2 stars

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

This is the first book in a series about a homicide detective with a horrible past. She is tasked with investigating a serial killer that dismembers bodies and keeps the heads as trophies. The crimes span several states and the team has almost ne leads. The crimes bring up bad memories for Jess and when her former partner returns from a long undercover assignment, she begins to spiral out of control.

I tried to like this book, but lost interest less than half way through and began to skim the rest of it. I didn't like any of the characters in the book, including the main character Jess. The book was unevenly paced and it seemed to drag in several places. The book droned on far too long about Jess, her fear of being recognized for her past, and her feelings for her old partner. The book seemed more like a romance novel with a murder mystery sprinkled in as a diversion than a mystery/suspense book. The ultimate conclusion of the crime seemed like an afterthought.

It seems like other people really enjoyed the book, but it just wasn't my style. If the book is supposed to be a mystery/suspense novel, then I expect the story to carry the plot and have more action in the book. This book focused mainly on the characters and very little on the actual crime.

This is the 1st book in a new series about Detective Jess Bishop - and shouldn't be it's last! Jess is a bit off putting at first but then we learn more about her and why she is the way she is. She then becomes perfectly flawed and relatable. Plenty of plot twists and keeps you on your toes the whole ride. Not quite a white knuckler, but still gripping. I look forward to the second novel. 3.75/5

Forget Me Not by Kierney Scott is the 1st in the FBI Agent Jess Bishop Series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When the torso of a young woman is found in a Louisiana bayou, Jess knows this is the not the first, nor will it be the last victim of this serial killer. The same excised marks are found in the flesh as the previous two victims. Unfortunately, with no heads or appendages found, they have not been able to identify these poor victims. This time, however, there may be something which will identify the woman, and they will have a place to start. Unfortunately, the clues that have been found thus far are very reminiscent of a case Jess has been trying to forget about since she was a child. Memories are re-surfacing that she would have like to keep buried. The idea of sharing her past with her co-workers has no appeal.

Meanwhile, Jess’s old partner, Jamison Briggs, is back from 2 years of working undercover. They were very close, and he was the only one she entrusted with her life story, and he had reciprocated. Then he left. Jess isn’t sure she can handle being partnered with him again, especially after hearing his “news”. It almost killed her when he left last time, and she isn’t going to trust him again so easily.

Jess is a very strong woman, but she is a very broken woman, and until she confronts her past, she cannot heal. She has gotten good at shutting people out. She has learned to deal with stresses in a rather unique way, one that sooner or later could be her downfall.

I loved this book. Scott is really descriptive. Whether it is describing the Spanish moss on the trees, or a dead body, the images jump right out. It is action-packed, and has so many twists it will leave you spinning. I thought I knew who the killer was, and changed my mind half a dozen times, til I came back to my first thought. Scott provided us good insight into her characters and Jess is not your average FBI Agent. Her flaws run deep, and I didn’t particularly like her at first. Actually the urge to smack her rose again and again. It then became fairly obvious that she needs some serious counselling, and then her character grew on me.

This is the first book I’ve read by Scott, and I am aware she has written romance novels up to this point. I am not a romance reader, but if she continues to add books to this series, I’ll be first in line!

Forget Me Not (Detective Jess Bishop Book #1) by Kierney Scott (original title - Now You See Me) is the first book in the Jess Bishop series and it did not disappoint!

Murky water sloshed through the gaps in the jetty’s algae-covered planks. Electricity ran down her spine. The victim’s torso was missing circles of flesh. Jess had seen marks like this before a long time ago. But that killer was already dead, wasn’t he?

When the lifeless body of a young woman is found washed up in the blisteringly hot back waters of a small town, Detective Jess Bishop knows for certain this isn’t the murderer’s first kill.

Two other bodies have been found, both bearing the same marks. Marks that strike fear into Jess’s heart. They are identical to those from a case she’s spent her entire career trying to forget.

As Jess and her team try to link the victims, another body is discovered, and they fear the serial killer is taunting them. They know it’s only a matter of time before he kills again.

As the body count rises, and the hunt goes cold, Jess knows she has to confront her past in order to catch the killer, even if that means making herself the bait…Forget Me Not is a gripping and heart-stopping thriller full of twists and perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter, Robert Bryndza and Lisa Gardner.

------------------------------------------------

I loved the detailed and graphic nature of the story - this drew me in right away and very soon I was hooked. The killer is sadistic and the writing paced well with suspense aplenty. It truly is a cracking read for those who enjoy crime fiction.

I did find Detective Jess Bishop a tad annoying but it didn't take away from the overall narrative. She was also a rather interesting and complex character - her flaws are what make her likeable and relatable. I do hope the character is developed further in the rest of this series, I look forward to learning more about her. She does have a dark and troubled past which fits in perfectly with the rest of the novel.

There are a number of fab twists and turns throughout which keeps your mind active and guessing all the way along! There were also moments of humour which are appreciated when then the story is particularly gruesome and grisly.

Highly recommended!

I would like to thank Kierney Scott/Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I was very thankful for this book. Many thrillers have been falling a little flat for me lately. Maybe I need a break from them to truly appreciate them. This one, however, wasn't so disappointing.

The characters in this story made the story for me. Although Jess's character could have been more well developed, the vagueness of her character worked for this story. The relationships and how well the characters clicked really helped make this book move more smoothly.

I love nothing better than twists and turns in a story. They keep me guessing and on my toes. At one point, I had figured it out, but then Kierney throw me a wrench and I had to try again. I went back and forth with who the murder was. Some things in the story were a little obvious but others, not so much.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to the next installment for Detective Jess Bishop.

This is Kierney Scott’s first book for Bookouture. Judging by how much I enjoy books by Bookouture, I just knew that I would love ‘Now You See Me’ and I wasn’t to be disappointed. I love anything to do with the FBI and I am a complete addict/ nerd of ‘Without A Trace’, the television series featuring Anthony LaPaglia. Anyway I digress so back to the review I do go.

Detective Jess Bishop is not a character that I could immediately warm to. There was just something about her that I didn’t like or trust. It’s obvious that something has happened in her past which has affected her greatly and still affects her to this day. Gradually we learn more and more about her history, which goes someway to explaining why she is the way she is but I still had my reservations about her. When I got used to her though, I began to like her. Detective Bishop is one feisty, determined young lady, who seems to get tunnel vision once she starts working on a case. Nothing and nobody distracts her. Bishop is a bit of a loner and she has a very small circle of people that she trusts and would do anything for. Bishop comes across as rather cold and uncaring, when really she is anything but. She just keeps her feelings hidden and she doesn’t like to show much emotion. She has a close working relationship with her current partner Chan but she is also very close to her old partner Briggs, who has been working undercover for a period of time. When Briggs comes back on the scene, Bishop feels a bit torn and she has divided loyalties. I get the impression that there is a lot more to find out about Detective Jess Bishop and I look forward to it.

‘Now You See Me’ is different to a lot of crime novels in that it is a slow burn and steady paced novel but that isn’t a bad thing. Quite often I find the pace of some crime novels to be too fast and I forget bits or I get confused and have to go back over in the book to re-read certain parts. Not so in this case. The pace certainly suited the book and helped to create the tense and dramatic atmosphere. I found that once I started reading ‘Now You See Me’ I just couldn’t stop. This book became seriously addictive and my Kindle came everywhere with me. As I was enjoying the book so much, I didn’t notice how quickly the page numbers were flying past and before I knew it, I had finished the book, which I was so disappointed about. It’s true that certain parts of the book are rather gruesome but then crime can be gruesome can’t it? Reading this book was similar to riding on one of the twistiest, turniest, most stomach churning rollercoaster rides that you could ever hope to ride on. At times I almost had to read through my fingers and/ or hold my breath as I genuinely feared what was going to happen next.

In short I really did enjoy reading ‘Now You See Me’ and I can’t wait to read the second book in the Detective Jess Bishop series. Kierney Scott is an author to watch and I can’t wait what comes next from her brilliant but ever so slightly twisted mind. I would recommend this book to others. The score on the board for ‘Now You See Me’ is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.

Really enjoyed this book, quite sexy. A brilliant who was the killer. Never guessed until the end. Could have been one of about three people. Gory but enjoyable, thanks for letting me read this book. Hurry up want the next one

A beautifully written thriller, that is unique from many in this genre. I think readers will relate to Jess Bishop and her partner Jamison. Glad to be in on this series from book 1!

Wow! That's the word that sticks in my mind about this book, "Now You See Me" by Kierney Scott! This will grab you by the throat and not let you go til you are done reading it, everything will have to wait, until you see where this story goes and how it plays out!. FBI Agent Jessica Bishop is a slightly messed up individual who is hunting for a serial killer that knows alot about her and her past, as this story progresses you're given details about things that happened in Jessica's past when she was a child that ties her in with the killer. I had a hard time putting this book down, the story flows and is well written. I am looking forward to reading the 2nd book in this series and seeing where and what and who FBI Agent Bishop goes after next.

Well... It has been a long time since I finished a book and said: "That's it? Where's the rest? How...?" Can't wait to read the next book of the series!! The story and characters were so well-defined that I WAS Jess. I was living her life with her, living her fears, her joys, her issues... and suspected the same persons that she did.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-copy of the book!

Gosh, but, this is good! I was intrigued by the title, book cover and description and it didn't disappoint. The lead character is a damaged, interesting, complex FBI agent who I found to be frustrating, likeable, multi-layered and irritating - all in equal measure.
The case is a gruesome one and that resonates with our lead character for reasons we don't understand until well into the book.
For lovers of this genre, it's a cracker!

Now You See Me by Kierney Scott
Series: Detective Jess Bishop Book #1
Publisher: Bookouture

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Bookouture for the ebook ARC of Now You See Me by Kierney Scott in exchange for an honest review.

When the mutilated body of Lydia Steiner is found washed up in the waters of a sweltering hot swamp in Louisiana, Detective Jess Bishop is positive that this isn’t the murderer’s first kill. Three other mutilated bodies all bearing the same marks, have been found. Marks that strike fear into Jess’s heart. They are identical to the marks of a case, that Jess has been trying her entire career to forget about.
As Jess and her team are trying to find the missing link between the victims, another body is discovered and they fear the serial killer is taunting them. They know it is a matter of time before the killer strikes again.
Jess knows in order to catch the killer, she needs to confront her past, even if it means making herself the bait.

I give this book a rating of 5 stars. It was an excellent read and I highly recommend it. This thriller had of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. At first, I wasn’t to sure about Jess’s character but I found that she becomes very likeable when you learn all about her. This is the first book in the series, and I am definitely looking forward to reading book #2.

This is the first in a new series featuring FBI agent Jess Bishop who with her team is chasing a serial killer and psychopath who decapitates and mutilates women.
Jess has a number of unusual personality traits and quite an interesting back story which turns out to be relevant to the crimes she is investigating.
This is an absorbing, fast - paced thriller that I really enjoyed. There are a number of twists and turns and although I guessed who the perpetrator was, I was hooked until the end. I look forward to reading more in the series.

I would have enjoyed this story more if I hadn't found the characters so irritating, especially Jess. As I rolled my eyes at her, the other characters only found her pompousness charming. If only a few of them reacted the way I would imagine most people would, I would have found it more realistic. It made it hard to connect with anyone, and therefore hard to really care about the story. I also found the ending a little ridiculous. Despite my issues, there were moments that made me chuckle... which I always appreciate even more in a darker book. It's not afraid of being pretty graphic, and though the protagonist is hard to like, she is interesting.

A dismembered body has been found washed up in a Louisiana swamp. Though they're able to identify her, she is missing something quite important... her head. This isn't the first headless body found recently, though it seems to be the only thing the murdered women have in common. There's something all too familiar about the case to Agent Jess Bishop, but she can't help hoping it's not connected to her and her past. She wants nothing more than to keep that long ago period in her life locked away. She certainly doesn't want all of her co-workers to know all the gory details...

Jess isn't the only one keeping secrets. Her former partner, Jamison, is back after years undercover. There are several rumors about what he did during that time, but he doesn't want to talk about it... not even to Jess. She's happy to see him, but less happy when she discovers that he now has a fiance and a baby on the way.

A gruesome case, a detective with a dark past that uses sex with strangers to clear her head and make her numb, and a touch of romance all wrapped up in a dark package.

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

This sounded like a book that fitted nicely into the category of books I enjoy. I'd heard a lot of good things about it so I was quite looking forward to it. Sadly I found it disappointing. I think this was mainly the fact that I found it very difficult to like any of the characters, particularly Jess Bishop.She has obviously had a bad time. She is totally unable to form good trusting relationships with anyone. If I had been unfortunate enough to be partnered with her I would feel very insecure!

The story is fast paced and well written, although I have to admit I did guess whodunnit and those who follow my reviews know that is not a common occurrence!

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this. Somehow I don't think I'll bother with the next one.

First in a new series featuring detective Jess bishop, a officer who has demons lurking . The book really delved into Jess’s life and I grew to like her character a lot . On top of her personal life she is out to find a serial killer who seems to know a lot about her . Fast paced and I didn’t guess what was coming . Look forward to reading the next instalment . My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my chance to read 4.5 stars

Now You See Me grabbed me right from the start!! I knew instantly from the first couple of pages I was dealing with a sick twisted individual! That was me hooked!

I was totally intrigued about Jess. There’s constant hints that she’s hiding something dark and the more I read, the more pieces of the jigsaw slotted into place. I was however very jealous of Jess with her quadruple screen set up. I love my dual screen at work but having four would make things so much easier in the way I multitask… #muststartonthatbusinesscase….

I personally think the author has drawn her experience as a romantic suspense author and expertly inserted elements into a complex tale of dead bodies, clues and suspects. I’m not going to say too much but the sexual tension leapt of the page at me and Jess’ dalliances were…well definitely the no strings variety!

And oh the climax!!!! Did not see that coming!! Brilliant, can’t wait for book 2!! I can’t believe this is Kierney Scott’s first crime novel. It’s brilliantly crafted to keep you guessing with enough gore and bodies for any crime fiction fan.

I’ve said in the past that I’ve not been keen on US based crime fiction, despite having loved it 15/20 years ago. But the more I’m reading, the less inclined I am to sidestep such novels. Kierney Scott is on my list of authors I definitely will not be sidestepping in the future!

Big thanks to Bookouture for my early copy of Now You See Me and for having me on the #blogblitz. And a huge #BusterBear thank you to Noelle for letting me host the #CrimeBookJunkie stop!

A complicated but compulsive thriller. Great characters with flaws. Storyline moves swiftly with a twist at the end.

I have real mixed feelings with this book at first I thought this book was going to be brilliant but I was wrong.
We meet FBI special agent Jessica Bishop who has to solve the case of the dead body that has been found which is hard because she has been attacked by alligators.

So we meet her partner Adam Chan and even though they have been working together for a while there is no connection between them.

Then Jessica's ex-partner Jamison Briggs reappears after being undercover and then suddenly they are partners again and it's goodbye Adam.

The book is very complicated and not enough detail. Sometimes you want the author to take a step back and let the book flow better.

It felt like in places it was written by two different people and even though there is a killer on the loose, we don't get to know what he's looking for in a victim or why he attacks the people he does.

I read half this book and gave up it was so hard to follow not good.

This is a good thriller. It is a slow burner that is worth reading. It is very slow at the start. I am glad I read to the end as the ending was a total shock to me. I had not guessed the killer at all. The ending is what made it a 4 star read for me. Jess is trying to solve a series of murders. We find out about Jess's past bit by bit and we are slowly given clues as to the identity of the killer. This would not normally be my type of thriller. It is still a good read.