*Read as a standalone*

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.

Despite containing all the elements that would typically captivate my attention, I found myself unable to fully immerse myself in the narrative. Don't get me wrong, it was still a decent read. I enjoyed how everything came together at the end. However, it didn't wow me.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Erin Young, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

Riley Fisher is a newbie with the FBI, trying to prove her worth in the Des Moines Iowa city. Riley has plenty of experience, but her new "partner" is not convinced. As she steps into the role to protect, and manage the threats being received by the Governor, Riley quickly understands there is another threat that also needs to be managed, the reappearance of the "Sin Eater".

Overall, this was a good book with an interesting story line. It reminds me of running like a law and order episode. There was character development, but enough threads to want you to keep reading future Riley Fisher novels. There were surprises, and some action. The audio quality was good, and the book was easy to listen.

Review: 4 stars

Original Sins by Erin Young is a gripping thriller set against the chilling backdrop of a brutal winter in Des Moines, Iowa. The city is in the clutches of fear as a serial attacker, known as the Sin Eater, preys on women. Against this ominous backdrop, Riley Fisher, a former small-town sergeant turned FBI agent, begins her first assignment.

The narrative weaves a tale of suspense, mystery, and dark menace, drawing comparisons to acclaimed crime dramas. Riley, teamed with a partner she's uncertain about, must navigate the complexities of her new role while grappling with family drama and the pull of her past life.

Young skillfully crafts a plot that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The pacing is well-executed, allowing for immersive, chunky reading sessions. Riley's character shines as a strong, capable investigator who doesn't conform to gender norms in her field.

The procedural aspect of the story is seamlessly integrated, adding to the overall enjoyment of the thriller. The book doesn't overemphasize procedural details but maintains a perfect balance, making it accessible for fans of detective and FBI procedurals.

The plot's unexpected twists and revelations keep the reader engaged, and Young's writing style contributes to the overall enjoyment of the book. However, readers sensitive to narratives set during the COVID-19 pandemic should be aware that this theme features prominently.

In summary, Original Sins delivers an excellent thriller/mystery experience, blending strong characters, an engaging plot, and contemporary relevance. Fans of whodunits and police procedurals will find this a compelling addition to their reading list.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book, by Erin Young, reminds me of Long Bright River by Liz Moore. Not that the plot or characters are alike, it’s a mood they both evoke. Dark, deep deep darkness. In the people we meet, in the world we see, darkness. We follow Riley, a rookie FBI agent, as she chases the serial attacker called the Sin Eater. She is thrown into a partnership and has to navigate that relationship plus sort through personal baggage. She’s got a lot on her plate.

After the governor is threatened, Riley sees a connection between this case and the Sin Eater case. As she falls further and further down the rabbit hole, the suspense, tension, and thrills ratchet up. This book is full of terror and I like that. I thought the authors prose and pace were fast and engrossing, and I was impressed with the detailed timeline and comprehensive plot points. This was a quick moving, smart book, and a great reading experience. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator effectively portrayed the mood and characters.

My feelings about Riley Fisher #2 are much the same as they were about the first...a crap ton of characters, but a well-crafted and twisty story set in my home state. I don't disagree at all with the overall feminist message presented, but it felt like Young was beating the reader over the head with it on every page. I probably also wasn't ready for a thriller set during the pandemic. It's just too soon. 😫

Thanks to NetGalley & MacMillan Audio for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I did not read the first book in this series, but I didn't get the sense that I missed any great character arc from book 1. That said, this book didn't really do it for me. Riley Fisher goes from being a small town cop to training to be an FBI agent, and apparently that comedown, being a new agent, and moving away from her niece have taken away some of Riley's sparkle. Her new boss treats her like shit, the other agent she's working with is an old crusty creep, and she really only gets anywhere when she's paired with local PD on a new string of attacks against women that have news media dredging up stories of a previous, un-apprehended assailant, the "Sin Eater."

The premise isn't a bad one (do FBI agents work with local PD? I thought they always just took over local cases, but whatever), and the backstory is intriguing, but the strings that hold it all together are weak. Having the culprit be multiple people helps set the plot apart from similar books, but the execution just isn't there. and I was able to guess the whole wrap-up pretty easily (and I make a point of not doing that, because I'm bad at it).

Having it take place during the pandemic was an unnecessary bummer: it's only mentioned in reference to people not wanting their businesses closed for lockdowns, or for the occasional mask-wearer being difficult to identify, so it captures little of what life was like during that time, but also: I don't want to read that shit.

This one was ho-hum for me, and the voice acting had some pronunciation issues that were galling but now, forgettable. 2.5 stars, rounded down

I read the book and I feel like it was much better than the Audio. Had I listened first then read maybe it would have been a different review. The story it self is the same it is just the delivery I am reviewing. This review 3.5 for the Audio the story itself 4 star

Review of the story itself:

Climbing the ranks from officer to FBI agent Riley has her work cut out for her, now returning to her hometown and being placed with a new office dealing with 2 separate investigations that may or may not be intertwined. Her own personal life has some issues of its own the question becomes how is she going to handle it all?
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This thriller is second in a series but I do not see any reason this cannot be read as a stand alone story, however the ending is sorta left open to another book..hmmm....It has a little of everything but definitely a suspense thriller wanting you to read on. Erin did a great job making descriptions throughout the story that helped you feel in the thick of it and wanting to find out what is going to happen next.
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Thank you Netgalley for the ALC and to McMillion Audio for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

The premise of this book intrigued me from the start. It combines elements of a serial killer thriller, political tension, cult-like undertones, and a gripping police procedural involving the FBI. Unexpected twists kept me engaged, and experiencing the story through audio enhanced its podcast-like quality, which I particularly enjoy in crime narratives. The characters, especially Riley and her fellow officers, were compelling, and the intricate plot was meticulously crafted. Overall, it was a complex yet thoroughly satisfying read.

I enjoyed this book, though it is a bit dark. TW topics: Rape, Domestic Violence, Child Endangerment, Misogyny

I appreciated that this story tried to show how people go down the extremist pipelines that they do, and how being a guy in the world right now comes without a lot of community or support. Getting inside the head of the teenage boy in the story especially was interesting, and humanized the way the disgusting acts happening around them were normalized and praised.

I also appreciated the depiction of PTSD from the main character (female) after her rape and that nothing too graphic was discussed in flashbacks, they were true flashes. I enjoyed the confusing navigation of this new environment, the reminding herself why she was here and how hard she worked to get there, as well as the constant reminders to herself that if she failed she had nowhere to go. All of this made her feel more real and like a person you would know in real life.

Overall a good read, probably a medium pace, and engrossing. I'd recommend it.

A thrilling tale full of twists you’ll never see coming. This book completely captured my attention and the suspense literally made me gasp out loud at numerous times. Multiple POVs give this story excellent depth and satisfying character development with an incredible ending. I highly recommend for anyone who loves psychological thrillers and crime fiction. The narrator does a phenomenal job of bringing the characters to life.

This story is the sequel to The Fields, you do not have to read the first novel to enjoy this one but it will provide more context on the characters’ history and interpersonal relationships as the events of that book are occasionally referenced.

If you like a classic police procedural story this is a fantastic feminist take on it. The author clearly drew inspiration from genre classics; the religious motifs redolent of John Doe from Se7en. The tattoo and snake motifs call to mind Francis Dolarhyde of Red Dragon. And of course the main character’s cleverness, perseverance, and unique feminine point of view is reminiscent of the beloved Clarice Starling from Silence of the Lambs.

The book takes a deep dive into the feminist movement from multiple angles, from those pushing for equality to those vehemently against it. Riley Fisher stands in the middle of this seeking justice for the women that have been targeted, trying to put a stop to the serial attacks on women at the hands of the “Sin Eater”, and pushing back against the oppressive roles that seek to undermine her as well. You can feel the author’s anger around this subject seeping out of every page. She does a wonderful job talking about the real horrors all women face on a daily basis, even citing gut wrenching statistics at times. While also constructing a larger terrifying story that sadly doesn’t seem that grandiose in comparison to what we see on the news.

The book is also wildly enthralling, the story is hard to not get sucked into. I am very picky with thrillers because authors can get lost in trying to create twist upon twist to make their book stand out, but it inevitably takes away from the story. This author thankfully did not fall into that. She packed in some interesting twists while relying more heavily on the tension build up by providing many different points of view. She clearly worked hard to build her characters and create a compelling storyline, this reads much more like a classic detective novel than the click-baity thrillers that are so common nowadays.

I specifically listened to this as an audiobook, Kate Hanford (please forgive me if that is spelled wrong, I couldn’t find her name in the written credits) and she did a wonderful job! She took on the perfect accents for these characters and overall read beautifully, I would highly recommend the audiobook.

The narrator was stellar, the story was mediocre. While the characters were easy to care about, the plot was largely predictable and the tropes tired.

It’s very possible I would have enjoyed this more or been more interested if I had read the first book first. Unfortunately for me, this didn’t have a strong enough hook to keep me interested to finish the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @flatiron_books for the #gifted books and @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the complimentary audiobook of Original Sins.

I said I was going to catch up on series this year and this is the second one I tackled this month. As soon as I finished The Fields I dove straight into Original Sins.

What I enjoyed about both. Both books had solid plots that kept me guessing right to the end. With Original Sins I had an inkling, but I was way off on the ‘why’. The pace was great, both are books you can easily just sit and consume big chunks at a time. I liked Riley’s character, she’s not trying to be one of the guys but is more than capable of holding her own.

What made Original Sins a better read for me over The Fields? There is a lot of complicated personal backstory in The Fields. It’s told to you in bits and pieces throughout to help explain the relationship she currently has with her family and friends. It also helped to explain a lot about Riley’s character. No doubt, all this information helps the series move forward, but it distracted me from what was going on in the investigation at times. Added to that we had the murders, politics, small farms vs big-agro… there were almost too many puzzle pieces to put together in The Fields.

With Riley’s backstory out of the way, this allowed Original Sins to shine. It hit the ground running and kept on going straight through to the end. I like that some characters from the previous book made an appearance and I hope to continue to see them if there are more books.

Warning, there are some pretty gruesome descriptions of dead bodies. I was able to handle it so most people probably can.

Book 2 of the series is 4 stars until about 2/3 of the way through, and then the ending drops it down into a 3 star read (IMO). I felt like this book was better than the first, but like the first book, it ends with a deeply unbelievable (and rushed explanation of) motive. All that to save an ice cream company? Nah.

Still an exciting, scary and entertaining FBI thriller, just wanted a more believable ending.

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.

First off, I didn't realize when I requested this book that it was the second book in a series. (I've never read the first book.) Even so, I fell right into this world. Upon reflection after learning it was the second book in a series, I realized that some of the things the narrator (MC) talks about must have been call backs to book one.

However, the book was written in such a way that you didn't need to read book 1 to understand what was going on in this one. So, yeah. If you want to pick this one up but haven't read the first one, you'll be fine.

Secondly, this book was really freaking good. I love crime thrillers, but even I know how hit or miss they are. There are SO MANY OF THEM WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED EVERY YEAR that lots of them are really not worth reading. This one wasn't one of them.

It had a relatable main character, perfectly paced action, and a convoluted, totally intricate "bad guy" situation that obviously took the writer a lot of forethought and planning. I was engaged throughout the entire book and really appreciated the action and the conclusion.

I don't want to go into details about the book itself because I don't want to give anything away, but I highly recommend this book to any lover of thrillers.

This was a great read! Though I have not read the first book in the Riley Fisher series, it was not necessary to enjoy or for this book to work well. Riley is a sold but flawed character, which always works in law enforcement roles. The turns in the story are slow and well grounded before they happen so you feel like you should have thought of it yourself. I look forward to continuing to read the series as it goes.

I was really intrigued by the plot summary for this, but something about it just didn't work for me. I felt that the protagonist lost some of her spark that was present in book #1 of the series.
Some of the dark scenes were quite graphic (reminiscent of Karin Slaughter's writing).
If you are new to the mystery/thriller genre, you will probably enjoy this more than I did. I felt that it was a bit predictable - though still a good book overall.

I received an advanced audio of this book and it was so well done!
Riley Fischer is a new FBI agent in Iowa, when a serial killer strikes. Can she juggle adjusting to city life, family drama, and this complex case?
This book is filled to the brim with it all intrigue, politics, cults, and heavy police procedure. The whole thing gave me True Detective vibes the entire time.
Thank you NetGalley and McMillan audio for the ARC!