Of all the people that FBI special agent Hatcher McGee dreamed of being partnered with, what are the odds of being teamed up with the woman who almost destroyed his career? When a one night stand resulted in the death of his wife, Hatcher spiraled down almost to the point of no return. Rookie agent Korine Davenport is not too thrilled to be partnered with Hatcher either, but they have a killer on the loose. Will the two be able to put aside their past and stop what appears to be a vigilante at work?

I am a fan of police procedural thrillers, but romantic suspense is really the genre for Pretty Little Killers. Take out all of the glances, advances, and steamy scenes, the result would be a decent suspense thriller. I wish the author had focused on the crimes and the investigation with as much vigor as she did with the romantic aspect. I was not a fan of Pretty Little Killers, but those who like romantic suspense may like this book.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of Pretty Little Killers via NetGalley and the publisher, Montlake Romance. The choice to review this book was my own.

I am a Rita Herron fan. Pretty Little Killers is part of a new series, The Killers, and I cannot wait for more. The story centers around FBI agent Hatcher McGee who is unable to move past his wife’s murder and Korine Davenport who is haunted by her father’s murder.

I love the vigilante storyline. The idea that someone is taking care of those that slipped through the fingers of the law, they found holes in the laws, or that just got away with being abusive intrigued me. Yes, I know that it wrong to take the law into your own hands but it brought to mind how the victims have to deal with what happen to them while the people who did them wrong are able to continue living their lives. I had so many guesses as to who the vigilante was but I was wrong every time.

The relationship between Hatcher and Korine was fun. I loved learning about their history and seeing how it would affect their current relationship. I liked that they could work through their history and do the job that was needed to do while not losing sight of each other and their feelings.

I recommend picking up your own copy and enjoying Pretty Little Killers.

Thank you Dayne Linton at Day Agency for a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

Korrine Davenport is back in the Savannah team of FBI agents and has been paired up with Agent Hatcher. The two of them have baggage as the night that Hatcher's wife Felicia was murdered, he was having a one night stand with Korrine. Korrine has been dodging her hometown as it brings back nasty memories of the night her father was killed while they danced together when she was five years old. In Pretty Little Killers, we see a group of criminals who have been let off or mistrials being murdered. Does the FBI team have a vigilante killer on the loose? This leads the agents to Tinsley's cottage where she has been an agoraphobic since she almost died at the hands of a serial killer called The Skull. The Skull's partner was the one who killed Hatcher's wife. Tinsley's therapist advised her to start up a blog as a cathartic journey called Heart and Soul where she can journal her feelings and in a way it has been helping others confess their darkest nightmares. A group called The Keepers have spotted the blog and are getting justice where the "regular " system failed and taking matters into their own hands. What happens when the Keepers get too close? Will Korrine find out the true identity of who killed her father and will she learn the man she loved and admired was nothing like she believed? A warning, some of the murder scenes in the book and the confessions on the blog are quite graphic and emotional.
Find out in this Southern Mystery Crime series "The Keepers" by Rita Herron.

Rita Herron has become one of my favorite Romantic Suspense writers. She has the ability to draw the reader in from the start and there is not a chance to put the book down. Pretty Little Killers did just that. I was so invested in the story that I didn't notice how the day got by and I still sat glued to the book. I highly recommend this book, fast paced, steamy and so good. Read it, I promise, you'll love it! I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Crime fiction with a splash of romance. That is one of the reasons for my three stars. Now the book was not awful it's just not my genre.

Pretty Little Killers is the first book in a series.

This book opens with BANG, 5 year old Korine witness her father's murder in front of her. Now older, Korine is an FBI agent along with her partner Hatcher McGee, who she had a one night stand with and they are investigating a string of murders that are somehow connected. Being an FBI agent she is constantly thinking of her father and intent on finding his killer.

This novel didn't hold all the suspense and thrill I was expecting it to.

Karen is a refreshing character. I loved how serious she was and how she didn't get bogged down with emotions the way we see other female characters like her portrayed in this genre. There were plenty of gripping situations to my suspense level up in this new page turner from Herron, even if I was expecting a bit more romance than I got.

For fans of Lisa Renee Jones (Lilah Love Series) and Alexandra Ivy (The Agency Series), Pretty Little Killers presents a murder mystery where lines are crossed and the truth is blurred. Rita Herron tosses readers into a dark romantic suspense as a vicious vigilante targets predators. One might think that if they're getting the bad guys off the streets, why get in the way of that? But this killer is after something more than protecting citizens and Special Agents Hatcher McGee and Korine Davenport have to figure it out before more people are killed.

After a tragic loss and downward spiral Hatcher is looking to redeem himself. It would be easier if he didn't have to work with a past fling, Korine Davenport. Korine is not without her own darkness, but she's determined to find the truth of her father's murder. When Korine is targeted the story takes an even darker turn and creates tension you could cut with a knife. The characters are complex and really bring the story to life. While the story increases in suspense, romance blossoms along with it. Korine and Hatcher are both passionate characters that set the steamy scenes on fire, even as they try to resist the attraction between them. Pretty Little Killers was so much more than I was expecting and it holds every element of romantic suspense that I love. This compelling introduction to The Keepers series is a page turner and I can't wait to see where it goes!
*ARC provided in consideration for review*

Still haunted by his wife’s murder—and stained by the blood of avenging it—FBI special agent Hatcher McGee can’t believe he’s being teamed up with rookie agent Korine Davenport. She is his most guilty secret—the one-night stand who almost cost him everything.

Korine has her own demons. As a child, she witnessed her father’s murder, and she’s spent her life waiting for the killer’s return. She and Hatcher are both looking for closure, but the disturbing case that draws them together could be their last.

When the mutilated body of a corrupt Savannah judge surfaces, Hatcher and Korine find themselves on the trail of a vigilante who is showing no mercy. Not for the predators who’ve gone free. And not for anyone who gets in the way.

As the body count rises, and as Hatcher’s and Korine’s own pasts unfold, they must risk their lives tracking a killer they’ve come to understand all too well. After all, the ends justify the means.
* * * * *
I have had the pleasure of reading and loving one of Ms. Herron's many series before so I definitely was excited to see that she is starting another romantic suspense series. And I am happy to say that PRETTY LITTLE KILLERS exceeded my expectations!
Now to do that, the expected standards were met. The pacing was flowing and spot on.. There was a lot of tension both internal and external which tighter and tighter as the story unfolds. The dialogue was realistic and witty at times.
Where this book exceeds is in a couple areas which make it memorable. When I look back on reading this book. the first thing that hits me is just how much I like the characters. While the story focuses on Korine and Hatcher, all of the characters spring to life with Ms. Herron's words. On some there's just a glimpse at what really makes them tick, on others you feel like you really get to know them.
The next thing that springs to mind is the path to the ending. A couple of the revelations caught me by surprise though in hindsight, I can pick up slight foreshadowing. And while I found the ending satisfying, I am very curious just what the next book is going to add to the mix.
I do recommend PRETTY LITTLE KILLERS to any of my readers who enjoy romantic suspense. There is violence and some sex scenes that get a little heated which I doubt would surprise any of my readers.
***I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher or author.

Pretty Little Killers is the first book in the new The Keepers series. I read and loved the Graveyard Falls series, which is why I wanted to read this and I am glad I did.Just like the other books, it is written well and intense. The characters are well developed and fit well in the story. There are sex offenders, serial killers, rapists and child molesters in the story. Never a dull moment in the book. You may not like every character, but they all play a role in the storyline. Great book!

A suspenseful and gripping storyline that had me on the edge of my seat all the way through the story. Great writing with enjoyable characters.

Two individuals forever changed by someone close to them being brutally murdered. One it changed their life forever and shaped the path of their life. The other desperately trying to find answers and feeling consumed with guilt. Bodies turning up and a helpless feeling of protecting the next victim. Edge of your seat excitement and plot twists that would spin you in circles. Great story and being pulled into the minds of the hunter and the hunted.

I've tried and tried to get into this book! I really disliked the start and had trouble making it past the first page. then it picked up and while I got interested I got really bored by about 30%, the suspense was gone already. By 50% I just kept falling asleep.

Crime is not my genre, too much going on for me although the synopsis sounded appealing but it just wasn’t for me.

This is the first novel I have read by Rita Herron and I'm hooked. The book was full of suspense, twists, turns and a surprise ending. I found myself wanting to read more and more tonsee what happened next. Great thriller/suspense novel. I will definitely be looking for more in the future.

This is a police procedural type mystery told in multiple POV. I thought the added POVs of some of the minor characters were unnecessary and I could have done without the excerpts of the blog and its comments.

I was willing to overlook these things though and just enjoy this novel until the end. There was just enough action and mystery to keep my turning the pages. I couldn’t figure out for sure who the Keeper was and was excited for reveal. And then the author chose to have something happen that was so outside the realm of reality yet so pivotal to the plot that it ruined everything for me. [ So the unsub changes her name and is able to get into the FBI. She says she changed it because she wouldn’t have been able to get into the FBI otherwise (due to her past). But if you change your name the FBI could easily figure that out. After all, you go through a government agency to do that. And it doesn’t erase your past. (hide spoiler)]

Unfortunately because of this the book as a whole bombed for me.

Pretty Little Killers is the first book in Rita Herron’s The Keepers Series. This was my first time reading this author and I was thoroughly impressed. The book kept me on the edge of my seat. The suspense was chilling. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I found out that I was wrong. I expected it to fit the mold of every other mystery suspense book that I have read but it didn’t.

Pretty Little Killers is about new FBI Agent Korine Davenport and FBI Special Agent Hatcher McGee. Hatcher and Korine had a tryst 6 months ago, which happened to be the same night Hatcher’s wife was being murdered. After hunting down the killer, Hatcher has spent the rest of his time inside a bottle. In his first case back, Hatcher ends up partnering with Korine. Needless to say, tensions are very high; especially considering that they still have feelings for each other. Korine also has the added baggage of having witnessed the murder of her father 25 years ago when she was 5-years-old.

At its core, Pretty Little Killers is about revenge. There is a serial killer who is killing people who basically didn’t get what they deserved. This person is seeking revenge for people who were wronged by the justice system. This is the type of book that makes you question the extent to which you would go to get justice for yourself or someone else. It’s about domestic violence, child abuse, and every other heinous crime that you could think of. There are also some rather gruesome deaths so be warned nothing is candy-coated. The brutality of it all intensifies once certain truths are revealed that shake one of the FBI agents to their core. I can’t go into more detail but I will say that I was beyond shocked. The author has set the bar rather high so I’m very interested to see what she does in the next book. I’m sure that it will be killer.

~~Reviewed by Alison~~

Wow! This was the first book of The Keepers series, what a fantastic start it was! A roller coaster of a ride and I really was on the edge of my seat as the storyline unfolded before my very eyes!

Special Agents Hatcher McGee and Korine Davenport have history! And now they are forced to partner up to solve the murder of a Judge.
But this is not the first murder they will have to investigate, as it soon becomes apparent that they are dealing with a serial killer with a difference.
Korine is also trying to solve the murder of her father which happened when she was 5 years old.
Could Korine’s quest for the truth of her father’s death lead her to put her life and her partners in danger?

This book had everything you could possibly want in a great storyline. Romance, intrigue and wonderfully drawn out characters.

This is the first book of this author’s that I have read, and it certainly will not be the last! I cannot wait for the second book in this series to be available, to see how the characters relationship has developed.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/F Thriller
Triggers: Child abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Cheating, Substance abuse

Hatcher and Korine have troubled pasts. They both are trying to right a wrong.

Despite Hatcher's marriage being over, it wasn't technically. Hatcher is riddled with guilt over his wife's death, but ultimately, he knows it wasn't his fault. However, he also has guilt over his former partner's injuries as well. He is just getting back to work after mourning when he realizes that he's now paired with the one woman he can't seem to get out of his mind. She tempts him in a way that awakens his protective instinct and libido.

Korine is hell bent on finding the person who murdered her father in front of her when she was only a girl. Her family life is messy and burdensome, but she does her best to help her brother and mother. While her mom is somewhat catatonic, her brother is an alcoholic who can't seem to get things together.

With a killer on the loose, Korine and Hatcher have to find out why these people are being killed and by whom. The killer is savvy, cunning, and always one step ahead of them. Racing against the clock, both Korine and Hatcher are also trying to heal their own family guilt.

I really enjoyed that the story was more about the killings than the romance. Korine and Hatcher were the background to this story and the real story was figuring out who this killer was that was trying to ultimately get Korine.

When the truth comes out, it's more than the motive that is dropped in the laps of the detectives. I really hope that we get more on the killers and these characters, because they were engaging and well developed. I think that Korine and Hatcher have some good potential for a relationship and great chemistry. Their communication was somewhat lacking, but overall, they made a good couple.


Veronica – ☆☆☆
Pretty Little Killers is the first book in a new series. We get the point of view for FBI agents Hatcher McGee and Korine Davenport as well as snippets from our killer. There are several mysteries to this story. We get the current murders and the murder of Korine's dad when she was five. We also know one half of a pair of killers who murdered Hatcher's wife is still on the loose.

I had theories about who the killer was and how the threads of the story might come together and for some things I was on the right track and for others I was way off. The pace of the investigation is good and the action ramps up towards the end and it got my blood pumping.

On the romance side of things, Korine and Hatcher had good chemistry on a physical level but I struggled to feel their emotional connection. This is probably the part of the story for me that wasn't all it could have been. I did enjoy their romance and the steamy part of the story, I just would have like to have connected to them more.

Pretty Little Killers is a good start to a new series. I don't know if book two is going to be more of Hatcher and Korine or if we are getting another couple. Either way, I look forward to reading it. The mystery/crime solving part of Pretty Little Killers was very good and I will definitely continue reading this series.

Pretty Little Killers has everything from the first page to the end. There is not a page where your mind wanders. It has suspense, murder, and romance. It is an awesome book

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

Five year old Korine wrapped her arms around her daddy’s neck. Korine got to dance on her daddy’s feet. She got a music box and a porcelain doll who Korine decided to name Ruby. Korine was daddy’s special girl. Then daddy was shot and Korine watched him die. Before joining the FBI Korine worked as a cop in the sex crimes unit. Korine related to the to the victim and understood their desire to have justice. Korine has several family issues as her mother is severely depressed and her brother has drug problems. Korine is now an rookie agent for the FBI. and had been teamed with FBI special agent Hatcher McGee. Korine had waited her life for the killer to return. Korine and Hatcher had a one night stand and then she never heard from him. Korine and Hatcher are still attracted to each other. Now Hatcher and Korine are to solve a murder of a corrupt judge. It seems it might be a vigilante killer on the loose. Hatch had spent the last couple of months getting over his wife’s murder and him killing the man who had done it. After Hatcher’s wife was murdered -even though he was asking for a divorce she was still his wife- Hatch took some time off and used alcohol to try to forget his guilt that he couldn’t get to his wife in time to save her. Hatcher is seeing her ghost everywhere. Hatcher and Korine are trying to ignore their attraction.
I really enjoyed this book. I also liked the pace and the plot. I loved that I didn’t know who the killer was until the end and it was a surprise. I choked up at times I liked how the killer tied the predators death to their crimes. I think there were too many POV’s in this book one of the few things I didn’t like in this book. There really wasn’t romance but lust in this but that was ok. I loved the twists and turns of this book. This book has: serial killes, rape, child molesters, corrupt officials, FBI, and so much more. This was pretty dark at times but with this type of story it fit. I liked the characters and the twists and turns of this story and I recommend.