Hard-baked Sin City Private Investigator Jim Bean takes on a supposedly easy job which turns out not to be so simple due to the lies and fabrications of his client. 19 Souls is an Interesting serial character opener, I'll be keen to see where this goes.

The plot was interesting but I just couldn't get into the book. Part of it was the writing style and part of it was that I just didn't like the characters

Talk about a school girl’s crush gone bad. I couldn’t put this book down. Who doesn’t love a good story about a psycho female serial killer on the run and a controlling PI with anger management issues ready to take her down? I’m definitely putting this series on my TBR list.

Sophie Evers is a whack job extraordinaire. Her plan to hire the down-on-his-luck PI Jim Bean to find the only boy she’s ever loved has not gone as she expected. So, battling with the voice in her head and losing control of the situation, she has a hostage to keep PI Bean in hand.

PI Jim Bean wished he hadn’t taken this job. It was supposed to be a simple search for a missing person, but now he’s trying to protect the person he’s found because the woman hunting him is a psychopath. The more he learns about Sophie Evers, the more his guilt and anger builds to the point that he insists on helping Special Agent Ava Webb with the FBI’s investigation into Sophie’s murder spree.

Jim is one of those broken and isolated characters who is a fun one to crack. He knows about secrets and changing identities. His past is a testimony to that and this case has ripped everything open again. The interactions between Jim and Agent Webb are intriguing and I hope there is more to that in upcoming books in the series. As for Jim’s friends, Double O and Ely, they are great supporting characters who have Jim’s back and apparently have some interesting stories of their own.

If you enjoy fast-paced mysteries that grab you from the start and don’t let go until the explosive and exciting ending, give this book a try.

Thank you to Ms. Allen for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during that 2nd attempt, I have only managed to make it halfway through so I’d rather stop here and state that this book just wasn't for me.

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to review this book however giving it great consideration I am no longer interested in this book and do not think this book is for me.

This is the first book in the Sin City Investigation series. Private investigator Jim Bean is a straightforward, to-the-point man. He likes his cases to follow suit. But when his latest client, Sophie Evers, asks him to find her brother Daniel. As he gets further into the case he realizes he is actually leading the killer straight to her prey.

The premise was good. It felt like an old detective noir vibe. I did not really care for the fact that some of the writing was choppy and the author continuously repeated information. I also found it odd that Bean, a Las Vegas P.I. Is uncomfortable around guns. It didn’t really feel natural to me. Maybe we will find out something else behind that in a future book. Overall the book had good bones and I will continue to read this series.

I'm not sure how I felt about this one. it dragged in places and was exciting in others. a bit dark and gritty but isn't feel unique or deep...

I absolutely loved 19 Souls. It was gritty, tight, smart, intricate, funny, engaging and all kinds of fucked up. Just what I look for in a thriller. The only slight negative is that the cover doesn't do it justice. I can't believe this is the author's debut. She's already a master. I'm now excited to get my hands on her second novel, Skin Game.

19 Souls is one heck of a thriller that starts with a gruesome scene where you immediately know who the bad guy or rather, girl is. Readers, she's bat shit crazy! I'll be honest, that first scene was so disturbing that I wondered if I could handle the rest of the book but I stuck with it because well... I couldn't put it down. Sophie is an intriguing villain in that she has one foot in reality and the other way off in some depraved fantasy land which is I suppose how most sociopaths work. She manages to maintain a semblance of normalcy with a day job that funds her ultimate goal: collecting knives and weaponry, stalking her childhood crush, Daniel and killing anyone in her way. It's scary how well she's planned every little detail including recruiting extra help in the form of an unsuspecting PI. Jim, who has an interesting if unfortunate backstory, is normally good at judging character but even he is fooled by Sophie's act. It's too bad that he's so darn good at his job because he's mortified when he realizes how he was used and that he single-handedly led her to her prize. Now he's determined to protect Daniel and capture Sophie before she hurts more people.


This is one suspenseful read and strangely enough, as unhinged as Sophie was, I was also fascinated by the glimpses into how the wheels were turning in her mind. It's an intense cat and mouse game as Jim uses every resource to catch up to her and anticipate her next move. I was so anxious as the action reached its climax and I felt the ending could have gone a number of ways. Since this is the start of a series and I liked it so much, I'll definitely want to read the next book when it comes out. I'm curious to know how Jim moves on from this and if the ending comes into play down the road.


~ Bel

This had the potential to be a good psychological thriller but just felt a little rushed. I was looking for a little more originality. Its just been done so many time.

The characters in this book are not perfect, even flawed but the way Allen depicts them makes you love them never the less. The story fast and paced but never at one point really boring or make you loose attention. Allen even manages to step away from the well-known tracks of psychological thrillers and creates her own view on the genre.

Only flaw, to me, is (spoiler alert!) the ending. It’s to abrupt and could have been a bit more developed to me. That’s why the 4 stars.

I really liked the cover of this book, I think it is simple but at the same time it is dark and mysterious, and I knew it is going to bring a good story to read.
The protagonist of this story is Jim Bean, a private investigator, who was summoned by a female customer (Sophie) to find her brother. But when he starts his investigation, he uncovers so many surprises, that gets him into great trouble. Now, he has to protect the person, whom he was looking for…
I really loved the characters chosen for this book, all of them are very intriguing and charismatic personalities, and the author has done a great job by developing them throughout the book. The story is told from a dual perspective: Jim’s and Sophie’s. I really liked reading all the details about Jim’s investigation and where the evidence took him. I liked that he had to visit some dark and dangerous places to get his information, and I was really sucked in with all the unexpected twists and turns which Allen incorporated into the story. I absolutely loved Sophie’s parts, I think she is such an interesting and delusional character, and to read her thoughts and plans was an absolute treat. I love when authors include negative character’s perspectives, it makes the book way more interesting and absorbing. One thing that bothered me was that I don’t like when authors create drug using characters and make it sound like it is ok, and they are so cool. :/ I don’t see the need to promote drugs.
The narrative is set in the US, and the setting is always changing. The investigation is pretty adventurous, but sometimes the whole story tended to slow down a little by sharing Jim’s thoughts and inner fights, which was quite nice. I really enjoyed the writing style of this book, it is easy to read, with pretty short chapters, constantly changing situations and new findings, and it is a really entertaining book. The ending of this novel rounded up the story nicely and I will be waiting for more of Jim Bean’s adventures in the future. So, if you enjoy detective investigations and character-driven stories, this book will not disappoint you. Give this book a go, and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. :)

Liest man sich durch J.D. Allens Website, könnte man annehmen, sie sei eine Debütautorin. Für das Thriller-Genre ist das korrekt, doch gräbt man tiefer, stellt sich schnell heraus, dass sie bereits eine veröffentlichte Schriftstellerin ist. Sie schrieb jahrelang Liebesromane, eine Vergangenheit, von der sie sich heute bewusst zu distanzieren scheint und die hauptsächlich dazu diente, Rechnungen zu zahlen. Mit dem Auftakt der Reihe „Sin City Investigations“ fand sie ihre literarische Heimat, eine meiner Meinung nach naheliegende Entwicklung, da sie über einen Abschluss in forensischer Anthropologie verfügt. Vielleicht veranlasste sie ihr professioneller Hintergrund, gleich im ersten Band „19 Souls“ eine gewagte Thematik anzusprechen: weibliche Serienmörder.

Vor Jahren war Jim Bean auf dem besten Wege, FBI-Agent zu werden, bis die Lüge einer Frau sein Leben zerstörte. Heute ist er Privatdetektiv in Las Vegas. Er trinkt und arbeitet zu viel. Auf seinem Schreibtisch türmen sich Rechnungen. Der Auftrag einer gewissen Cynthia Hodge kommt ihm daher gerade gelegen. Jim soll ihren verschwundenen Bruder Daniel finden, einen Meth-Junkie, der die Ersparnisse ihrer Mutter durchbringt. Standard-Vertrag, regelmäßige Updates, keine Polizei. Keine große Sache. Jim macht sich an die Arbeit und spürt Daniel in Utah auf. Entgegen seiner Absprache mit Cynthia nimmt er Kontakt auf. Was Daniel ihm erzählt, lässt alles Blut aus Jims Gesicht weichen. Daniel ist kein Junkie. Er lebt unter dem Radar, um sich selbst zu schützen. Denn die Frau, die Jim beauftragte, ist nicht seine Schwester. Sie heißt Sophie Evers und verfolgt Daniel seit ihrer Kindheit. Frauen, mit denen Daniel eine Beziehung hatte, verschwanden rätselhafterweise und wurden später tot aufgefunden. Sieben Jahre hörte er nichts von Sophie. Doch jetzt führte Jim sie direkt zu ihm…

Weibliche Serienmörder sind für Ermittlungsbehörden bis heute eine Herausforderung. Das FBI schätzt, dass viele Serienmörderinnen niemals gefasst werden, weil sich sowohl ihre Motive als auch ihr Vorgehen stark von den Verhaltensweisen männlicher Täter unterscheiden. Frauen töten diskret aus pragmatischen, praktischen Gründen. Zwischen den Opfern können manchmal Jahrzehnte liegen. Der Modus Operandi kann sich ändern. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist „19 Souls“ äußerst gelungen. J.D. Allen bietet überzeugende Einblicke in die gestörte Gedankenwelt einer prototypischen Serienmörderin und Stalkerin, die trotz ihrer psychischen Defizite weitgehend kontrolliert, strukturiert und zielgerichtet handelt. Allen illustriert, dass Sophies Entscheidungen aus ihrer Perspektive logisch sind, was zugleich erschreckend und faszinierend war. Sie ist deutlich interessanter als der durchschnittliche Serienkiller und initiiert einen aufregenden, spannenden Fall, der mich mit vielen unerwarteten Wendungen überraschte. Für mich ist Sophie die Hauptperson dieses Reihenauftakts. Sie überstrahlt sogar Allens Protagonisten Jim Bean, der im Vergleich als schale Blaupause erschien, als wandelndes Klischee ohne echte Persönlichkeit. Er könnte durch jeden beliebigen Privatdetektiv der Literatur- und Filmgeschichte ersetzt werden: er trägt das Herz am rechten Fleck, ist jedoch einsam, überarbeitet, zynisch, mürrisch und von der Frauenwelt zutiefst enttäuscht. Dieses spezielle Kapitel seines Werdegangs empfand ich als äußerst problematisch. Jim misstraut Frauen, weil er unrechtmäßig der Vergewaltigung beschuldigt wurde und niemand an seine Unschuld glaubte. Obwohl mir bewusst ist, dass diese Fälle vorkommen, sind sie extrem selten, was in der Öffentlichkeit leider anders wahrgenommen wird. Für viele (nicht alle) Männer scheint diese exemplarische Geschichte ein richtiges Schreckgespenst zu sein. Durch die literarische Verarbeitung dieses Schreckgespenstes schürt J.D. Allen die Angst vor der rachsüchtigen Furie, die der Polizei das Märchen einer Vergewaltigung auftischt und das Leben eines Mannes ruiniert. Dadurch erschwert sie es Frauen, als glaubwürdig betrachtet zu werden, wenn sie eine Vergewaltigung überleben und den Mut aufbringen, von dieser zu berichten. Sie liefert Männern einen weiteren Grund, diese Frauen der Lüge zu bezichtigen. Daher finde ich „19 Souls“ unsensibel und im Kontext der aktuellen #metoo-Debatte unangebracht. Es ist schade, dass die Autorin offenbar keine andere Erklärung für Jims menschheitsverdrossenen Charakter finden wollte. Sie hätte durchaus eine alternative Richtung einschlagen können, ohne inhaltliche Abstriche machen zu müssen. Dieses Detail war unnötig und lenkte mich darüber hinaus von ihrem couragierten Umgang mit dem Thema sexueller Übergriffe auf Männer durch Frauen ab. Ich rechne es ihr hoch an, dass sie dieses stigmatisierte Tabu bricht und entscheidend in die Handlung integriert, doch ich konnte mich nicht gebührend darauf konzentrieren, weil mich Jims Vorgeschichte zu sehr ärgerte. Negatives überlagerte Positives.

Meiner Meinung nach besitzt der Reihenauftakt „19 Souls“ enormes Potential. Das Buch überzeugte mich hinsichtlich des konsequenten, logischen und nachvollziehbaren Falles. Die Entscheidung, eine Serienmörderin als Antagonistin zu präsentieren, ermöglichte unkonventionelle und packende Perspektiven auf bekannten Stoff, den J.D. Allen selbstbewusst mit kontroversen Themen würzt. Es enttäuscht mich maßlos, dass sie all diese gelungenen Faktoren durch die Unterstützung eines urbanen Mythos befleckt, der die Glaubwürdigkeit von Frauen unterminiert. Ich kann mir daher nicht vorstellen, die Reihe „Sin City Investigations“ weiterzuverfolgen, obwohl ich das Talent der Autorin anerkenne. Hätte Allen die Vergangenheit ihres Protagonisten kritisch reflektiert, sähe es sicherlich anders aus, doch sie nutzt diese lediglich als Rechtfertigung für Jims stereotype Persönlichkeit. Damit kann und werde ich mich nicht arrangieren.

Vielen Dank an den Verlag Midnight Ink und Netgalley für die Bereitstellung dieses Rezensionsexemplars im Austausch für eine ehrliche Rezension!

I received this book for free from #netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

The author did a great job on this debut novel.

This was a thriller worth picking up. If you are interested in a good mystery and thriller, this is a must.

The moment pieces start adding up and the clues are coming together and the killer is getting close to be caught. and leads the killer straight to her prey.. OH this book.

This book definitely full of psyhcos and the details of this story unravel greatly.

A must read for a thriller lover.

A twisted psychological thriller where the detective leads a killer to the prey, fast and furious!

“19 Souls” is the first in J. D. Allen’s “Sin City Investigation” series, set in, where else, Las Vegas. Jim Bean is likeable, up-front, private investigator in Las Vegas. There certainly is a lot to investigate in “Sin City,” and there are many colorful characters along the way. The supporting cast is pleasant, contemporary, humorous, relevant, and somewhat flawed. All have interesting backgrounds, and even the “minor” players are well defined. It is easy to like them, and they help advance the story line. Of course this is a P.I. in Vegas, so there are hidden identities, damsels in distress, lost loves, and a not your typical serial killer serial killer.

The story is an interesting psychological game with several twists. Multiple points of view provide the reader with the perspective from both sides of the drama and help bring out all the unsavory details of the story and its participants. Although the pace is somewhat slow at times, the characters move the plot along, sometimes with a touch of humor.

I received a copy of “19 Souls” from J. D. Allen, Midnight Ink, and NetGalley. It is easy to read with satisfying action. Since this is the first in a series set in Las Vegas, I am sure that Jim will have many more interesting if not crazy and bizarre adventures to come. (It is Vegas after all!) I cannot wait.

The story was great. The characters were relatively well flesh d out. I definitely want to see where this series ends up going. Jim Bean is a wonderfully flawed guy, you want to see win.

Jim Bean runs a one-man PI business in Las Vegas. He is hired by Sophie Evers to find her brother Daniel who is a drug addict who has stolen their mother's money. But Bean soon figures out that
Daniel is not an addict nor is his client his sister. Sophie has killed Daniel's real sister to manipulate Bean into flushing Daniel out of hiding. She is a ruthless serial killer who is determined to create the "perfect life" for the only man she's ever loved. Once Bean figures out what Sophie's real motives are, he is determined to work with the local police and FBI to protect Daniel and his mother and to catch Sophie.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Midnight Ink with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Poor Sophie picked the wrong investigator to help her with her plan of getting Daniel back into her life. Once Jim Bean realizes she has duped him, he now feels it's his duty to help the poor sap he led her straight to.

As a reviewer, advanced copies received are apt to have misspellings, grammar issues or little things wrong and I am always aware of this and usually it doesn't bother me. I realize these are unfinished copies and will go through more editing before published. Unfortunately this one was peppered consistently throughout with misspellings that took away from my enjoyment of the read. That being said, I did like the story line for the most part. Crazy girl who just wants to be loved. Clearly has some mental issues after a rough childhood and is progressively losing her shit. Then we have Jim... my favorite character for sure. He definitely has some issues but he's lovable in that wants-to-do-the-right-thing kind of way, while still flawed with his own crap.

Psychopathic serial killer, flawed private investigator with a heart of gold... bring in a guy who has been stalked all his life, an female FBI agent along for the ride.. and well, we have pretty much all the elements of this kind of read. Unfortunately it just didn't resonate for me as much as I would have liked it to. I found it getting a bit repetitive and once the characters were established, there wasn't much more development. My attention began to wane towards the middle and didn't quite catch hold again.

I'll probably be an unpopular opinion on this one. I think the majority of people who like crime fiction/thrillers will probably enjoy this read.

This novel promises to have a manipulative villain - and it does. From the first chapter, the reader is introduced to Sophie, Jim Bean's newest client. And boy, is she messed up! I loved that the author packed the punches from the start!

I think the author did a really great job with Sophie's character. She was absolutely crazy and I loved reading chapters that were from Sophie's perspective. It was the most exciting part of the book for me. I wanted to see how far Sophie would go to get what she wanted, what would be her next move. I wish there had been more of her chapters in the book because it was where the most action happened. 

Jim Bean gave me a very classic noir detective vibe. He's a man of limited words who is bitter about his past but is focused on doing a good job. He's jaded, he's unpredictable, and it's all about solving the mystery. But I didn't love him as much. I found his character to be a bit too stereotypical; there was nothing very unique about him. He talked in a very cliched manner and I found everything he mused on to be very repetitive. It took away from the action of the story and made everything move at a slower pace. 

I feel like the story premise, while interesting, didn't flow as well as it could have. There were spurts with a good amount of action that moved the story forward, but for the most part, the novel was bogged down with details that were interesting but not really necessary. I kept wanting the novel to keep moving forward, and found myself getting bored with the discoveries of the smaller details. 

I also wasn't too big of a fan of the writing. There were many choppy sentences that could have been removed or adjusted to be a part of a bigger sentence. I feel like the writing style (especially for sections featuring Jim Bean) were supposed to mimic the vibe of a classic noir story, but it was done way too often to maintain the effect. I also found it annoying that the author kept repeating the same things multiple times. Yes, readers can forget details but that doesn't mean they need to be reminded of them excessively! And these details weren't even important ones so I really didn't understand the emphasis.

Overall, I think this novel was quite interesting in that it featured a very unique antagonist. However, the awkward writing style and slow plot didn't work too well for me. I'm giving this a 2.5/5 stars (rounded to 3) and would recommend this to fans of noir novels.