Brenda Novak writes beautiful stories. Stories firmly entrenched in family and family values. FACE OFF the next installment in the Evelyn Talbot series is anything but a beautiful romance story. But even with horrific crime stories this prolific author can’t help but include her love of family. And so with FACE OFF we continue the saga of pitting Evelyn Talbot, a psychopathic investigator against her age old tormentor Jasper Moore. Yes Jasper is alive and well and unfortunately for Evelyn he is now in Alaska. Scary doesn’t even begin to describe any scene that Jasper is in but in order for you to experience that yourself you must read FACE OFF.
Suffice it to say bad guys are abundant – our prisons are filled with them. But there are bad guys and then there are bad guys. Jasper is a serial killer who has had his eye on Evelyn since she was a teenager. He has done everything in his power to destroy her and her life. No one is out of bounds for this deranged demon. His parents have provided him with just the tools for his latest attempt at torture and death for Evelyn. They are now dead – killed by the very monster that they have assisted all these years. Love is a strange thing – perhaps Jasper’s parents thought by giving him a new identity it would be an entry into a new calm and less dangerous life. In short – they were wrong.
Evelyn is still at Hanover House in Alaska trying to get into the minds of the worst criminals. They get sent to Hanover House for this very purpose. The population at Hanover House is comprised of the people that present an ever present danger to the world targeting mostly woman and girls and this is the place of work for Evelyn and a group of CO’s. The security is the highest available which should make it a somewhat safe place to work. But we all know better than to become complacent.
This is what Evelyn is going to learn in rather short order. It seems as if there is an increase of murders committed in areas surrounding Hanover House. None of the inmates have been released – well not in quite a while at least. So when the police department headed by Evelyn’s boyfriend Amarok starts to investigate a missing woman from a hunting cabin they hope it isn’t a murder on their hands.
There is always room for hope.
But you see Jasper is there although at the beginning no one suspects him. As evidence surfaces and points to what he is capable of there seems to be a growing clarity of who they are looking for. Problem is Jasper is hiding in plain sight. His parents had helped Jasper obtain a new identity. The scope of people that need to be investigated is unfortunately bottomless. And time is running out. Evelyn and Amarok sense that Evelyn is emotionally fragile. In short her history with Jasper has diminished her sense of safety and she is living with dread.
Evelyn needs help. Amarok asks her sister to come pay a visit to hopefully give her a sense of normalcy and family. Evelyn needs this. Family is so important. Evelyn and Amarok know this. But unfortunately so does Jasper.
Hope I got your attention. Once you start reading FACE OFF you realize you are in for the duration. It is another page turning novel written by Brenda Novak and her fans are just going to love it. So scary and unpredictable even if you are fully aware of who the bad guy is and Brenda Novak tells us in the prologue exactly what Jasper is planning. Brenda Novak wrapped up every horrific trait she could fathom in this serial monster.

This series has a continuing story arc. I do not recommend reading the books out of order.

The Set Up
Evelyn Talbot is the head psychiatrist at Hanover House, a maximum security prison for serial killers, located in Hilltop, Alaska. The facility is devoted to the psychological study of these criminals and it’s her mission to somehow discover what drives them so she might better understand the one who tried to kill her when she was sixteen years old. Benjamin (Amarok) Murphy is an Alaska State Trooper assigned to the community and is in a relationship with Evelyn. He’s recently returned from the lower 48 after coming very close to capturing Jasper Moore, the man who has haunted Evelyn for most of her life.

The Issues
Unbeknownst to Evelyn and Amarok, Jasper is hiding in plain sight. He surgically altered his appearance years ago, moved to Alaska eight months ago and is a corrections officer at the prison. Jasper’s methodically plotting his final face off with the one that got away and who he’s obsessed with. When two women are found murdered, both Amarok and Evelyn know instinctively that Jasper is now among them.

The Bottom Line
It was chilling getting the alternating narratives, particularly Jasper’s, holding my breath as they investigated and searched for him, trying to figure out his identity. The close calls and near misses kept me off balance and so highly stressed I had to keep putting the book down. This final confrontation was one I was anticipating and looking forward to reading. I just didn’t think about how suspenseful, thrilling and downright scary it would be. There wasn’t any relief at all and that’s what made this SO good!

4 1/2 STARS!

Jasper returns ... and life will never be the same! With the next book in the Evelyn Talbot Chronicles, we pick up shortly after the previous book left off. Deviant Jasper is hiding in plain sight right under Evelyn's nose, and planning his next big attack. We foray the ups and downs of how life is settling in with everyone and watch with baited breath for them to figure out the evil that is lurking. The next book is set up in a huge way, so I'm really looking forward to the next installment!

Psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot has never let life get her down. Even when brutalized and left for dead at 16 by her psychopath boyfriend, she picked up the pieces and made it her life's work to study the minds of such criminals to see how she could help stop it from happening again. Now she's the lead doctor at a specialized prison in Hilltop, Alaska that she helped spearhead into being built. Behind their doors, they study some of the most horrific serial killers from around the country.

When a couple of women's bodies are found in ways reminiscent of Jasper's past crime scenes, Evelyn and her boyfriend Amarok who is the only law around for the small Alaskan town begin to get worried. Jasper is near, and he's coming for her. She's escaped with her life before, but odds are she won't be that lucky again!

I had to stop reading this book because it was so one-dimensional. It seemed that the novel was nothing more than a vehicle to deliver scenes of sexual violence for the titillation of readers. I love a well-written thriller and am all for finely crafted gore, but this isn't that.

Dr. Evelyn Talbot is back in another chapter of this suspenseful thriller where she must battle a demon from her past. This edge of your seat story will have you wondering who's behind all the stress and fear is must cope with. With the help of her boyfriend/state trooper they will have to figure out her stalkers are. I find that what I thought would be a threat ends up not being one and that when her family needs her will she give in and head back home? Will her relationship survive and who's next on the list to loose their life. I was surprised along the way with the twists and turns of this fourth book in the Evelyn Talbot series.


Dr, Evelyn Talbot has been dealing with fear, threats and her past for over 20 years. That traumatic event all those years ago set her on the path that would change her life and take her to remote area of Alaska for her dream job as head psychiatrist at a prison for psychopaths.. Where she met the love of her life Lieutenant Brian Murphy also known as Aramrok she is able to feel safe and work through her anxiety about the past. Her job as the head of Hanover House keeps her very busy trying to figure out psychopaths to help further victims. The town is not enthused about the prison being in the area of their town of 5oo. Amarok was against the prison until he met Evelyn and found out about the jobs it would bring. They've fallen in love and are living together and she's wanting to get pregnant because she's running out of time. They've together dealt with several murders and attempts on her life. A CO at the prison saved Evelyn's life the last time but she still doesn't feel comfortable around him. Amarok is the Alaskan state trooper for the area but he's also dealing with an ex-girlfriend who wants him back. When a early snow storm arrives in Hilltop everything comes to a standstill. Jasper Moore who was Evelyn's ex-boyfriends and the man who almost killed her 22 years ago. He's back in her life even though she and Amarok don't know it. He's killed a woman and left her body at a remote cabin that is rented by Sierra and her brother and his friends for a late season hunting trip. Jasper arrives at the cabin and realizes he's got a problem and kills Sierra and has loaded her body and the woman he killed into his truck. He can't take the bodies and dump them away from the area but the storm makes him dump them closer to the prison and stay at the local motel. Meanwhile Sierra's party comes back to the cabin and realize she's missing and gets in touch with Amarok. He does a quick investigation at the scene but the storm make him cut it short. He's investigating the disappearance with Evelyn's help. They realize that she didn't just wander off. Then they realize that she is most likely dead when a piece of scalp and hair are found under a CO's truck. He takes Amarok to the scene but he finds nothing, because Jasper has moved them to another area. Evelyn is wondering who's been leaving threatening notes on her car but she hasn't told Amarok. She's very stressed because of work and an attack that happened not so long ago. Amarok and Evelyn have finally made love. She's been thinking about having a baby before its too late. She goes to a doctor to find out and scares Amarok. She's not sure about wanting to stay and have a baby since she's only supposed to be there for 5 years. When the stresses and the fear that Jasper is around start getting to Evelyn they arrange for her sister to come and visit. Her sister Brianne is dealing with her own crisis and wants Evelyn to come home help her with their parents. When she reveals her problems to Evelyn it puts distance between them. Amarok is also putting space between them when Evelyn mentions about going back home for a year. He gives her an ultimatum. Meanwhile Brianne is at a low point and has sex with the CO Andy Smith who saved Evelyn and Amarok sees them. Jasper thinks he can get to Evelyn by using Brianne. Amarok's ex-girlfriend is becoming obsessed with him and its making Evelyn jealous. When the two women that Jasper killed are found it takes the investigation to the next level. Amarok goes looking for more evidence and is shot at injuring Jasper in the process. Only he can't be found because no on has called in sick at work. Evelyn contacts an attorney friend to look into the murder conviction of the man who helped start Hanover House, thinking it was Jasper since they've got his DNA. The results come back and they realize that Jasper is in the area. Evelyn makes a important decision that puts her relationship with Amarok in jeopardy. A search of records commences. Evelyn confronts a foe and makes a decision about her future. An identity is revealed and a body is found at Amarok and Evelyn's house. A serial killer is caught and Evelyn has two new inmates at Hanover House. Evelyn has control and a surprise for Amarok. A tentative plan to return to her home of Boston is planned.

I figured that when Evelyn confronts her past and the serial killer involved that would be the end of the Dr. Evelyn Talbot books and series but it seems like its just the beginning. There is to be a book 5 and I'm looking forward to reading that as well. Brenda Novak has a flare for writing a suspenseful and thrilling book. I was filled with tension waiting for the conclusion of Face Off. I was so engrossed in the book that with only 3 chapters left I stayed up past my bedtime to finish the book to find out what happens. I'm looking forward to finding out more about Dr. Evelyn Talbot books and series and see if the two of them can survive this time and what will happen with their family and friends.

That was an amazing book! The storyline was fantastic and I might have shouted out loud a few times! The adrenaline gets pumping in this book. The narrator was fabulous and switched seamlessly between characters!

Face Off by Brenda Novak is the third full length book in the Evelyn Talbot Series. There also was a novella to start out the series. Hopefully you have read the other books in this series if you have not I suggest you do, but if not the author does catch you up with the back story. This book kept me turning the pages and sitting at the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to see what the next installment brings. Very well done Brenda Novak. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC.

Evelyn's story moves on in this book. She knows Jasper is close but has to figure out how to outsmart him. With the help of her boyfriend and the friends she made his rope is getting tighter. With the twists and turns this book keeps you on the end of the your seat,

I thought his was the best book in this series.

OMG, OMG, OMG Face Off is a FIVE PLUS star book, meaning it deserves MORE then 5 stars. I have been waiting for FACE OFF for a year now, It was well worth the wait. FACE OFF is about a women named Evelyn, she and her love of her life, Amarok live in Hilltop Alaska. Evelyn runs a prison in Hilltop, which houses some of the worst physchopaths in the U.S. Evelyn studies these physchopaths to "basically" see what makes them tick. Amarok is the one and only cop in Hilltop, and he wants nothing more then to find and take down Jasper, will he finally do it? When Evelyn was 16 she was dating a man named Jasper Moore. 20 plus years ago Evelyn was brutalized and tortured, then left for dead, with a slice across her neck. Jasper is the one that tortured her for days then left her for dead after killing a few of Evelyn's friends. Jasper has been on the run for more then 20 years, he is< and has been on a mission to torure and kill Evelyn. When Evelyn and Jasper come face to face......will Evelyn recognize Jasper, will Jasper get to finally get his "fix" and be able to kill Evelyn this time.....you'll have to read to find the answers.
I would also like to add that Brenda Novak knows how to make "real" characters, she makes you feel as your standing next to these people and watching the scene play out. YOU WILL NOT REGRET THIS STORY!!!!!!!!!!

I enjoyed this book. I don't think that poor Evelyn is ever going to catch a break. This is the third book in the Evelyn Talbot Chronicles which is a series that is best read in order since much of this book builds on the events in previous installments. I was eager to see how things were going for Evelyn and Amarok when I picked up this book and I found that I was quickly pulled into the story. I found this newest installment in the series to be quite entertaining.

In a lot of ways, this book felt like a continuation of the story that started in the previous installment, Hello Again. Evelyn is still very focused on her work with psychopaths at Hanover House. Her relationship with Amarok is in a very similar place since Evelyn can't seem to offer Amarok the commitment he wants. The threat of the man who nearly killed Evelyn all those years ago is having a big impact on the daily lives of both Evelyn and Amarok.

This book really focused on Jasper and it was nice to finally let that story play out. The reader knows who Jasper is posing as in the book and we get to see things from his point of view quite often. It was really interesting to see things from all the key players perspectives as the story played out. It was interesting watching Amarok and Evelyn figure things out and get themselves out of a few dangerous situations.

There were a few other things going on in this book that also worked to keep things interesting. There is a missing woman from an area cabin that Amarok has to deal with. He also has an old girlfriend that is back in town and determined to rekindle their relationship. To top things off, Evelyn's sister comes to Alaska for a visit and causes some stress of her own and causes Evelyn to make some pretty big decisions.

I did find parts of this story to be a bit unbelievable. I had no problem just accepting the story as told but I did find a few things rather far fetched. I also thought that some of the relationship issues between Amarok and Evelyn felt a bit manufactured and added unnecessary drama to the story. These issues didn't stop me from enjoying the book even though I did take notice.

I would recommend this series to others. I thought that this was a nice way to wrap up the Jasper story arc and I actually felt that it wrapped up the series quite nicely. I was surprised to find an excerpt for a fourth book in this series and I have to admit that I am very curious about how this series will go moving forward. I wouldn't hesitate to read more from Brenda Novak in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.

This was a great addition to the Evelyn Talbot Chronicles, one I've been waiting for. It was just as good as the other books in this series and moved the series along well.

I enjoy that Ms. Novak allows her characters in this series to grow and change, as we all do in life. It keeps things more interesting. I was surprised at the ending, but imagine that it won't be long before we have another in this series that deals with the worst of the worst psychopaths.

If you've followed this series, definitely get this book!

Face Off is a psychological thriller. The storyline was very compelling with numerous twists and turns. Brenda Novak is a superb writer who captured me from the very beginning. I look forward to reading more of her books.

Face Off

An enthralling suspense thriller set in Alaska with an amazingly strong female lead character.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


SUMMARY
Dr. Evelyn Talbot is a leading psychiatrist at Hanover House in Hilltop, Alaska, studying psychopaths and serial killers. Her study is motivated by her experience, when at 16, she was tortured and left for dead, by serial killer Jasper Moore. Jasper was never caught and is on the run by hiding in plain sight. He continues to be obsessed with raw lust for Evelyn and will stop at nothing to be near her again. He has special plans just for her. Evelyn’s handsome boyfriend, Amarok is the chief of police in Hilltop and promises her he will keep her safe. Amarok is working day and night to find Jasper, especially after two young women are found dead, not far from Hanover House.

REVIEW
My favorite part of this book was Evelyn’s perseverance and strength. My focus in reading this year has been on books with strong women characters, women that would serve as role models for our daughters. Dr. Evelyn Talbot fits the bill. She has risen up from devastating circumstances and has used what happened to her as motivation to study how the psychopath’s brain work. I was impressed by how well her character was developed and by the nuances of her relationships with a variety of people, particularly with Amarok, her sister, co-workers and her parents. FACE OFF has a ruggedly perfect cast of characters.

BRENDA NOVAK’S writing is smart, sharp and easy to read. Her story is suspenseful and meticulously built. She had me with the torture cellar in Anchorage. I mean who sets a story in Alaska! Love it! This is the third book in a series featuring Dr. Evelyn Talbot. The first two books were Her Darkest Nightmare, and Hello Again. While I had not read the previous book I had no difficulty getting into, or following the story. I am however, highly motivated to read these earlier books in the series, since this one is such a well written suspense thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley, Headline and Brenda Novak for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher St Martin’s Paperbacks
Published August 28, 2018
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

Brenda Novak is a new author to me, but I'm so glad I have now been introduced to her books. I loved this book, and I'm sure you will too. I can't to read her other books, as I'm sure I'll be just as hooked as I was with this one.
A++

Face Off by Brenda Novak, book three in The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles. A edge of your seat romantic suspense that even though I hadn't read the previous books yet in this series I still enjoyed this one. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I love this series and so glad she got some closure. Hope she stays with Amarok in Alaska! This was one of her best and certainly kept the fast pace up. I highly recommend this series and look forward to the next.

I have loved this series from the beginning and this book is probably the best. When a woman goes missing, they are thinking she wondered off, but her brother knows better. Someone had to take her. As Amarok looks into the disappearance more, he finds evidence of another missing woman. Is this Jasper's work? Evelyn is sure it is. With her sister visiting, Evelyn realizes that she needs to help with her parents more, but how can she leave Amarok. Even temporarily. Things heat up as they find evidence that Jasper committed more murders and then Amarok is forced to deal with his ex, Samantha. She just won't give up and she is trying to find Jasper so he can help her get rid of Evelyn. She doesn't care if Evelyn lives or dies, she just wants her out of Amarok's life. Will Evelyn stay in Alaska and will they find Jasper before he kills more people?

As a fan of The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles, I've been on pins and needles since the cliffy ending of Hello Again and anxious to see where Novak would take the story and characters next. I'll say now that if you haven't read the previous books, you should snatch them up and settle in for a chilling marathon of thriller action. Novak does a fantastic job of catching readers up on backstory with each book so they can be read as standalones, but you're missing some great reading time if you skip the previous books.

Face Off picks up right where Hello Again ended, and I soon found myself transported right back into Hilltop, Alaska, and the tumultuous lives of Evelyn, leading psychiatrist at Hanover House, and her love interest, local law enforcement officer, Amarok. Their relationship development is key in this book as ultimatums are issued forcing some major decisions and changes. The author does a fantastic job exposing the differences that threaten their relationship and highlighting major hurdles they will need to overcome in order for them to move forward. Novak wastes no time ramping up the chilling action with tension escalating from the opening chapters all the way through to the shocking ending. I found the pacing to be brisk as I maneuvered the many twists and turns the author wove into this riveting plot line. The interesting thing in this book is that even though readers are aware of the identity of the villain all the way through, I still found myself burning through pages while screaming, "Take off the blinders and SEE who's standing right in front of you!" It certainly begs the question: Is there any better hiding place than in plain sight?

I'm not going to discuss any plot details here as there's only one way to experience this thriller - read it for yourself! I will say that dead bodies are surfacing once again, and Evelyn is sure that it's a warning for her from Jasper, the psychopath who's come close to killing her twice. If there's one thing Evelyn knows to be true, it's that Jasper will never rest, never stop stalking her . . . until she's dead. Question is: Where is he hiding??

Face Off is an intense, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will have readers looking over their shoulder at things that go bump in the night. While it can be said that the plot line is repetitive in some ways with Evelyn once again in a serial killer's sights, the story's chilling, threatening, atmospheric delivery makes it another Must Read in the series! After the ending, I'm anxious to see where the story and these characters go next. Another winner by Novak!

Evelyn Talbot anxiety just keeps increasing with her life, trying to find Jasper and has family issues back in Boston. The only good thing in her life is Amarok her boyfriend, who is the police officer in this small remote town but even their relationship is tested. Now to find Jasper, who is hiding in plain site.

This is a book that I read in one day, could not put it down. A cat and mouse game at it's best, trying to hunt Jasper before he kills the next person. So many twists and turns till the very end! I thought this would be the last book in the series but so excited we will get more of Evelyn Talbot. This is book three in the series but can be read as a stand alone. I highly recommend this book

I have forgotten how scary this series could be. Face Off is a great reminder. Brenda Novak writes beautifully written romances and small-town stories, she brings that incredible talent to the psychological thrillers too. However, the Hanover House Series is nail biting; the kind that I don’t read just before bed kind of scary stories.

Evelyn Talbot is one tough woman, who has overcome her own terrorized kidnapping. Instead of breaking her, it made her a resilient psychiatrist. Studying sadistic serial killers comes with a price, which includes her often in danger. This story hits close to home for her. You have to admire this woman, you just wouldn’t want to be her.

Well-structured plot with the irrepressible Evelyn. It even has a bit of romance. Yet the focus remains fixed on the disturbing case. No lag in the pacing of this addition to the series. Each story follows the last, so I would suggest that the series be read in order.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.