🎧ORIGINAL SINS by Erin Young and read by Kate Handford is the next story with FBI agent Riley Fisher.

While this is the "next" story, it can be read as a stand alone which I did. That said, now I kinda want to go back and read The Fields! This was a solid serial killer police procedural.

There is as stated above, a serial attacker that was previously stalking women in Des Moines, Iowa has struck again. Riley is a rookie and is paired with an agent who is feeling untrustworthy. A newly elected governor has been threatened and seems to be connected to this attacker by the vitriol against women.

This story was a good detective story. I wasn't especially surprised by anything. To be candid, I did feel like the psycho ultra-conservative religious suppression of women felt a bit heavy in this book. To be clear, I agree with the sentiments presented, but it felt like it was expressly stated as motive more than necessary. What I did like about this, however, was a nuanced look at the situations that make this ideology appealing. That exploration of possibilities made this story fascinating to me.

The narration was done quite well. I had no problems following her changes in character and listened quite contentedly at 2x speed.

Thank you @netgalley & @macmillan.audio for @flatiron_books for this ALC and letting me share my thoughts of this story that published February 13!

I thought the premise of this one was really interesting. Serial killer, political unrest, cult vibes and police procedural with the FBI. There was quite a bit that I didn’t see coming and I am really glad I had it on audio. I think hearing it told to me made it more of a podcast type story which is how I like my crime stories. I really enjoyed the characters of Riley and the other officers she worked with. It was very complex but well thought out.

Original Sins is the newest book from Erin Young.

This second book in a series brings back Riley Fisher, now a FBI rookie. She needs to hit the ground running as she's been assigned to protect the new governor, who has received death threats. And a historical serial killer named The Sin Eater, seems to be back...

Riley is an engaging lead character. She's smart, intuitive and driven. But she's being stymied by a co worker. He doesn't want to work with Riley, leaving her out and taking off on his own tangents. Riley wonders if it's her personally - or is it all women? This is a theme throughout the book in Riley's beliefs, actions and in her work. I also enjoyed the personal life Young has written for Riley.

This book is set in Des Moines, Iowa. I'm familiar with this area and it was fun to say "I've been there". But also a little worrisome about such a dark crime being committed in this area!

The book is busy with two crimes, a raft of suspects and supporting players. Young gives the listener many paths and a choice of culprits to consider before the final ah ha moments. Gentle readers - there are some triggers in the book.

I chose to listen to Original Sins. The reader was Kate Handford. She did a great job of presenting Young's work. Handford speaks clearly, is easy on the ears and sets the perfect pace. She has lots of movement in her voice and she easily expresses the emotions of the characters and the action of the plot. She has created a voice that suits the mental image I had for Riley. Voices for male characters are believable.

Holy Crap!
Hold on to your hat, the seat of your chair, your loved ones, and if you have one…a weapon!

This one will keep you on the edge of your seat…gasping for air, screaming at the villain(s), and…praying.

Riley Fisher has just moved to small town Iowa to her first position as a newly coined FBI Agent. She’s excited, nervous, and raring to go!

However, one she gets there, she realizes this may not be the case for everyone else there….

The guy she is paired with, her partner, wants NOTHING to do with her…he works alone!

The other guy there seems to be ok, but now she is wary… very wary…

But, no time for that!

A woman has just been BRUTALLY attacked and left for dead.

AND, the new female mayor, and her family, have all been threatened with death!

Riley barely has time to think, never mind anything else… But they are tasked to ‘get to the bottom of this’!

As time goes by, many things are revealed…and we soon start forming a picture in our minds…

But, can any of this be true? Who’s working with who?

Riley is launched into a world of politics, lies, deceit, money… and killing!

And will she, and the FBI, be able to do what they NEED to do…before it’s too late??

Many, many twists and turns in this one! Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I was wrong…again and again…

Also, please note: ***** TRIGGERS: *****
**** There are multiple scenarios with women being BRUTALLY ATTACKED****
If this is something you cannot read, please AVOID this book!
It is very graphic at times. 😮😕

That being said…one of the best books I’ve read in a while. Very gripping. Very emotional. Very scary… I don’t bite my nails, but I wanted to start…

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which releases TODAY. (2/13/24)
Of note, this is apparently book #2.
I did not know that, and it apparently made no difference…

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
#OriginalSins by #ErinYoung and narrated perfectly by #KateHandford.

And, after reading the book…what an absolutely appropriate name!

Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or
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Thanks so much for reading!📚⭐️📖

I haven't read Erin Young's first book in the series about Riley Fisher, The Fields, but it is perfectly okay to start here. The author is doing a good job of explaining the back story - however, if you have the opportunity to read The Fields first, you should. Just because it is such a pleasure to immerse yourself in Riley's gritty world!
Riley is a newly appointed FBI agent in Des Moines and is battling a competitive and somewhat hostile working environment and hunting a serial killer while trying to protect the first female governor.
This is a feminist thriller - and I'm all for it.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.

There was a lot to like about Original Sins. The author can paint a vivid picture. She has an intriguing protagonist with lots of yummy damage and family drama to unpack. The premise of a female governor under threat that sounds suspiciously related to vicious crimes dating back decades is compelling. The bad guy is our worst nightmare about modern America come to life. She put up some great red herrings. I thought the narrator was excellent. I did find the alliteration excessive, whether it was a conscious stylistic device or the author is not aware of it, it bothered me enough that a few times I stopped the audiobook. And I felt at times that the author looked down on people in the red states. As a red state resident, that put me off a bit, and I had to force myself to finish the book. But that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the aforementioned good elements and think that many people will really enjoy this book. For me, it's a 3.49 star.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this wonderful police procedural by Erin Young, perfectly narrated by Kate Handford- 4.5 stars!

Riley Fisher is reporting for her first duty as an FBI agent in Des Moines IA. The city is gripped with fear that a serial killer is on the loose, targeting women. Meanwhile, there has been a threat against the governor and her family, and Riley is tasked with investigating. But she's not sure if she can even trust her partner and she begins to be convinced that these two investigations are linked.

This is the second in this series - how did I miss The Fields? But no matter, this works perfectly as a stand alone, although I'm sure having more background on Riley would make this one even better. This is a tense, well-written police procedural and I loved listening to this one. Can't wait for more, and The Fields is a must read for me now.

This is book 2 in the Riley Fisher series, but it works well as a standalone. I listened to about half of this one on audiobook and then finished with the physical copy as my patience was running out as the story really got going. The narrator did a good job bringing the story to life. Riley Fisher had worked her way up at her local Sheriff’s office before trading all that in to be a rookie in the FBI. Newly stationed in a small branch she quickly realizes she wasn’t wanted her and only was given the post due to her connection with the governor. But she doesn’t have long to be nervous, there has been a credible threat to the governor and her family and a never caught perp who assaulted women horribly seems to be back. Riley believes there may be a connection between the two of them so is working both cases, but sometimes when you chase a monster you find more than could have imagined. Overall I found the mystery to be interesting. The side story with Kody broke my heart a bit and some of the violence described was pretty awful, but it was a good mystery with a satisfying ending.

1 sentence review: A fun and twisty FBI thriller involving a serial attacker and a threat against the governor!

This is technically the 2nd in a series but can be read as a standalone! I did not read the first book but I definitely think it would have been beneficial to read it before this one since some of the events and characters are referenced in this! This story was super fun and engaging and kept me on my toes! My only “beef” with it was that there were quite a few different character POV’s and I started to get them confused- but this didn’t take away from the plot too much! Kate Handford did a great job with the narration on this one!

Read This if You Like:
- FBI thrillers
- Serial killers and plots against the government
- Subtle themes of feminism and women in politics

Riley Fisher, a former small-town sergeant, has taken on a new role as an FBI agent, embarking on her very first assignment. The task at hand: apprehending the notorious Sin Eater, a serial attacker preying on unsuspecting women with his brutal methods. Despite a long period of inactivity, this malicious man has resurfaced, posing the question of how is this aging perpetrator still able to carry out these heinous acts. Is he receiving assistance from an accomplice? The responsibility now falls upon Agent Riley and her new boss to track down the Sin Eater before he strikes again.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was great. This is the second book (in what will hopefully be a long series!) and both have been amazing! Both have been action packed and fast paced. Highly recommend this series!

Original Sins
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had to read The Fields first since this is #2 in the series. I really enjoyed both books. I hope there will be a 3rd book? It has great characters, great story, & keeps you wanted to know what comes next. Erin paints great pictures & you feel like you are right there.
Thank you NetGallery!!

ORIGINAL SINS
Erin Young

Erin Young showed us where we were going with THE FIELDS and with ORIGINAL SINS we arrived.

We went from small town, big politics, to bigger town, BIGGER POLITICS as we follow Fisher as she starts her first year as an FBI agent. She is tasked with looking into threats made against a local politician and there is a killer on the loose.

She has a new place of work and a new partner. There are a lot of edges to smooth out.

As the new work dynamics get complicated, Fisher must deal with a more personal issue. We see a new side of her and solve a crime at the same time. The series you’ve probably never heard of should be at the top of your to-read list.

Riley Fisher is complicated and multifaceted, and one of my favorite fictional characters. Young misses the sophomore slump by keeping it exciting and holding onto the best elements from THE FIELDS while introducing fresh and new concepts, keeping me on my feet.

ORIGINAL SINS is smart, quick, and thoughtful. It has a depth that sometimes gets missed in crime procedurals. I also love the way she creates atmosphere. She can make Iowa sound like a place I want to visit, just to see if the details line up.

I recommend ORIGINAL SINS to crime procedural fans and thriller lovers alike. For fans of Jane Harper and Tana French. It’s a great way to pass the time and I cannot wait for the next one in the series.

ORIGINAL SINS comes out on February 13, 2024.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

ORIGINAL SINS…⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the second in the Riley Fisher series, but can be read as a standalone. I listened to the audiobook, thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. The narration by Kate Handford was great! Overall I thought the plot was really interesting and it was a well written story. Some parts were a little slow for me, but if you love police procedurals, this really is a good one. It is dark and twisty, just as any great thriller should be in my opinion. I liked the character of Riley Fisher, and following along as she lands a new job as a rookie FBI agent in Des Moines, Iowa, just as the hunt for a serial killer is underway. I thought her family dynamics added an interesting layer to the story as well. I look forward to what is to come in the series!

THE FIELDS was an excellent debut novel so I was excited to get an early copy of the sequel. I think I enjoyed this one even more! Riley continues to a fantastic MC - strong, resilient and a quick on her feet. I really enjoyed the two mysteries throughout this one and was so interested to see how they were connected. There are some spoilers from THE FIELDS. It wouldn’t kill your reading experience if you read this as a standalone but I do recommend reading THE FIELDS first.

After the first few chapters I realized this was the second book in a series, but this read well as a standalone.
It was one of those books that kept you interested from the beginning. Riley deals with a questionable partner, family drama, and a serial killer. There was not gory details, which I appreciate as I like these type of books without triggers.
Definitely worth a read!

When I started reading this book, I didn't realize it was the second book in a series. I got about 14-18% into the story and felt like I was missing some important details. After researching it, I discovered there was another book before this one. However, this book was still easy to follow as a standalone. Although, I believe reading the first book, "The Fields," would have given me a better understanding of Riley and her decisions.

The story follows Riley, a rookie FBI agent in Des Moines, Iowa. She faces an unwelcoming work environment and a questionable mentor. Riley works on a case involving a threat against the newly elected female governor of the state, who receives a lot of hate. Additionally, there's a serial killer case involving the Sin Eater, who brutally attacks women. The author doesn't go into graphic detail about the attacks, which I prefer. As the story unfolds, Riley becomes suspicious of her mentor and starts investigating the Sin Eater while discovering more about herself.

The author subtly weaves clues throughout the story that are easy to overlook. As the crimes are solved, these clues become more apparent. The story is well-written and engaging, with a steady pace that keeps the reader hooked until the very end. The author sets up the story for a third book in the series. The narrator did an excellent job, of making it easy to immerse oneself in the world of Riley Fisher.

In a brilliant and addictive thriller for fans of Tana French and Liz Moore, FBI rookie Riley Fisher must navigate a brutal serial killer as well as a kidnapping plot against the governor.

Thank you Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for sending me a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book because it dragged in the beginning but once I made it to 60% of the book, it picked up pace and I didn’t want to stop reading this book. I liked the female FBI agent and the female governor. I liked the setting. I liked the religious cult that was in this. I thought they were really interesting. I liked the feminist message that was in here. This is the second book in a series. I haven’t read the first book but I didn’t feel like I was missing any important information by not reading the first book. Now that I’ve read this book, I’m going to read the first book called The Fields.

This was my first Erin Young book, and I truly wanted to love the story but a lot of the elements fell short for me personally. I seem to be in the minority on this one, however; so still encourage anyone interested to give it a read!

The plot had a lot of potential, I loved the premise and certain parts were written well enough that I wanted to keep reading. The highlights for me were the conflicts between Riley's superiors and herself, and the darker elements / biblical nature of the crimes were unique and interesting.

The negatives for me unfortunately outweighed the good:
- characters were hard to keep track of / not enough depth due to too many introductions
- story kept threatening to get immersive but never quite got there for me
- ending was a bit predictable

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC!

What an intense book, and as much as I enjoyed it, there was something about it that didn't make it a full blown must-read for me. Oh, it's good, great, actually. The storyline, the characters, the intensity of some of the scenes, but boy, this wasn't quite 100% home run for me.

Even though this centers around FBI rookie Riley Fisher, and I so wanted to like her since it seemed like she was the darling in this series, I didn't care much for her. I wanted to read more of other characters or scenes whenever she came around in the book. The whole concept of the crimes was grossly fascinating, made me feel angry, so that made me appreciate the writing from this author. The book moved, for sure, hit the ground running, but once it was all put together from the criminals to Riley, it didn't make a perfect match for me. But what a fun and intense book this was.

Pub date: February 13, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.