This book grabbed me from the start. I had to google The Wayne Theory. Who would have thought that Wayne is the middle name for so many serial killers. Better watch out for guys with that middle name

I really enjoyed the mystery and the end was a complete shock. I did not see that coming

Very interesting and entertaining read. It took me a bit to get into it but once I made a connection with the story I was hooked.

Plus:

Ok so I had to look up this “Wayne Theory”. I’d never heard of it before but I was a little intrigued. Who’d have thought that Wayne would be such a popular middle name for murderers. I’m definitely going to be wary the next time I meet someone with the middle name Wayne.

Daniel Ellis is a homicide detective of San Bernadino, California relentlessly pursuing the case of the Inland Empire killer, a serial killer now behind bars. The bodies of his victims are still buried somewhere and Daniel's quest to find them is not just professional. It is personal too.
Reni Fisher is an ex-FBI profiler who now lives in the desert by herself and owns a small pottery business. Reni's past is dark but not that mysterious. That's because she is the daughter of Benjamin Fisher, who is the aforementioned serial killer.
Do I have your attention now?
When a new body turns up in the same area where the previous victims have ended up, Dan and Reni will have to face the unpleasant truth that someone other than Benjamin is involved.

This was an interesting thriller with an interesting concept. I would love to see it on screen (or I may have seen something similar to it somewhere). That being said, it wasn't very unique, at first. The murderer was predictable. It felt average. But the last few chapters changed how I felt about the book. The setting of the desert was new to me. Reni's endurance is astounding, considering how terrible her past was. I liked the characters. The narration took multiple POVs but was easy to follow. The book was fast-paced, lagging only in the first few chapters.

I recommend it if you like thrillers, though it is certainly not as nail-biting and gory as I would have liked. But it was a relaxing (as relaxing a thriller can get) read. Perfect for a weekend.

3.2 stars!

This was such a thrilling story with twists and turns that could never have been anticipated. I do not normally finish books in twenty-four hours, but this one was impossible to put down.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I greatly enjoyed this mystery/thriller and was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Not only was the plot extremely engaging, but I also felt a real connection to each of the characters. This book follows the daughter of a serial killer and her quest in making amends for her father's work as well as the part she played in it. She discovers herself with the help of a friend who also carries deep trauma and a possible connection to her father. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys mysteries, thrillers, or is intrigued by serial killers.

4.5 truly compulsive reading stars

Imagine being the bait to lure young women to their deaths? Imagine being the daughter of a serial killer? Imagine your father, in jail for thirty years asking you, his daughter, to see him for he is ready to reveal the locations of the bodies of the girls he murdered?

Along with Daniel Ellis, a detective, Reni Fisher agrees to meet her father out in the desert where the bodies lie. Then, the unbelievable happens, and Reni and Daniel are off in a quest to find the bodies for Daniel and Reni, now a former FBI profiler, both have an overwhelming desire to find the and bring some closure to their families and of course their own lives. They are both driven by deeply hidden ghosts that haunt their days and make this quest their ultimate goal. As always, though danger lurks, and there are evil and strange forces working to see that their goal is never recognized.

There's a lot going on in this story, and Ms Frasier handles the telling with aplomb, building the tension, the circumstances, and the ending with lots of tension, force, and urgency. She makes this book into a compulsive read, filling it with lots of twists that honestly, I never saw coming.

If you are a lover of well done thrillers, this just might be the story for you. I read it in two days and yes, it was that good.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this very impressive page turning book, due out today, July 15,2020.

this book had a slow start for me and the third person way of telling the story make a form of detachment, that made it drag a bit. but it got a lot better about two thirds of the way in. story was resolved but also the stage set for a sequel. this is my first book, that i read by her so maybe this is typical

I really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to my friends in our Facebook book clubs and will also be reading in our in person book club next month! The book was intense, intriguing and thrilling all at the same time. The author was able to keep me engage from the beginning to the end.

The author delves deeply into the mind of a serial killer. The reader will learn about how DNA evidence is gathered after death among other interesting facts. The author did the research and it shows in the details of this book. I always enjoy learning new subjects from books and this one delivers.
The characters are well developed and the plot has multiple layers to keep you intrigued throughout. The chapters are short and fast paced and I’m excited to see what book two will be like.

The book is a favorite so for me so far for 2020.

I received a copy of Find Me through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank Thomas & Mercer along with Anne Frasier for the opportunity to provide a review.

The desert remains a wide emptiness. But within this vast domain are secrets unveiled by the winds.

Reni Fisher, former FBI profiler, sits in her small cabin located in the heat of that desert in southern California. She listens to the pounding that shakes her front door. Outside on her porch is Homicide Detective Daniel Ellis of the San Bernardino Police Department. Reni knows that by opening her door she will be re-engaging with a past that she longs to bury and keep buried.

Daniel is on a mission to bring Reni back into the fold. The Inland Empire Killer has promised to reveal the location of his victims from 30 years ago if Reni accompanies Daniel. If this were only a law enforcement situation, it would be one thing. But Reni is a bit too close to the edge on this one. The serial killer is Benjamin Wayne Fisher.........her own father.

Reni lives every day with the weight of her own guilt. As a young child of five, she was used by her father to attract young women into his macabre web. Reni only knew it as "playing the game", but what a deadly game it was. That same guilt was the reason why Reni left the FBI. But there is something about Daniel that convinces Reni to join forces with him in order to bring peace to these families. Reni will never realize the price she must pay for that decision.

Find Me started out as a top-notch psychological thriller with very engaging writing. I was pulled in by the character of Reni Fisher and her embracing of the loneliness and yet the tranquility of the desert as her refuge. I wanted to know more about Daniel and what had happened to his mother so long ago. But it was the final arch of the ending that made me shake my head in disappointment. All the energy went into the build-up with little pay-off in the conclusion. Believe me, Reni and Daniel deserved better and so did we.

But, alas, I will still be on the lookout for the next book in this series. Stay away from improbability, Anne Frasier. Hope the next one rides out like a beautiful desert sunset with all the colors aligned.

I received a copy of Find Me through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Anne Frasier for the opportunity.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Reni Fisher, like many little girls, grew up idolizing her father. She loved the time she got to spend with him playing their game, even when she started to bore of it. However, she didn’t know how real the game was or what her father was really up to until the day he was arrested, for multiple murders. And, she didn’t realize that she was the bait he used to trap his victims.

It’s been thirty years since Ben Fisher was arrested, and Reni has had no contact with him during that time. She has done the best she could to try to move on with her life. She is still overcome with guilt for the women that lost their lives due, in part, to her. It led her to a career in the FBI and her never-ending search to find where Ben buried his victims.

Ben has refused to reveal where his victims are during all this time, but now he has reached out to homicide detective Daniel Ellis. He is ready to lead him to the graves, but only if Reni comes with them! Now Reni must face her past to help the families to get the closure they so desperately need. However, Daniel has secrets of his own and he’s hoping that Ben will finally put his long-time obsession to rest. But neither Reni nor Daniel expects the curve-ball Ben has planned for them!

There is something about serials killer stories that pique my interest. It doesn’t matter if it’s based on a real murderer or completely fictional, like this one. And, this book in particular sends a chill down your spine with how Ben Fisher, the Inland Empire Killer, used his daughter to doom his victims.

I felt this novel started out strong. It drew me in immediately. I was horrified and strangely interested in Ben’s crimes. And strangely enough, I felt the love he had for his daughter, despite how he used her. I could see how his game would force his victims to play right into his hands. What woman could resist helping a lost child?

However, after Ben’s outing to reveal his victims’ whereabouts, I found the book got a bit dull. At that point, it was all about Reni, Daniel, Maurice, and Rosalind. And, several points of the book were fairly predictable, but not everything was. It does pick up slightly towards the end, but it never quite completely regained the interest I had at the beginning of the book. And, honestly I was surprised with the final scene…. It seemed an odd way to end the story and felt a bit incomplete.

This is the first book in a new series, but honestly there was nothing about this novel that puts me in a rush to read the next installment. It was an okay read, but not anything special. I also don’t see what is left to happen in the series except for Daniel to finally get some closure. I guess we’ll find out in due time!

Benjamin Wayne Fisher loved his family, loved nature, loved sunsets and animals .... and yet he was evil. The same man who read stories to his little daughter Reni and then gave her a kiss and tucked her in ... had no qualms about using this beloved little one as bait to lure young women to their deaths ... he was a true monster. His killing fields extended to an area between Los Angeles and the Mojave Desert, hence his nickname: The Inland Empire Killer. He was only caught because one victim ... a petite young blond named Gabby Sutter, got away .... because of the unexpected intervention of Reni. In the thirty years since his apprehension she has neither visited or talked with this supreme predator. These little father-and-daughter outings of death had left a deep scar in her soul and in an attempt for redemption she had actually become a profiler with the FBI ... but, several years ago had experienced a breakdown and left the FBI and become a recluse living in a small cabin in the same desert. On her own , she searched the desert for the bodies of the victims - in an attempt for closure for herself and the many families touched by this evil. Ben never planned on sharing the location of the multitude of bodies ... never actually confessing to the extent of his kills. Then unexpectedly, Homicide Detective Daniel Ellis is summoned to San Quentin's death row for a little chat with Benjamin. Ben wishes to go on an outing in the desert to share where the bodies are buried ... however, only if they are accompanied by his estranged daughter. Daniel, himself has a hidden agenda ... he is convinced that his mother was one of the victims of the Inland Empire killer. An unlikely partnership arises... Daniel and Reni join forces as another similar murder occurs, raising suspicion that a second person helped with the original murders.
Frasier provides an immersive twisted narrative that escalates to a thrilling unexpected denouement. The nightmare unfolds with a page turner that begs one to put aside every day life and work. There is no cliffhanger .. and yet one expects to read more about Daniel and Reni. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. ( at readersremains.com )

Frasier throws you into the deep end straight away and grabs you with a vice-like grip, refusing to let you pull free. Throughout this novel, I rooted for the key characters, but the seed of doubt the author plants makes it impossible to trust them. As the reader, you are frequently questioning their motives.


Instead of being focussed on the serial killer and the fatalities, the book weaves in and out of the lives of two people with broken family life and childhood trauma. Daniel’s decision to become a detective was to discover what happened to his mum. He is positive throughout that if he finds the bodies of the Inland Empire Killer’s victims, he will discover the truth. Before the date, Daniel helped his mother make a dress and hoping to find her, kept a piece of the leftover fabric.

Thank you to Net Gallery, Thomas & Mercer and Anne Frasier for this free copy and a chance to say my thoughts!

This was such an interesting thriller with a luring mystery that got me asking questions right from reading the synopsis. After the first chapter I was attached to the main character Reni and as I was reading, I couldn't leave her in situations that she was either remembering or experiencing, so I read this in one sitting. I enjoyed how the timeline jumped from the present to the past as you begin to learn all about how her father used her for bait to lure unsuspected women to their deaths. As hard as it is to exhume her traumatic childhood she decided it was time for closure. Closure for herself, for the families, and for detective Daniel who made a deal with the convicted serial killer, Fisher, to located his victims. Detective Danny shares Reni’s obsession with the past. Ever since he was a boy, he’s been convinced that his mother was one of Fisher’s victims.

This was a fast, intense read. This was a great start of a new series, so I am curious if the next book will be more about the questions that weren't answered. Otherwise this would be a good standalone, for some questions never do get answers or have the answers wrapped up in a nice package.

"There was no starting over for most people. That was a misconception. Unless a person's memory could be erased, there were no fresh starts, only progression."

Reni Fisher knows how difficult it is to go forward and live anything resembling a normal life. When she was a child, her father, Benjamin Fisher, was arrested as the Inland Empire Killer. With evidence suggesting that he was responsible for over 20 murders, Ben Fisher now resides on death-row at San Quentin. After 30 years, Ben has reached out to the former investigator who handled his case but finds that he has retired. Instead, Daniel Ellis, homicide detective, comes to the meeting. Ben Fisher has decided to reveal the locations of his victims - in exchange, however, he insists that his daughter, Reni, be allowed to accompany him on the expedition.

Now 38 years old, Reni has not visited Ben since his arrest. She had joined the FBI as a profiler, but events soon led to her resignation and escape to the isolated house in the Mojave Desert. She is running from her own demons because she had been used as bait and had indeed lured many of the victims to their deaths at the hands of her father. Sure, she was a child and should be held blameless, but she can't escape the guilt. She reluctantly agrees to accompany Daniel and Her father on the recovery effort. There are still many secrets and lies about what happened 30 years ago and Reni and Daniel are about to find out just what the truth will cost them. NO SPOILERS.

This was excellent. It became obvious immediately that this was not the typical serial killer thriller. The narrative draws the reader in quickly and the great writing keeps you absorbed and focused. I really liked the character of Reni Fisher and grew to care about her and Daniel as events unfolded. My biggest disappointment is that I can't read the next in the series immediately as it won't be out until 2021. I loved the desert setting and the details enhanced the mood and the plot. Well done!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

Reni's father was arrested when she was a child. Not only was he a prolific serial killer, but he used Reni as bait. Certainly, not your typical father/daughter dynamics and Reni spends most of her time trying to cope with the past. Her father has never cooperated with the police and Reni wants to be able to provide closure for the families. She searches for the graves whenever she can, and so far has had no luck finding them.
Suddenly, Benjamin Fisher is willing to disclose the locations of the graves. Of course, he has one condition. He tells Detective Daniel Ellis that he will lead him to the graves as long as his daughter is present. Reni hasn't seen her father since his arrest but feels obligated to agree to his demand in case he is telling the truth.
Things quickly go awry as Reni doubts her memories and Daniel is keeping a rather large secret. As both of them struggle with their pasts, a new murder suggests that Benjamin may have had a partner. If not, there is a copycat on the loose and Rani is determined to uncover the truth.
The Fishers are shall we say an unusual family. Reni's childhood love for her father surfaces at times, but always gets pushed away by the reality of what he did. Her relationship with her mother isn't clearcut either. A woman mortified by her husband's actions, and someone who did not adjust to motherhood easily.
Daniel also suffered a tremendous loss when he was a child. Could Benjamin be responsible? Reni and Danielle were well-drawn characters, though I felt much more connected to Reni. Since Find Me(Inland Empire #1) is listed as the first book, the author provided numerous answers while leaving many questions that could resurface in another book. This doesn't end with a cliffhanger, but there is room for further character development. An enjoyable backyard read.

What a beautifully written book!!! It is unusual to find such well drawn out characterizations, mesmerizingly detailed descriptions, in a suspense novel. The prose and the plot impressed me enormously.

No spoilers here:

Reni, is the main protagonist. Ex-FBI.

Daniel is a detective.

They are drawn together to seek truths involving serial killings in the Mojave Desert - the biggest killing field in the U.S. They are searching for information about the Inland Empire Killer who has colored the way in which they view the world. They are battling inner demons.

It is a very thought provoking book as it reveals that all is not what it seems and life is multi-layered and multi-dimensional

I didn't want to stop reading it and will be seeking out more books by this author.

Highly recommended. Very talented writer.

This book started off with great potential, a serial killer behind bars and a detective trying to find answers and bodies. A former FBI agent that is also the killers daughter brought on to help when her father requests she be there or he won't tell.

Though I did enjoy the story and the mystery, I felt that there was too much abrupt stop and go. As soon as you get some of the bigger pieces of information, someting happens that cuts that narrative off. It made the story feel choppy, like the author didn't quite know how to handle playing that part of the story out. It was almost "deja vu" which I felt took away from the story.

I did like Daniel and Reni's characters and perspectives. Their backstories were interesting and what honestly carried the story. 

 When going into this book, I was unaware that this was the start of a new series so I was a bit mad about the story ending the way it did.  After further reflection, I'm still mad but that along is what drives me to want to continue this series.

My thanks to the Author publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an advance kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
Engaging from the first page this is a clever descriptive imaginative read, atmospheric with good characters particularly our heroine and her sidekick, who I presume will ride again as the ending leaves scope for that. Well written and researched with a surprising twist at least to me, and whilst about a serial killer little in the way of graphic violence which made a pleasant change. Though the front cover is a surprising choice, I personally don't get it with regard to the book I read.
Recommended.

This is my first book by the author and the series. This books is dark, twisted, clever, gruesome and bone chilling!

Set in the Savannah this book pulled me in right from the start. It was original and fresh. This is such a different kind of thriller as it focuses on the family of a serial killer.

It was atmospheric and gave me chills. I read it in one sitting to keep my heart and mind in control. Those last few chapters kept me at the edge of my seat. Absolutely riveting and dark. Never did I ever read such twists and turns. I am thankful to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me an e ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A quick and engrossing read. A good psychological thriller with a climactic end. Looking forward to the next in series and buy a copy soon. The author deserves all praise.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be fast-paced and engaging. It really has a unique perspective on a serial killer using his own daughter as bait and how traumatic that was for the daughter (Reni). Reni and Homicide Detective Daniel are both intriguing, flawed characters. I'm looking forward to book 2!

Where do I start? Lol. But firstly, I want to thank Netgalley, Anne Frasier, and Thomas & Mercer for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.

This book is the first book in Inland Empire series. It follows the story of Reni Fisher. Her father was a serial killer who people know as The Inland Empire Killer. When Reni was a child, her father used her as a bait to lure the women he wants to kill. She didn't realized that her father was killing the women because her dad keeps telling her that it was just a game. But one night, one of her father's victims escaped and reported it to the police leading to the arrest of her father. 30 years later, Reni became an FBI Profiler. And she was forced by Detective Daniel Ellis to help her find the bodies of her father's victims. And so, the story goes on.

I know I'm not a good descriptor of the story. Lol. But it's more than the description this book has. It is really informative. And as a person who loves to study forensic science and Psychology, it's really interesting to me. Like I found out "new terms" in human behaviour, and this book has so many facts about forensic science from the view point of Psychology. The facts that the author are dropping are mix with the way the character's thoughts so it's not annoying to read.

Honestly, if you are interested with how the crime scene investigations works (like me) this book is perfect for you. It mentioned different parts of investigations and I loved it. My knowledge of True Crime expanded. It also tackles the signs of Gaslighting and how bad it is affecting the victim for the rest of her life. And honetstly, her sanity. You will clearly tell that the character is scarred.

As for the plot, I think it's in the right pace. I mean it's not slow or fast. And for a 280+ pages book it covers so much character profiles, backgrounds, and information or "clues" to the mystery.

In most books I was annoyed with flashbacks, but in this one I wasn't. The flashbacks weren't boring or annoying because you will clearly see that it's a big part on the plot.

I also thought in the later part of the book that some of the plot twists weren't really necessary. And I said that maybe it's the way of the author to give the book more thrilling. But when I got to the ending I realized that it's a big part in the plot, and it made the book more thrilling. I'm not saying that these plot twists are the only thrilling in this book, but these plot twists made the book even better.

The main character, Reni, is so interesting to read 'cause she is always questioning her thoughts. Then add the more interesting part where you will clearly see that what her father done to her affected her for the resf of her life, but inspite of that, she is a really good person. She is not annoying and she is easy to feel attached to. As for Daniel, you will also see what his experience in childhood affects on what a person he is in the present. I really loved this two getting along, especially when they are investigating the crimes. And I already ship them the second they met.

I also expected that the author would put a romance plot in this. But no, haha. I should be disappointed but I'm really not. It's just clearly shows that writing a thrilling book doesn't really need a "romance trope". And the connection of Reni and Daniel are in the right track. I mean if you want to see them as friends their dynamics support it. But if you want to see them as a "potential couple" you also can see a deep connection between them.

My only problem with this book is that there are some things that clearly need a thorough explanation. Like why or how did this happen. Or why this character is suddenly involved. And honestly, for me I think the ending is just so sudden and a bit....over? I think. Lol.

I rated this book 4.8 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. I know there are some things that needs clarification but I think it's just a little flaw, 'cause nothing is perfect (lol). But all in all I really enjoyed this book. And I really want to pick up the second book! It gives me a thrilling vibe and I learned so much about psychology and forensic science from this book. Totally recommend this book to everyone, especially for those who are interested in forensic science.