job they do. Especially Eddison, what with his background, his drive and reasons for doing what he does came across so real.
Pacing was again good. The darkness hung in the air throughout the book, quite claustrophobic at times, and I was thankful for the few moments of light relief interspersed throughout. Gave me a bit of respite and kept the book nicely balanced rather than being all-consuming.
When the killer was unmasked, and his reasons were known, it was a bit of a shock, not the who, I did guess that a bit before the end, but more the reveal with their actual connection and, of course, the why.
All in all, a dark thriller with enough twists and turns to keep my attention and interest, and that left me completely satisfied at the end. Roll on book three.

My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This book wasn't what I expected but I loved it. While Inara and Bliss from the 1st Collector book were the same crazy girls. This book was about Priya and the serial killer that killed her sister Chavi. Now I'm wondering in which direction the 3rd Collector book will take. Dot Hutchison has quickly become a writer on my watch list!

NetGalley delivered a copy for an honest review.

The Roses of May is book two in The Collectors series by Dot Hutchinson (book one being Butterfly Garden). I quick read the first book before starting this one, and I LOVED Butterfly Garden. It was so addictive to read and I flew through it. So the sequel, and upcoming third, were ones I was looking forward to. This one was very different than what I was anticipating.

We dive into the story and it starts about four months after the explosion at the Garden, where the Butterflies were held captive. We have three FBI agents that are trying to help the women get acclimated to life outside the Garden again and to process what had happened to them. Agents Brandon Eddison, Victor Hanoverian, and Mercedes Ramirez are worried that the upcoming season change will bring back the killer and that they'll discover another woman with her throat slit, surrounded by flowers, and found within a church. Just like the others were.

Priya Sravasti’s sister was one of the victims to the killer years ago. Now because of this, she and her mother move every few months, hoping to start over. However, when she ends up in the madman’s crosshairs, the hunt takes on new urgency. Only with Priya’s help can the killer be found—but will her desperate hope for closure compel her to put her very life on the line?

This one took a much different turn than the first book did. The first book was very twisted and dark, while this one read more like a police procedural. There was a lot more focus on the victims and the FBI agents - mainly the relationships that were formed between them during this whole ordeal. This one didn't have quite the same pacing as I thought the other one did, but I still enjoyed it!

I'll definitely pick up the third installment when that comes out to see where the story goes!

I give this 4/5 stars!

A big thanks to Thomas & Mercer for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest review

I just finished reading The Butterfly Garden and was excited to find out Dot Hutchison has another book coming out. This is more of a companion novel to The Butterfly Garden than a sequel, but I like that better. The Butterflies are still present, but not the forward focus in this novel. We learn more about Agent Brandon Eddison and his background, as he works to find a serial killer and keep a victim's sister, Priya, from an ongoing, unsolved case from being the next victim.

Hutchison once again draws the reader in with an intriguing storyline, with new characters mixing with some of our favorites from The Butterfly Garden.

For those that loved THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN...

This is the second book of The Collector Series. I recommend that you start with book 1 The Butterfly Garden. I loved The Butterfly Garden and this one was really creepy good. I didn't find it to be as disturbing as the first book. I loved this one too. It continues the story of the butterfly girls while introducing us to a new plot.

There is a new serial killer who kills a teenage girl and leaves her body in a church surrounded by flowers, every spring for well over a decade. Priya and her mother move every few months to be safe. They seem to be doing good in a small Colorado town but then flowers begin to appear and are afraid that they are in danger.

I loved the author's writing style and how the characters were developed. You still have some of the same characters,
the FBI Agents, and a couple of the butterfly girls. The main character is Priya who is the sister of one of the serial killer's victims. Even though she tries to be tough, at times she is depressed and angry at what happened to her sister five years ago. Priya's mother is very protective and dominant.

This is a very tense read. It is so suspenseful. I loved the action, which didn't seem to stop with lots of twists and turns.
Why only four stars and not five? I was able to guess the killer and it was quite obvious and I love to be kept guessing but that was just minor and didn't matter to me because the creep factor kept me turning the pages.

I recommend this book for those that love a dark thriller. Serial Killer Lovers will love these two books.

I want to thank Netgalley, the publisher, and Dot Hutchison for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Cliche to say, but I could not put this book down! I loved The Butterfly Garden and somehow Roses of May was even better. Probably because I liked the characters better in this one. You don't NEED to read The Butterfly Garden first because the two stories are very different, but it would certainly help you understand the characters better. I can't wait to see who will be The Collector #3 in this beautiful and haunting series!!!!