Perfect for fans of Criminal Minds! Three years after escaping the Rose Reaper, Kate finds herself targeted by a copycat killer who seems intent on finishing what the original murderer started. With each new victim comes a chilling gift: a single red rose. As Kate and FBI consultant Ryan Strickland dig into her past, they uncover terrifying clues buried in her memories, racing against time to stop the killer before Kate becomes the next victim. A dark, intense ride filled with suspense, emotional depth, and high stakes, this novel is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the final page.

The Rose Reaper by Jennifer Hunter is a captivating, dark fantasy novel that blends romance, mystery, and the supernatural. The story follows a young woman, Rose, who discovers that she has a mysterious power that allows her to reap souls. As Rose grapples with the implications of her abilities, she becomes entangled in a dangerous world filled with betrayal, secrets, and forbidden love. With strong character development, a richly built world, and a compelling plot full of twists, Hunter crafts an engaging story for fans of dark fantasy and romantic suspense.

The Rose Reaper by Jennifer Hunter is a psychological thriller that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, blending suspense, tension, and intriguing character dynamics. This second installment in the Rose Reaper series picks up with Kate Doyle, a woman who survived a horrific abduction and assault three years ago, only to find herself once again caught in a terrifying game with a new killer who’s following in the footsteps of the infamous Rose Reaper.

The narrative unfolds through four key threads: Kate's perspective, the investigation led by FBI consultant Ryan Strickland, the new Rose Reaper’s point of view, and entries from the original Rose Reaper’s diary. Hunter expertly weaves these perspectives together, creating a fast-paced, suspenseful plot that constantly builds in intensity. The multiple POVs provide a well-rounded view of the story, keeping the reader engaged as the mystery unfolds. The complexity of the investigation, particularly as it delves into the past of both the original and new Rose Reapers, adds depth and intrigue to the narrative.

The background provided on the characters, especially Kate and the original Rose Reaper, is key to understanding the actions and motivations driving the story. The development of Ryan Strickland’s character also adds an emotional layer, as we see his evolving relationship with Kate and his long-distance relationship with his new love interest. These personal threads enrich the storyline, giving the characters more depth and making the investigation feel even more urgent.

That being said, The Rose Reaper contains some darker themes that may not be for everyone. The prologue, which sets the tone for the novel, is intense, containing graphic violence and disturbing scenes. There are also intimate scenes and moments of vulgar language, which can be off-putting for some readers. The violence is described in an edgy, raw manner, adding to the gritty atmosphere but also contributing to the darker nature of the novel.

One element that didn’t sit well with me was the investigation itself. While it was complex and interesting, I felt that the process of uncovering the identity of the new Rose Reaper had a significant flaw in its execution, which detracted slightly from the overall tension. Still, this didn’t significantly impact my enjoyment of the book, especially with the well-crafted character backstories and emotional stakes.

The ending of the book ties up all loose ends, providing a satisfying resolution to the Rose Reaper’s story. As someone new to Jennifer Hunter’s work, I found this novel to be a solid introduction to her writing style and storytelling. While it may be intense for some readers, particularly with its violent and graphic content, it is a gripping psychological thriller with a lot to offer for those who enjoy suspense and complex character dynamics.

**Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book (much like the first one in the series) that the description makes it sound more thrilling and shocking that it actually is. Is it about dark things? Serial killers and the trauma that surrounds it? You bet. But there's a third-person coldness to it all that makes the book feel more like a TV procedural that you'll forget as soon as you put the book down. Jennifer Hunter is a competent author, and I think I would like her books. But maybe ones that come 5-6 years from now when she's tightened her storytelling a bit. All the ingredients are here: an interesting protagonist, a decent mystery, and a quick pace. It just didn't grab me as much as I wished. Ryan seems like a character I would love, but he comes off as a little bit of a watered-down Alex Delaware. The mystery had me guessing around the mid-point, but by 75%, the killer was pretty obvious. And once the killer is outed, a lot of the tension left. Thankfully this a quick read, and there are worse ways to spend an afternoon (refer back to the previously mentioned TV procedurals). Will I give the next book in the series a read (if there is one)? Sure. But I can't see myself breaking my TBR to get to it.

I received an ARC of The Rose Reaper by Jennifer Hunter through NetGalley. This was my first time reading this author, and while the book had some intriguing elements, it didn't fully meet my expectations. Three years ago, Kate Doyle narrowly escaped the clutches of a serial killer known as the Rose Reaper, who was killed by her rescuers. With the help of FBI consultant and psychologist Ryan Strickland, Kate has since rebuilt her life. However, her newfound peace is shattered when a copycat killer emerges, sending her a red rose with each new victim. As the bodies pile up, Kate and Ryan must delve into her traumatic past to uncover the identity of the new killer before he completes the Rose Reaper's unfinished business.
While the book offers a gripping premise and strong character development, some plot twists felt predictable, and the pacing could have been tighter. However, the psychological tension and the dynamic between Kate and Ryan kept me engaged. #netgalley #therosereaper

I did not realize that this was the second in a series, but it can be read as a stand alone. I enjoyed the POV of the killer as it seemed like a change from just being in the detective's or victim's mind. It was fast paced and kept my attention. I especially enjoyed the idea of facetime dates watching, watching movies together. This small aspect of the novel added more realism to it, and made it somewhat relatable.

It is graphic in the content, and I will put a trigger warning of rape.

3.5 rounded to 4.

I want to thank Thomas & Mercer & Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

First and foremost, check your trigger warnings before reading this book. This book follows a story of a serial killer who murders 6 women and the one woman that got away. The Rose Reaper is killed the night that Kate gets away, however 3 years later the roses start appearing on Kate's doorstep after each new woman is taken forcing her to relive all the trauma that she thought she had put behind her. Who are the suspects? Could be her new boyfriend, or several shady characters that had not so perfect past. All Kate knows is that it is all happening again, and she is #7. This was a definite make you scratch your head who could be doing this. I didn't figure it out until the last 2 chapters. Very good read!!

Seeing things from the murderers point of view gave a different insight and made the read more enjoyable.

I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, Jennifer Hunter for the arc!

Even though this is the second book in a series I had no problem getting into ,it was everything I was hoping it would be and so much more , dark, twisted, and some what creepy, as well as the Atmosphere vibes of been watched and hunting without even knowing it .

I enjoy a good dark, twisty thriller, but maybe this one should come with a disclaimer? There are some trigger subjects and they're fairly descriptive. There is no easing in to The Rose Reaper, you are thrown into the murderer's twisted world right away and you go at full speed from there. I enjoyed the authors writing style and descriptiveness. You can really paint a picture in your mind's eye. Sometimes that was a good thing, but for some, that may not be to their taste. I found this to be a unique plot that I have not seen in a while (if ever) and having different perspectives gave the storyline an edge. Seeing things from the murderers point of view gave a different insight and made the read more interesting. I look forward to more from this author. I didn’t realize this was part of an established series but look forward to reading the previous book and those to come.

Good story of a girl who had been kidnapped, assaulted and then escaped , and picking up her story four spy ears later when a copycat emerges to threaten her again. I kind of figured out the suspect fairly early, but it was still an interesting read, with some unexpected maneuvering by the criminal.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the chance to read this book! From the beginning it kept my attention and I wanted to keep reading to see what was really happening! Who could possibly be doing this not once but seven times!? I really thought it was one character the whole time up until the end. I was hoping for one more big twist at the end but I did enjoy this read.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. What a fantastic read! This one kept me guessing until the very end. Fast paced and gritty scenes galore! I wasn't aware this was the second book in the series until I was finished. I will be going back immediately to read the first book. Looking forward to more in this series

The Rose Reaper is a gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. With its compelling characters and twisty plot, I couldn't put it down. I didn’t realize this was part of an established series but look forward to reading the previous book and those to come.

Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher, and the author, Jennifer Hunter.

The second Ryan Strickland novel finds the FBI consultant investigating a copycat killer tied to a victim he helped in the past.

I didn’t realize this was a series when I read it, and I wish I had! It would’ve been more helpful to have a little more context for the character.

I loved this book and that she survived and brought him down.
I never would have guessed who it was. It only came clearer near the end.
This is a page turner I loved it

Jennifer Hunter’s thriller, The Rose Reaper, is not for the faint of heart. It’s technically the second book in the Ryan Strickland duo written by Hunter, the first being The Lost Victim. The opening scene of the latest novel is disturbing and has some content warnings (I don’t usually include those, but this one is unavoidable) that readers should be aware of, as you can’t get through the opening chapter without encountering one (content warning: sexual assault). The Rose Reaper can easily be read as a standalone book.

What is The Rose Reaper about?

Kate Doyle is brutally assaulted by a serial killer but manages to escape when her abductor, Freddy Poole, goes on the porch to smoke a cigarette. Kate makes it to a highway where a couple stops to pick her up and bring her to the police.

Three years later, Kate is finally living her life again, though scarred by what happened to her. She has a handsome boyfriend named Reed who is caring and attentive to her needs. But when she receives a rose out of nowhere and learns another young woman has been abducted, her nightmares return. Who is copying Freddy Poole’s crimes?

As the killer continues to abduct and murder, he sends Kate roses corresponding with the number of victims. Often, the roses come before the victims have been discovered, leading the police to conclude they must be from the real killer. They bring in psychologist Ryan Strickland to speak with her, the person who originally helped her process the traumatic events three years earlier.

Will Kate be able to help them find out who the killer is before he takes her as his next victim?

What did I think?

The opening scene is violent and portrays a graphic sexual assault. I want to say that here because I think readers need to be warned. I’m able to take a lot in my books, but I skimmed past this chapter. In my opinion, it wasn’t necessary to the plot other than to understand the extreme trauma Kate endured. Let’s move on from that…

The bulk of the story outside of that first chapter focuses on the new killer. In this case, the reader doesn’t have to endure things from his perspective which went a long way toward steering away from the gruesome opening scene. The terror for me was psychologically seeing Kate receiving the roses each time the killer took a new victim. It’s clear that whoever the copy cat is, he’s obsessed with Kate and Freddy Poole.

While Ryan works with Kate to unlock more of her memories—any detail that might help—Agent Chapman is working to uncover who the copycat killer is. I enjoyed watching Ryan and Agent Chapman work together on the case. Kate’s story is one of resilience in many ways. Her boyfriend Reed may not be the supportive life partner she thought he was, and that’s something she has to process as the events unfold. Throughout the story she transforms to the victim who got away to a woman who won’t let fear control her life.

The ending had a strange vibe to it—after the reveal and capture of the person responsible for the killings, Kate is laughing about it in the hospital with another victim. I guess everyone processes grief in a different way, but it just was strange given what they went through. The book has such a dark tone, so Kate’s transformation—while lovely—is not entirely authentic to me.

Overall this is a quick, entertaining read. You don’t have to read the first book to enjoy this one. I recommend skipping the first chapter if violent sexual assault is a trigger (or even just an unpleasant topic) for you.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Fabulous thriller! I loved everything about Jennifer Hunter's writing. Devoured this book in one day. I highly recommend The Rose Reaper to anyone looking for an edge of your seat thriller that is exciting!

It is a good read, I even didn't realize that it is the second book in the series, I found out when people and cases were referenced in the story and I got intrigued. I was gripped by the story even tho I have to warn the readers about graphic details of rape from the rapist's point of view. The writing style is good and I look forward to reading other books by this author.

This is the 2nd book in the Ryan Strickland series, and I loved it! This was a quick and thrilling read. I've been enjoying the twist on the typical crime thriller with Ryan being a psychologist.

This story was dark and twisty with an unpredictable plot. Jennifer Hunter writes in a way that invokes so many emotions in me. There was great suspense building throughout, and the ending was totally not what I expected.

This can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the 1st book because it's amazing!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.