Member Reviews
Thanks to Netgalley and Ashman books for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
WOW! This would have to be one of my favourite reads so far this year.
I love a good serial killer revenge thriller and this did not disappoint!
I loved everything about it. The characters feel real and complex and the storyline is full of intrigue and twists.
I can't wait for the sequel.
Fans of Mindf*ck by S.T. Abby, They Never Learn by Layne Fargo, Sweetpea series by C.J. Skuse and the Deanna Madden trilogy by A.R. Torre will love this.
It's a well deserved 5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
How does a genius pianist turn to be the killer of serial killers? Absolutely brilliant 🤩 loved the amazing storyline of the FBI agent finding Leah the pianist, the killer of serial killers. Great twists and well written by S T Ashman. This is the first book I read from this author. Anymore in this series to come ? I will be interested. Thank you to Netgalley.
I really enjoyed this excited cat and mouse crime thriller. I’d let Leah do anything she ever wanted honestly! the ending plot twist got me so good and definitely didn’t see it coming. Definitely looking forward to the next one!!!
#netgalley #ikillkillers
I Kill Killers by S.T. Ashman is ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me. THRILLER DONE RIGHT!! The cover is dark and intriguing. Coupled with the title; I was ALL IN. Admittingly, I was a little skeptical because a title this good better damn well deliver (in my mind anyway). Oh boy did it! And then some! Let's just say S.T. Ashman has gained a new fan eager to read the sequel and all of her future books!
The title will give you the plot, so let me give you the feelings.
You will feel the fast paced, psychological thriller ride that you crave as you go along this cat-and-mouse chase. Leah, world- renowned pianist is always one step ahead of the FBI. Just as methodical as her fingers on the keys, her hunt and thirst for revenge doesn't disappoint.
You will feel tension as the characters come to life as their moral compasses struggle with good vs evil.
You will feel disgusted and perhaps lured in by the gruesome crime scenes left for the FBI to investigate. Agent Liam, is hot on the trail but lacking the evidence to back it up. Liam is faced with his own set of ethical challenges about how far he will go.
You will struggle with all of the gray area of good/bad and what is justified. Brilliantly, this book allows the reader to decide for themselves.
📚Publishing date: October 10th!!! Add it to your TBR list now because you do not want to sleep on this one!
A big thank you to NetGalley, Ashman Books, and S. T. Ashman for providing me with an ARC in exchange for providing an honest review.
Thank you, Net Galley and Ashman Books for this ARC. - Publish Date 10th October 2023.
This book!!!. Not for the faint-hearted but if you're up for the ride - strap in and hold on.
An electrifying and suspenseful crime thriller that kept me on edge from beginning to end. With a fast-paced storyline, well-developed characters, and unexpected twists, this book is a must-read.
The story follows FBI agent Liam and world-renowned pianist Leah.
Ashman's writing style is immersive, engaging, evocative and unbelievably terrifying.
The twists and turns in this book are masterfully constructed and left me guessing the entire way through. The book raises thought-provoking questions about the blurred lines between good and evil, and the lengths one might be willing to go to in the pursuit of justice.
This book constantly gave me those jaw-dropping moments that left me floored.
I did not want this book to end.
Absolutely riveting from page one; a fabulously thrilling thriller.
FBI Behavior Analysis specialist Liam Richter is on the hunt for a serial killer:
his specialty.
Only this time, the evidence takes him in along an unexpected avenue..
It seems that he just may be hunting a killer...of killers.
Leah, a world renowned and gifted pianist, keeps appearing in his investigation in
the strangest and most inopportune times.
Coincidence?? Planned interference??
Liam has to figure this out before he can find his killer.
I could not put this down.
I do believe there will be more to come.
Bring them right on.
I Kill Killers is a suspense thriller set in Boston about a celebrated concert pianist who moonlights as a self-appointed executioner of serial killers, and the FBI agent who is determined to catch her.
I requested this despite being so bored with serial killer plotlines that I’m avoiding them as much as possible - it’s harder than you think, authors seem to love dropping them into all sorts of genres now, because I do enjoy female vigilante stories. While there wasn’t anything new here, and it requires significant suspension of disbelief, it’s a good effort for a new author.
When a horribly mutilated body is found in the woods, Special Agent Liam Richter from the FBI’s Behavioural Analysis Unit tracks a possible witness to the Boston Symphony. Meeting beautiful Leah Nachtnabel, he can’t understand how all the clues keep pointing in her direction. Leah has known since childhood that she is different, and despite her glamorous life, feels no emotion, except when she kills evil men. When Liam’s team discover what their victim has been getting up to, some are on the side of his killer, but he believes in the law - and will stop at nothing to enforce it.
I enjoyed this with some reservations. Unlike Dexter, the most obvious comparison, Leah lacks his charm - her POV chapters are told in first person past narration, and we learn that she has autism and alexithymia, but no real explanation for her behaviour is given. She has a relationship with a male escort whom she pays to act like a husband - I’m not sure that this added to the plot, apart from as an excuse to throw in some raunchy sex scenes. Liam, on the other hand, is a hard working devoted father who lost his marriage to his job, and will do anything for his colleagues. I found it hard to believe that it takes him quite so long to work out what’s going on. Leah is on the trail of another serial murderer who leaves his victims alive to be run over by trains, and I was waiting for more about why, but this plot thread was dealt with rather too easily and no explanation is given. The unresolved ending leaves things open for a sequel, and I would be interested to see the cat and mouse game between Liam and Leah continue. 3.5 rounded up for good twists and avoidance of the present tense.
A comment about the ARC edition I received - while it’s always made clear that typos and other mistakes will be corrected for publication, they are not usually as glaring and numerous as I found here. I really hope an editor is going to fix them all in time for publication - most should’ve been picked up by beta readers and corrected before review copies were sent out.
Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op for the ARC. I Kill Killers is published on October 10th.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for giving me an ARC of this book! All of these thoughts and comments are my own.
Leah is a famous pianist full time and a part time serial killer of serial killers. Liam is a determined FBI agent who just won’t give up on finding out what happened at the horrendous murders he is investigating. He knows all sings point to Leah but ultimately has no proof. Will Leah get away with this or will Liam get “justice”.
This was such a world wind. This is Dexter meets the Mind F*cked series but less spice. I honestly couldn’t put this book down. It was that good. I’ve always been intrigued with serial killer type novels and this book did not disappoint.
I’m only confused about one thing and that’s the ending. But, I think there will be a second book, so maybe it’ll explain more. This was an exceptional read and I think all of the crime junkies/mystery lovers are going to eat this book up.
4 stars!
Absolutely incredible read. Stunning from start to finish. The lead protagonist, Leah, is a great creation, and her nemesis Richter is superb as well. The twists at the end were totally unexpected, and I can’t wait for this author’s next book. Highly, highly recommended.
"I Kill Killers" is a gripping tale where brilliant writing immerses you in a world of revenge and justice, led by a strong female protagonist. The intense opening sets the tone for a heart-pounding plot with unexpected twists. The shifting perspectives add complexity and nuance to the narrative, allowing readers to both cheer for Leah's escape and eagerly await Liam's pursuit. Also, I felt a small yearning for more backstory on Leah's past. Exploring her history could have added an even deeper understanding of her motivations and actions. If you're a fan of revenge tales, justice-seeking heroes, and unexpected twists, this book is an absolute must-read.
This was PERFECTION. A serial killer who kills killers being pursued/investigated by an FBI officer by chance- I mean can this plot get any better? I had full criminal minds vibes with this book and I lived for it. I absolutely adored this wild ride of cat and mouse, and was fully engaged from the first page to the last. Firstly I loved the use of the dual POV. Leah’s POV being in the first person was so effective and allowed the reader to truly experience what was going on in her twisted head. I am generally not a fan of first person narrated books but when it is done as good as this I can’t complain. Liam the FBI officer POV was third person (my usual preference for books) and this worked so well alongside Leah’s POV. The pacing of this book was perfect I never really wanted to put it down and the ending?! I’m thrilled the author is writing a sequel because 1. I have so many questions and 2. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE ENDING. I cannot stress this enough if you’d like to enjoy a wild ride of a book I cannot recommend this enough. I have been in thriller burnout for a while but oh man this scratched the itch and allowed me to enjoy thrillers like I used to!
Thank you Netgalley, Ashman Books and S.T. Ashman for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I Kill Killers will be published on October 10, 2023.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ashman Books for providing me with an ARC of "I Kill Killers" for an honest review.
It's pretty easy to figure out what this book is about. The title kind of lets you know. That's exactly what drew me in. I love nothing more than a revenge or justice killer. What's even better is it's a strong female character. It starts out really strong, and I became obsessed with it. Heads up, you're thrown right into some trigger warnings from page one. It set the bar high for the rest of the book. The main male character is an FBI agent who is on a case that she seems to be connected to. They're both intelligent, and strong minded. I really enjoyed that too.
What I liked:
-The author's writing is really great. The details you want are there.
-A lot of thought went into these characters. Not just the main character, but you also get more with the background characters too.
-Story line *chefs kiss*
-A little twist in the mix.
-A little glimpse into Leah's mind.
-While their lives intertwined, they had their own personal lives.
-All the characters were likeable.
-The pace changed from fast to medium. It gave your heart a break from the pounding of "what's going to happen next?" while still being entertaining and interesting.
-It was a thrilling ride, just as the author promised.
What I didn't like:
-I honestly don't understand the need for the chapters to go from first to third person point of view. Liam's could have been in first. It messed with my mind a bit.
-I expected more justice. (I won't say more due to possible spoilers, but this reason is why I can't give it five stars)
-I would have liked a little more of their past, or at least Leah's past. That way we would have more insight on her. We know how it started, but that's it. I like a good flashback, but that's not going to determine a loss of a star for me. Like I said above, that is the only reason I took one off. The reason I think this would have been important is because of the medical diagnosis she's given. It kind of just seemed as if it were thrown in there and that's that.
I absolutely loved this book! It was fantastic and so twisty. Really great concept! I read it all in one sitting on the train.
Really amazing storyline and so unique! I’d highly recommend to anyone that loves a thriller!
I Kill Killers has all of the makings to be a great horror read. The main character is morally challenged, the scenes are brutal and the idea is fresh. The main character thinks/speaks very poetically making those scenes very quotable and beautiful. But I struggled with the dialogue sometimes, especially between the officers. It just just didn’t feel as authentic and serious as I would have liked it to. This is personal opinion I feel like others may really enjoy this.
Wow. Just wow. Here I am getting ready to write the review for this book and seriously all I can think about is the next one.
“A red drop of blood on a white canvas, hiding in plain sight for the whole world to see. A serial killer of serial killers.”
Leah, a world renowned pianist who is autistic and has zero emotion is just that. A serial killer of serial killers. She is the judge, jury and executioner of those who have done wrong. How she does this, who are her cohorts and why she picks her victims and those around her and what makes this story so interesting and will keep you interested until the last page.!!!!!!! I literally went back to reread some of the passages just now to see if I missed a clue because that ending !!!! Give me book 2!!!!
I Kill Killers is a pulse-pounding thrill ride from start to finish. I love serial killer books and quirky protagonists, and this book delivered well on both fronts.
I Kill Killers is a thriller about a woman named Leah Nachtnebel who is a world-renowned concert pianist who was once a victim of a serial killer herself, so she now dedicates her life to hunting down and killing other serial killers - a serial killer serial killer. Hello Dexter Morgan, meet Leah Nachtnabel.
We also have the view from FBI agent Liam Richter who is tracking down the serial killer who is terrorizing Boston.
The book is packed full of suspense with lots of twists and turns. Leah and Liam are both multilayered and complex characters and I found myself rooting for both, even with them being on the opposite ends od the law.
The moral implications of Leah's actions are explored and we do ask the question on whether it’s ok for someone to take the law into their own hands. Especially when doing it to protect others.
If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll love this book. It has everything you need in it.
While there’s no cliffhanger per se, it is setup for a sequel at the end. I can’t wait to come back.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review
Wow what a debut novel. I saw someone else commenting about this book on Goodreads and I thought I had to give it ago. This is so good for the authors debut novel. I can’t wait to see what the author has next instore.
Leah is a famous concert pianist and is at the top of her game. But she is also autistic, and she has no feelings. Which is a good thing because the other side of her life she hunts and kills serial killers. But when she goes on a ‘fake’ date to meet her next victim, she discovers links to her past.
The FBI are on her case of her victims but hasn’t discovered her yet. Until she make one mistake that might lead them to her.
Wow I really loved this ride of good verses evil. This story makes you think upon them boundaries and whether what she is doing is a good thing or is she as bad as the persons she is getting rid of. This has a suspenseful storyline and greatly paced out and interesting characters. It kept me entertained throughout. I thought I had it figured out but it surprised me with a twist at the end. 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book, it’s is a great thriller debut. I like the two different POV and the complex characters. Pacing was pretty good. I did have some unanswered questions. However, when i thought i had it all figured out, I was wrong. And that ending, I think it was set up perfectly for a sequel.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.
"I Kill Killers" by S.T. Ashman is a pulse-pounding tour de force that immerses readers into a world where the line between predator and prey blurs with heart-stopping intensity. In this electrifying thriller, we follow a brilliant pianist who has transformed into an unyielding pursuer of serial killers, only to be ensnared in a web of dark intrigue that threatens to consume her.
Ashman masterfully crafts a narrative that propels us into the heart of the protagonist's tumultuous journey. From the opening pages, the atmosphere crackles with tension as our pianist-turned-hunter unexpectedly becomes entwined with her latest victim. A striking coincidence serves as the catalyst for a chilling chain of events that thrusts her into a high-stakes game of wits against an equally determined FBI agent.
The author's deft characterization brings the protagonist to life, infusing her with a complex blend of brilliance, vulnerability, and an unwavering drive for justice. As the narrative unfolds, we witness her clash with the relentless FBI agent, each move and countermove escalating the suspense to breathtaking heights. The interplay between these formidable adversaries becomes a mesmerizing psychological dance, a battle of minds that holds readers captive until the final page.
At the heart of "I Kill Killers" lies a deadly duel between the pianist and a serial killer whose sinister ingenuity matches her own. Ashman's meticulous attention to detail and skillful pacing elevate the tension to an almost unbearable level. As the two adversaries engage in a high-stakes face-off, the narrative becomes an intricate puzzle of motivations, secrets, and shocking revelations that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
The novel's title takes on a multifaceted significance, encapsulating the protagonist's transformation, the harrowing pursuit of justice, and the unnerving mirror image she faces in her relentless quest. Ashman's prose is both evocative and razor-sharp, immersing readers in a world where darkness and brilliance collide in a battle for survival.
"I Kill Killers" is a heart-stopping masterpiece of suspense, a literary thrill ride that will haunt readers long after they turn the final page. With its riveting plot, finely drawn characters, and spine-tingling atmosphere, S.T. Ashman's gripping novel is an absolute must-read for aficionados of psychological thrillers and those who crave a narrative that challenges the boundaries of morality and sanity.
This book had an interesting premise but lacked an oomph factor for me. I enjoyed aspects of the storyline, though it became quite predictable as the book went on (not to mention that a couple scenes were a little far-fetched). There were some parts of the writing that didn't work for me - including the hired escort who was given a script to serve as a faux husband. He didn't seem to have any other purpose, nor did it add anything to Leah's character.
Liam seemed to lack depth as a character - he was the morally good, always just FBI agent determined to find the answer. Past that, he had no additional character traits to him that made him relatable to the audience.
Ultimately, this book had promise but left me wanting something more. Ashman is clearly a talented writer with prose that could easily tell a good story; I believe I just felt too disconnected from the characters to fully enjoy it. I would still be interested in reading the second book to see if I prefer it over the first.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ashman Books, and S. T. Ashman for providing me with an eARC in exchange for providing an honest review.