(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Reeve LeClaire is a college student, dammit, not Daryl Wayne Flint's victim. Not anymore-not when Reeve is finally recovering a life of her own after four years of captivity.
Flint is safely locked up in Olshaker Psychiatric Hospital, where he belongs. He is walking the grounds of the forensic unit, performing his strange but apparently harmless rituals. It seems that he is still suffering the effects of the head injury he suffered in the car crash that freed Reeve seven years ago. Post-concussive syndrome, they call it.
For all that Flint seems like a model patient, he has long been planning his next move. When the moment arrives, he gets clean away from the hospital before the alarm even sounds. And Reeve is shocked out of her new life by her worst nightmare: Her kidnapper has escaped. Less than 24 hours later, Flint kills someone from his past--and Reeve's blocked memories jolt back into consciousness. As much as she would like to forget him, she knows this criminal better than anyone else. When Flint evades capture, baffling authorities and leaving a bloody trail from the psychiatric lock-up to the forests of Washington state, Reeve suddenly realizes that she is the only one who can stop him.

This is the second book in the Reeve LeClaire series. I haven't read the first book.

Let's begin by saying this is a very well written novel. I think all the high points were achieved with pacing and plot. I think Flint was an excellent "baddie" and, to a somewhat lesser extent, Reeve made a good heroine. She was a bit annoying at times but that happens in these kinds of thrillers - when we scream at the page "Don't do that!!!"

The biggest problem with this book was that it was so unoriginal. So many times I have read "serial killer breaks out of jail/mental institution and tracks down the one person who could stop him for good." It's been done to death and this added absolutely nothing to the mix.

Is there enough in this story to make me want to go back and read the first? Sure, I will give it a go. Hope it is a little more "original" than this one...


Paul
ARH

I AM SO EMBARRASSED ... JUST NOW FINDING THIS ONE ON MY KINDLE/AMAZON. WAS NEVER READ SO NO REVIEW COMING AT THIS LATE DATE. MY SINCERE APOLOGIES. BOOK HAS BEEN ARCHIVED.

I had not read the prequel to this book ("The Edge of Normal) but did read it's blurb. Several other reviews also said it wasn't necessary (but preferable) to have read the first, because this one explained the main character's background sufficiently to stand alone.

Really hooked me in from the start with well described and formed characters. Lots of tension and very gripping in parts (I even closed my eyes and held my breath at some bits). Easy to read, fast moving, meaning I didn't want to put down to go do necessary chores and when I had to, I couldn't wait to get back to it again.

Now, I'm not sure if I should read the first book. One things's for sure, I would certainly read a third and hope that, by leaving a cliffhanger in this one, that means a third is being written right now. I'd also seek out other Carla Norton works as I'd never read her before now. Highly recommend.