Read this if you like: Small town, second chance romance, serial killers, multiple POVs

This is the third book in a series. I have not read the previous two but had no problems reading this one.

Zac is the interim Sheriff in the town of Pike, Wisconsin. He discovers a dead man in the cemetery lying on top of his grave. To his surprise, Rachel, his ex-wife shows up to assist with his investigation when said dead man pops up in the system for one of her cold cases. Instead, the grave contains the remains of Staci Gale, thought to have run away nearly three decades ago. Then an old VCR tape arrives at the sheriff station, showing Staci before her death, bound and terrified with a note, claiming to be from the killer’s apprentice.

This was an interesting one. I was not sure what to expect. Rarely do I read thrillers with romance involved. The romance was more of a side story and very realistically done. I thought it would be a regular crime book. It's so much more. It was very chilling and such a good book. It kept me guessing. Big time. I'm definitely going to read the previous ones. I recommend this one. It comes out April 26th!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Alexandra Ivy, and the publisher Kensington Books/Zebra Books for my gifted copy.

I never figured it out. You know it’s a great book when the puzzle pieces are there, the clues are right in front of you and you still can’t solve it. There’s a serial killer in Pike that may be connected to cold cases from almost 30 years ago. Zac is the interim Sheriff and is doing a knock out job policing this small community, despite his ragtag group of deputies. Rachel has come to town because the fingerprint on a victim matches a cold case she’s investigating. Rachel and Zac have a history together as teenagers and a married couple. Although divorced the two work together seamlessly to hunt the killer and solve many missing persons and suspicious death cases. I found the progression of their relationship sweet and loving, he respects her and applauds her accomplishments. The mystery of the killer is exciting, the details are perfect and the crimes are heinous - it’s the perfect book. Even though this is book three the books are independent mostly, same town different couple and crime. I was lucky to receive an early copy from Netgalley, review given voluntarily.

Well, I have noticed this author for years but have never read her. Now I wonder why the heck not? This was a good one. I did not realize it was part of a series, but it still did well as a standalone. I liked Zac and Rachel, a divorced couple trying to catch a serial killer. I REALLY liked that suspense was more of a focus than the rekindling romance. Quick read and very suspenseful. I am now going back for more from Ms. Ivy!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Alexandra Ivy and Kensington Books for this ARC.

Okay, author. You got me.

Every time I thought I knew who was doing what and why, I was wrong – and I love it when an author surprises me.

The romance was nice, though comfortable (zingless?).

Readers should note that, although the book isn’t too graphic, you do get to experience some of the murders through the POV of the baddie and it’s intense and uncomfortable.

Altogether an exciting read that kept me turning the pages!

*ARC via Publisher

This author never fails me. She has the ability to keep you so interested in her books that you can’t put the down until you finished. This is one of them. When interim sheriff Zac finds a dead body on a grave in his town, he’s horrified. Especially since the man has been dead for years or so he thought. The question becomes whose in his grave? Zaks ex-wife comes back to town following a cold case lead to find herself part of her ex- husbands case. Who did it?


I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Intense, creepy, murder, small town, second chance romance. What more could you ask for if you like thrillers, mystery and romance? I have read book 1 and 2 and I completely agree this can be read as a stand alone with no problems. I really liked interim Sheriff Zac and cold case detective Rachel (aka Zac's ex wife). They were relate able and thank the heavens it was not a contest to see who could be a monkeys uncle. Sorry B&N marks everything unsuitable so I have to be careful of my verbiage. The murders are brutal and I have a hard time seeing as how someone gets enjoyment from that, but I guess that's a good thing. Watching them follow clues, try to get ahead combined with memories of the past, possibilities of future and their families was intense, and drags you right in. I was right in who the killer was, but the red herrings were so well done I figured I was wrong. Then the ending had me shaking my head, say what??? Alexandra Ivy writes different genres and each one is a win. Thank you for the arc, I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #NetGalley#AlexandraIvy#Kengsintonbooks#zebra#thriller

Unstable is an exceptionally written thrilling book. Great plot points and superb writing.Enjoyed the story

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this gripping novel

when is a dead man a real dead man...when he is found on top of his grave...

so whose body was in the grave...

when video tapes also show up with graphic evidence of murder and mutilation it seems this small town has a vicious serial killer in their midst

can the interim sheriff and his deputies stop the killer before he strikes again...

a nail gripping novel that keeps you guessing right till the end..

will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors books

Something odd is going on in Pike Wisconsin. Sheriff Zac Evans has a possible serial killer to find and to do so he brings in his ex-cold case expert Rachel Fisher. This stretches back in time and is told from multiple POVs (including that of the villain). Know that there's a second chance romance vibe going on at the same time as the investigation- which wasn't necessary but was well handled. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers from me.

QOTD: What was a series end that… left you less than satisfied?

No lie - this happens a lot and I don’t know why I need reading the ends of series… But I love a conclusion and can’t let things go.

This was a great mystery that started in book one and had a great conclusion! That being said - it was wicked disappointing as a romance. This felt very much like a mystery with romantic elements and not a romance with a mystery. It was so plot driven that both Rachel and Zac felt like they didn’t get enough time on the page as a pair. They are divorced so this is a second chance romance - which I love when done well! - but honestly this wasn’t… They had real issues that broken them up that seemed to just… disappear since the serial killer made them “realize what is important.” I would say read if you want a mystery but don’t expect any sizzle or swoon if you pick this up.

TL/DR Review
Stars: Three for Mystery and One for Romance - average of Two Stars
Series: Pike, WI Book Three (be ready to be confused if you haven’t read book one or two.)
POV: Dual Third
Steam: minimal - little pining one intimate scene and a few kisses
Tropes: second chance romance, solve the mystery, competence kink
For Fans Of: JD Robb
Theme Song: Psycho Killer by the Talking Heads
Subgenre: Suspense/ Mystery
CW/ TW: blood shed, violence, discussions of parental and sibling death, serial killer’s POV

Thank you to the author and publisher for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unstable😬

Unstable is the third book in the Pike, Wisconsin series and even though this is the first book in the series I’m reading I don’t feel as though I’ve missed anything from not having read the first two. But I will definitely remedy that as soon as possible!

Zac is the Sheriff in town and discovers a dead man in the cemetery lying on top of his grave. Rachel, his ex-wife soon shows up in town to assist with his investigation when said dead man pops up in the system for one of her cold cases😳 Now they are running around town trying to figure out how a dead man comes back from the dead….just to end up dead🤦‍♀️ Oh and trying to deny their attraction while investigating❣️

A really good story that I was trying to figure out who the serial killer was but because I was reading so quickly…my brain was playing catch up but I guessed right when I did😁 I received an advanced copy via Netgalley and voluntarily leave my honest review🤩

This was definitely an unstable book - it weirded me out, which I guess the author was going for. It was a super fast read and had a lot of information in it.

Unstable (Pike, Wisconsin #3) by Alexandra Ivy once again reaffirms my desire to never go to that fictional town. Even with Interim Sheriff Zac Evans who could become the full time sheriff this is one scary place. A former serial killer and now a new one who claims to be much better are keep this story fear-provoking. This book focuses on two time periods that are connected. It is not told in a dual story but one in which the past is brought out through the investigation. I really liked that. Also the characters from the first book play a part in this story too. I liked the closure that is given to them.

The best part is the romance blooming once again for divorced couple Zac Evans and ex-wife Rachel. She works in cold case investigations so their paths cross again in this story. Even with a killer to stop, it is a better time for them to remember what they loved about each other. I really like these two characters, hoping for a reconciliation for them. They are my favorite couple in this series.

While Unstable is part of a series it reads well as a stand-alone. The background is given when needed. It also has a smooth pace with clues that will help the reader to solve the case and catch the killer right along with the characters.

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

I could not stop reading this book. This was the first book that I've read in this series, and I will be going back and reading the first two. I loved the characters, and the plot was artfully developed.

Thrilling and utterly enjoyable. Weaved intricately and brilliantly together with both a murder mystery and Zac and Rachel's relationship and rekindling. I enjoyed every second this book had to give and eagerly await for Ivy's next work.

I liked the mystery and for once wasn't able to guess the killer. On the romance side , i am not a fan of second chance trope but due to the mystery and the character development it sort of worked. It would have been nice to see them actually have a conversation about the past.

A divorced couple both in law enforcement find themselves up against a serial killer. I have enjoyed this authors Pike series although perhaps struggle with the idea of so many monsters living in the same town. Yet again it appears that history is replaying as new victims are discovered and the race is on to capture a brutal killer. Red herrings abound although I admit I certainly had worked out who the newest killer was. I don't mind at all that the romance felt secondary but do wish the murderer had been less obvious. Nevertheless it was fun to read, dark at times and as usual a joy to follow.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Zac likes being the interim sheriff and is thinking about keeping it full time. When his ex-wife Rachel shows up working on cold cases and Zac has a dead body that matches her cold cases they start working to find a serial killer. At every turn the killer has been one step ahead of them as if he is following a playbook. As they race to find the killer old sparks start to rekindle. thanks Netgalley and A. Ivy for the Arc copy.

This is book 3 in the Author's Pike series and in my view can be read as a standalone

Pike's newest interim Sherriff , Zac Evans , wasn't expecting to have to deal with a case of murder in his new role
........ but a body has been found shot on top of a grave . The only problem is that the body should already been dead and buried in that same grave ...........who was in the grave ?
Rachel Fisher's work in 'cold cases' brings her to Pike and her ex-husband Zac - soon they are both caught up in trying to solve both the cold and current cases ............... cases full of twists and turns ,of mistaken identities , family relationships with a second chance romance bubbling in the background .

An engaging murder mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed , I look forward to reading more from the Author in the future

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This was very exciting and you won't want to leave it till your done. Zac has been the sheriff for a very short time and when he discovers a murder and the plt thickens with who it is he knows this won't be easy solving it. So when he is at the morgue he hears a familiar voice and realized it was his ex wife Rachel. Rachel has always had that detective in her and has always put her career before her personal life but when her ex husband just up and left her it was traumatic and made her work harder. Now they are having to work together to solve the murders in this town at the same time both are wanting having feelings for each other.