Kendell Beck is an FBI agent working with missing and exploited children. She has just caught a case with a missing five year old girl. She finds the girl but suspects that there has been sexual abuse in her home.
But everything is put on hold when her own roommate goes missing. Gwen and Kendell have been best friends since college and when Gwen needs to borrow Kendell's car, she is quick to oblige. But Gwen does not return from her restaurant and a few days later is found dead. Kendell takes time to be with Gwen's family.

Adam Taylor of the local police catches Gwen's case. He wonders if it is related to the cases of other missing women or if it is personal. Gwen owns and runs a successful restaurant with her fiancée who is the chef. Gwen wants to expand; he wants to stay small. Some of his actions look suspicious and his alibi doesn't quite hold up. Some of the other employees have issues as well. Adam is attracted to Kendell but knows that this is not the time to try to do anything about it. So he works the case hoping to catch a break and find her killer.

This is the novel in the Kendell Beck series. Kendell is a strong woman who has faced much adversity in her own life. She fits in with the men she works with but isn't interested in romance at all. I listened to this book and the narrator did an excellent job. Her pacing was quick enough that it lent suspense to the action being narrated yet pleasant for extended listening pleasure. This book is recommended to mystery readers.

This was a good story which kept me turning the pages throughout the night. Great mystery, writing and plotting will recommend to all my friends who love this genre.

"The Wrong Woman" by Leanne Kale Sparks is a gripping thriller with a perfect blend of pulse-pounding suspense and an intriguing cast of characters, this novel takes readers on a journey where the past refuses to stay buried, and the search for justice becomes a race against time.

The story follows FBI Agent Kendall Beck, the lone survivor of Denver's infamous "Reaper" serial murders. Kendall, haunted by her past, dedicates herself to seeking justice for victims of abuse. However, her quest for justice takes a personal turn when her best friend and roommate, Gwen Tavich, is found dead in a nearby lake. Devastated by the loss, Kendall teams up with Denver detective Adam Taylor to unravel the mystery surrounding Gwen's death.

The plot thickens as evidence mounts against Gwen's fiance, Ty Butler, and he becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Kendall, fueled by her grief and a desire for the truth, questions her own knowledge of her friend as Gwen's dark secrets begin to unravel. In the midst of this turmoil, Kendal discovers a shocking revelation that connects Gwen's murder to the disappearance of five-year-old Emily Williams. With the Reaper's return to Denver, Kendall and Adam find themselves in a race against time to stop the killer before more lives are lost.

Leanne Kale Sparks skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The author's ability to create complex characters, particularly Kendall Beck, adds depth and emotion to the narrative. Kendall's struggle with her past traumas and her determination to bring justice to the victims of abuse make her a compelling protagonist. The chemistry between Kendall and Adam Taylor is palpable, adding an extra layer of tension and complexity to the story.

Sparks' writing style is crisp and engaging, with well-paced chapters that make it difficult to put the book down. The author expertly builds suspense, providing just enough clues and revelations to keep readers hooked without giving away the whole story. The dark secrets and unexpected twist in "The Wrong Woman" will keep readers guessing until the final pages.

One of the strengths of this novel is its exploration of the lasting impact of trauma and the resilience of the human spirit. Through Kendall's character, Sparks delves into the psychological effects of surviving a serial killer and the ways in which past traumas can resurface when least expected. The emotional depth of the story adds an additional layer of complexity to the thrilling plot.

While "The Wrong Woman" is a thrilling and captivating read, some readers may find certain plot twists predictable or reminiscent of other works in the genre. However, the strong character development, well-crafted suspense, and through-provoking exploration of trauma elevate the novel above its familiar elements.

In conclusion, "The Wrong Woman" is a compelling and suspenseful thriller that will satisfy fans of the genre. Leanne Kale Sparks delivers an engaging story filled with twists, secrets, and a relentless pursuit of justice. With its well-drawn characters and expertly crafted suspense, this novel is sure to keep readers enthralled from beginning to end.

endall faced a serial killer years ago, and failed to rescue one of the girls he had attacked. She then made a career of being an FBI agent. When her best friend is killed in the manner of other women, she and a police detective join forces to figure out what is going on.

Sly and winning with a very suspenseful plot.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Pretty good and entertaining read, liked the characters and the twists were good, the ending was a surprise for sure lol

I really enjoyed reading The Wrong Woman, the plot has several stories running at the same time putting different people together and creating leads that get nowhere, and making memories to resurface. FBI agent Kendall teams up with Denver detective Adam to find her best friend's killer at the same time she keeps on working on finding a 5-year-old girl that disappeared. Kendall will have to face her worst fears and memories to solve these cases and the culprit is someone she least expected! Very good entertainment!

The wrong woman by Leanne Kale Sparks.
The only survivor of Denver's notorious "Reaper" serial murders, FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck grapples with the ghosts of her past by seeking justice for victims of abuse. She's neck-deep in a particularly ugly case involving the disappearance of five-year-old Emily Williams--but her investigation is derailed when her best friend and roommate, Gwen Tavich, turns up dead floating in a nearby lake.
A very good read with good characters. Likeable story. 3*.

The Wrong Woman by Kate Sparks


Excellent book. I couldn’t put it down. Kept you guessing who the murderer was. Fantastic characters. Many secrets. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

Years ago FBI Agent, Kendall Jackson was the only survivor of a serial killer. When her best friend goes missing after borrowing her SUV everything points to his return, but does he he know he’s got the wrong woman? Will Kendall be able to save Gwen before it’s too late. Kendall is doing all she can to find Gwen, but she’s also working on her own case. As everything collides, Kendall is once again in danger, but this time he might have picked the wrong woman.

I wasn’t sure about this one as the beginning was a little gritty, but once it moved beyond the first death, I found this to be an interesting mystery. I enjoyed the “get the job done” attitude of FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck combined with her ability to comfort the youngest victim. When a little girl is missing, Kendall puts all of her efforts into finding her. Little does she know that her next case will test her endurance to not only get justice for someone close to her, but will leave her fighting for her life. She is after the “Reaper” a serial killer that targets young women. When her recent case brings her to the attention of Denver detective Adam Taylor, they join efforts to track the killer down before more young women are murdered. She realizes, almost too late, that she had tangled with this killer years ago…will she succeed in stopping him this time? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

I will leave a review on Amazon or Barnes and Nobles on Feb. 8th

The Wrong Woman by Leanne Kale Sparks was an entertaining debut novel by a new author for me. I was a little slow and jumped back and forward between several different storylines that the author did seem to tie together in the end. Overall, I would say this was a good read and would suggest it to others that enjoy this type of genre of books.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, all opinions expressed here are my own.

Reading first time authors is always a thrill and The Wrong Woman by Leanne Kale Sparks is an enjoyable debut. It begins disturbingly with a serial killer comparing his work with a cooking metaphor. Then we meet Kendal Beck, an FBI investigator of missing abduction cases based in Denver. Then her best friend disappears and she meets Adam Taylor, a police detective assigned the case. The narrative unfolds into the investigation and consequences of these two crimes, as Kendal and Adam cooperate on each other’s cases. A quality crime procedural, with many clues and leads to hunt down, building into a tense climax. So, a three-and-a-half-star rating read, with the possibility of developing a series given the element of ambiguity with the resolution. With thanks to Crooked Lane Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given, free from any incentive.

The title has many hidden meaning in the book. I love the cover and that’s was drew my attention. The story follows an FBI agent was a past and a Denver detective and they work several cases at the same time. I imagine this is similar to real life as police have more than one case at a time.
I loved the relationships between the characters and was a little surprised at who ended up playing bigger roles in the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who love crime thrillers with multiple things going on. I hope the author writes more books with these characters.

I received an ARC from the publisher and the review below is my opinion.
Kendal Beck an FBI Agent, is a strong protagonist that hunts down killers and abusers with a temper that at times gets her into trouble. Adam Taylor is a detective that is good at his job and supportive of Kendall as they work together to find a missing child. There are two other parallel story lines in this gripping book and I hope there are other books to follow featuring Kendall Beck.

FBI SA Kendall Beck has been carrying around a lot of grief and guilt and she spends her days trying to atone. When her roommate Gwen is found murdered, she teams up with Denver detective Luke Taylor, to find the killer not only of Gwen but other young women as well. At the same time, she's got a horrible case involving the disappearance of a 5 year old which turns especially ugly. This isn't for the faint of heart as there's a lot of violence against women, However, Kendall is a good character who is more fleshed out than Adam. who hopefully will have more backstory added in future installments. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of twisty procedurals.

An exciting novel with several seperate stories in a mash-up to make one complete story. One is the classic "whodunnit" mystery regarding the missing friend - another is the case of a missing child - and the last is the many unsoved murders; making the police believe a serial killer could be on the loose.

While I was entertained throughout the story, I can't help feeling that way too much was going on here.

So three stars for the entertainment - but no more because of the lack of depth.

I really enjoyed the fast paced nature of this book! The Wrong Woman sucked me in from the beginning, and I could not stop reading until I finished. I really enjoyed the main character, Kendall, and found myself rooting for her the whole time. I thought the ending was clever with a perfect amount of twist at the end. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to those that love thrillers and can handle the gruesome content.

This is a generic, predictable procedural mystery with if-y police work and a triple-case storyline that the author chose to sideline.

I found it a chore to read, burdened with details and scenes that didn’t matter and trying, but failing, to balance the most interesting parts – police work, mystery, a serial killer – with the more mundane stuff the main character was going through and connecting it all through a missing roommate.

The triple-case plotline – the “Reaper” serial killer, the missing child and the missing roommate – were all interesting and together could have created something dark and twisted with the right execution, but this missed the mark, drowned in sexless, personal baggage. The synopsis reads like it would be right up my alley, but it didn’t live up to the expectation.

The Wrong Woman by Ms Sparks is, apparently, her first novel. The book starts a missing girl, Gwen, roommate of FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck. Gwen ends up dead and Kendall decides to investigate on her own with help from the detective assigned to the homicide, Adam Taylor.

There was talk of a serial killer and we all took a dislike to Gwen's business partner, Ty. He became one of the few red herrings amongst the many twists and turns.

Excellent ending but I would have liked a backstory of Kendall (maybe in the next book?).

Thanks to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read and review.