“Hello Again” (An Evelyn Talbot novel) by Brenda Novak

What an exciting way to catch up with Dr Evelyn Talbot and all those related to Hanover House. Jasper is still out there. Dr Tim Fitzpatrick is trying to restart his career or even return to Hanover House. There is a new psychopath who may be innocent? And what is there to make of the murder of two of Evenlyn’s other HS classmates?

With all that is going on, there are a few times Evelyn seems to doubt herself and even question if she is doing anything helpful...

Throughout everything, she has Amarack, her family (to a degree) and her colleagues by her side.

With “Hello Again,” the author has brought back one of her readers favorite characters and has written another captivating and intriguing read.

Rating: 4.8
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Novak keeps you guessing with her taut psychological thrillers. Just enough romance to break things up and give the characters additional depth.

Intrigue, suspence, complex characters. Edge of your seat reading. Gripping! Well written and interesting characters. Interesting to get in the mind of Evelyn and the criminals she studies. Highly recommend!

Just going to write down my feelings right now concerning this book.
WOW, wow and, umm, WOW! What a cliffhanger!! (Written right after reading the book)

This is the second book in this series and as soon as I saw it offered, I requested it.

A psychiatrist, Evelyn Talbot, that analyzes serial killers has built a prison in the wilderness of Alaska. So not only in the middle of nowhere, you also have the winters to deal with.

Kidnapped, tortured and almost killed by her high school/college boyfriend, Jasper Moore, she is determined to find out what makes serial killers tick. In this book, the ex-boyfriend is still on the loose years later. Her attempts to find him have not been very successful. Unfortunately, Jasper is still trying to finish what he started years ago and is hellbent that it will happen.

We also have the elusive serial killer, Lyman Bishop, who is incarcerated in Evelyn's prison who she is studying. Another ice pick murder (something Lyman is famous for - trying to lobotomize women so that they will be his slave) done while Lyman is in prison, sets him free. Evelyn tries everything she can to keep it from happening. She is torn on Lyman's innocence until she discovers and talks with his sister.

This was a great story and great series. Of course, with it being Brenda Novak, there is some love scenes included. Its funny when I started reading Brenda Novak, her Last Stand series, there were no romance scenes in her thrillers.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Psychologist Evelyn Talbot continues her study of some of the most dangerous serial killers in the country at her special facility located near Anchorage, Alaska. Her newest inmate is Lyman Bishop, aka the Zombie Maker, whose weapon of choice is an ice pick, which he uses to crudely perform lobotomies on his female victims. Meanwhile, Jasper Moore, the man who brutally attacked Evelyn as a teen, is plotting his next move that will bring him closer to her.

Admittedly, this is a creepy series given what Evelyn does but this story really disturbed me, so much so it took me longer to finish because I was terrified as to what I’d find next when I turned the page. Getting Jasper’s point of view iced the cake as this guy is charming and clever (think Ted Bundy). Lyman was also one sick fellow, masterful in controlling his emotions so he appeared harmless. What made this so terrifying is we know what’s coming unbeknownst to Evelyn. Despite my trepidation, this was just the kind of brew I like in my thrillers. Thank goodness there’s a little bit of romance to provide some respite between the suspense.

I very much enjoyed this one, even if it scared me silly. I could hardly make it through to the breathtaking climax and I even did something I never do...peeked a little at the epilogue. I know, I know...shame on me but I couldn’t stand it any longer. Fair warning, there’s a bit of a cliff hanger of sorts, only to set up what the next book will portend. I can hardly wait. Well done, Ms. Novak.

I absolutely loved reading this book! I've loved all Brenda Novak books that I've read, and yeah, this series is dark and mysterious and awesome, and just so enjoyable to read! So yeah, I was glad that we got this book!

There's new psychopaths to be examined, like Dr. Lyman Bishop, who was really creepy! He was almost convincing that he was innocent, but there was just something about him! I'm really glad that Evelyn went to the lengths that she did, even if it caused problems, because it was the right thing to do!

We were in the head of Jasper a bit more than the first book. And yeah, these bits, they added a horror element to these books, he was getting closer, we knew, but Evelyn didn't. Yeah, that was really, really creepy!

But that ending, oh! Those were some tricky decisions that were red herrings, and then things were happening, and it was like a car crash, you couldn't look away! So tense, and so great to read! Such a great ending!

This book was really fantastic, and I can't wait for the next book, it's going to be amazing!

4 1/2 STARS!

A delectably chilling addition to the Evelyn Talbot series! This is a series that in my opinion should be read in order from the beginning so that you will be able to follow along and get all of the history and inflection of what has happened previously. We are familiar with the majority of the characters at this point, but there are always new deranged killers showing up at the prison. The plot is easy to get entrenched into, because we are just waiting for her to be in danger again. We definitely saw some of that in this book, but I was looking for a little more actual Jasper interaction. Hopefully the next book will give us a satisfactory conclusion to his terror once and for all ... and I'm still crossing my fingers on that happily ever after for Evelyn & Amarok!

Forever reeling from her traumatizing teenage experiences, psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot worked hard to get Hanover House prison established in Hilltop, Alaska. She studies some of the most deranged serial killers ever to have been imprisoned and hopes to one day have some conclusive research to combat the devious mind of a killer. When her latest high profile prisoner arrives, tension is high. Dr. Lyman Bishop AKA the Zombie Maker has been reeking havoc performing ice-pick lobotomies. Upon beginning sessions with him, she deduces that he's a very credible liar ... or is it possible he actually is innocent like he claims?

When a new murder occurs with the same MO, it's obvious it couldn't be Bishop ... but when the news gets out that it's an old classmate of Evelyn's, everyone wonders if it's Jasper coming back to taunt her once again!

Brenda Novak is one of the best at suspense. This story is a page-turner with so many twists and an ending that keeps you...

Riveting, dark, and spine-chillingly eerie!

In this second book in the Evelyn Talbot Chronicles, we head back to Alaska and the isolated Hanover House where some of the most depraved serial killers are housed and studied, and danger seems to be lurking inside and out.

The writing is seamless and taut. The characterization is spot on with some of the usual gang back including the hardworking, determined Evelyn and the patient, sexy Amarok. And the skillfully-crafted, well-paced plot keeps you on the edge of your seat with twists, turns, violence, murder and a cliffhanger ending that will undoubtedly leave you eager for more.

Hello Again is a clever, gritty and incredibly captivating tale that not only has all the elements you look for in a romantic suspense novel but proves Novak is still one of the best in the genre.

I can't imagine someone wanting to work with serial killers everyday, getting into their minds and finding what makes them tick but Dr. Evelyn Talbot does just that everyday. After once being a victim herself she feels it her mission to study them in hopes of preventing it in the future.

Dr. Lyman Bishop is her newest inmate and while he denies being a serial killer by giving lobotomies she sees through him. The deeper she dives into his mind, the darker it gets.

With her own attacker still on the loose, it's hard to say who is more deadly. A fast paced story, lots of turns, and chilling details.

I absolutely loved this book. I didn’t want to put it down even though I had so much other stuff to do. This book definitely has its ups and downs but there is never a dull moment. There were even times when my mouth just fell open in surprise. New murders, new characters and just enough ‘relationship drama’ to round it out. The cliffhanger was completely unexpected and Im waiting impatiently for the next book.



*Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC.*

4.5 Stars - Hello Again is a fantastic, chilling addition to The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles Series.  Novak has picked up the pace, raised the stakes even higher, and dove deeper into the minds of the criminally insane through Evelyn's research at Hanover House - a maximum-security prison in Alaska where some of the world's worst serial killers are imprisoned and studied.  As the story opens, Evelyn is preparing to meet with Dr. Lyman Bishop, aka the Zombie Maker, a brilliant cancer researcher so named because he performed ice-pick lobotomies on his victims.  After talking with him, she realizes he's one of the smartest, most conniving psychopaths she's ever interviewed . . . a deadly, master manipulator.  Evelyn may have met her match, but when another ice-pick murder occurs, the possibility the wrong man was convicted is pursued.  And yet, Evelyn has a gut-feeling that Jasper, her ex-boyfriend who tortured her and killed three of her friends, may be involved in the latest killing.  Is she right or just being paranoid?  Time is of the essence and lives are on the line.  

Hello Again is a riveting, psychological thriller.  The story flows smoother and the pace is faster than in Her Darkest Nightmare, I think.  I liked that Novak took some big steps forward with character relationship development and the overall story arc.  The flawed characters came across almost a little too real in some chilling scenes, causing me to look over my shoulder a time or two!  Like driving on a curvy, dark country road at night, this story unfolds with twists and turns that left me breathless, heart racing right through the end (which I won't discuss, but omg!).  I'm more intrigued by this series than ever.  An awesome addition to the series!  A Must Read!

This is the second full length book in The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles by Brenda Novak and as such, definitely can't be read as a standalone. Dr. Evelyn Talbot studies criminal psychopaths in the institution she lobbied for, Hanover House, found in the wilderness of Alaska. But she has a personal reason for doing this as well, when she was 16 years old, her boyfriend, tortured her and left her for dead, as well as killing all three of her friends. That was twenty years ago and he has never been caught. Despite moving on with her life, and finding solace in her romantic relationship with Amarok, Jasper roaming around free feels like waiting for the other shoe to drop. Somewhere, somehow they will meet again and this time she wants to be better prepared.

In Hello, Again, another convicted serial killer has been transferred to Hanover House and as Evelyn continues interviewing and studying him, the more things don't add up. When another victim with the same M.O turns up, doubt enters whether the real killer has been caught. Meanwhile, Evelyn's old nemesis is coming closer and closer to where she is, will this be the time of their inevitable encounter?

This series is extremely dark and sometimes has that air of hopelessness that makes a reader doubt if an HEA will be possible at all. But the relationship that Evelyn has with Amarok shines a kind of beacon, reassuring readers that it is possible despite all the odds. Hello, Again is a suspense thriller that is not going to let you sleep peaceful at night!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC of this novel, received in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles. Evelyn has opened a maximum-security prison in Alaska, and studies some of the world's worst serial killers. She is determined to understand serial killers so she can help others after her boyfriend, Jasper, killed her friends and left her for dead twenty years ago. Since Jasper is still on the loose, he continues to be a threat. She now has a new study, Dr. Lyman Bishop, who has been convicted and sent to Hanover House. He is known as the Zombie Maker since he performs frontal lobotomies on his victims.

We get a chance to get to know Evelyn much better, recounting the events in her past and showing us glimpses of what could be in store for her future as well her relationship with Amorak who is helping her heal and move forward in ways she thought were never possible for her.

There’s lots of suspense and tension with an ending that gives you shivers thinking about what’s to come in the next book.

Brenda Novak's books don't usually circ well at my library, but I think I will go back and purchase the first in this series, and this one as well. Serial killer books are definitely salable.

This book features not one but two serial killers, both after the main character Evelyn, a psychiatrist and director of an institute in Alaska that incarcerates and studies psychopaths, most of whom are dangerous criminals. Evelyn chose this line of work because of a trauma in her teenage years -- a group of her friends were slayed by a psychopath and she narrowly escaped.

The twists and turns are wonderful - no character or storyline in this book is uninteresting. They all read fast and are fascinating. The romance line is great too; you will love the connection between Evelyn and Anarok, her small town police chief boyfriend.

Of course there's quite a bit of suspended disbelief you have to do :) but it's not hard because the writing is so much fun. This is heart-pounding, adrenaline-filled escapism at its best. I'll recommend it to anyone who likes and can stomach stories about serial killers - Chelsea Cain, Rachel Caine's new Stillhouse Lake series, and The 8th Circle by Sarah Cain. (That is a lot of Cains! - but they are all truly readalikes.)

Thank you to Net-Galley, St. martins Press and Brenda Novak for the ARC of this book. No form of payment was received, these are only my thoughts on this story.

I highly recommend that you read Hanover House and Her Darkest Nightmare before you read Hello Again. This is the 3rd book in this series if you count the novella Hanover House that starts this series.

I was so excited to get an early copy of this story after reading the two previous books. I love the characters and was glad to get more of them. Evelyn and Amarok are the two main characters, I love them. I love their connection, I love how Amarok knows what he wants and that he tell her every chance he gets.

Lyman Bishop is pure evil. He gave me the creeps from the beginning.. I wanted to reach into my kindle and punch him in the face.

Jasper is one sick and twisted guy. Will he ever get caught and pay for what he has done or will he continue to be free and be able to do whatever he wants?

I look forward to see where Brenda Novak takes us next!

Hanover House, a maximum-security prison in Alaska, opened last year and Evelyn is a psychiatrist there. Lyman Bishop is an inmate ... he had been convicted of killing a woman named Jan, whose body hasn't been found. Evelyn is convinced he is guilty and is looking forward to finding out what makes him tick.

In the meantime, Evelyn is still being tormented by Jasper, her high school boyfriend. He had murdered three of her friends and raped and tortured Evelyn when she was 16 and then disappeared. When Evelyn hears about the deaths of women in the States, she knows it's Jasper who is doing it and is afraid that he will eventually come for her (as he apparently has in the past).

Evelyn is living with Amarok, a state trooper. He would like to get married but Evelyn is hesitant because she's not sure if she wants to remain in Alaska for the rest of her life. But she's also afraid that if Jasper is going to come after her, will he also kill everyone she cares about (so she's protecting Amarok)?

Though this is the second in the Evelyn Talbot Chronicles series, it works as a stand alone as there is enough information provided about the first one (I haven't read the first one). This book has a cliffhanger of sorts at the end which I'm assuming will lead to a third book in the series. It is written in third person perspective with the focus alternating between the various characters including Evelyn, Amarok and Jasper. As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

I thought the story was interesting and there were some elements of suspense. I found Evelyn a bit annoying at times, though, when she would dwell on her relationship with Amarok. I could understand her concern about putting him in danger because Jasper is still on the loose and killing. But she focused a lot on their age difference ... she was seven years older than him, which I don't think was that big of a deal. Also, when Amarok's ex-girlfriend moves back to town, it seems like Evelyn was trying to convince him that the ex was better wife material even though he constantly kept asking Evelyn to marry him. As the story progressed, Evelyn seemed to become more confident in his feelings for her.

Brenda Novak NEVER disappoints. From the beginning I was hooked until the final page. More, please. More.

I read all the books in the series and feel this is necessary in order to follow the story.

Here we are again in Hanover House with Dr. Evelyn Talbot. She is still studying sociopaths in order to deal with her past. She is making headway on her relationship as well.
In this story there is so much going on you have Lyman Bishop being transferred, people from her past are being murdered, Jasper is still on the loose and she has to deal with Amorak's ex being back in Alaska.

This book really plays with you psychologically. The romance is limited but it is there. These books really make me think when I am reading them which sometimes makes it a struggle. I would like to see some more romance in them, however i get why it is written the way it is. I am also looking forward to the next book.

** I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Thank you NetGalley and Brenda Novak for the ARC of Hello Again that I read and reviewed.
The second installment of The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles picked up right where the first one left off and this one was packed with more suspense and thrills. The killer that Evelyn had come to Alaska this time was Dr. Lyman Bishop, AKA the Zombie Maker and he was what I would call one sick puppy who was accused of giving his victim ice-pick lobotomies. When it was learned that the detective on the case planted evidence and he was going to be set free so Evelyn makes it her mission to put him back behind bars.
She also has to deal with Jasper Moore, high school sweet heart who tried to kill her and murdered her high school friends that is still out there killing and still want to finish what he started all those years ago. When her boyfriend an Alaska cop uncovers evidence that Jasper is still active and killing a new wave of terror for Evelyn is unleashed.
This book is full of murder, suspense and some romance. It is also a great lead for the next book that I can't wait to come out. This is a book you won't want to put down.
I am giving Hello Again five out of five stars.